Oakland Post
“Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18 postnewsgroup.com 62nd Year, No. 5 Weekly Edition January 29
By Post Staff
The City of Oakland plans to lay off dozens of employees as officials struggle to balance the city’s budget.
According to reports in Oaklandside and other sources, as many as 90 layoff notices have been sent out, though it is still uncertain how many workers and which departments will be affected.
The city’s plan to eliminate a nearly $130 million shortfall in its general purpose fund for fiscal year 2024-2025, which ends in June, with cuts by $25 million to police overtime, eliminating two police academies, temporarily shutting down two fire companies, and reducing funding for arts and
By Magaly Muñoz
Oakland Roots Soccer Team Signs Peter Wilson
By Jean Walsh
Special to The Post
City of Oakland leadership and community partners gathered Wednesday for a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the completion of improvements to enhance the Downtown Oakland Senior Center located in the Veterans’ Memorial Building at 200 Grand Ave.
“Our Senior Centers are vital
hubs for the community and enable seniors to socialize and interact with other active seniors. I’m so excited to see these renovated spaces,” said Interim Oakland Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Thank you to Oakland voters for making these crucial improvements possible through Measure KK and thank you to the hardworking City of Oakland team for delivering this
project on time and within budget.”
District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife likewise praised the center, which is within her district.
“The Downtown Senior Center offers dance classes, crafts, computer courses, and other wonderful programs and activities for our elders,” she said. “I’m excited that renovations to the Downtown Se-
By Ken Epstein
Mainstream media and others are acting as if the conviction of former Mayor Sheng Thao and her partner, Andre Jones, on charges of bribery and conspiracy is a done deal after a federal grand jury brought charges against them on Jan. 17.
The charges came in the wake of an FBI raid on the former mayor’s house last June in the midst of a highly publicized political campaign that led to her recall by voters in November.
Walter Riley, a local civil rights
attorney and community leader, is urging the public to reserve judgement and to understand the grand jury process where the defense is not deeply involved and can offer no evidence or rebuttal.
Thao, Jones, and two members of the Duong family who own California Waste Solutions face charges for conspiracy, bribery, and more associated with an alleged “pay-to-play” scheme.
The indictment “is saying that Sheng Thao and Andre Jones participated in a bribery scheme with
Special to The Post
Oakland Roots Sports Club announce the signing of forward Peter Wilson ahead of the 2025 USL Championship season. Wilson was born in Liberia and has represented his country at the senior national level 16 times, scoring twice.
“Peter is a very prolific striker,” said Oakland Roots Head Coach Gavin Glinton. “He has represented his country and shown he knows how to score across different levels and on multiple different continents. He is a tireless worker and makes life difficult for opposition defenders.”
Now 29, Wilson grew up in Sweden where his parents moved when he was 3 years old.
He made his debut with the Liberian national team, the Lone Stars, in 2019. Wilson most recently played for Fotballkubben Jerv in Norway, following a stint with Olympiakos Nicosia in Cyprus. He was also part of the Moldovan league-winning team with Fotbal Club Sheriff Tiraspol in 2021. Welcome to Oakland, Peter.
Special to The Post The City of Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department (Oakland HCD) has announced its awardees for the 2024-2025 New Construction of Multifamily Affordable Housing Notice of Funding Availability (New Construction NOFA). Five permanently affordable housing developments received awards out of 24 applications received by the Department, with award amounts ranging from $7 million to $28 million. In a statement released on Jan. 16, Oakland's HCD stated, "Five New Construction Multifamily Affordable Housing
me feel safe and comfortable.”
By Edward Henderson
Living in California has been a dream come true for screenwriter Imani Quinn. She counts the Los Angeles-area weather, professional opportunities and proximity to close friends as some of the things that have made the experience especially rewarding for her.
However, when Quinn discovered she was pregnant, finding a good physician to help guide her along that journey became her number one priority – and greatest pain point.
Like many African Americans in California, Quinn said she found it difficult to find a physician who relates to her culturally, considers her lived experiences, and acknowledges the deep-seated racial biases that have been imbued in the health care delivery system historically in the United States.
“It was important because Black women have one of the highest mortality rates with childbirth, childbearing,” said Quinn. “I wanted to make sure that I was in the hands of somebody who knew how to prioritize my health as a Black woman — someone who knows the statistics and knows what to look for and makes
In 2021, the percentage of Black infants in California who were born preterm (12.7%) or who had low birthweight (12.4%) was higher than those of other races/ ethnicities. Black mothers/birthing people experienced the highest maternal mortality rate among all races/ethnicities between 2018 and 2020.
A California Health Care Foundation study published in May 2024 on heath disparities by race and ethnicity in the state found that Black Californians had the shortest life expectancy at 74.6 years. One in four Black respondents in the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) felt they could have received better care if they were a different race/ethnicity.
Given these staggering statistics, Dr. Glenda Newell-Harris, an internal physician and medical advocate based in Oakland, says it is urgent for Black physicians to provide the extra care and attention to improve these numbers.
A 2023 research study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that evaluated all 1618 counties in the United States
Continued on page 8 iStock.
City of Oakland workers celebrate at the Art and Soul festival in Downtown Oakland in 2019. As many as 90 layoff notices were sent out this week.Photo courtesy
Kaplan, interim District 2 city councilmember. File photo.
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors selected Judge Ursula Jones Dickson. Courtesy photo.
Oakland Mayor Kevin Jenkins speaks as councilmembers Carroll Fife, Noel Gallo, Assistant City Administrator Latonda Simmons and Oakland Public Works Director Josh Rowan look on. Photo courtesy the City of Oakland.
Walter Riley, a local civil rights attorney and community leader, spoke on the ex-mayor’s case on KPFA radio on Jan. 22. Courtesy photo. Dis Black History Month in the Bay Features, Parades, Festivals and Speakers ... see page 2
Lesson on Tuskegee Airmen to Air Force Trainees Survives Trump’s Order Dismantling DEI Offices. see page 2
The SixTripleEight: ‘No Mail, Low Morale’... see page 2
Peter Wilson in a montage created by the Oakland Roots Sports Club. Courtesy image.
By Daisha Williams
Black History Month is a month that is centered in teaching, learning, and honoring the journey of Black people in America. Black people in America have faced discrimination, abuse, and every kind of mistreatment. Black History Month is about recognizing not only that history, but how far the community has come despite it, and celebrating Black joy.
Black History Month did not begin as Black History Month. In 1915, after the 13th Amendment was passed, Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH).
This organization sponsored the initiation of a national Negro History Week, which took place in February, the same week as Frederick Douglass’ birthday. During the Civil Rights Movement, this transformed into the Black History Month we still celebrate today.
There are many ways that people celebrate Black History Month and as always, the Bay Area has a little bit of everything.
Most popularly, the Eighth An-
nual Black Joy Parade will be taking place in Downtown Oakland on Feb. 23. The parade will begin at 14th and Franklin Streets at 12:30 p.m. There will be a festival after the parade ends lasting until 7 p.m. This is the largest Black Joy Parade and sure to be a fun time.
Schools, community organizations, and performers can sign up to be in the parade by Feb. 6 on the Black Joy Parade website.
In line with the spirit of the month “From Black History to Black Futures” will take place on Feb. 23 from 2-5 p.m. in Vallejo. This event will show the breadth and beauty of Black life through showcasing speakers, artistic performances, and community booths. This free celebration is hosted by a community organization, Vallejo Building Black Power and Leadership, at 4380 Sonoma Blvd suite 224. The organizers ask that attendees register on Eventbrite because of limited space.
Similar events will be happening in San Francisco and San Leandro.
In San Francisco, Thrive City is hosting a free community event
By Post Staff
In his first week in office, President Donald Trump issued dozens of executive orders, among them one to turn back the clock on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
By Jan. 22, the U.S. Air Force had started shutting down its DEI offices and put those employees on paid administrative leave before their employment ends on Jan. 31.
But a misunderstanding on the executive order’s implementation on the education of U.S. Air Force trainees set off a backlash that reached the Pentagon.
At Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, a memo circulated among personnel had reportedly determined that certain parts of the training curriculum were to be excised immediately.
But, by Monday, as was reported in Air & Space Forces Magazine, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said that “the service is ‘faithfully executing’ the president’s orders and will continue to teach new trainees about the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women Air Force Service Pilots, or WASPs, whose contributions to
the war effort helped win World War II.
“While we are currently reviewing all training courses to ensure compliance with the Executive Orders, no curriculum or content highlighting the honor and valor of the Tuskegee Airmen or Women Air Force Service Pilots has been removed from Basic Military Training,” Allvin said in a Jan. 27 statement reported in Air & Space.
The blowback began on Jan. 23 after on a memo posted on Facebook was leaked.
It was alleged that the memo said a video on the Tuskegee Airmen had been excised from a course on “airmindedness.”
The video described the exploits of the groundbreaking African American airmen, whose combat service during World War II became the stuff of legend.
Known by the ‘red tails’ marking their aircraft, the valor of the airmen escorting bombers gave those pilots a sense of safety.
The nonprofit Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., swiftly issued a state-
By Tamara Shiloh
Many historical accounts of wars do not include women. The word “soldier” often brings to mind a man in uniform. Yet by definition it refers to anyone, including women, serving in the military.
American women were allowed to serve in the army during World War I (1914–1918). Many were nurses and staff who cooked for, and catered to, injured soldiers. Because slavery and racism prevented Black women from giving their services to America, many of these women were white.
Women were recruited and trained until May 1942. The Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps was formed, and women of all races were officially allowed to serve.
In July of that same year, women were given full benefits in the military, and the word “auxiliary” was removed from their name. The Corps then became known as the Women’s Army Corps (WACs).
Although the military trained
women of all races in all divisions and sections of the army in preparation for war, division among the races remained. Black women were encouraged to become WACs. In other divisions, such as the Navy, Black women were excluded almost entirely. The Army Nurse Corps only allowed 500 Black nurses to serve despite thousands who applied.
But the tables were turned in 1945 when the world’s first allblack female battalion was sent from the United States to serve in parts of Europe during World War II (1939–1945).
Known as the 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion, or “the SixTripleEight,” the battalion served in parts of France and England to clear the backlog of mail in the European Theater of Operations. The battalion boasted 855 Black women, both enlisted and officers, and was led by Major Charity Adams Earley. It was the only all-Black, all-female battal-
Continued on page 7
Feb 7–9
The Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen National Museum photo.
ZELLERBACH
The choir performs at the 2023 Black Joy Parade. Courtesy photo.
Adult Day Program
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POST, January 29 - February 4, 2025 Page 4
The original policy was written and amended by OPD with no input or approval from the Oakland Police Commission. The original policy was based on national best practices, written and implemented by former Police Chief Sean Whent. In 2022, after two high-speed police chases re Vilifying the commission is the wrong target, dishonest and reflects their real opposition to oversight and constitutional policing.
COMMENTARY: Diabetes - Should You Be Concerned?
OPOA has manufactured this crisis by not following the current policy and signaling to criminals that they will not do their job. OPD does not have a “no chase” policy.
By Clifford L. Williams
Special to The Post
Diabetes mellitus, or diabetes, is often called a silent disease because most people don’t experience any symptoms, according to Rahul Patel, D.O. physician at Crozer Medical Associates (CMA), and associate program director of Internal Medicine at Crozer Health.
populations, and females appear to show higher sensitivity to insulin. This aspect may be of relevance in insulin treatment and in cases of emergency treatment for hypoglycemia.
When grants were announced Oct. 1, it was noted that eight of the 22 MacArthur fellows were African American. Among the recipients of the so-called ‘genius grants’ are scholars, visual and media artists a poet/writer, historian, and dancer/choreographer who each receive $800,000 over a five-year period to spend as they see fit.
According to the National Institutes of Health, hypothetically, central obesity, a condition associated with the higher risk of diabetes type 2 prevalence in men, given that men are more prone to android adiposity with greater abdominal adiposity, compared with women who are more likely to exhibit gynoid adiposity.
Males appear to be more frequently affected by the disease. Although this may vary in different
Their names are Ruha Benjamin, Jericho Brown, Tony Cokes, Jennifer L. Morgan, Ebony G. Patterson, Shamel Pitts, Jason Reynolds, and Dorothy Roberts. This is the eighth and last in the series highlighting the Black awardees. The report below on Dorothy Rob-
However, the disease strikes both men and women, and usually occurs in in three stages – prediabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose.
When there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, that can cause serious problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.
land Police Officers Association (OPOA), Newsom called the Oakland Police Commission irresponsible in their duty to the safety of Oakland residents because they declined to change the pursuit policy when tasked to do so by the Oakland City Council: “In July, I wrote a letter to the Police Commission. I wrote a letter to the City Council. I wrote a let-
Doctors diagnose prediabetes when blood sugar levels are above typical levels but not quite in the diabetes range. CMA says 88 million adults have prediabetes which means high blood sugar levels haven’t reached the damaging levels seen in type 2 diabetes.
erts is excerpted from the MacArthur Fellows web site.
A graduate of Yale University with a law degree from Harvard, Dorothy Roberts is a legal scholar and public policy researcher exposing racial inequities embedded within health and social service systems.
lice commission on Sept. 19, 2024, 100 residents of Oakland implored the commission to revise restrictions and restore police chase capabilities. They highlighted to the commission that “Oakland’s businesses are being targeted almost on a daily basis and we need to help our small business owners….it is a plea to help our city thrive.”
vent further complications associated with the disease. Early detection is always key. It enables people to take quick and appropriate to ensure the situation does not worsen and complications do not develop. To detect the onset of diabetes as early as possible, doctors and at-risk individuals can watch for certain signs and symptoms.
MacArthur Fellow Dorothy Roberts’ Advocates Restructure of Child Welfare System
state intervention and the results of those interventions.
Unfortunately, 84 percent of people don’t know they have prediabetes and if left unchecked, it could eventually lead to type 2 diabetes. Some people live with prediabetes for years before developing type 2 diabetes, and others may not go on to develop type 2 diabetes.
Sine 2012, she has been a professor of Law and Sociology, and on the faculty in the department of Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
Roberts’s work encompasses reproductive health, bioethics, and child welfare. She sheds light on systemic inequities, amplifies the voices of those directly affected, and boldly calls for wholesale transformation of existing systems.
Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty 1997)”, she analyzes historical and contemporary policies and practices that denied agency to Black women and sought to control their childbearing—from forced procreation during slavery, to coercive sterilization and welfare reform—and advocates for an expanded understanding of reproductive freedom.
This work prompted Roberts to examine the treatment of children of color in the U.S. child welfare system.
cago mothers who had interact ed with Child Protective Services (CPS), Roberts shows that institu tions regularly punish the effects of poverty as neglect.
Roberts’s early work focused on Black women’s reproductive rights and their fight for reproductive justice. In “Killing the Black
CMA noted that type 1 diabetes affects two to four million people in the United States, and can occur suddenly, possibly as the result of an infection. Blood glucose levels rise, unchecked. Type 1 diabetes mostly occurs in children and young adults, and less frequently in older people. It also isn’t something you can prevent.
And finally, in comparison, for most people, about 30 to 32 million Americans, have type 2 diabetes. While most cases occur over age 40, the disease has begun affecting younger people, including teens and adolescents.
At present, there is no cure for diabetes. People with this disorder can only undergo treatment to pre-
Some people may be able to manage type 2 diabetes with lifestyle changes, such as following a specific eating plan, getting regular exercise, and managing stress. Others may need diabetes medication or insulin to help manage their blood sugar levels. Whichever way you manage your blood sugar levels, keeping them in a safe range can help prevent complications and keep your diabetes from progressing.
About the Author
Clifford Williams is a journalist and author.
After nearly two decades of research and advocacy work alongside parents, social workers, family defense lawyers, and organizations, Roberts has concluded that the current child welfare system is in fact a system of family policing with alarmingly unequal practices and outcomes. Her 2001 book, “Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare,” details the outsized role that race and class play in determining who is subject to
Freddie Ray Turner, 75
Special to The Post
CPS disproportionately investigates Black and Indigenous families, especially if they are lowincome, and children from these families are much more likely than white children to be removed from their families after CPS referral.
In “Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families—and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World (2022),” Roberts traces the historical, cultural, and political forces driving the racial and class imbalance in child welfare interventions.
These include stereotypes about Black parents as negligent, devaluation of Black family bonds, and stigmatization of parenting practices that fall outside a narrow set
Freddie Ray Turner was born in Mesa, Arizona, on July 15, 1949, the youngest of Carlanthe and Jimmie Turner’s seven children. Fred attended the Chandler public schools and graduated high school in 1966. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama and Spanish from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Relocated to the Bay Area, he continued his education, and earned a master’s degree in Education Administration from Cali-
She also shows that blaming tural problems, while ignoring the historical roots of economic and social inequality, fails families and Roberts argues that the en grained oppressive features of the current system render it beyond repair. She calls for creating an entirely new approach focused on supporting families rather than punishing them.
fornia State University-Hayward. Fred enjoyed a 27-year career (1972-1999) with the Oakland Unified School District. Starting as a classroom teacher, he went on to serve as a vice principal, principal and retired as director of Student Services. But retirement was not in the cards for Fred. He went on to serve as the Fremont Unified School District’s director of Pupil Services for five years, retiring in 2004. Throughout his life,
Her support for dismantling the current system of child welfare is unsettling to some, but her provocation inspires many to think more critically about its poor track record and harmful design.
By uncovering the complex forces underlying social systems and institutions, and uplifting the experiences of people caught up in them, Roberts creates opportunities to imagine and build more equitable and responsive ways to ensure child and family safety.
Dorothy Roberts. Photo courtesy of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Clifford L. Williams. Courtesy of Clifford L. Williams.
Fred’s
Freddie Ray Turner. Photo courtesy of the family.
Public Notices, Classifieds & Business
PUBLIC NOTICE
THE CITY OF OAKLAND’S DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2025-2030 HUD CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND 2025 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN
Jurisdictions that annually receive federal funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are required to prepare a Consolidated Plan that is implemented through Annual Action Plans. The Consolidated Plan provides an analysis of housing and community development needs, current market conditions, and a plan for implementing strategies to meet those needs. Consolidated Plans must be updated every five years. The last update was in May 2020. In Spring 2025, the City of Oakland will adopt the Consolidated Plan for Fiscal Years 2025-2026 through 20292030 and the Annual Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
These planning documents are informed by public participation and intergovernmental consultation. The purpose of the Consolidated Plan is to determine the most pressing needs within the City of Oakland, and to develop effective, place-based, market-driven strategies to meet those needs.
A public hearing will be held to receive comments at the Oakland City Council on February 18, 2025. The purpose of this hearing is to invite input on affordable housing and community and economic development needs. Public input will be used to inform the development of the next Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan. Tuesday, February 18, 3:30 p.m.
Oakland City Hall
City Council Chamber, 3rd Floor 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, California 94612
The public comment period will end on March 20, 2025. City Council and Committee meetings are held in-person and are recorded. To comment, fill out a speaker card for each agenda item, whether speaking in person or via teleconference. Submit Electronic Speaker Cards as instructed on the agenda. Inperson speakers must submit their cards to the City Clerk beforehand. You can also submit comments online through the City of Oakland Calendar (legistar.com) or email them to council@oaklandca.gov. Speaker Cards must be submitted 24 hours prior to the Hearing.
Submission of Written Comments
Public comments must be submitted by March 19, 2025. Email comments may be submitted to: hcd@oaklandca.gov with subject “Public Hearing Comments.” Written comments may be submitted to City of Oakland HCD, 250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 5313, Oakland, CA 94612. For more information, call (510) 238-6182.
Accessibility
Meeting room is wheelchair accessible. To request disability-related accommodations or to request an American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, or Vietnamese language interpreter, contact (510) 238-6182, 711 (California Relay Service) or hcd@oaklandca.gov at least five (5) business days prior to the date of Public Hearing.
Californians get additional state funding for health care costs.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The State of California is set to continue its efforts of getting people health insurance with enhanced benefits through Covered California that will ensure enrollees see reduced out-of-pocket costs in 2025.
Covered California was created by the state to help people get health insurance by offering financial assistance and other support. Recognizing that many people have questions about health insurance, Covered California provides local experts who can help find a plan that’s right for each person.
This new funding is available, regardless of income, when people enroll in one of the Silver-level plans through Covered California. Some of the cost-reduction benefits of these Silver plans are lower copays as well as $0 deductibles. This helps make health care costs more transparent and predictable – which ultimately means paying less when going to the doctor or getting care.
All Covered California plans include preventive care, doctor visits, emergency care, prescriptions, and more. Enrollees can choose from well-known companies like Blue Shield, Kaiser Permanente, and Anthem, providing them access to a wide range of doctors, hospitals, and specialty care.
“Recognizing that cost is still the key barrier to proper health care for too many Californians, our goal is to improve affordability for our enrollees in every aspect of their health care,” said Jessica Altman, Executive Director of Covered California. “Combined with federal support for premiums, this will be the highest level of affordability that has ever been available to our enrollees.”
BOOK REVIEW:
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Find out more at ftc.gov/idtheft
OPINION:
When Hip-Hop Sold Its Soul for a Stack
By Jasmyne Cannick
Once upon a time, hip-hop was the voice of the streets. It was a movement, a message, and a megaphone for Black empowerment and communal struggle. Born from block parties and sound systems in the Bronx, New York, it was raw, unfiltered, and unapologetically Black. It was a blueprint for survival. But somewhere along the way, the cipher got hijacked by the almighty dollar, and now we’re left wondering: when did hip-hop trade its soul for a stack?
They Caught the Vapors Soulja Boy, Rick Ross, Nelly, and the Doggfather himself, Snoop. These are the same artists who once rode waves of Black creativity, who stood on the shoulders of a community that built them up, only to later moonwalk into Donald Trump’s inaugural events like it was a VIP lounge. And yes, Black people have every right to critique that.
The hypocrisy is staggering. These Black hip-hop artists celebrating the election of Donald Trump is baffling. In Trump’s very first hours in office, he signed executive orders that directly harmed Black and Brown communities, including his pardoning of leaders from extremist groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers — organizations tied to white supremacist ideologies and violent white-power movements.
Snoop Dogg’s decision to perform at a Trump-related event directly contradicts his outspoken criticism of Trump in 2017. Back then, he was vocal about rejecting Trump and everything he stood for, positioning himself as someone who wouldn’t sell out for any price. Fast forward to now, and his involvement in a Trump celebration feels like a complete 180, leaving fans questioning his authenticity and commitment to principles he once preached.
That’s why we’re upset.
The Crossover
We’ve seen this coming for a while now. The slow but steady shift of hip-hop from a movement to a money-making machine has been happening for decades. It was only a matter of time before we hit this embarrassing moment.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Trump’s inauguration wasn’t some neutral gig. It was built on policies and rhetoric that harm Black and Brown communities. To stand on it as a Black artist, pocket the money, and then retreat to your mansion feels like the ultimate betrayal.
Rappers used to talk about surviving the struggle — now it’s all about thriving in excess. If it’s not sex or drugs, every other line brags about a Birkin bag, a private jet, or a stack of cash that’s apparently so heavy it’s a workout just to hold it.
The Message
Hip-hop is supposed to be bigger than flexing on the gram. It’s supposed to be about truth, resilience, and resistance. Those of us old enough to remember the history and evolution of hip-hop know this better than anyone. We remember when it was a lifeline, a mirror for the struggle, and a call to action — not just a showcase of wealth. But for younger generations, some of whom have only known hip-hop that is obsessed with money and status, it’s a different story.
So, yes, folks have every right to question when the moves don’t align with the culture. If we don’t hold hip-hop accountable, who will?
About the Author
Jasmyne Cannick is based in Los Angeles and is an award-winning journalist and political commentator who writes to challenge, critique, and hold the culture accountable.
Open Contempt: Confronting White Supremacy in Art and Public Space
our heroes. Those works may be so familiar, in fact, that you might barely notice them, although many of the monuments have lauded white supremacists.
Says Weathersby, while some works have been removed in the recent past, many still stand, quietly, unobtrusively.
close he came to being a policeman himself.
“Look,” he says, “white supremacy everywhere.”
And, he says, if we have the courage to actually see it, to look hard and clear at it, “there exists a chance to heal and become empowered.”
Freddie Ray Turner, 75 ...
Continued from page 4
traveled the world. He didn’t just have a “travel bug,” Fred was a travel bug. He graduated from overnight stays in youth hostels in Paris, Rome, and Madrid to vacationing in much finer accommodations in Kenya, Turkey, China, Japan, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Israel, Amsterdam, and South Africa. If there was an airport, at some time in his life Fred Turner landed in it.
Fred was a devoted member of Brother-to-Brother from 2005 until his passing. He was also a life associate of the East OaklandHayward section of the National Council for Negro Women, an organization he strongly supported since 2013. Fred also served on the Board of Directors for the Leadership Institute at Allen Temple Baptist Church.
An avid reader, Fred’s response to the lockdown caused by the 2020 COVID pandemic
Lesson on Tuskegee Airmen to Air Force Trainees ... Continued from page 2
ment criticizing the act. Republican Senator Katie Britt of Alabama took to social media charging the Air Force with “malicious compliance,” suggesting someone obeyed the directive in a way intended to undermine the order’s intent.
While the video presenta-
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
Author: Irvin Weathersby Jr., c.2025, Viking, $30.00
The issue appears to be permanent.
It’s been happening for a long time. It doesn’t look like it’ll stop any time soon either. And although you’ve been able to work around it, you shouldn’t have to. Some say it might be better someday but you’re not holding your breath. As in the new book, “In Open Contempt” by Irvin Weathersby Jr., some things are too set in stone.
Cemeteries are filled with them.
So are parks, campuses, galleries, museums, and courtyards where, for centuries, humans have left their carved and constructed monuments and artwork celebrating and commemorating
was to organize “Plot Chasers,” a close group of friends who meet weekly to read and discuss short stories.
Fred passed away on Dec. 15, 2024, following a brief hospitalization. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Madelyn, and brothers Robert Lee and Franklin Eugene.
He leaves to mourn his surviving siblings Artie Mae Clark, Dorothy Rome, and Jimmie Richard Turner; first cousin, Catherine Markham; a host of nieces and nephews, great- nieces and nephews, and very close friends.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Allen Temple Family Life Center, 8501 International Blvd., in Oakland, CA.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that friends honor Fred’s memory with a donation in Fred’s name to the National Alzheimer’s & Related Disorders Association, or to the East Bay AIDs Advocacy Foundation.
The Air Force quickly moved to reinstate a course for new recruits, which includes videos on the World War II-era Tuskegee Airmen and Women’s Airforce Service Pilots, after the class was pulled for review following the Trump administration’s sweeping order barring diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Air Force Times.
tions on the Tuskegee Airmen and WASPs were delayed for one group of Airmen, Air & Space revealed, both Allvin and Air Education and Training Command boss Lt. Gen. Brian S. Robinson said no videos were ever removed from the curriculum.
Air & Space Magazine, the Associated Press, The San Antonio Express News and Wikipedia are sources for this report.
In his hometown of New Orleans, for instance, there was great controversy over the removal of statues honoring Civil War figures. The Ninth Ward street that Weathersby lived on as a child honored a slaveholder. Schools he attended nearby were named after men who established racist laws and ways of life.
He didn’t know to question those things when he was a child, or even as a young man. When he enrolled at Morehouse, an HBCU, though, he “began … unlearning ...white supremacist culture.”
Stories from his great-grandmother helped him see white supremacy clearer.
He found it in South Dakota, at Mt. Rushmore and at Wounded Knee, and he saw its effects at an Indigenous Writer’s Festival where he learned of the Dakota 38.
He sees it in art everywhere. He saw it once, when he was jailed overnight for a bike ticket he’d already dealt with. White supremacy is there when he thinks about the innocent people killed by police, and he thinks about how
The SixTripleEight: ...
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ion overseas throughout the war.
Many of the women serving were handpicked by civil rights activist and educator Mary McLeod Bethune.
Confronted with racism and sexism from their own leadership and troops, the battalion served with honor and distinction completing their mission in six months. By war’s end, the SixTripleEight had cleared over 17 million pieces of backlogged mail ensuring the troops stayed in touch with their loved ones back home.
Although the SixTripleEight had a motto, “No mail, low morale,” they accomplished more than distributing letters and packages. As the largest contingent of
Black History Month in the Bay ...
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that includes performances of all kinds, from music to spoken word, with the headliner being August Lee Stevens. This event will take place at the Dance Mission Theater on Feb. 1 from 12-3 p.m. Though it is free, priority will be given to people who registered on Eventbrite.
In San Leandro, there will be the Black History Month RnB Day Market at 222 Davis St. This family-friendly event will be put on by the Downtown San Leandro Community Benefit District and include live music, dance performances and a fashion show. This free event will be on Feb. 15 from 12-6 p.m.
There are other ways to celebrate this month other than community festivals and block parties. For example, the College of Marin’s Umoja group is putting together a Black History Month Poetry Reading. This event will be free and take place on Feb. 19 from 12:40 to 1:30 p.m.
At the North Berkeley Senior Center there will be a Black Histo-
You know how you can stare and stare at something, only to suddenly realize that there’s something about it that’s surprising, even shocking, right in front of you? That’s the sense you’ll get as you read “In Open Contempt,” that smack-your-forehead, duh feeling you get when your eyes are opened wide.
And yet, like many of the things he discovered and points out, Weathersby keeps a quiet presence in his book. His words are soft, but urgent. Gentle, but insistent. Firm, but prodding, leading, like having a presence sitting on your shoulder, whispering in your ear and urging you to see, to notice, demanding that you tell others, too.
Readers who drive or walk past a monument to a historical figure every day will surely be spurred to regard it with fresh new eyes, after reading this book. You may never view artwork quite the same, either, because what you’ll learn inside “In Open Contempt” is monumental.
Black women to ever serve overseas, they dispelled stereotypes and represented a change in racial and gender roles in the military.
Between 1945 and 1946, the majority of the women worked under the mail service. Others served as cooks, mechanics, nurse assistants and in other roles when necessary. Working conditions were dangerous and risky, as the women were placed in abandoned and infested aircraft and offices throughout the war.
Women of the SixTripleEight were later honored with the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal while they were still in service.
The last of the battalion returned home in March 1946.
ry Month celebration hosted by the City of Berkeley, Health, Housing and Community Services, Mental Health Division. Keynote speaker Gigi Crowder, CEO of the Contra Costa County branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will be giving a talk on Feb 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A Black History Month celebration with line dancing, music, and food will be in the Richmond Memorial Auditorium on Feb. 22 1-3 p.m. with doors opening at 12:30. This event will be hosted by the City of Richmond and attendees must register in advance. Tickets are $15 and for more details contact 510-620-6793.
Musical expression has always been a vital part of Black culture, and Black people have contributed largely to the development of many music genres. Stockton Soul is honoring Black History Month with an ensemble created to highlight the legacy of Black music with influences like Curtis Mayfield and Isaac Hayes. The concert will be held on Feb. 15 with tickets for only $8 for adults.
Book Cover of In Open Contempt: Confronting White Supremacy in Art and Public Space. Photo Courtesy of Viking.
Finding the Right Doctor ... Oakland Will Lay Off Dozens of City Workers
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cultural services.
The city also plans to temporarily close four additional fire stations and layoff 92 employees.
Though City officials and labor union representatives have been discussing ways to avoid or reduce layoffs, there are no indications they have reached any agreements.
Planning is also already underway for the new two-year budget, which begins in July. To
...
relieve the city’s budget shortfall, the City Council has placed a sales tax hike on the April ballot, which could raise about $21 million next year if it passes.
The city may also receive $125 million from the African American Sports and Entertainment Group for the sale of the Coliseum.
Until recently, the deal had been held up awaiting a decision by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, but the board approved the sale on Jan. 15.
Superior Court Judge Ursula Jones Dickson
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three-round count. Contra Costa
Assistant DA Annie K. Esposito and California Chief Deputy Attorney Venus Johnson were the other two candidates to advance into the final voting rounds, each receiving one vote in the end by Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas and Lena Tam.
Dickson has been an Alameda judge since 2013, primarily presiding over juvenile and criminal cases, and previously worked for 14 years as a deputy DA in the Alameda office.
“[The district attorney] job at the beginning and at the end, the alpha and omega is to do what’s right for the community, protect the public, public safety and lift up the victims. That is what I’ve always done … I will continue to do that,” Dickson said.
In last week’s meeting where the seven candidates presented their vision for the role, Dickson said she would prioritize streamlining the process for attorneys to make quicker and more precise decisions, ensure the department’s budget is balanced, and address the divisions in the office that many attorneys have said started when Price was elected. She also wants to make sure the current team of attorneys is trained to be DAs, as many allegedly lack the necessary experience.
Dickson also offered a two-forone deal to the Board during her speech, saying she would hire Esposito to be her right hand in the DAO if chosen for the next district attorney. She added that she’s
...
ready to hit the ground running on day one in office and will bring on the best of the best attorneys to carry out her vision.
This proposition excited a few on the dais and dozens of residents who spoke out in support during a lengthy public comment session.
Members of the recall group Save Alameda For Everyone, or SAFE, strongly endorsed Dickson and Esposito, saying they had what it takes to change the office around and “bring justice” to a much needed community that has been at the face of public safety concerns in recent times.
SAFE founders Carl Chan and Brenda Grisham advised the Board against choosing Johnson because she works for allegedly “corrupt” Attorney General Rob Bonta, the newest politician on the group’s no-no list. They allege that with his endorsement of Johnson, Bonta was attempting to influence and control politics in Alameda for his own gain.
However, that did not deter the Supervisors from expressing support and praise for Johnson.
Supervisor Nate Miley shared his top choices, Johnson and Dickson, saying either would make a great DA that could lead the office and county in the best direction.
“This is one of the most difficult and challenging decisions,” Miley said about the selection process.
Dickson will be sworn into the role next Tuesday.
$80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments ...
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Development projects awarded a total of $80.5 million to develop 583 affordable rental homes throughout Oakland. Awardees will leverage the City’s investments to apply for funding from the state and private entities."
In December, the office of Rebecca Kaplan, interim District
2 City Councilmember, worked with HCD to allocate an additional $10 Million from Measure U to the funding pool. The legislation also readopted various capital improvement projects including street paving and upgrades to public facilities.
The following Oakland
affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:
Mandela Station Affordable
• 238 Affordable Units
including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18
million
• Developer: Mandela Station
LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
• City Council District: 3
• Address: 1451 7th St.
Liberation Park Residences
• 118 Affordable Units
including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Continued from page 1
found that the life expectancy for Blacks was higher in areas where there were higher concentrations of Black doctors.
But how can Black Californians find them? California Black Media spoke with Newell-Harris about some strategies.
“The best recommendations come from patients, not doctors,” she said “At the end of the day, your physician has to be a professional that meets your needs. Somebody that’s willing to listen to you. Somebody that’s going to be available to see you. Somebody who works with you — whatever your situation is.”
Newell-Harris recommends consulting the National Medical Association in addition to seeking counsel from other Black organizations like churches, fraternities/ sororities and local chapters of the NAACP to network and get doctor recommendations from other patients.
Another useful resource for Black Californians seeking the right doctor is myblacktelehealth. com, Newell says. For Black women, there is asktia.com.
Newell says the process may take a little more time, but it is a way to get access to a network of physicians of color and others who have a proven record of success working with Black patients.
In South L.A., where there is one of the highest concentrations of Black Californians in the state — 28% of a population of about 271,000 – the shortage of doctors is acute. Therefore, the chance of finding an available Black doctor or culturally competent one is even more challenging.
“It’s a starting point if you are completely at your wit’s end,” she added.
Quinn says her search for a Black physician in the Los Angeles area began online, consulting social media groups and women’s wellness spaces in Los Angeles.
“They referred me to some OB’s. But they were all White, majority of them were men. I was surprised at how much these institutions don’t have these resources to help people find the kind of OB that they want. So, I ended up doing a lot of my own research just by, like, Googling people.”
According to a 2020 study, only 3% of California’s physicians are Black.
tors.
“There are 39 physicians per 100,000 residents in South LA,” Batchlor said in a statement.
“Compare that with 1,000 physicians for the same population in Los Angeles’s west side. The physician gap in this community is the next mountain we must move.”
An additional option, experts say, to work around the shortage of Black physicians in California is Telehealth. The medium, which gained popularity during the pandemic, has many benefits when it comes to consulting Black physicians across the state – or even the country — if one is not available in your city.
“Telehealth can be utilized for so many ways,” said Newell-Harris. “If you’re in a rural area and the specialist is far, then it helps to be able to get a telehealth visit. It can be a lifeline.”
However, Newell-Harris only recommends using telehealth for specialists and emphasizes that it is not a substitution for a primary care physician. She stressed the importance of seeing an in-person physician for important heath concerns that need to be diagnosed in person.
Some PCPs also offer telehealth visits for some routine checkups and other services.
For Quinn and many other Black Californians, sometimes finding the right doctor for you might be driving a little farther to another city or community in your region.
Luckily, Quinn said she saved a contact she made while hosting a podcast and was able to get a referral to a Black physician based in Los Angeles.
“I’ve gone to her for a visit so far and had communication with her. There’s an alignment just from a lifestyle place. And then just, yeah, her being a Black woman and being knowledgeable about, different genetic things that we can get that are more race specific, Quinn shared. “The experience was warm and welcoming.”
Improvements to Downtown Oakland Senior Center ...
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nior Center have been completed and thank everyone involved, especially City staff who work diligently to help improve the quality of life for our seniors.”
The Downtown Oakland Senior Center Improvements Project entailed a partial renovation of the ground floor of the building. The project refreshed worn out finishes that had not been upgraded since the 1980s, including nearly 10,000 square feet of new flooring, painting, signage and LED lighting retrofits in the canteen, dining, crafts, computer and consignment rooms. These improvements make the space more inviting, with a fresh, clean look.
The project also included sewer replacement, accessibility upgrades to the bathrooms, and ADA upgrades to the parking lot, including partial pavement rehabilitation, accessible parking stalls, signage, and curb ramps.
The $2.5 million Downtown Oakland Senior Center project was funded through Measure KK, passed by the Oakland voters in 2016. ELS Architecture and Urban Design was the design team and Mar Con Builders was the contractor.
The Downtown Oakland Senior Center focuses on providing seniors (55+) with innovative programs and services that address the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of older adults. Seniors are welcome to become a member at DOSC for $12/year. Membership opportunities include (no cost
and low cost): exercise classes, art and writing classes, conversation groups, book clubs, group day trips, etc. Activities are in-person or on ZOOM.
Further, DOSC is a community hub for senior services, offering a ready-to-eat lunch program through Spectrum Community Services, senior relevant presentations in partnership with other organizations, and access to an Information and Assistance specialist available to provide individualized support referrals. Unique to DOSC there is a Consignment Shop where members can consign items to sell and everyone can shop!
“The Downtown Oakland Senior Center is located in a glorious building with a rich history,” said Josh Rowan, Interim Oakland Public Works Director. “This project has made the building more accessible for visitors using mobility aids, more functional for the staff who cook meals in the kitchen or teach classes in the computer lab, and more comfortable for the seniors who enjoy the Center’s excellent programs every day.”
“The Mayor’s Commission on Aging is thrilled to welcome back our Oakland seniors, our services providers, health and safety partners, our Veterans, families and friends to celebrate the re-opening of the Café, Consignment Shop and other sorely-missed spaces closed during construction,” said Lenore McDonald Gunst, Chair, Mayor’s Commission on Aging.
Federal Case Against Former Mayor Sheng Thao ...
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David Duong and other members of the Duong family to influence the selection of the Duong family to get business from the City of Oakland,” Riley said in offering his observations Jan. 22 on “Education Today,” a KPFA radio program.
• Award: $28 million
• Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
• City Council District: 6
• Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd. 34th & San Pablo
• 59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/
Special Needs
• Award: $7 million
• Developer: 34SP Development
LP (EBALDC)
• City Council District: 3
• Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave. The Eliza
• 96 Affordable Units including 20 dedicated for Homeless/
Special Needs
• Award: $20 million
• Developer: Mercy Housing
California
• City Council District: 3
• Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.
3135 San Pablo
72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/ Special Needs Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St.
Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.
The source of this story is
media reltations office of District
2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.
According to Dr. Elaine Batchlor, CEO of the MLK Community Health Center hospital in South LA, the region needs more doc-
This article is supported by the California Black Health Journalism Project, a program created by California Black Media, that addresses the top health challenges African Americans in California face. It relies on the input of community and practitioners; an awareness of historical factors, social contexts and root causes; and a strong focus on solutions as determined by policymakers, advocates and patients.
Man Found Guilty of Violent Crime Spree that Ended in Murder in 2019
Special to The Post
Last week, Chief Assistant Alameda County District Attorney Royl Roberts announced that a jury found Jacobi Gaines guilty of first-degree murder for the death of Hassan Humphries. Gaines, 23, was also convicted of three counts of gun possession, carjacking, robbery, vehicle theft, and assault with a deadly weapon stemming from a six-week violent crime spree involving multiple victims in Alameda County.
The conviction also includes enhancements for the use of a firearm, use of a deadly weapon, causing great bodily injury, and being a felon on probation at the time these crimes were committed.
The testimony and evidence presented at trial showed that Gaines began his crime spree on or about Dec. 2, 2019, with an escalating series of carjackings, robberies, and thefts, which culminated in the murder of 17-yearold Humphries, who was unarmed when Gaines shot him twice on Jan. 13, 2020.
Gaines’ cell phone placed him
at the scene of the murder at the time it occurred. Also presented was evidence that Gaines had possession of an Audi A4 Quattro with a custom black grille, which he stole on Jan. 8, 2020, and was spotted fleeing the scene of the murder.
“This verdict removes a dangerous person from our community.
I want to thank the jury for their service and careful deliberation in this trial,” said Roberts. “I also want to congratulate the prosecution team: Deputy District Attorney Maggie Calonge, Inspectors Derrel Ramsey and Chris Moreno for their hard work in securing this conviction in a case that took five years to prosecute. I also recognize Victim-Witness Advocates Brittany Tran and Juan Matias for their support of the victims in this case.
Mr. Gaines faces 25 years, 4 months, plus 38 years to life in state prison. Sentencing is set for Feb. 20 in Department 9 at the René C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s media relations office is the source of this report.
A long-time activist, community leader, and attorney in the Oakland area, Riley said he has formerly represented Jones but does not at present. His comments and observations, he said, are based on reading public legal documents and following the media coverage.
“I’m always leery … when we see something like this kind of institution going after a (progressive) person such as Sheng Thao,” said Riley. “The (FBI) raid itself violated protocol, influenced the recall election, and should not have been done in the way it was done. That is a violation of protocol of FBI tactics.”
In this case, Riley said, there are “conspirators claiming that they have engaged with the mayor, (but) I don’t see from this indictment the kind of substantiation that I would expect in a complaint that I would be dealing with as a defense attorney.”
“Knowing what a grand jury is helps us to understand what (an indictment) is,” Riley said.
“The grand jury does not hear evidence from the defense, does not hear any evidence supporting the targeted person or persons…The grand jury is not a place where there is any chance of [a defendant’s] advocacy.”
Continuing, Riley said: “Grand juries take evidence and statements presented by the prosecution. In this case, they are federal attorneys, U.S. attorneys presenting evidence to the grand jury.
“Historically, what grand juries do is hear what the prosecutor has to say, and if the prosecutor says this is enough evidence, ... typically the grand jury will say ‘yes, we agree with you’ to the prosecution.’”
Further, Riley said, “It’s not like a Superior Court judge weighing the evidence and where the defense has an opportunity to present its case, and a judge can make a determination whether or not there’s enough evidence to believe that” a criminal conviction can be obtained beyond a reasonable doubt.
In this case, Riley said, “the charges are largely based on the statements of one witness, an unnamed ‘co-conspirator,’ who has not been indicted. I believe that co-conspirator is Mario Juarez, based on prior news and prior evidence, and prior claims against the Duong family,” said Riley.
In short, the case says that Juarez was engaged in a dealmaking process where he claimed he had influence with Mayor Thao and was able to ensure business for the Duongs’ company, California Waste Solutions. Juarez also said he could also help the Duongs win a contract with the city to build affordable housing.
“From reading the indictment … it appeared (Juarez) claimed he had been able to deliver for the Duong family when, in fact, he hasn’t delivered anything.”
It appears from the charges that Juarez received money from the Duongs by presenting “himself as the entrepreneur who could get this done and that in order to get the money from the Duongs, he told them that he could influence Sheng Thao.”
Riley concluded that “according to the indictment, Juarez presented that he was telling the Duongs he would get a contract and benefits for them and that he took money from the Duongs. But he never delivered anything, and neither Sheng Thao nor the city ever signed any contracts with the Duongs or Juarez.”