Professor

Jan 12 2012

Tuskegee airman, civil rights activist, professor

Memorial services for Raymond L. Johnson will be held today at 11 a.m. at Holman United Methodist Church, 3320 West Adams Blvd. He was 89.

Johnson was born on July 31, 1922, in Providence, R.I., to Jacob and Lelia Johnson. The youngest of five children, he would attend Howard University before being drafted into the Army and stationed at Walla Walla, Wash., where he was assigned to maintain airplane radios.

Fungai Maborke  |   OW Guest Contributor
Oct 6 2011

She chose cremation in order to save a tree

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Wangari Wanjiku Maathai was recently cremated and her ashes interred per her request at a Kenyan educational institution dedicated to peace and the environment.

She joins a small handful of Kenyans whose bodies are cremated, in a tradition that is fairly rare among Africans. It was her wish to avoid chopping down another tree for a casket.

Instead, more than 5,000 seedlings will be planted countrywide in a program sponsored by the Green Belt Movement and the government.

Aug 4 2011

Played in the NFL

The body of Lawrence Jarmon, Ph.D., retired dean of student services at West Los Angeles College and former professional football player, was interred Friday at Inglewood Park Cemetery.

Jarman died in Los Angeles on July 15. He was 64.

A Los Angeles native, Jarmon attended Manual Arts High School, Los Angeles Harbor College and California State University, Los Angeles. 

David L. Horne, Ph.D.  |   OW Contributing Columnist
Jan 27 2011

Practical Politics

The president was presidential. He stood before a packed room of Democrats and Republicans sitting together; of elders, poor people, the elite, the military, gays, Latinos, the disabled, Asian Americans, Black Americans, White Americans, etc. The president stood tall among them all and well represented the America to which he was elected to lead.

Oct 21 2010

Outstanding contributions

PASADENA, Calif.—A Caltech professor was named as the recipient of the National Medal of Science, the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on scientists.

Amnon Yariv, a professor of applied physics and electrical engineering, will receive the award, along with 10 others, during a ceremony at the White House later this year.

“The extraordinary accomplishments of these scientists, engineers and inventors are a testament to American industry and ingenuity,” President Barack Obama said.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
California
Yvette Hollingsworth was recently named chief compliance officer for Wells Fargo & Co. Hollingsworth, who most recently served as managing director and global head of operations compliance and financial crimes compliance & risk management for Barclays Corporate & Investment Bank, will begin her new role on June 1, 2012. Hollingsworth will be based in San Francisco, and will report to Caryl Athanasiu, executive vice president and chief operational risk officer in the corporate risk group. As chief compliance officer, Hollingsworth will be responsible for ensuring that all areas of the company meet compliance management responsibilities and abide by all applicable laws and regulations. Her team will continue to provide independent oversight of business-based compliance management activities.
District of Columbia
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) issued the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm Los Angeles attorney Paul Watford to serve on the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals: “It is great news that the Senate has confirmed Paul Watford, an exceptionally talented attorney, to serve on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has a breadth of experience as a former prosecutor and a top appellate litigator and will make an excellent addition to the federal bench. However, I am very disappointed that more of my Republican colleagues did not join us in backing this highly qualified nominee.” When Watford is sworn in, he will be only the second African American serving on the Ninth Circuit.