The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

Washington “Remawn” Waddell

Obituaries

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Feb 23, 2023

Washington Waddell, better known as “Remawn,” was born on February 3, 1972, in San Diego, California to Washington Waddell and Diane Waddell. He was the oldest of two children. Remawn was raised in San Diego and he attended Holmes Elementary, Albert Einstein Middle, and Madison High School. In 1995, he graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration.

Remawn accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He was baptized at Mount Sinai Baptist Church. In his young years, Remawn would attend church and sit on his grandmother’s lap and enjoy the services. He was a God-fearing man. His legacy includes his motto “Choose to be Blessed.”

Remawn held many honors and awards. As a teacher’s assistant for San Diego Unified School District, he tutored students who were at risk academically. He was also a math tutor for students attending SDSU. He received the honor of being a San Diego Chapter LINKS Achiever. He volunteered on many community service projects.

After graduating from SDSU, he began his career at COX Communications. He worked his way up to Lead and later Team Manager. He enjoyed being a Digital Telephone Manager at the Customer Care Center.

In 1997, Remawn was blessed with a baby girl, Jaslyn Waddell. He devoted his life to his daughter Jaslyn. Remawn loved and cherished his daughter and family. Remawn was also a die-hard Chargers fan.

Remawn was called home to be with our Heavenly Father on Friday, January 27, 2023. To celebrate and honor the life he lived, Remawn leaves one daughter, Jaslyn Waddell; his mother Diane Waddell; sister Diane (Dee Dee) Waddell; and two nephews Noah and Jaceyon. He also leaves a host of other relatives and many, many treasured friends.

Cal. Black Caucus Black History Month Event Celebrates Business Owners

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Feb 23, 2023

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Cal. Black Caucus Black History Month Event Celebrates Business Owners

By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media

The California Black Chamber of Commerce (CBCC) and the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) recognized the success of 16 thriving Black-owned businesses at its annual Legislative Business Brunch at the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento.

The brunch, organized to celebrate Black History Month, honored the achievements of the businesses, and celebrated their commitment to professional service and making an impact on the economy of communities around California.

“I am thankful that today, as it being the month of February and celebrating Black History Month, we get the opportunity to celebrate Black businesses. We get the opportunity to celebrate each one of you who are pouring into your communities in a meaningful and economic way,” said Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City), chair of the CLBC. “You are making an economic impact, not only for your families but for those that you employ and those that you provide good service to.”

Sponsored by Amazon and Instacart, the business program attracted Black business leaders, non-profit operators, and all 12 members of the CLBC. Three Black constitutional officers – Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber, State Controller Malia Cohen and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond — were recognized at the event held at Citizen Hotel.

Cohen and Thurmond were present to accept their awards, and Reginald “Reggie” Fair, Deputy Secretary of State for Operations, accepted the award on behalf of Weber.

Radio personality Keisha Mathews was the program emcee. Dr. Roy Larry and his wife Penelope of the Potter’s House COGIC church in Sacramento, provided the invocation. Sacramento area youth advocate Patrice Hill shared inspirational words in the form of a poem.

The event’s program was presented by Wilson, CBCC’s President and CEO Jay King, and CLBC vice chair Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood). Anthony Williams, the California Public Policy Director for Amazon, was the guest speaker.

King reminded the attendees that the event was made possible by Aubry Stone, who started the advocacy for Black businesses in the state in 1995 until his passing in November 2018.

Stone facilitated networking among different business organizations across the state and fostered relationships with local governments. In the process, he opened doors of access to all races, King said.

“We are the California Black Chamber of Commerce, and we believe in diversity, equity and inclusion. I believe that means everybody. We shouldn’t leave anybody out,” King said. “We help small businesses. Today, it just so happens to be African American small businesses because of the many obstacles they face every day.”

Each honoree was selected from the state lawmakers’ districts, including four special recognitions selected separately by King. The following proprietors received business awards from the CLBC and CBCC:

Demetrius Porter, Center Cork Wines (Fresno); Chandra Brooks, Chandra Brooks International (San Jose); Juana Williams and Blair Paysinger, Downtown Disney (Anaheim); Earl Johnson, Home and Work Mobile Oil Changers (Fremont); Deborah A. Day, Ashay By The Bay (Vallejo); and Clayrone Clark, Coop and Fire; (Gardena); and Dr. Leonard Thompson III, M.A.N.D.A.T.E. Records, (San Diego);

Rounding out the business honorees are Keith Corbin, Alta Adams (Los Angeles); Reggie and Nicole Borders, Pound Bizness (San Francisco Bay Area); Lee Williams, Lee Williams Real Estate Group (San Pedro); Ann Hamilton, Robsag Real Estate, LLC (Pasadena); Twina Brown, Mama T’s Food For the Soul (Moreno Valley); Austin Clements, Slauson & Co (Los Angeles); Zion F.A. Taddese, Queen Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant (Sacramento); Tyrei Lacy, Restaurant Seven Nineteen by G/S (Los Angeles); and Bo and Kay Anuluoha, Kutula by Africana (Los Angeles).

The CBCC is an African American non-profit business organization that represents hundreds of small and emerging businesses, affiliates and chambers of commerce throughout the state. It provides advocacy assistance for supplier’s diversity needs, and business development and training for small businesses.

The CLBC, formed in 1967, was created to address the concerns of African Americans and other citizens of color. According to the organization’s website, the members believed that a caucus would provide political influence and visibility far beyond their numbers. Today, there are 12 members of the CLBC serving in the California Assembly and Senate

Bruce Ellis Barron

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Feb 23, 2023

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Funeral Services were held on February 15, 2023

Bruce Ellis Barron was born on January 5, 1969, to Helen Jean Pugh and Alex Barron, Jr. of Humboldt, Tennessee.

Bruce began his education at Thomas Elementary School and later attended Carbondale High School, where he was enrolled in honor classes. He loved learning.

After graduating Bruce began his career at Nutrition Headquarters in Carbondale, Illinois. He moved on to Budweiser Beer Company but found his passion when he moved to San Diego, California in 1997. Soon after his arrival in San Diego, he started working for Bioserv Corporation as a Material Associate III where he worked for 14 years.

He was a bright and talented shining star at home, work, and in his community. He was kind and caring and always made time to help others whether it was through conversation, a meal or financial help.

Bruce loved to cook and often made meals for those in need – family, friends and strangers alike. Once you met Bruce you became like family to him. He would see a need and do his best to facilitate or help to guide those he helped on the right path to find the answers they sought.

On January 19, 2023, at age 54, Bruce heard the voice of the Lord and went home. He will truly be missed and remembered for the great person that he was.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, his brother James Pugh, and niece Leteisha Pugh. He is survived by his wife; Bobbie Barron; children, Jalessia Winston, Bruce Barron, Jr. Jason Dentmon, and Brittney Fair; siblings, Augusta Barron of Detroit, MI, Charles Pugh Jr., Mary (Pugh) Lyes and Terry Lyes (spouse), Ray Pugh, David Barron; and a host of other family and loved ones: Kimberly Rivers (sister-in-law,) Travis Biglow and Mona Biglow (brother-in-law and sister-in-law,) Rita Rivers (sister-in-law,) and many nephews and nieces.

The family of Bruce Barron extends warm and grateful expressions to all who prayed, called and showed love during this difficult time. Your thoughtfulness is truly appreciated and has helped to ease their grief.

Sakaria Muhammad

Tihut

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Feb 23, 2023

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Funeral Services were held on February 14, 2023

In the Name of Allah The Beneficent The Merciful.

Sister Sakaria Muhammad was born on September 13, 1938, to Mitchella Frizzell and Nathaniel Cargill in Birmingham, Alabama.

From a very young age, Sakaria Muhammad was always inquisitive, she liked to ask questions concerning the well-being of her people. Her mother enrolled her in Catholic school where she would make inquiries to her instructors, like, “Why aren’t there any black angels or black people portrayed in the Bible?” and make statements like, “I know that God loves us too.”

At a young age, Sister Sakaria left her hometown seeking to make a change, which led her to work with Huey P. Newton and some of the other founding members of the Black Panther Party, before they were widely known. Soon after, Brother Jabril Muhammad (formerly known as Bernard Cushmeer) invited her to hear Malcolm X speak at a venue in San Francisco. That led her to the Nation of Islam where she stood up and became a registered believer of the Nation of Islam in 1965, San Francisco Temple #26.

By the early 1970s, she was already an accomplished loving wife and mother who cared for her family very deeply. She taught us all how to love which came straight from her heart. She also taught Islam to her children and family.

When the Nation of Islam fell in 1975, she and her family left the Temple but continued to practice the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. By 1978 she knew and understood that the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan was the one to rebuild the Nation of Islam and the work of The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and thus, with his permission, worked hard in the rebuilding of the N.O.I. in San Diego from the late 1970s through the 90s. She became the local M.G.T. Captain of the women in the Nation of Islam.

Sister Sakaria Muhammad knew how to bring a smile to everyone’s face. Even when she was feeling down, her spirits were always bright. Bringing so much joy and sunshine to the hearts and souls to all whom Allah had blessed to get to know her.

Allah blessed Sister Sakaria Muhammad, she had the Spirit of a True Follower and True Believer! She passed February 2, 2023, and is survived by many family and friends who loved, cherished, adored, and cared for her dearly!

May Allah be pleased.

The Jim Crow Battle Against Black History

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Feb 23, 2023

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The Jim Crow Battle Against Black History

By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher, The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

The current battle to remove books and any discussion about slavery and the treatment of Blacks is not new. This is what we call “Jim Crow”, now presenting himself as “James Q. Esquire”, the legislator. For those who might have forgotten, Jim Crow was often the name used to describe segregation; laws, customs, and rules that arose in the South after Reconstruction ended in 1877. “Reconstruction” is what efforts to rebuild the South were called after the Civil War. It was an effort to put the South back together, economically, without the benefit of slavery, which had been its most precious product.

Newly freed slaves were finding ways to buy land, start farms, run for office as was the case. During Reconstruction 16 African Americans served in the U.S. Congress, more than 600 were elected to the state legislatures, and hundreds more held local offices across the South. White Southerners were not pleased with either the independence of Blacks nor their efforts to own land, get educated and achieve, at the very least, equal status with Whites.

While we celebrate Black History month, and hopefully the resurgence of a study and appreciation for Black History, it’s important that we use our knowledge of past efforts to suppress or erase us to fuel our present desire to do more and go further, collectively, than those who came before us. Whatever title the racist put on “Voter Suppression”, and the battle against “Critical Race Theory” – which most can’t spell or define – we must recognize all efforts to curtail our freedom or to create a new legal “White Zone”, as the Mississippi legislature is attempting to do, all amount to “Jim Crow” efforts under new names and titles.

The good news is that we overcame past efforts at segregation and Jim Crow laws. With the knowledge, education and skills we now have at our disposal, we, the Black People of this country, born with rights of equality guaranteed under the Constitution, will neither abandon those rights nor have them taken from us. If we look at Black History everyday, we will recognize the revised efforts to suppress or eliminate us and we will prevail.

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