About this Event
A night of Trailblazers. One Stage. One Powerful Evening.
Malik Books and PAFF proudly present An Evening of Storytelling with Jayne Kennedy—trailblazing journalist, award-winning actress, and history-maker as the first Black woman sports anchor on The NFL Today.
This special community gathering goes beyond headlines and reality TV cameras. In a space filled with warmth, humor, and honesty, Jayne Kennedy will reflect on a remarkable life and career while exploring universal themes of partnership, parenting, resilience, and living your truth.
The evening will be hosted by Lorna Little, President and CEO of St. Anne’s Family Services, and moderated by Danny J. Bakewell Jr., President & Executive Editor of the Los Angeles Sentinel, guiding an intimate and insightful conversation rooted in legacy, love, and authenticity.
Copies of Plain Jayne will be available for purchase at the event. Click ADD On to Buy book as Limited books available.
Event Details
📅 Thursday, February 19
⏰ 7:00 PM
📍 Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall
📷 Photo Op
📚Signing
Join us for an unforgettable evening that celebrates storytelling, community, and the power of trailblazers who open doors for generations to come.
Jayne Kennedy | BiographyFor millions of American women who came of age in the 1960s and 70s, JayneKennedy was more than the “it girl,” she was a cherished role model as well, forAfrican-American women in particular.Her career in Hollywood started in 1971 as a dancer on Rowan and Martin'sLaugh-In and Bob Hope's Bases Around the World Christmas Tour, where she entertainedtroops during the Vietnam War. From there, she went on to host major TV specials,guest star on prime-time TV, and serve as a national spokesperson for majorcompanies, including Coca-Cola. Her work extended to behind the camera as well—she not only created, wrote, and hosted her own fitness series, Love Your Body (oneof the first of its kind, among the likes of Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons), but alsoproduced and starred in award-winning films, including Body & Soul, for which shewon the NAACP Image Award for Best Actress.However, Jayne is best known for her ground-breaking tenure on the EmmyAward winning CBS’ The NFL Today. As one of the first female sports anchors and thevery first African-American female in that role, she destroyed the myth that womencould not make it in the world of sports broadcasting. The combination of Brent Musburger,Jayne Kennedy, Irv Cross, and Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder is often referred toas the best pregame show on television—ever!Her accolades for being a trailblazer in sports, entertainment, and journalismare numerous, including the National Sports Media Association’s Roone Arledge Awardfor Innovation and Black Enterprise’s Women of Power Summit’s Legacy Award. Viacom/BET named her one of the Ten Black Female Firsts in TV Journalism Around theWorld, and in 2018 she was inducted to the prestigious Smithsonian National Museumof African-American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington D.C., in the Televisionand the Media Landscape exhibit, presented in the Oprah Winfrey Wing of the institution.More recently in August 2025, Jayne was awarded with the Sam Lacy PioneerLifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Black Journalists.Breaking new ground is nothing out of the ordinary for Jayne. There seemed toalways be a hurdle on the track as she raced through a meteoric career that broughther praise and acclaim across many genres and platforms—which now also includes‘author’, with her long-awaited memoir Plain Jayne released September 2, 2025 onAndscape/Disney Books, with the official public launch being held at NMAAHC on September6, 2025.
From award-winning actress and sports broadcaster Jayne Kennedy comes a compelling, inspirational, and unflinchingly honest memoir about her rise in Hollywood and beyond.
Jayne Kennedy is one of the most photographed, glamorous, and intriguing women ever to set foot in Hollywood. Perhaps best known for her groundbreaking work in 1978–1980 on the Emmy Award–winning CBS program The NFL Today, she’s an icon and trailblazer in every sense of the word. From becoming the first Black woman to win Miss Ohio USA, to being the only woman to host the long-running syndicated television show Greatest Sports Legends, and pioneering the fitness industry with her bestselling Love Your Body exercise videos and fitness programs, nobody has had a career trajectory quite like Jayne. And she has never gone on the record about her personal experiences and the resulting joys and scars—until now.
Her candid and conversational storytelling will endear her once again to her existing fans as well as open her up to a new audience that will admire her message of resilience and empowerment. Jayne has long been a beacon of Black and female excellence and has opened doors for female talent and media executives. Inducted into the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in their Television and the Media Landscape exhibit, Jayne is indeed a pioneer. Tracing her upbringing in Ohio and her journey shattering glass ceilings in American contemporary culture, Plain Jayne is a breathtaking story of endurance, survival, and achievement.
Danny J. Bakewell, Jr.
Danny J. Bakewell, Jr. is the President and Executive Editor of Bakewell Media owners of the historic Los Angeles Sentinel, the oldest and largest African American Newspaper West of the Mississippi.
Mr. Bakewell, Jr., on behalf of The Bakewell Family, oversees the operations of The Los Angeles Sentinel. Since taking over the helm of the Sentinel’s day-to-day operations, The Bakewell Family has expanded the historic newspapers distribution network by adding home delivery, and a weekly e-paper which reaches over 350,000 weekly readers. Beyond the traditional newspaper publication Bakewell Media has expanded its reach to include podcast, as well as a significant social media influence. The Sentinel brand is also featured weekly on the CBS2/KCAL9 news with a Sentinel Community Update every Thursday morning reaching over 5,000,000 viewers.
Furthermore, under Danny Jr’s leadership the Sentinel produces the Annual Taste of Soul Family Festival and the Official Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade which elevates and uplifts our community and serves as an economic engine driver for local and community businesses providing over $50,000,000 of in sales and services over the past 20 years.
Mr. Bakewell, Jr. is a graduate of the University of Southern California (USC) Real Estate Development and Finance Program. He is the recipient of both the USC Black Alumnus of the Year Award (2008) and the USC Black Alumni Association EME Award for outstanding achievement (2021).
Mr. Bakewell, Jr. is a lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and a lifetime member of the NAACP. He sits on the Board of Directors of The Los Angeles Brotherhood Crusade, The Cal State University Dominguez Hils Foundation and was recently elected President of the Los Angeles Press Club.
In his spare time Mr. Bakewell, Jr. Loves traveling, attending sporting events and concerts with his “Soul Mate” Kristina Smith as well as spending time with his family. Danny Jr. is the proud grandfather of Hymn Ali Diabate and the father of Taelor, Danny III and twins Devyn and Bryce.
Lorna Little, MSW
President and CEO, St. Anne’s Family Services
A driving force behind the organization’s “Thriving Families: Brighter Futures” motto, Lorna Little, MSW serves as the President and CEO of St. Anne’s Family Services where she has developed innovative programs for children and families since 2018. With a focus on underserved communities that often live in the shadows, she has a successful history of leading and developing exceptional programming that addresses the physical, behavioral, and emotional components that lead to an optimal life trajectory. Lorna has extensively worked with parenting youth, youth in foster care, and in all aspects of adoption. Leveraging her Master’s Degree in Social work, licensure as a clinical social worker, and a Post Masters Certificate in Foster and Adoption studies, she creates quantifiable results for those who St. Anne’s serves. Further demonstrating her diverse expertise, she has served as a training professional, adjunct college professor, and cultural diversity program manager, which helps her lead during this time of change and evolution in our world. She continues to advocate to remove systemic barriers to ensure success for children and families. In order to work effectively and have an impact, Lorna believes that you have to care for the children and families wholeheartedly—believing that the work and the resiliency of the program participants can bring about life-changing transformation.
What makes her even more of an exceptional ally is that Lorna’s background melds an interesting mix of social services leadership and media entertainment. She is the author of Mums the Word!, her personal story of late discovery adoption. She is also a media producer and television personality, previously hosting her own local television show with national guests and celebrities. Understanding the power of communication and connection from sharing our stories, Lorna sees the golden thread that connects her media experience, public speaking and her work in the field of social services. With an unwavering belief that we are all connected, her efforts bring about hope, joy, healing and empowerment. She unapologetically uses her purpose and voice to provide “A Little Guidance.” A member of the Board of the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, Black Women Leaders of Los Angeles, and the Membership Committee for Association of Community Human Service Agencies, Lorna finds time to give back outside of St. Anne’s. She is also a member of The Links, Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Lorna proudly utilizes her professional and lived experience to provide the leadership and guidance to carry out vision and strategy for St. Anne’s Family Services. With her dynamic Executive leadership team and a fantastic team of staff, she implements initiatives and services to achieve positive outcomes. Tackling Early Childhood Education, Supportive Housing, including Residential, Transitional, and Permanent, Mental Health Services, and Family and Community-Based programs, Lorna’s leadership will have lasting impacts for generations to come.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Malik Books, 3650 West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Los Angeles, United States
USD 0.00 to USD 32.77
