As another turbulent year comes to a close, we share some of our team's favorite stories about loss, and grace.
‘A Star Without a Star’: An Oakland Man's Mission to Get his Aunt on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Long before the current push for more diverse representation in media, Black actors in Hollywood's golden age paved the way in an industry that gave them few options and, often, no credit. In her seven-decade stage and screen career, Juanita Moore made more than 80 film and television appearances. Though she was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in the 1959 film, "Imitation of Life," she didn't reach the level of fame and recognition that might normally follow such a nomination. Her nephew, Arnett Moore, says her spotlight is long overdue, and he's launched a campaign to get her a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Mom, ER Worker and Mentor to Native Youth: A Family Remembers Sylvia Morton
Some 75,000 Californians have died from COVID-19, and we launched a series this year inviting family and friends to honor some of them. Sylvia Morton worked in the emergency department at Riverside Community Hospital. She died on Jan. 8, 2021 at the age of 61, shortly after losing her son Carlos Jr. to the virus. She was a tribal elder of the Cahuilla Tribe, a beloved mom, and a memorable presence in the ER at her hospital.
The Enduring Power of ‘Amazing Grace’ and What It Says About American Unity
Perhaps more than any other popular song in American culture, "Amazing Grace" has become a source of strength and solace for many of our country’s presidents, across the political spectrum, in times of struggle and hardship. As a variety of California artists with strong connections to the song point out, "Amazing Grace" has a transformative effect on people from all walks of life, and can be a powerful tool to help bring them together in these deeply divided times.