Sheli Turner Shares Racial Byron Allen Expands Empire Healing Lessons in ‘Affirmed’ with Purchase of Fox Regional (See page A-2) Sports Networks (See page B-2) VOL. LXXVV, NO. 49 • $1.00 + CA. Sales Tax THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2013 VOL. LXXXV NO. 22, $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 23, 2019 BY JENNIFER BIHM Contributing Writer City and county elected officials, plus hundreds of Angelenos gathered at Los Angeles Southwest Col- lege on May 19 as Senator Kamala Harris continued her presidential campaign kickoff here in the south- land. Harris was joined by her local political sup- porters, including Council President Herb Wesson, assembly members Holly Mitchell, Steve Bradford, Councilman Curren Price, and California Secretary of State, Alex Padilla. Har- ris is billing herself as a “fearless” candidate who is for the people, and she said as president she will continue to fight for things like equal pay for women, environmental safety, liv- ing wages, better educa- tion and criminal justice reform. “Today in America, ROBERT TORRENCE / SENTINEL women [who do the same 2020 U.S. presidential hopeful, Senator Kamala Harris work as men] make 80 cents on the dollar, Black gap as one of her priorities. ties,” she said. many teachers I’ve met the law,” someone shouted posing a federal invest- women make 61 cents, La- On Monday, Harris an- Education would also be who have to work two and from the crowd. ment in education. She tinas make 53 cents … and nounced her plan to hold a priority, Harris said. three jobs… how many Harris continued, also proposed changing this has got to end,” Har- corporations accountable “We are a society that who have to come out of “There are two people rais- the tax code in the U.S. ris told the cheering crowd for transparency. Corpora- pretends to care about edu- their own pocket to provide ing our children, parents “I’m proposing for during the rally, where she tions failing to help close cation.” school supplies.” and our teachers.” announced closing the pay the pay gap will face penal- “I cannot tell you how “That should be against Harris talked about pro- {See PRESIDENTIAL A-10} speaker, made the an- looks from faculty and stu- nouncement while ad- dents alike. Then the grad- dressing nearly 400 uates broke into the big- graduating seniors of gest cheers of the morning the all-male historically and stood up, applauding. Black college in Atlanta. Morehouse said it is the Smith, who is Black, is the single largest gift to the founder and CEO of Vista college. Equity Partners, a private Though college of- equity firm that invests in ficials could not provide software, data, and tech- an estimate of the exact nology-driven companies. amount owed by the cur- “On behalf of the eight rent graduating class, stu- STEVE SCHAEFER/ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION VIA AP generations of my fam- dents graduate with an Billionaire technology investor and philanthropist says ily that have been in this average debt of $30,000 he will provide grants to wipe out the student debt of the country, we’re gonna put to $40,000, said Terrance entire graduating class at Morehouse College - an esti- a little fuel in your bus,” L. Dixon, vice president of mated $40 million. the investor and philan- enrollment management. thropist told graduates in Smith, who received an BY ERRIN HAINES WHACK nounced at their commence- his morning address. “This honorary doctorate from The Associated Press ment Sunday that he would is my class, 2019. And my Morehouse during the pay off their student loans, family is making a grant ceremony, had already an- MODERN ROMANCE PHOTOGRAPHY A billionaire technology estimated at up to $40 mil- to eliminate their student nounced a $1.5 million gift investor stunned the entire lion. loans.” to the school. Gov. Newsom joins Ridley-Thomas, graduating class at More- Robert F. Smith, this The announcement im- Burke, and Mitchell at South L.A. rally house College when he an- year’s commencement mediately drew stunned {See SMITH A-8} (See FULL STORY A-7) BY SENTINEL NEWS SERVICE Lawsuit alleges Wal- sister Psykyssyanna Hart. greens put profits over- cus “We are alleging that tomer safety by selectively Walgreens, the largest phar- choosing stores that serve maceutical retailer in the Black and Latino custom- world, is responsible for the ers to place armed security tragic death of 21-year-old guards. Jonathan Hart,” said attor- During a Tuesday morn- ney Carl Douglas. “They ing press conference in are responsible even though Los Angeles, attorneys it’s clear that Donald Ciota representing the family of fired the fatal shot, striking Jonathan Hart announced a Jonathan once in the back Photos are courtesy of Douglas Hicks Law. wrongful death civil rights of the neck. Walgreens is Jonathan Hart lawsuit had been filed in Los responsible ,even though Angeles County Superior Donald Ciota was hired made to place profits over Court against Walgreens, Photos are courtesy of Douglas Hicks Law. by American Protection safety. Walgreens owns American Protection Group, The family of Jonathan Hart announces that a Group, which was hired by and operates more than S.E.B. Security Services, wrongful death civil rights lawsuit against Walgreens S.E.B. Security Services. 9,500 retail stores in the and Donald Vincent Ciota and others. Walgreens is responsible United States. Over 640 II of Covina for the Dec. for the death of Jonathan retails stores in Califor- www.lasentinel.net 2, 2018 shooting death of was filed by Douglas Hicks rardi Keese on behalf of Hart because of the de- {See WALGREENS A-8} 21-year-old Hart. The suit Law with co-counsel, Gi- Hart’s estate and his twin spicable choices that they THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2019 NEWS LASENTINEL.NET A-5 A-2 LASENTINEL.NET NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2019 space - in my case, bira- a society.” Elaborating on the because he wanted us to cial space - and also be- Illustrating the sub-title “Brilliance” chapter, she know that there was no ing very aware of White- of “Affirmed,” Turner’s said, “I named it that be- room we could not be in, ness versus Blackness,” book contains a series of cause it was really impor- no situation we could not said Turner. lessons illuminated by tant for me to message that equally be in or deal with. The third dynamic in- episodes from her life as a the models of brilliance in I was affirmed very early fluencing Turner was the biracial person. Sections my life were Black, un- to know that I could be in trending media portrayal such as “Intention” out- apologetically, and it was the world and that carried of biracial people as navi- line her African American my father who gave that me throughout the world.” gating life without a care and Caucasian ancestry to me. The way that he did As for her goal for in the world – a portrait along with the racially dis- that is kind of unique and “”Affirmed,” Turner said, that Turner described as criminatory laws in place he made a lesson out of it.” “I wanted to write some- “unnerving.” to prevent unions like her Considering the book’s thing about my experience range of topics, Gladney and how we really could, inquired about the type of as a society, get to a place, person who would benefit not just healing in regards from “Affirmed.” Turn- to race and culture, but to er’s response was that any transformation and how adult would gain insight our differences, culturally about racial healing from and racially, could make reading her words. us better and transform us “There’s a lot that they as a society.” can learn from it whoever “Affirmed: Life Les- they are,” said Turner. sons in Racial Healing and SABRA MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY “My White grandfather Transformation” is avail- Author, Sheli Turner and Sentinel Executive Editor, was very intentional about able at Amazon.com and Danny Bakewell, Jr. bringing my brother and other online bookstores. me everywhere with him BY CORA JACKSON-FOSSETT dy Gladney, who moderated Staff Writer the gathering, opened by ask- ing Turner how “Affirmed” Being biracial isn’t the will help with improving great fun commercials and racial tensions, especially in ads portray. But, it’s not light of the increasing num- doom and gloom either. ber of multi-cultural fami- Rather it’s a journey filled lies. Turner replied that three with learning, loving and factors inspired her to write. unique experiences as a child “First, there really is a SABRA MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY of a White mother and Black lens that biracial people Author, Sheli Turner and Wendy Gladney. father, growing up in the have, but it’s not exactly 1960s and 70s, emerging as spoken about. I think that “So, now we become parents had. an accomplished woman, all has to be more because our a marketing tool and I Chapters entitled “Iden- while traversing the world as narrative is just really not out think, in so many ways, tity” and “Awareness” not a mixed race person. there as much as it should be it’s so disrespectful to the only reveal her growing Such is the life that au- or could be yet. So in that person that actually has realization of the demands thor Sheli Turner recounts in respect, I put my story out to grow and survive these that a mixed marriage has “Affirmed: Life Lessons in there,” she explained.