West Oakland, Martinez Close Out Month of Juneteenth Celebrations

By Post Staff

please call 925-354-4573.

The Park District is also celebrating Juneteenth with several naturalist-led programs, including a hike at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont on Sunday, June 18, 2023, at 10 a.m. and nature walks on Monday, June 19, 2023, at Thurgood Marshall Regional Park – Home of the Port Chicago 50 in Concord at 10 a.m. and at Big

Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley on Monday at 8 a.m. For more information, visit www.ebparks. org/Juneteenth.

California:

The California Black Women’s Collective is joining GirlTrek, a national Black women’s health movement, to celebrate Juneteenth with a walk in solidarity with others across the country.

The organization is encouraging women around the state to organize a local walk in their neighborhoods on June 17, wear blue and amplify their activities online with pin drops, and a printable digital poster.

U.S. Senator Cory Booker (DNJ) addressed a sold-out audience this past Friday at The Commonwealth Club of California, in San Francisco.

His message was two-pronged, focusing on “Big Agriculture” and the climate.

Senator Booker is challenging the beef and pork packagers through legislation he has introduced in an effort to tilt the balance of power in the U.S. industrial agriculture system. He said this will give farm workers and family farms and ranchers a better deal.

He also cited the “sweet water” manufacturers, the bottlers of sugar-sweetened soft drinks who earn hundreds of millions of dollars in profits from the purchases of their soft drinks by individuals using SNAP.

This is the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that provides funds for food on a sliding scale of income for food low-wage working families, low-income seniors, people with disabilities, and other

Remeember Their Sacrifice...

Continued from page 2 of America, (and) the Olympics,” says Khatib, “All of these athletes are heroes, and yet many people don’t know who they are, except their families and friends. It is our responsibility to shine a light on these athletes and talk about how they made their contributions.”

Khatib and Elman wrote about how these athletes did more than what they thought they could do as athletes, and hope that this book will inspire its readers to do more than what they think they can do in their own lives.

Khatib personally knew every individual in this book and many of them were in his Hall of Fame. He did further research, avoiding Google and other search engines, instead asking the athletes for raw facts, something never shared with others. What they shared was included in his book.

“We need to learn about each other, bridge that gap, and get past all that hate. It is time for diversity and inclusion, so we can live and get along together,” Khatib said.

Pete Elman, the coauthor of the book, loves playing sports, history, and teaching. Doing this book was an opportunity for him to combine his love of sports, writing, language, and teaching.

“It really makes a big difference when you know some of these people that you are writing about, and that you can call on their relatives, friends,” Elman said. “Even if they pass away, you can learn something about them.”

“These athletes crossed and broke the racial barrier and made it possible for today’s athletes to attain and enjoy the success that they have today,” Elman said.

The major athletes that are written about in the book are: Pumpsie Green, Alice Coachman, Pete Brown, Spencer Haywood, Toni Stone, Dr. Sammy Lee, Burl Toler, Billy Mills, Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, Archie Williams, Janet Johnson, Curt Flood, Dr. Tae Yun Kim, individuals with low incomes.

He said that these ‘sweet water,” high sugar-content drinks, are significant causes of a host of preventable diseases in low-income populations.

American agriculture, he said, also accounts for about 10% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. His upcoming farm bill presents an opportunity to infuse more climate-smart practices. Doing so, however, involves confronting industrial practices that focus on short-term gains and commodity subsidies that have deep support in both parties.

“Senator Booker is a champion of change for our agricultural industry” said Davida Herzi, cofounder and CEO of Aclima, Inc.

“He is also a consensus builder between the political parties on Capitol Hill.”

Senator Booker sits on the Judiciary Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and the Small Business Committee.

Edward Gourdin, Emilio “Millito” Navarro, Chi Cheng, Lt. Eugene Evans and Lt. Col. Eli Page Howard Jr.

Other sports figures in the book are Don Barksdale, Mal Whitfield, Silas Simmons, Willye White, Yoshihiro Uchida, Marshall “Major” Taylor, Joe Reliford, Thell Torrence, Willy T. Ribbs, Joe Gaetjens, Manny McIntyre, Julius Menendez, Eddie Hart, Sam Lacy, and “Big Sam” Skinner.

The book can be obtained through Amazon, Rowman, Barnes and Noble, and other booksellers. For more information, call Arif Khatib at 510-629-2895.

Since Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021, the celebrations honoring the end of chattel slavery in the U.S. have increased.

In West Oakland, B-H Brilliant Minds Project, Inc. is excited to come back together for the Oakland Juneteenth 16th Annual Celebration and Street Festival, Freedom Day.

Please join them on Sat., June 24 from 11a.m. until 6 p.m. on Brockhurst Street in Oakland, CA. (between Market Street and San Pablo Avenue) for a day affirming the expression, recognition, and understanding of myelinated people by presenting our past, present, and future accurately by showcasing the wide range of talent and art of our culture and family.

This year’s theme is: “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now, We MUST Leave a Legacy for Our People.”

Organizer Barbara Howard refers to her Juneteenth on the last Saturday of the month as the Bay Area Close-Out celebration. It features a gospel explosion, Bay Area Steppers and vendors from Akoma Market on The Road. For more information, call 510-290-0811.

Martinez

Martinez is holding its first celebration of the holiday.

Come learn, laugh and grow as a community at A Juneteenth Freedom Day in downtown Martinez. Come join us and enjoy the Black National Anthem sung by Stacy Audriene, music by Ras Ceylon and HMZA, music by DJ Outta Pocket, esteemed speakers, free food, wares sold by Black vendors and fun for the entire family! Organized by Nakenya Allen. Sat. June 24, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at 626 Main St. in Martinez. For more information,

San Joaquin County Lathrop

Lathrop plans Juneteenth celebration at Generations Center Saturday, June 24 at 450 Spartan Way across from Lathrop High School and can be accessed by taking the Lathrop Road exit off I-5 or following Lathrop Road west under I-5. Vendors, food trucks, live bands, kids’ games, and spoken word will all be part of the festivities.

The event is free to the public, but those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP by visiting www.eventbrite.com and searching for Lathrop Juneteenth.

East Bay Regional Parks

The East Bay Regional Park District is celebrating Juneteenth with a Free Park Day on Sunday, June 18.

Please note that while Juneteenth is on Monday, June 19, the District’s Free Park Day is on Sun-

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