VOL. LXXVV, NO. 49 • $1.00 + CA. Sales Tax THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2013 VOL. LXXXV NO. 20, $1.00 +CA. Sales “ForTax Over “For Eighty Over Eighty Years TheYears, Voice The ofVoice Our of Community Our Community Speaking Speaking for Itselffor Itself.” THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 BY CORA JACKSON-FOSSETT Staff Writer Thousands of people converged on South Los Angeles to witness the re- naming of Rodeo Road to President Barack Obama Boulevard. The daylong street fes- tival, highlighted with mu- sic, food trucks and ven- dors, took place May 4, in front of Rancho Cienega Sports Center and Park. The huge gathering re- vealed the community’s deep affection for the for- mer commander-in-chief as well as recalled the neighborhood’s tremen- dous reception to then- presidential candidate Obama’s 2007 rally at the same site. Community involve- ment played a critical role in the renaming campaign, said City Council Presi- dent Herb J. Wesson, who noted that it was residents in his 10th District – where the 3.5-mile Rodeo Road is located - that proposed the name change. “We partnered with the community to make this happen and I’m just so pleased for all of us. It’s MESIYAH MCGINNIS/L.A. SENTINEL The President Barack Obama Boulevard sign is unveiled by, from left City Council president Herb Wesson, Mayor Eric Garcetti, State Sen. Maria {See OBAMA C-3} Elena Durazo, Supervisor Mark Riddley-Thomas and Urban League CEO, Michael Lawson. The L.A. Sentinel sits down with each of the 2019 title holders BY LAUREN FLOYD Staff Writer For nearly 100 years, young girls excited by the glamour and beauty of the Miss America and Miss USA competition have watched annually as wom- en, mostly White, take the YU TSAI / SL SWIMSUIT stage to compete for schol- Halima Aden poses for the annual Sports Illustrated arship prizes and the title AP PHOTO Swimsuit edition, making history as the first to wear a hi- of pageant queen. Miss North Caro- jab and burkini. When Cheslie Kryst lina, Cheslie Kryst gets won the Miss USA title crowned by last year’s BY AMANDA SCURLOCK The supermodel took to last week, she knew it was winner, Sarah Rose Sum- AP PHOTO/NOAH K. MURRAY Sports Writer Instagram, expressing her monumental but she didn’t mers after winning the Miss New York Nia excitement of her accom- think the moment would 2019 Miss USA final com- Franklin reacts after be- plishment with Sports Il- go down in American pag- petition in the Grand The- THE MISS UNIVERSE ORGANIZATION ing named Miss America The 2019 Sports Illus- lustrated, sporting a vibrant eant history. atre in the Grand Sierr Kaliegh Garris, Miss 2019, Sunday, Sept. 9, trated Swimsuit edition will blue and turquoise burkini “I didn’t realize all of Resort in Reno, Neve- Teen USA. 2018, in Atlantic City, N.J. be a historical issue as So- and hijab; she left her fol- us were Black until a lot da. mali-American supermodel, lowers with words of en- of people started post- excited to kind of realize of Miss USA last Thurs- titles as the queens of the Halima Aden, will be the couragement. ing on social media about that. I was really thrilled to day, making history as she, nation’s largest pageant first to wear a hijab and- bur “Don’t change yourself it. And I thought, ‘oh my be one-third of that kind of Miss America, Nia Frank- competitions. This is the kini for the issue. This adds ... Change the GAME!! La- God, you’re right,’ we’re trifecta,” says Kryst. lin and Miss Teen USA Ka- first time all three title more highbrow experience all women of color which The 26-year-old, prac- liegh Garris — all African holders have been Black to her gilded resume. {See HALIMA A-8} is really great. So, I was ticing lawyer won the title American women — hold {See HISTORY A-8} STACY M. BROWN clined, numbers released on “I don’t think this NNPA Newswire Thursday, April 25, by the should be much of a sur- Correspondent Bureau of Justice Statistics prise as two of the main still show that nearly 1.5 for-profit prison compa- Although the number of million individuals were in nies were founded around people in prisons and jails prison by the end of 2017. the same time,” said Ron in America has slightly de- The statistics also note Stefanski, whose website that the U.S. continues to prisoninsight.com, works lock up more people than to hold prisons account- any other nation. And, de- able for the treatment of spite a narrowing disparity current, former and future between incarcerated Black inmates. and White women, females Courtesy The Marshall Project/PBS “When these for-profit have emerged as the new Sixty-percent of women under the control of local authorities have not been con- face of mass incarceration. victed of a crime. {See CRISIS A-8} www.lasentinel.net On View Now On View Now Tickets at thebroad.org/soulofanation Tickets at thebroad.org/soulofanation Barkley L. Hendricks, Icon for My Man Superman (Superman Never Saved Any Black People — Bobby Seale), 1969. Barkley L. Hendricks, Icon for My Man Superman (Superman Never Saved Any Black People — Bobby Seale), 1969. Oil, acrylic and aluminum leaf on linen canvas. © Estate of Barkley L. Hendricks. Courtesy of the artist’s estate Oil, acrylic and aluminum leaf on linen canvas. © Estate of Barkley L. Hendricks. Courtesy of the artist’s estate and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York. Superman S-Shield © & ™ DC Comics. Used with permission. and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York. Superman S-Shield © & ™ DC Comics. Used with permission. n View Now Tickets at thebroad.org/soulofanation Barkley L. Hendricks, Icon for My Man Superman (Superman Never Saved Any Black People — Bobby Seale), 1969. Oil, acrylic and aluminum leaf on linen canvas. © Estate of Barkley L. Hendricks. Courtesy of the artist’s estate and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York. Superman S-Shield © & ™ DC Comics. Used with permission. A-2 LASENTINEL.NET NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 Pan African Film and Arts Festival Team With Independent Lens to Discuss Solution to Save The Community BY SAYBIN ROBERSON “We don’t need the Contribuing Writer police to police us,” Abdul- lah said speaking on what Pan African Film and the future could be for L.A. Arts Festival joined teams residents, adding, “if we with Independent Lens to are willing to do the work, host an intense conversation then we can have a city that searching for solutions to is what we envisioned.” fight violence in marginal- With gentrification on ized communities. Inspired the forefront of multiple by a documentary film communities, these issues based in Baltimore, M.D., further remove Black peo- “Charm City” tells a story CREDIT: KOI SOJER/SNAP’N U PHOTO ple from their homes and of various community PAFF members with Panel Speakers/Moderator. From left to right: Marc Brogdon, Linda Bronson, Jamedra Brown create negative spaces members who are working Fleischman, Clifford Thomas Skipp Townsend, Jasmyne Cannick, Nick Valencia, Melina Abdullah, Candis Glover, Kim amongst groups. The final to end senseless acts of Watson. question from Valencia, crime in their own back- Professor and chair of Pan- munity elders and leaders and the future of Los Ange- changes how they see fit. “what do you think LA will yard. The film by Marilyn African Studies at Califor- and elected officials who les. “There is still a role for The issue with relation- look like in five years?” Mess speaks to the truth and nia State University, Los use their influence to bring everyone to play,” says ships between government, prompted each panelist into pain felt across the country, Angeles and co-founder positivity to their surround- Cannick, “we have our eld- police and the community action with words of truth which led the groups to cre- Black Lives Matter Los ing. Clips of “Charm City” ers and folks that guide us in also reached a heavy cli- and encouragement to ate a space to discuss vio- Angeles Chapter and Can- led to conversations about the work that we do, we max, with a member from become fully educated in lence here in Los Angeles. dis Glover, Los Angeles youth leading the change in have to be that for the gen- the audience chiming in to your surroundings and win Held Wednesday, May County Public Defender. our communities, which all eration behind us,” in point out the lack of fund- back the community. 1, 2019, at the Promenade Each with different back- agreed is on the shoulders regards to the village. ing to study how to really Townsend closing off at the Howard Hughes with grounds, but overall goals of the youth. Glover stated, Townsend also made great engage and help marginal- with a powerful statement moderation by CNN corre- of propelling the Black “government needs to step points recognizing the push ized communities. The inspired by Abdullah’s sug- spondent, Nick Valencia, community into power. aside and let the communi- back youth receive rather issue being, lack of diversi- gestion to do one thing, and special guest, Skip Following the plot of ty do what it needs to do.” than support from older ty within the science field, every day until a change Townsend, Intervention the documentary, stories of The panelist’ also dis- generations, stating, “every- which then leads to has come, “Consistency is Specialist, 2nd Call, Jas- Baltimore residents work- cussed topics including the one has their turn,” encour- improper funding by the the true measure of suc- myne Cannick, Political ing to uplift their commu- relationship marginalized aging those older members government, over-policing cess, so just continue to be Commentator and Culture nity was shown throughout communities have with the of the community to allow and high arrest rates within consistent at that one thing, Critic, Melina Abdullah, the panel, including com- police, raising the “village” the youth in making the Black community.