By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged Black and Latino Angelenos to resolve their differences constructively after a dispute over a Latino-led running event planned for Leimert Park escalated into racial hostility online.

“Los Angeles is strongest when we listen to one another, treat every community with respect and work through our differences constructively,” Bass said in a statement she shared on Facebook.

Barrio Athletics, a grassroots fitness organization founded by South Central Los Angeles native Henry Gallardo, planned a 5K for Sept. 6. Participants were initially scheduled to meet in Leimert Park before running along Crenshaw Boulevard. In a promotional video,an organizer said the group would “take over the streets of Leimert Park.”

The language drew objections from Black residents and community leaders, who said organizers had not adequately consulted local stakeholders. They were also concerned that the gathering, which included plans for a DJ and vendors, would disrupt the Leimert Park Sunday Marketplace and other scheduled activities.

Leimert Park is widely regarded as the cultural heart of Black Los Angeles. Its weekly marketplace, food vendors and drum circle have long provided an economic and cultural gathering place for Black residents. That history, compounded with lingering concerns about gentrification and the city’s declining Black population, intensified sensitivity to the event’s promotion.

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“This is a historic Black district which we fought for and built up, its arts district, its cultural hub,” KBLA radio host Dominique DiPrima told a local L.A. news station.

“You’re saying that you’re going to “take over” is sort of like the last stand for Black LA is problematic.”

In another widely circulated video, a woman warned organizers, “We don’t want you to come into Africa Town,” adding that they would be “met with resistance from the Black community.” A separate Black social media user suggested, “We should call ICE,” drawing condemnation amid federal immigration enforcement concerns affecting Latino communities.

Barrio Athletics said it did not condone “racism, violence or hate.” Black and Latino community organizers later joined the group for what local L.A. radio station KJLH described as a “tough but necessary conversation.” 

KJLH posted a video of the discussion.

Following “careful conversation with community leaders,” Barrio Athletics relocated the run to Elysian Park “to respect Leimert Park and the surrounding community.”

Bass denied claims that she had ordered the move, saying she had not known about the dispute before its resolution.

“Bringing people across racial, cultural and neighborhood lines together has been the foundation of my life’s work,” Bass said, “and it continues to guide how I lead this city today.”

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By Carla Thomas

For educator, childcare provider and children’s author Tarsha Jordan, Bonita the Bumble Bee is much more than a colorful storybook character. The cheerful bee has become a teaching tool, a comforting friend and a creative way for children to explore their emotions, navigate life changes and discover the world around them.

Jordan’s inspiration for Bonita grew from her lifelong commitment to children and education. With more than 30 years of experience as an educator and administrator, she operates Kindergarten Readiness Academy, a licensed family childcare program in Oakland’s Longfellow neighborhood. The academy prepares young children socially, emotionally and academically for school.

Her firsthand experience has given Jordan a deep understanding of how children communicate, what captures their attention, and how stories can open conversations young readers may not otherwise know how to begin.

Jordan describes her mission as developing lifelong learners who love reading while introducing children to relatable characters. Bonita fulfills that mission by addressing real-life experiences in language children can understand.

In “Bonita The Bumble Bee and the Quarantine,” Jordan helped young readers process the uncertainty and isolation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. In a later book about returning to school, Bonita guided children through changing routines, expectations and emotions. Designed to promote social-emotional development and mental health awareness, editions were made available in English, Spanish and Mandarin.

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Bonita’s impact becomes even more immediate when children meet the character in person. Jordan recently hosted a Mommy and Me children’s tea party at Bay Street Emeryville, where Bonita buzzed around the event, greeted young guests and brought the literary character to life.

“The children can interact with the character, experience the excitement of seeing a familiar literary friend come to life and develop an even stronger connection with reading,” Jordan said.

For children of color, that connection carries another important dimension: representation. Children benefit from seeing themselves reflected in books, educational environments, imaginative characters and the people creating those stories.

Jordan also believes Bonita expands children’s imaginations and encourages them to envision new possibilities.

“When children of color see authors that look like them creating books, building educational programs and bringing original characters into their communities, they are exposed to the possibilities beyond the story itself,” Jordan said. “They can begin to imagine themselves as writers, educators, entrepreneurs, artists and creators.”

Founded to introduce STEAM, (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) to children in transitional kindergarten through third grade, Bonita The Bumble Bee also addresses neurodivergent behaviors.

Known to young learners as “Teacher Tarsha,” Jordan combines Bonita’s whimsical personality with hands-on experiments and activities for children ages 3 to 8. The experiences promote early literacy, strengthen problem-solving skills and give children tools for managing their emotional health.

Jordan holds master’s degrees in education and public administration and is pursuing a doctorate in education. Her academic preparation and extensive classroom experience help her create programs that are both engaging and developmentally meaningful.

“We’re hoping to take Bonita to the next level and welcome new partnerships,” Jordan said.

Visit BonitaTheBumbleBee.com

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By Tamara Shiloh

Henry Ossian Flipper’s life is a remarkable story of insistence, achievement, injustice, and ultimately vindication. Born enslaved on March 21, 1856, in Thomasville, Georgia, Flipper rose from the restrictions of slavery to become the first African American to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point. His accomplishments extended far beyond military service; he later became a respected engineer, surveyor, author, translator, and government official.

After the Civil War, Flipper’s family settled in Atlanta, where education became central to his future. He attended schools established for African American children by the American Missionary Association and later studied at Atlanta University. In 1873, Congressman James C. Freeman of Georgia nominated Flipper for admission to West Point. He entered the academy that July.

Flipper’s four years at West Point were extremely difficult. Because of racism, he experienced harassment and almost complete social isolation from many of his fellow cadets. Nevertheless, he succeeded academically and graduated on June 14, 1877, ranking 50th in a class of 76. His graduation represented a historic breakthrough for African Americans in the United States military.

Commissioned as a second lieutenant, Flipper was assigned to the 10th U.S. Cavalry, one of the famed African American regiments known as the Buffalo Soldiers. At Fort Sill in Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, Flipper served as an engineer, surveyor, construction supervisor, quartermaster, and commissary officer. One of his most lasting engineering accomplishments was a drainage system that eliminated pools of stagnant water around the fort and helped reduce mosquito-breeding areas. The system became known as “Flipper’s Ditch,” and portions of it remain associated with Fort Sill today.

Flipper’s promising military career ended abruptly in 1881 when he was accused of embezzling commissary funds. A court-martial acquitted him of embezzlement, but convicted him of conduct unbecoming of an officer. The Army dismissed him in 1882. The circumstances surrounding his punishment would later be widely regarded as unjust and influenced by the racial discrimination of the period.

Rather than allowing his dismissal to define his life, Flipper built an extraordinary civilian career. He became a civil and mining engineer and surveyor, working extensively throughout the American Southwest and Mexico. He established an engineering office in Nogales, Arizona, became knowledgeable about Spanish and Mexican land law, and later worked for the federal government, including service connected with the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior.

Flipper died in Atlanta in 1940, but efforts to restore his reputation continued for decades. In 1976, the Army changed his dismissal to an honorable discharge. Then, on February 19, 1999, President Bill Clinton granted Flipper a posthumous presidential pardon.

Today, Henry Ossian Flipper is remembered because his life helped open doors for generations of African American military officers, engineers, and public servants who followed him.

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