WHO CAN JUDGE ME IN L.A. COUNTY? FEATURING GEORGE A. TURNER

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George A. Turner is a father of three and is originally from the city of Inglewood, where he continues to live with his family. Turner has served as a Public Defender for L.A. County for the last 16 years and is now running for L.A. County Superior Court Judge, Seat 39. To learn more about Turner and his campaign, visit his website here. To follow his campaign, do so on IG. You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

To make a one-time donation to my nonprofit work for working-class communities in The City, do so here. To support the production of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast for as little as $5 a month, check out my page at Patreon.

Until the next time, stay vigilant and stay tuned!

J.T.

EPISODE 58 – BELMONT HIGH SCHOOL IN THE 1960s

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In our 58th episode, we are honored to chat with Karen “Kiwi” Burch, as well as her sister Cheryl McDonald. The sisters tell us about their respective careers in education through and beyond Los Angeles, their parents’ profound influence on their education, and the diverse student population of Belmont high school as early as 1963. Karen and Sheryl also describe running for the Associated Student government at Belmont high school, the once-prevalent LAUSD practice of “funneling” non-white students to separate schools, redlining’s impact on their families, and their grandparents’ cafeteria at none other than the Central Public Library. A truly can’t miss post-session for fans of our special panel series.

J.T.

EPISODE 43 – THE POEM WE SIGN

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In our 43rd episode, we catch up with none other than Bethanee Epifani. We talk inauguration, Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb,” vaccination in Los Angeles, and even $100,000 dollars. That’s right. If you’d like to support more of the work at jimbotimes.com, you can join us for a new adventure on Patreon at patreon.com/jimbotimes. Our photo for this podcast is from theamandagorma.com and credited to Kelia Anne.

J.T.

Second Chance (A Ninth Grade Student’s Poem on Redemption)

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Everyone needs a second chance,

A second chance to say goodbye.

To say sorry, to understand.

To hold a grudge or to start a new chapter,

A chance to remain hurt, or a chance to forgive and forget.

But why remain hurt if there’s a second chance to stop hurting.

I need a second chance, you need a second chance,

We need a second chance.

MT

MT is a Black 9th grade student at Dorsey High School in the West Adams area of Los Angeles. His favorite hobbies include playing basketball when he’s outside, and playing Fortnite when he’s stuck at home. This poem is dedicated to his father.

Every Month is Black History Month in the U.S.A.

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There would not be any United States of America if it wasn’t for Black people.

From the moment the first ships docked to shore in Hampton, Virginia (1619),

To the final seconds of that fateful morning above the hills in Calabasas, Los Angeles,

Black stories have constituted American history since before it was a Union, and continue to do so to this day.

In Los Angeles, where would we be without our Black icons?

8:24, Nipsey Hussle, Tupac Amaru Shakur, Angela Yvonne Davis; that’s just the beginning.

We recognize their voices as we open this Mic,

But we also recognize:

Black mothers,

Black fathers,

Black brothers,

Black sisters,

Black grandmothers,

Black grandfathers,

Communities in Historic South Central,

In Compton and Watts.

From Long Beach, to Inglewood,

To Leimert Park, West Adams, and beyond.

We recognize:

Black custodians,

Black bus drivers,

Black shopkeepers,

Black cooks,

Black healers,

Black teachers,

Black artists,

Black authors,

And especially

Black poets.

In the words of

Langston Hughes,

Who would also come

To greet sunny Los Angeles:

‘I too,

Sing America.’

We too

Will sing!

Now,

Let’s get this

Open Mic going.

J.T.