April 06, 2017 

By Cora Jackson-Fossett 

Staff Writer

The enduring legacy of the Black Panther Party (BPP) is vividly illustrated in “ICONIC,” a traveling exhibit presented by the Sepia Collective.

Through the works of more than 40 artists, the show reveals the variety of viewpoints Americans have about the group’s impact.  The exhibit, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Panthers, runs from April 8 to May 14 at the Gregorio Escalante Gallery, 978 Chung Kind Road in Los Angeles.

“The beauty of this show is that is allows different perspectives to interpret the impact of the Black Panthers in their own particular way,” said Los Angeles co-curator Susu Attar. “It brings together people who believe in social justice even if it is not directly affecting them.”

The collection, comprised of work of original Panthers as well nationally-recognized artists, includes art by Emory Douglas, Shepard Fairey, Pilar Aguero-Esparza, Aise Bourne, Justin Dixon, Mark Steven Greenfield, Jorge R. Gutierrez, F. Scott Hess, Dr. Samella Lewis, Ali AL Sharji, Mohammed Mubarak, Tslil Tsemet, Lexx Valdez and more.

In addition to celebrating the BPP, the exhibit will feature an auction with a significant portion of the proceeds going to Panthers in need and their families, according to producer Rosalind McGray, who added that she hopes the artwork will stimulate conversation about BPP’s role in U.S. history.

“It (the exhibit) is definitely meant and constructed to encourage discourse and dialogue, both inter-generationally and cross culturally, about the Black Panther Party and how they came to be.  I think we’re in a time right now where most of society have come to understand how revolutions come to be,” said McGray. 

“These were young people.  I think the average age was 19.  The sacrifices that they made, and some continue to make as political prisoners, are so profound.  But, we see now how they were driven and moved to become a people that stood up for all of us.”

Encouraging the public to view the exhibit at the opening reception on April 8, McGray added, “A lot of people have memories of the Panthers and some people know a lot of what they’ve heard.  This show is not necessarily what you might expect in that it is truly 50 artists starting at the point of what they know, how they feel and how they interpret the Panthers and the party.”

April 06, 2017 

LAWT News Service 

Roland Hayes Betts, founder of Jazz At Drew and resident of Carson, California passed away on Sunday March 19  at Torrance Memorial Hospital in Torrance, California.

Born September 11, 1941 in Alton, Illinois to Floyd and Etta Betts as the second child of four, Roland spent his formative years growing up in the city of Chicago, where his father was an original member of the Fruit of Islam and served as a bodyguard for the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Together with his mother, a loving homemaker and nurturer, Roland’s parents instilled in their children the importance of being involved in their community and to help make changes where needed.

After serving with distinction in the United States Marine Corp, Roland made history by integrating the Quantico Marine Base Basketball team as the first African American and non-commissioned officer to join the squad, later earning a full athletic scholarship for basketball during the mid-60s to Pepperdine University. A standout player, he was given the title “Mr. Everything” and still holds the school’s season and career rebound average records.

Upon graduation, Roland was offered a contract to play basketball professionally for the Washington Bullets. However, decided to return to Chicago instead to become an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement under Reverend Hosea Williams as one of his “Unbought & Unbossed” field generals, assisting in the successful launch of the Chicago Open Housing Movement. In 1971, Roland relocated to Los Angeles, and joined the staff of the University of Southern California (USC) before accepting a position as the Community Liaison Officer with the then Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical School.

It was while working for Drew that Roland would meet and married his beloved Cassandra. Together they settled down in the city of Carson, California where together they raised their two sons and daughter.  It was also during this time that Roland’s commitment to the community and Drew University led him to create a lasting imprint on both the school and Southern California, by founding Jazz At Drew, a unique collaboration of music and medicine.  Roland would often tell the story of how during the late 80’s and early 90’s, he read a medical journal that described how music had healing properties, and that some doctors would even play music while in the operating room.  Through this, an idea was born. Serving in a dual role as Director of Alumni Affairs and Community Relations Officer for Drew, Roland collaborated with Aman Kufahamu and Gilda Hagood to launch Jazz At Drew in 1991.  The event grew from an audience of approximately 150 people the first year to accommodate some 10,000 jazz fans annually. With the theme “Building Cultural Bridges Through Music”, Jazz At Drew has honored the legends of jazz, raised critically needed funding to support Drew University and created a happening that the entire Southern California community could be proud of.

Though many would call Roland a mentor, those close to him would hear him call them “Leader”. When asked why he would use this term, Roland would smile and say it came from his days as part of the Civil Rights Movement saying “We were all leaders and so are you.” Nicknamed “The Riverdog”, Roland was an avid fisherman, proudly boasting a license plate that read “Fish Tremble At The Sound Of My Name”.

Loving husband, father, athlete, activist, mentor and friend, Roland is survived by: his wife Ayo, daughter Ayana Betts, sons Jabari Betts and Baraka Betts, 12 grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held at the Inglewood Mortuary located at 3801 W. Manchester Blvd. in Inglewood on Friday, April 7 from 4 to 8 p.m. Memorial service and repass will be on the campus of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, located at 1731 E. 120th Street in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

April 06, 2017 

By Niele Anderson 

Contributing Writer 

Funeral services were held April 1 for one of the internet’s most popular icons, Felicia “Auntie Fee” Odell, at Paradise Baptist Church, 5100 S. Broadway. While many wished this was a cruel April Fool’s joke, reality filled the room with tears and bowed heads, mixed with irreplaceable memories that helped hold mourners together.  The room was filled to capacity with many fans there to show respect for the cussing chef that brought laughter and low-budget hardy recipes to You Tube. 

Auntie Fee’s life was and is a living testimony that you can overcome. Her manager and niece Aisha Odell exclusively shared with the Sentinel, “Life’s a trip, God didn’t take her away when she was strung out on drugs on Denver Ave. (at one time in Auntie Fee’s life she was addicted to crack and served time in prison) God took her in her prime. God will set things up, line things up and change your whole program, but when your assignment on earth is complete as bad as it hurts there’s nothing we can do.”

Aisha Odell continues, “I spoke to my Aunt at 6:30am on March 14 we clowned as usual her cussing and fussing, we spoke about a catering job for the TV show Blackish that Friday. She was going to make her famous fried broccoli and wings. By 10:30am the paramedics was at her house. I’m going to miss that lady so much.”

Attendee Sandra Wortham stated, I felt like I had to be here. I felt I knew her even though I never met her, I felt like she was a part of my family”. Patty Pie internet sensation James Wright sang at the service. The service had Auntie Fee’s humor, upbeat and feisty personality and reflected the love her family, friends and fans had for her.

Auntie Fee “met no strangers” as the saying goes, always welcoming folks into her home for an Aunty Fee meal, friendly banter, some of that famous Kool aid, a photo to prove you was there and if she liked you, she’d make you one of her famous Patron desserts.

Auntie Fee went viral in 2014, but she was always South Central famous attending 68th Street School, Bethune Middle School and Fremont High School.  However, after her 2014 You Tube posting of “good ass chicken” and “sweet treats for the kids “her popularity went worldwide. One of her most viewed videos, which has more than 2 million views, is about feeding a family of seven for just $3.35. She was, auntie to all, cussing hood chef to the internet and comedy gold for Hollywood.

Her style of cussing, fussing, cooking and clowning her son Tavis/video director became an instant hit and caught the attention of many Hollywood stars hoping to grab some of her popularity and shine by inviting her on their shows.

Auntie was a favorite of Steve Harvey’s syndicated TV Show, Jimmy Kimmel, BET’s Real Husbands of Hollywood, Snoop Dogg and many others. She once shared her frustrations with saying she loved all the attention but she was still looking for that big “budget” break. Explaining many opportunities came but compensation was always an issue. Nevertheless, she gave more of her talent because of her love, for the fans. Fans were inspired by her common-sense wisdom mixed with profanity and delicious quick meals.

Cooking with Auntie will live forever through her videos, the world got to know the realest cook in the hood, Auntie Fee. Before her death, she was working on a reality show executive produced by Comedian J Anthony Brown. No further details available.

After the funeral and later that evening her loved ones gathered at her home in South Central and lit up the sky with colorful lanterns in her memory. Auntie Fee suffered a massive heart attack on March 14 and was taken off of life support March 18 at Harbor-ULCA Medical Center.