Joe Kocurek | California Black Media Jasmine Young wasn’t sure what she had signed up for when a friend from church encouraged her to attend
The future of work is no longer a distant idea — it’s here. Automation, artificial intelligence, remote work, and the green economy are redefining the workforce, and at breakneck speed. For the communities we serve and partner with, this moment presents both a challenge and a huge opportunity. The question is: will we be passengers or drivers of this transformation?
Frederick Douglass did not know the day he was born. Like many enslaved people, he was denied even the dignity of documentation. Birth dates were approximations. Family lines were severed. Identity existed in property ledgers, not in public record.
As California heads into the 2026 election cycle, all four elected seats on the State Board of Equalization are up for grabs, with voters in each of the agency’s four geographic districts choosing a representative. The board—which handles tax appeals, property tax oversight and equalization, and other key functions tied to California’s revenue system — has taken on renewed visibility as debates over affordability, business climate, wildfire recovery and state revenues intensify.
Homeownership has long been one of the most dependable ways for everyday families to build wealth—not through speculation, but through the steady accumulation of equity in a place they call home. For Black Californians, this path has always been narrower because of historical barriers to wealth building.
Today across the United States of America in some of the largest urban cities, Black Americans are having renewed nightmares about being taken for granted, ignored and being erase in history and in the public square.
Eight Kern County high school students were honored for leadership, academic achievement and community service during the 2026 Miss Fashionetta and Gents Program in Bakersfield, where Madisynn Brown and Abdur Clark were crowned this year’s top honorees. The longstanding initiative continues to invest in youth through mentorship, scholarships and personal development.
While the evidence is clear that pre-K makes a meaningful difference for children in the short and long term, children need access to high-quality programs to experience these benefits. Access, however, remains unequal, particularly to programs that provide high-quality experiences.“An Updated Look at Pre-K in Large American Cities,” research findings include:
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Dr. Butch Ware is the Green Party representative running for Governor of California.
When Gov. Gavin Newsom released his memoir, Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery, on Feb. 24, it was presented as a personal story about childhood, dyslexia and the experiences that shaped his path into politics.
When California froze new Medi-Cal enrollment for undocumented adults, thousands of Kern County families were left in limbo. At Clinica Sierra Vista, staff members are racing to keep patients covered — and fighting fear with trust.
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In 1917, A. Philip Randolph and Chandler Owen launched The Messenger, a pro-labor, anti-war magazine that connected racism to exploitation and demanded justice for Black workers. Two years later, the federal government responded with tactics of targeted censorship—surveillance, harassment and threats of prosecution—and branded a small Black labor magazine “the most dangerous” publication in the country simply for encouraging Black workers to organize.
A verified journalist was banned, reported to federal authorities, and given no recourse. A glitch in the system may be the point.
Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), the keynote speaker at “A Conference on Housing” in Sacramento on Feb. 24, says solving California’s housing crisis at all levels — and providing affordable, environmentally responsible homes for low-income families and communities of color — can go hand in hand.
Antonio Villaraigosa, former state Assembly Speaker and former mayor of Los Angeles, entered the race for California governor nearly two years ago in 2024. Although he has not emerged as a leading contender among the crowded field of candidates, he has maintained a steady position in the middle of the pack, with his household name recognition and 14 years of experience in California politics.
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As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, I’m reflecting on the century of economic volatility and roadblocks that have often defined the experiences of disenfranchised communities. Our collective legacy is marked by resilience to overcome the economic challenges faced while trying to achieve the American dream.
“F— Trump” has become cultural currency. YG made it a hook.
