Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

California
The California Supreme Court gave local governments power to zone medical marijuana dispensaries out of existence this week, a decision that upholds bans in about 200 cities but does little to solve Los Angeles’ years-long struggle to regulate hundreds of storefront pot outlets. The unanimous decision provided clarity for cities and counties that want to rid themselves of the dispensaries, which sprouted up statewide after a 1996 voter-approved measure that sought to authorize medical marijuana, but lacked specifics in how it would be regulated. Now, attorneys on both sides of the issue say, many cities will be inclined to ban the pot outlets rather than allow a limited number and regulate them—a practice that has spawned expensive litigation up and down California.

District of Columbia
The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a research and policy institution that focuses on the concerns of African Americans and other people of color, recently held its annual gala dinner where Vice President Joe Biden addressed the crowd. Under the banner—“Jobs. Partnerships. Progress.”—the event was an opportunity for elected officials, business, civic and community leaders from across the country to celebrate the rise of African Americans in the nation’s political and civic life. The vice president’s remarks took place as the Joint Center honored Ambassador Susan E. Rice, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, with its 2013 Louis E. Martin Great American Award, which is given annually to an exemplar of change, progress and coalition-building across racial lines.

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
The Los Angeles Urban League Young Professionals (LAULYP) has selected actor Larenz Tate (“House of Lies”) as one of the Divine 9 to be honored at its third annual To The Nines Affair on Friday, April 26, 2013, at The Beverly Hilton. To the Nines is hosted by the LAULYP, an auxiliary of the L.A. Urban League comprised of young African American professionals committed to economic empowerment and social change. The swanky Beverly Hills bash will be the official after-party for the prestigious 40th annual Whitney M. Young Awards Dinner, officiated by the Los Angeles Urban League.
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Hundreds of digitally preserved speeches, sermons and correspondence of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be on view at the California African American Museum (CAAM) May 5 -11, 2013, as part of an unprecedented effort to showcase the work of the civil rights leader. A team of more than 300, including U.S. veterans and students, have digitized more than 200,000 pieces of paper, including Dr. King’s I Have a Dream speech, the Letter from Birmingham Jail, and his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech. Those documents are now traveling around the country in an interactive display called The King Center Imaging Project. JPMorgan Chase organized the project as part of its Technology for Social Good initiative, which provides technological solutions to social organizations across the globe.

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
Old-school, Hip Hop radio station KDAY will be sold for $19.5 million to a media company with ties to China, according to Federal Communications Commission documents. The sale will be finalized after the close of escrow, according to the sales agreement that is on file with the FCC. KDAY-FM (93.5) is based out of Redondo Beach. KDEY-FM, which simulcast KDAY programming out of Ontario, is included in the sale. The stations are owned by Magic Broadcasting based in Florida. According to radio industry reports, the new owners plan to change the format of the two old school Hip Hop stations to Mandarin-language talk radio.

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The Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) is now accepting submissions for the 2013 festival, to be held Oct. 2-6, 2013. Regular feature, short, student and documentary film submissions, Project Stargazer submissions, and scripts for the Storyteller Competition will be accepted through June 16. The late deadline is July 8. All films submitted must have been completed after Sept. 1, 2012. HBFF will introduce a new competitive sidebar this year, Film Diaspora, to showcase independent films and filmmakers from the African Diaspora. Feature, short and documentary films submitted to compete in Film Diaspora must have been produced by filmmakers residing outside the U.S.—in Africa, the Caribbean, Central or Latin America.