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Sacramento Observer’s 60th Anniversary Gala: A Historic Celebration of Black Journalism

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Attendees echoed Lee’s sentiments, many of whom expressed how pleased Bill and Kathryn Lee, the late founders, would have been. “My father would have said this event was as good as anything that we’d ever done. He would have been proud,” Larry Lee stated.
The post Sacramento Observer’s 60th Anniversary Gala: A Historic Celebration of Black Journalism first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

6 months ago

November 13, 2023

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

SACRAMENTO, CA – In a dazzling yet elegant celebration, the Sacramento Observer, a beacon of the Black Press, commemorated its 60th anniversary, bringing together community leaders, supporters, and acclaimed artists. The event, held at the landmark Sacramento Memorial Auditorium in California’s capital city, not only honored the historical significance of the Observer but also highlighted its enduring relevance in today’s dynamic media landscape. The Observer enjoys as rich a history as any other newspaper – Black, or white-owned. It began with the vision of its founders, Dr. Bill and Kathryn Lee. In 1963, the couple embarked on a mission to establish a publication serving as a voice for the Black community in Sacramento. From its humble beginnings, the Observer rapidly evolved, becoming one of the fastest-growing publications in the history of African-American journalism.

Larry Lee, the impassioned publisher who took over the newspaper after his father died in 2019, emotionally absorbed the significance of the celebration. “I think the celebration was a wonderful example of how we should honor an institution as important as any,” Lee stated. He underscored the power of vividly illustrating the historical importance of the Observer through various mediums, including a 100-page book, videos, and testimonials. Lee emphasized the Observer’s and the Black Press’s commitment to serving communities that often are underserved by mainstream media. “I was born in the Black Press, and I’m going to die in the Black Press,” Lee declared. “The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) represents that to me. I love NNPA, and I love the Black Press.”

The NNPA is the trade association of more than 230 African-American-owned newspapers and media companies in the United States. The Observer is a proud member of the NNPA. Reflecting on the event’s success, Lee acknowledged the support from leaders in the community, corporate entities, philanthropic organizations, and partners like the Google News Initiative. He credited the months of planning, relationship-building, and collaboration with supporters for executing the celebration in a way that paid homage to the Observer’s legacy. Attendees echoed Lee’s sentiments, many of whom expressed how pleased Bill and Kathryn Lee, the late founders, would have been. “My father would have said this event was as good as anything that we’d ever done. He would have been proud,” Larry Lee stated.

Frank McComb, a world-renowned soul jazz recording artist who graced the event with a stirring performance of a bevy of jazzy tunes, shared his honor in being part of the celebration. “To be called to such an event, I feel honored because of the history,” he said. McComb emphasized the importance of having a vision, not just a dream, drawing inspiration from the Observer’s founder, who had a vision leading to this influential institution’s establishment. California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, the first African American to serve in that role, praised the Observer’s impact. “The Observer has meant so much not only to the city of Sacramento but to the state,” Weber said during a pre-event cocktail party. She recognized the publication’s role in highlighting the community’s greatness and the state of California. “The love and trust we all have in the Observer is unmatched,” she stated.

The celebration included the presentation of the Observer’s 60th-anniversary Living Legacy Awards to individuals who have made significant contributions to the community. Among the recipients were Weber, Margaret Fortune, Chet Hewitt, and Bishop Parnell Lovelace Jr. The Color of Music Orchestra, which celebrates Black classical composers and performers, backed McCombs during the evening and opened the night with a stirring rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Adrienne Bankert, an award-winning national news anchor, served as the Mistress of Ceremonies, and Rev. Mark Meeks of the City Church provided the benediction. The event also included an invocation by Pastor Tamara Bennett and a Native American Land Acknowledgment by Albert Titman Sr. of Miwuk, Nisenan.

Earlier this year the Observer won the 2023 National Newspaper Publishers Association’s Newspaper of the Year, with Larry Lee earning Publisher of the Year honors. NNPA President and CEO, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes, Wave Newspapers CEO Pluria Marshall Jr., and the NNPA’s Let It Be Known morning show team, including Producer Greer Marshall and digital stars Dawn Montgomery and “Totally Randie,” were among those representing the Black Press. “The celebration … the evening, set the bar for all of the Black Press,” Dr. Chavis proclaimed.

The post Sacramento Observer’s 60th Anniversary Gala: A Historic Celebration of Black Journalism first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

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IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, activist Ramona Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.
The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Once upon a time, Black Americans were simply known as colored people, or Negroes. That is until Ramona Edelin came along. The activist, renowned for her pivotal roles in advancing civil rights, education reform, and community empowerment, died at her D.C. residence last month at the age of 78. Her death, finally confirmed this week by Barnaby Towns, a communications strategist who collaborated with Dr. Edelin, was attributed to cancer.

Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.

Edelin’s contributions to academia and activism were manifold. She was pivotal in popularizing the term “African American” alongside Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in the late 1980s.

Jackson had announced the preference for “African American,” speaking for summit organizers that included Dr. Edelin. “Just as we were called Colored, but were not that, and then Negro, but not that, to be called Black is just as baseless,” he said, adding that “African American” “has cultural integrity” and “puts us in our proper historical context.”

Later, Edelin told Ebony magazine, “Calling ourselves African Americans is the first step in the cultural offensive,” while linking the name change to a “cultural renaissance” in which Black Americans reconnected with their history and heritage.

“Who are we if we don’t acknowledge our motherland?” she asked later. “When a child in a ghetto calls himself African American, immediately he’s international. You’ve taken him from the ghetto and put him on the globe.”

The HistoryMakers bio noted that Edelin’s academic pursuits led her to found and chair the Department of African American Studies at Northeastern University, where she established herself as a leading voice.

Transitioning from academia to advocacy, Edelin joined the National Urban Coalition in 1977, eventually ascending to president and CEO. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives such as the “Say Yes to a Youngster’s Future” program, which provided crucial support in math, science, and technology to youth and teachers of color in urban areas. Her biography noted that Edelin’s efforts extended nationwide through partnerships with organizations like the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Education.

President Bill Clinton recognized Edelin’s expertise by appointing her to the Presidential Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1998. She also co-founded and served as treasurer of the Black Leadership Forum, solidifying her standing as a respected leader in African American communities.

Beyond her professional achievements, Edelin dedicated herself to numerous boards and committees, including chairing the District of Columbia Educational Goals 2000 Panel and contributing to the Federal Advisory Committee for the Black Community Crusade for Children.

Throughout her life, Edelin received widespread recognition for her contributions. Ebony magazine honored her as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans, and she received prestigious awards such as the Southern Christian Leadership Award for Progressive Leadership and the IBM Community Executive Program Award.

The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

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Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.
The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Tennessee State University (TSU), the state’s only public historically Black college and university (HBCU), faces a tumultuous future as Gov. Bill Lee dissolved its board, a move supported by racist conservatives and MAGA Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly, who follow the lead of the twice-impeached, four-times indicted, alleged sexual predator former President Donald Trump. Educators and others have denounced the move as an attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and a grave setback for higher education.

Critics argue that TSU’s purported financial mismanagement is a manufactured crisis rooted in decades of underinvestment by the state government. They’ve noted that it continues a trend by conservatives and the racist MAGA movement to eliminate opportunities for Blacks in education, corporate America, and the public sector.

Gevin Reynolds, a former speechwriter for Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizes in an op-ed that TSU’s financial difficulties are not the result of university leadership because a recent audit found no evidence of fraud or malfeasance.

Reynolds noted that the disbanding of TSU’s board is not an isolated incident but part of a broader assault on DE&I initiatives nationwide. Ten states, including Tennessee, have enacted laws banning DE&I policies on college campuses, while governors appointing MAGA loyalists to university trustee positions further undermine efforts to promote inclusivity and equality.

Moreover, recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.

The actions echo historical efforts to suppress Black progress, reminiscent of the violent backlash against gains made during the Reconstruction era. President Joe Biden warned during an appearance in New York last month that Trump desires to bring the nation back to the 18th and 19th centuries – in other words, to see, among other things, African Americans back in the chains of slavery, women subservient to men without any say over their bodies, and all voting rights restricted to white men.

The parallels are stark, with white supremacist ideologies used to justify attacks on Black institutions and disenfranchise marginalized communities, Reynolds argued.

In response to these challenges, advocates stress the urgency of collective action to defend democracy and combat systemic racism. Understanding that attacks on institutions like TSU are symptomatic of broader threats to democratic norms, they call for increased civic engagement and voting at all levels of government.

The actions of people dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusivity, equity, and justice for all will determine the outcome of the ongoing fight for democracy, Reynolds noted. “We are in a war for our democracy, one whose outcome will be determined by every line on every ballot at every precinct,” he stated.

The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

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Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy

May 24, 2023 – Walker West Music Academy gets an early start on expansion. Join us for a Wednesday episode of The …
The post Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy first appeared on BlackPressUSA.