By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media On Jan. 1, Assembly Bill (AB) 422 — legislation authored by Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D–Moreno Valley) – takes effect. Signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October, the bill updates the criteria for the State Seal of Civic Engagement (SSCE), an official recognition awarded to high school students who ...

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey ‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌ On Aug. 29, three bills from the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) “2025 Road to Repair” bill package were released from the Suspense File, where they were placed in July by the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The California Legislature places any bill that would potentially cost the state more ...

Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R–Yucaipa) has introduced Senate Bill 745, legislation that directs the California Department of Education to develop a curriculum guide and resources for a one-year course in American government and civics, giving students more time to understand how government works, why their voice matters, and how to become informed and engaged citizens. Additionally, ...

By Edward Henderson California Black Media Over the last four weeks, California Black Media (CBM) has been examining the 16 bills included in the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) “Road to Repair 2025 Priority Bill Package.” Each piece of legislation, authored by different members of the CLBC, is written as part of a broader umbrella ...

By Edward Henderson California Black Media “Senate Bill (SB) 437 utilizes the California State University to explore options to determine how to confirm if an individual is a descendant of a person who was a victim of American chattel slavery,” said Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego). “The bill seeks to determine a clear, concise ...

By Dianne Anderson Pictures worth 1,000 words or more are sure to spark thought-provoking, if not politically charged, conversations behind the fight against discrimination and other DEI topics now forbidden in many federally funded circles. Dr. Audrey Maier said this year’s exhibition of 27 powerful Homegrown Heroes shows how they have braved the political storms ...

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey ‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌ For more than two weeks now, members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) have been facing sharp criticisms from frustrated advocates and other Black Californians after the State Assembly failed to bring up two reparations bills for a floor vote on Aug. 31. On Sept. 14, Assemblymembers ...

COMMENTARY By Rick Callender Special to California Black Media Partners In the Black community, literacy stands as a cornerstone of empowerment, guiding our way toward liberation and advancement. For centuries, African Americans have been denied their right to read either through the direct outlawing of literacy instruction and books for enslaved people of African descent, ...

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey ‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌ Members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) announced plans to introduce a package of bills this year designed to address the recommendations the California reparations task force made last year in its final report. Certain advocacy groups and individuals say the legislative package the lawmakers announced on ...

By Edward Henderson California Black Media Last week, Assemblymember Corey A. Jackson (D-Riverside) introduced Assembly Bill AB 742, legislation that would prohibit the use of police canines for arrests, apprehensions and crowd control. The use of police canines, supporters of the legislation say, is a throwback to the darkest days of legal slavery, Jim Crow ...