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- A real Black Friday indeed.
A real Black Friday indeed.
Cheers to another day to run Kendrick Lamar's GNX album back as we shop.
Aaricka Washington
November 29, 2024
Once again, Kendrick Lamar has put Black Californians back on the map like we deserve with his new album GNX and with and with his “Squabble Up” video. Try as he might, Drake can’t do much about it from where he is. Maybe the Canadian rapper can get some retail therapy today. That always makes me feel better.
The thing is…Black Friday deals don’t hit like they used to. And yet still year after year, we get in those long lines at Best Buy, Target and Sephora to get everyone’s holiday gift before the weeks run out.
Well, here’s a deal you can’t beat. This gift of a new newsletter hitting your inbox that’s full of stories (and a not-too-desperate plea to invest in us as a recurring member) all for FREE.99. Like my mama used to say, “You can’t beat that with a stick.”
Before you get too deep into your Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus duties, let’s break down the news you should know.
FEATURED STORY
by Katie Licari
For Nicole Steele, health equity program director for the Social Justice Learning Institute in Inglewood, seeing a family member develop hypertension due to food caused her to think about what food access looked like in her hometown. Inglewood is one of the many under-resourced urban communities in America. Steele is trying to be part of the solution. SJLI reclaims food that farmers throw out because of appearances and redistribute it in schools, health clinics, and parks. The nonprofit also donates fruits and vegetables to local churches and mutual aid organizations for their food programs. Steele and SJLI are both featured in a new documentary from PBS, Lidia Celebrates America: Changemakers. It’s all about how diverse food cultures make America beautiful and unique.
WEEKEND WATCH
Hear from Steele and others in Lidia Celebrates America: Changemakers now streaming on PBS.org, YouTube and the PBS app. It's part of Bastianich’s Emmy-nominated series, Lidia Celebrates America. For more details and recipes from the special visit PBS.org/lidia.
Just got paid; it’s Friday night
Party hunting, feeling right
That Johnny Kemp song is MY JAM! Who doesn’t love a Friday pay day? Especially when it’s on Black Friday?
Keep scrolling…
SUPPORT AFROLA
It’s the season of spending and giving to those who deserve all the love in the world. We’ve kept you up-to-date on some of the most important news that’s happening in Black and other marginalized communities, why not make an AfroLA donation a part of your spending-valuable-money plans?
From today through Dec. 31, every dollar you give to AfroLA, up to $1,000, will be matched 1:1. This makes a huge difference for us.
WHAT’S NEW, WHAT’S NEXT?
By Kenya Hunter (AP)
We know the stories of Black women’s activism during the Civil Rights Movement, but when you look back at history, Black women have always been active in movements towards progress. In 1872, activist Sojourner Truth showed up to a polling booth to vote, but was turned away. Black women like Mary Church Terrell, Daisy Elizabeth Adams Lampkin, Nannie Helen Burroughs, Sarah Parker Remond, and the founders of the Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta were all fighting for Black women (that means EVERYONE) to have the right to vote during the suffragist movement in the late 19th century/early 20th century.
That leads me to this well-written AP story by Kenya Hunter. After the Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris lost her bid for the presidency to Donald Trump, many politically-involved Black women told the AP reporter that they were distressed and reconsidering the ways the participated in politics and organizing. Read her story to see how many Black women are rethinking how to approach to politics and organizing, and what they hope to focus on next.
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by Abené Clayton (The Guardian)
Gun violence continues to be a perplexing problem in this country. To survivors and victims’ families, it seems political shifts to dismantle gun violence are nonexistent. The Guardian’s Abené Clayton reports on how victims and families of gun violence are now taking things into their own hands: filing multimillion-dollar lawsuits against gun industry, tech companies and the federal government.
Dion Green, who survived a mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio in 2019, said, “The lawsuits are created because we can’t get anything done at the state, local or federal levels, so we go for the manufacturers. No one likes when their money gets attacked.”
Read Clayton’s story for more about how victims and their families are pushing for change themselves.
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By Lauren Hirsch, Emma Goldberg and Jordyn Holman (New York Times - gift link)
Just in time for Black Friday, Walmart has decided to pull back on some diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives executives committed to back in 2020. As a result of this shift, the company will no longer share data with the Human Rights Campaign which tracks corporate L.G.B.T.Q. policies, it will disable third-party merchants from selling some LGBTQ-themed items and stop using “DEI” and “Latinx” in company communications. They will also allow their agreement with the Center for Racial Equity to expire next year.
Read the story for more.
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Soooo…we just read some pretty heavy stories so I want to leave you with a palate cleanser. Come to any of my family’s cookouts, celebrations or holiday parties, and you’ll likely see my uncles on the grill. It’s their territory and it’s where they shine. They don’t move from that grill.
According to a Penn State Abington survey, there’s a new a trend: The Thanksgiving preparation gender gaps are closing. More Black men are actually moving to the kitchen, historically “a woman’s place.” Students spoke with Black men who bring their ingenuity, family knowledge and authenticity into the kitchen. Respondents were creating vegan meals, making sweet potato pies, and grilling turkeys using cast iron pots. Read more from The Triibe here.
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By Kailyn Brown, Sonaiya Kelley, Todd Martens, Christopher Reynolds and Maxwell Williams (Los Angeles Times)
Let’s end on a lighter note, shall we? My goal is to make sure that by the time you finish this newsletter, you’ll be ready to binge watch all your favorite Hallmark and Lifetime Holiday movies, dress in cute Christmas pajama sets and roast some chestnuts on an open fire (I am the same way).
If you’re looking to experience a fun, magical holiday with loved ones (or even solo dolo), please read this L.A. Times story.
Whew! Local news cannot stop to process the election. In fact, AfroLA’s coverage has only expanded. And as you can see we are committed to following the stories where they lead. We are talking directly to Black Los Angelenos and others about their feelings, concerns and decisions related to the status of local, state and national politics (and more). But this is what we do, we got this, but only with your help.
We have to keep it real. We need the support of donors like you. Please consider a recurring gift or a one-time donation. If you need another reason, your support will be DOUBLED by NewsMatch through Dec. 31.
Thank you for considering. Thank you for giving.
MORE STORIES
(Illustration by Hal Marie Saga; Photo credit: iStock)
For the more than 18,330 domestic violence survivors experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles, housing is sometimes the difference between remaining with an abuser, or leaving. Two L.A. organizations stand out in their efforts to house domestic violence survivors: Jenesse Center and Center and the Downtown Women's Center (DWC).
The Jenesse Center piloted a new housing program with the L.A. County Housing Authority and Solaris Apartments. A new apartment complex houses and provides services for individuals fleeing violence and experiencing homelessness. In August, 43 residents moved in, including 14 domestic violence survivors. The remaining units are occupied by other people who previously experienced homelessness.
Downtown Women's Center is the only organization in Los Angeles that focuses on women and gender diverse individuals experiencing homelessness. DWC was able to provide permanent supportive housing house for Lily, a woman who was feared that her abuser might find her because of her past experiences with an emergency shelter. DWC also began to be a place where she found community and healing. She started therapy and found a job as a heath care aide. “I started to see the positive side about being here. Sure, I was still using [drugs]. I had to get to know myself and cope with that, but the more I stayed here [in Downtown Women's Center], the more I wanted to be part of the community here,” Lily said. “I couldn’t do that high, so I asked for help.”
AfroLA reporter Eliza Partika explains the often tedious process of supporting domestic violence survivors the adequate support, protection and housing in such an under resourced field.
This article was produced with the support of the USC Center for Health Journalism's 2024 Domestic Violence Impact Reporting Fund.
If you or someone you know needs support, shelter or other services, the L.A. County Domestic Violence Hotline (24/7 Confidential) is available for all victims at (800) 978-3600. If you or someone you know needs public housing support, contact Los Angeles County Housing Authority at HACLA-4-U (833-422-5248) or email them at [email protected].
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