Paulette Brown-Hinds, PhD
Last Thursday I was asked to make two presentations, one for the Women’s Wellness & Business Conference in Ontario organized by Hispanic Lifestyle and the other my annual presentation to the Grier Leadership Academy in Riverside hosted by the African-American Historical Society and Riverside County Fair Housing Council. Both presentations focused on my family’s legacy, specifically the legacy of this newspaper.
“We know that a legacy, generally speaking, is an inheritance,” I said to both groups. “A gift bequeathed to others.” In preparation for the workshop I found myself thinking about the institutions I have inherited and the legacy of advocacy that has also become a family trait.
As publishers my parents’ philosophy was in alignment with the founding credo of the Black Press of America, “We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us. Too long has the public been deceived by misrepresentations, in things which concern us dearly.” I have continued to believe that this philosophy is central to the work we do, whether it’s advocating for a group, a cause, or a community.
This week’s issue includes two important stories we are following that have far reaching implications: one is the historic increase in homicides in the City of San Bernardino and the other is our continuing investigation of the Albert Moyer criminal case in Riverside County. Fresh out of bankruptcy and with a court directed charter change, the City of San Bernardino is at a crossroads. City leaders will need to invest in programs that are measurable and results oriented to change the current negative trends in the crime rates. We will be monitoring the initiation of Operation Ceasefire, a program designed to address the growing crime rates in the city. The other story is a follow-up on the domestic violence case that is illustrative of the racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
This newspaper continues to public stories in the grand legacy of the advocacy genre of journalism. It is our goal to continue to work toward meaningful change here in the region and beyond.