Birmingham native who integrated San Bernardino fire department dead of COVID
Updated Dec 20, 2020;
By David Allen Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Calif. (TNS) and Tribune Media Services
He was a Black man whose last name was Jews. If someone were inclined to be prejudiced, that might have been two strikes against Jimmy Jews. When introduced, he got jokes and double-takes.
“That’s my name. We just gotta deal with it,” Jews would say, putting people at ease.
He had more significant hurdles than his name, and he overcame those too. Jews was the first Black firefighter in San Bernardino.
I bring this up because Jews died last month at age 79. And his story is a fascinating one.
Savhannah Rodriguez of Fontana and Debriance Walker of Rialto were named Minerva Scholarship awardees from Reyes district.
The Minerva Scholarship program was established by Women in California Leadership to support the advancement and empowerment of women. This foundation awarded a total of 80 scholarships this year, with two scholarships going to students from San Bernardino County.
âThese scholarships are essential for the empowerment of women regardless of background,â said Reyes. âCongratulations to Debriance and Savhannah on your selection, you both have and continue to be exemplary individuals in your respective fields.â - RODRIGUEZ, a third-year student at the University of California, Berkeley, is studying both political science and public policy. She has been involved in Cal-In-Sacramento Fellowship, Women of Color, and Young Legislators.