VOL. LXXXVI, NO. 52 • $1.00 + Ca. Sales Tax “For Over Eighty Years The Voice of Our Community Speaking for Itself” THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 Bakewell Media Salutes Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris as L.A. Sentinel’s PERSON of the YEAR See Story on Page a2 AP PHOTOS A-2 LOS ANGELES SENTINEL NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 The Life of Kamala Harris Represents Preliminary Steps for Change Betti Halsell of honor and embodied the statement: into the glass ceiling; Harris cultivated Public policy is being represented Contributing Writer “Kamala Harris, For the People.” From her answer for evolution of human by a Black woman, Harris continues there, she has installed those words as quality to be the vehicle navigated to mirror a new dimension of change he presence of Madam Vice part of her personal trait that shines by the Biden Administration. There and aspires the nation to accept the President-elect Kamala Har- through her platform of public policy. is a shared goal of moving forward new frontier. She continues to lean on a T ris represents the new era of Harris followed in her destined role with a new sense of purpose, healing pillar of Justice and center her purpose America. She solidified the with the armor to fight against an enemy generational wounds, and restoring the to bring balance back into a system time for change and exemplifies the tide of any size. health of the nation. that has seen the same type of political of cultural balance. As the first Black Harris shared experiences fighting The Harris name now embarks figures in seats of power. and South Asian woman to be listed in court; she fought for the residents of on a major political ballot, and the first working-class communities and victims woman to be voted on as vice president, of a failed system. Harris expressed Harris raises the awareness of a nation that she could recognize the hunter and before her words begin to cut through hunted, and she is well suited for the her lips. battle for the sovereignty of fairness. As the past generation takes her win Before she was the first Black as a nod to the countless steps made in woman and South Asian American to the past for women empowerment and be voted in as vice president, Harris racial equity, the future will use her re- was a student in a sea of new minds. solve as a vessel to sail through the fu- Harris attended Howard University and ture with a fresh force. She is symbolic she graduated with her B.A. in 1986. of the change America is seeing, Harris She completed her courses to earn a embodies the energy of a new day in Juris Doctor degree from Hastings American history. College. Passionate to fight for justice, Kamala Devi Harris was born on Harris was admitted to the state bar in October 20, 1964, in Oakland, Califor- 1990. She was the leading attorney of nia to Donald Harris and Shyamalan the Career and Criminal Unit in San Gopalan. Harris was the first-born and Francisco, eight years later. that preliminary title follows her into a As U.S. Senator, her “quiet and professional career. Harris’ family were exquisite power” burrowed through people of strategy, with her parents testosterone filled rooms, creating the holding their own in economic study tunnel vision needed to become the vice and cancer research center; Kamala and president. Harris overcame strongholds her younger sister Maya were brought that left the previous political aesthetic up in a house of mental elevation. narrow, she was the first Black woman As a daughter of South Asian and Ja- to be on a major ballot, breaking the maican genetic makeup, she was aware mold of the White male line up found of cultural awareness early on. That in the American timeline of political energy is draped over her heart; Harris candidacy. plans to be planted in that solidarity, to Harris continues to stand on the be persistent until physical evidence of words she discovered while being a Justice. She knows how to continue on prosecutor; she is for the people. Rel- into battle, even if the odds seemed to ishing in the memories of fighting for be stacked up against her. children and survivors of sexual assault, Empowered by the jostle of her Harris was never afraid of confronta- mother, Harris pushed through seem- tion. She would take on some of the ingly unbreakable boundaries. She most prominent banks and conglomer- holds the title as the first Black woman ate companies that tried to take advan- Vice President-elect Kamala Harris continues to break barriers with each step she takes on to have held district and general attor- tage of smaller voices. Capitol Hill soil and her position works as a pivotal point for the course of history. ney roles in California’s history. From Harris formally accepted her 2004 to 2011, Harris had a meteoric ef- nomination as vice president on on authority; she has pushed a new Vice President-elect Harris fect on many communities as district at- August 19. Her speech consisted of standard forward. The story of her continues to break barriers with each torney, finding her essence in the initia- mindfulness, alignment, faith, and the victory told America, there is no need step she takes on Capitol Hill soil and tive that gives first-time drug offenders fight this country needs to elevate to a to wait permission to make the change her position works as a pivotal point the chance to earn a high school diplo- new definition of equality and freedom. for equality. COVID-19 has heavily for the course of history. There is ma and find employment in California. Harris disclosed the details of her influenced the need for change. Harris much to be admired about this time of Knowing her place was at the top, alignment with Biden, she stated, “We stressed her strong faith in the Biden acceptance. Harris intends to bring an Harris bloomed with the determination must elect Joe Biden. I knew Joe as Vice Administration to be the best guide overflow of inclusivity and balance in and perseverance to become a law- President. I knew Joe on the campaign through this new terrain. She stated, the White House. Her words come with yer, district attorney, and U.S. Senator. trail. But I first got to know Joe as the “We believe that our country—all of us, high potency to make needed change, Longing for change, Harris wore her father of my friend.” will stand together for a better future. but her presence solidifies that it will courtroom introduction, like a pendant Her election is the steepest crack We already are.” take place under her watch. Vice President-Elect Kamala HARRIS PERSON of the YEAR A-6 LASENTINEL.NET NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 Top Local Stories of 2020 These were the local news and stories of 2020 BY EDITORIAL STAFF program designed to provide extra business support to our Shirley Weber’s CSU Ethnic Studies Bill is local businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now State Law Community Organizations Are the Other First The drive-thru event saw an endless line of cars come In August, Gov. Newsom signed AB 1460 into law Responders During COVID-19 through to receive food and produce delivered by masked which requires California State University (CSU), the Despite COVID-19 and throughout the “Shelter in volunteers observing social distancing. The L.A. Regional nation’s largest four-year Place” mandate, community-based organizations like Food Bank provided groceries and pre-packaged meals public university system, to that were cooked off-site for distribution following strict provide courses in Ethnic COVID-19 health restrictions approved by L.A. County studies at each of its 23 cam- Public Health. puses, beginning with the 2021–22 academic year and Thousands Show up for George Floyd and Justice in requires CSU students to Los Angeles take a 3-credit course in Eth- More than 30 protests, march and vigils were held nic studies to graduate, throughout the beginning in the 2024-2025 Southland, from academic year. Venice to Hunt- The bill was introduced ington Beach, in 2019 by Assemblymem- COURTESY PHOTO and Beverley ber Shirley Weber (D-San Hills to Fuller- Diego), professor emeritus of Africana studies at San ton, in remem- Diego State, on behalf of the California Faculty Associa- COURTESY PHOTO brance of Floyd. tion (CFA) and with support from the legislative ethnic Brotherhood Crusade, YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, the Thousands of caucuses (Black, Latino, and Asian Pacific Islander). Jenesse Center for battered women, and other non-profits people participat- Ethnic studies is an interdisciplinary study of race and remained open, operating and serving a community that ing in a symbolic ethnicity that gained acceptance nationally in universities was already in desperate need of resources. The Brother- funeral proces- following the 1960’s Black student uprisings. Research hood stated it has an obligation to remain open and pro- sion for Floyd shows that students of color and White students benefit vide services to the community, this would not be possible and local vic- COURTESY PHOTO academically and socially from taking Ethnic studies without the support of so many of their corporate partners tims. courses. who have stepped up during these most critical of times. June 7th, 2020 held the largest protest event to date Beyond basic needs, like food and shelter; the YWCA stat- jammed Hollywood Blvd between 50,000 and 100,000 Naked and Bleeding: One Woman’s Story of ed these times are tough on many residents within the people.