‘
California Task Force Delivers 115 Recommendations ... Page 6
‘Black Woman is God’ Returns ... Page 7
Violinist Tarika Lewis, left, and Harpist Destiny Muhammad
Lisa Holder, Oakland-based attorney and member of the California Reparations Task Force
‘
Mother Vivian Griffin Celebrates 102nd Birthday... Page 4
Justice for Larry Lovette, Jr. ... Page 8
Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
60th Year, No. 24
Weekly Edition. Edition. July 5 - 11, 2023
postnewsgroup.com
Fallout from Holy Names University’s Closure Continues
Mrs. Mary Lee Hardy, 92
Student Teachers Could Lose Jobs, Quit Teacher Training Unless AG Bonta Intervenes to Protect $55 Million Endowment (left) Street view of Uncle Willie’s BBQ and Fish on 14th Street in downtown Oakland. Post file photo. (right) The 18-story development by the Marriott and developer Lew Wolff dwarfs Uncle Willie’s BBQ and Fish.
Development of Marriott Hotel Tower in Downtown Oakland Forces Closure of Uncle Wille’s BBQ, Owners Say
Holy Names University Board of Directors members Jeanine Hawks and Steven Borg. Post file photo. By Ken Epstein Nearly 100 former Holy Names University student teachers are calling on State Attorney General Rob Bonta to make the school’s Board of Trustees use its $55 million endowment to provide scholarships for them to complete their training. The endowment had been donated to HNU specifically for students planning a career in teaching and
the sudden closing of the school in May left them struggling to find other affordable schools. These teachers, who have been working in classrooms at schools in Oakland or other East Bay schools, must simultaneously be enrolled in university teacher training programs to earn their credential if they wish to keep their jobs. When a nonprofit closes, the Continued on page 8
By Post Staff
The family-owned business, Uncle Willie’s Original BBQ and Fish, located at 614 14th St. in downtown Oakland, had served local clientele for decades but has been forced to close by the “arrogant abuse” of the Oakland Marriott Hotel and co-developer Lew Wolff, who have been building an 18-story tower next to the restaurant, according to family members. The project, which began building several years ago, will provide
276 new guest rooms across from the Elihu M. Harris State Office Building at 1431 Jefferson St. Family members have now filed a lawsuit against Wolff and the Marriott, saying that during construction of the building, debris, including dangerous objects and dust, have fallen from the building project into the restaurant’s courtyard eating area, forcing Uncle Willie’s to close. Originally, family members had supported the development Continued on page 8
Mary Lee Hardy. Courtesy photo. Mrs. Mary Lee Hardy was born on Aug. 5, 1931, in Little Rock, Arkansas and passed away in Oakland, California on June 23, 2023. She was 92. She was, more than anything, a woman of God. She received an AA degree from West Valley College and Merced Community College and her bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame College in Belmont and a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix. She had a long career in workforce development as the executive director of CETA from 1969
to February of 1990. Mrs. Hardy was an elegant role model, vibrant, loving, and caring woman. She loved to sing in the choir and help in other areas where she could be a blessing to others. She became a member of the Deltas (Berkeley Bay Area Alumnae Chapter) in 1989. She leaves to mourn her four sisters Martha A. Williams, Emma L. Clement, Louberta Swain, Helen Jones Williams: a brother James H. Jones and many nieces, nephews, a host of other relatives, extended family, and many special friends. She will be sorely missed. The viewing will be held Thursday, July 13 at Fouché’s Hudson Funeral Home, 3665 Telegraph Ave., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Deltas will hold their Omega Omega Ceremony at 2:30 p.m. The funeral will be held on Friday, July 14 at 11 a.m. at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 6901 Herbert Guice Way, Oakland, the Rev. Frank Darby Jr., Pastor. Interment will follow at Rolling Hills Memorial Park, 4100 Hilltop, Richmond, California.
Supreme Court Denies Realities of Racial Bias OPINION: Supreme Court Denies Affirmative ByOPINION: Honorable Sandré R. this court’s decisions that attempt Action for Everyone but the Wealthy and White Swanson to push us back in time and will
By Hon. Barbara Lee
In college admissions, the U.S. Supreme Court sets us back more than four decades. For generations, affirmative action has been a powerful means of lowering barriers to education for historically marginalized and underrepresented students of color. At its core, it simply aims to remedy the government-sanctioned, decades-long inequality by making race one factor in the college admissions process. Dismantling these policies will not only have devastating implications for students of color, but for the classrooms at these institutions, which will become devoid of diversity in the lived experience and perspective needed to solve America’s toughest challenges.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Higher education serves as an incubator for the brilliant ideas of tomorrow. Those ideas will now become less diverse. I’m a graduate of Mills College,
a women’s college in Oakland. There was a time when, as a Black woman, my options for higher education were limited. But because affirmative action successfully addressed the centuries-long discrimination in higher education, I was able to earn my degree while caring for my two children as a single mother on public assistance. I met my mentor, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm; received my master’s degree in social work; became a successful small business owner; serve in Congress; and ran to be only the third Black woman in our nation’s history to serve in the U.S. Senate. The list of barriers to higher education is already long, and I fear that with this ruling we are turning Continued on page 8
The Supreme Court’s assault on affirmative action in college admissions is proving once again that it is an “Activist Court.” This ruling is a twisted and nonsensical interpretation of the equal protection clause under the 14th Amendment. The court’s so-called “color-blind” action is a blatant refusal to acknowledge that racial bias still exists today. This decision and others by this court are a call to action in defense of already decided precedents of equal treatment under the law. We will not be confused about our responsibility to challenge institutional bias that continues to make difficult the fair consideration of Black, Latino, and all students of color on their merits and abilities. We must continue to demand a level and fair opportunity for college admissions so that our qualified young people can reach their personal best.
Sandré R. Swanson. California State Assembly courtesy photo. The implications of the court’s action will not stop with institutions of higher learning. Make no mistake about it, we have entered a new era for the struggle and fight for our civil rights. This decision will have profound impacts on the social and economic life that affects all of us every day. It will embolden those comfortable with unequal treatment in our educational institutions and our places of employment. We have to continue our collective rejection of
challenge next, all of our historic gains of the Civil Rights Movement. We all must remain committed to taking specific actions nationally and in our state to assure opportunities for learning and our affirmative challenge of bias and prejudice in all of its ugly forms. Let us remember and acknowledge that diversity not only adds to our lives the richness and beauty of our culture. Historically, diversity has significantly contributed to our advancements in science, infrastructure, technology, and the very valuable intellectual properties of our nation. Our insistence on fairness will improve the quality of life for us all. Note: The Honorable Sandré R Swanson is a former Assemblymember for Oakland, Alameda and Piedmont and a California State Senate 7th District candidate. www.sandreswanson.net
Sacramento Observer Named Nation’s Councilmember Kaplan Congratulates the Best Black Newspaper Oakland Soul Women’s Soccer Team for Publication Wins 16 Total Awards; Larry Lee Saluted As ‘Publisher of The Year’
Sacramento Observer Publisher Larry Lee holds the coveted John B. Russwurm trophy for journalism excellence after The OBSERVER won 16 awards during the NNPA Fund 2023 Messenger Awards in Nashville. Courtesy the Sacramento Observer.
The Sacramento Observer was recognized in grand fashion by winning 16 journalism awards — including the John B. Russwurm Award as America’s best Black newspaper — during the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) annual convention held in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 29. It was the seventh time in as many years that the newspaper, which began operations in 1962, received top honors among the 200 Black publications in the NNPA. The Observor Publisher Larry Lee was in attendance at the awards ceremony and thanked The Observor staff for its impactful work during the event. “I’m so thankful for our team,” Lee said. “Winning awards such as these isn’t possible without a great team, and I will put our team up against any other newsroom in the nation.” In addition to the Russwurm Award, The Observer took home four first-place awards (Newspaper Excellence, Video Campaign, Special Edition, and Website Continued on page 8
Advancing to the Playoffs
Office of Councilmember-AtLarge Rebecca Kaplan
“I invite all Oaklanders and neighboring cities to join us in rooting for the Oakland Souls as Oakland Councilthey advance to the first member Rebecca Kaplan round of the playoffs this congratulates the OakFriday!” land Soul Soccer team for Oakland Soul SC advancing to the playoffs Pictured left to right, Oakland City Councilmembers plays the SF Glens on Treva Reid, Dan Kalb, Nikki Fortunato-Bas, Rebecca in their first year playing Friday, July 7 at 12:30 Kaplan, Carroll Fife, and Kevin Jenkins. Photo in the city of Oakland. p.m. at Skyline College, courtesy the City of Oakland. The Soul team made an San Bruno, California. Soccer Team deserves congratuincredible and exciting Kaplan has champicomeback in the second half of lations! I am so proud of the hard oned allowing the Oakland Soul the July 2 match against the SF work and dedication the team has and Roots to play at the Oakland Glens, winning by a final score of shown. This team has displayed Coliseum area. On May 16, 2023, 3-1. Read more information about immense talent and persever- Oakland City Council members the July 2 game at OaklandSoulsc. ance, but I know they are not done. wore their Oakland Roots and Western Conference Semifinals, Oakland Soul gear to express supcom. Continued on page 8 “The Oakland Soul Women’s here we come!” said Kaplan.