Oakland Post, week of August 16 - 22, 2023

Barbara Lee Gains in New Independent Poll

According to a Public Policy Institute of California Poll (PPIC) released in July, Congresswoman Barbara Lee has picked up significant momentum and is statistically tied in the race to be

California’s next senator. According to the PPIC poll, Lee is within the survey’s margin of error of second place in the March primary election, enough to earn her a spot in the November general election in California’s

top-two primary system. The Barbara Lee for Senate Campaign released the following statement in response to the poll results:

Continued on page 10

PPI

Oakland Post

Poll

“Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18 postnewsgroup.com 60th Year, No. 310 Weekly Edition. August 16 - 22, 2023

‘Rise in Crime Due to Firing of Chief Armstrong,’ Says NAACP

Oakland Barber Academy Gains Support from Jobs Foundation

By Mimi Rohr

The Oakland Jobs Foundation

(OJF) is pleased to announce its support for the Oakland Barber Academy (O.B.A.). We are providing a full scholarship to O.B.A.’s first student, Ucal Kenard.

O.B.A is the brainchild of Master Barber Chris Colter, who launched the academy in April of 2023. Colter, an Oakland resident and business owner, is a graduate of Howard University and has been a professional barber for 16 years.

“It saddens me to see Black people gentrified, incarcerated, and killed on a regular basis in our community,” said Colter. “I see the negative impacts of unemployment, the lack of job training, and business illiteracy. I believe that learning barbering skills, earning a living, and ultimately starting their

own barbering business will have a positive generational impact in the local community.”

“It has been my dream to cut hair since I was 15 years old,” said Kenard, an Oakland native. “It’s always been my passion to help people feel confident and boost their self-worth. Barbering is a great way to do this. It also nurtures my creative side.”

Kenard discovered O.B.A. on social media and was thrilled when he learned he could get his state license by attending the academy. “I didn’t see this coming at all,” said Kenard, “It’s been in the back of my head for a long-time.” When the opportunity presented itself, Kenard immediately enrolled.

Kenard is studying at the academy while simultaneously attending

Oakland’s African American Museum and Library Opens Exhibit in Tribute to Dr. Marcus Foster

By Keith Burbank Bay City News

Crime is surging in Oakland because Mayor Sheng Thao fired Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong in February, according to a letter released over the weekend by the Oakland branch of the NAACP.

The organization’s letter points out that the mayor has said she wants to get at the root causes of crime in the city. If Thao wants to do that,

Black-Owned Downtown Business Closes Due to Crime and Fear

The co-owners of ‘The Collective Oakland’ and ‘Loyal to the Soil Oakland,’ located at 811 Broadway in Oakland are facing the harrowing reality of several locally-owned businesses as surging crime rates take a crippling toll on the community.

Fearing for the safety of their

customers and themselves, Michelle Walton and Wesley Dawan have made the heart-wrenching decision to permanently close their doors on Aug. 18 even though they opened with bright hopes in September 2022.

With frustration, Walton relates the insurmountable challenges that have forced their hand. “How are

Continued on page 10

NAACP leaders said, she should look in the mirror.

“Crime has mushroomed since she fired Chief Armstrong,” according to the NAACP’s letter.

Data from the Oakland Police Department shows crime is up 28% overall this year compared with the same period last year. Violent crime is up 17% while slayings are down 8%.

Opponents of District Attorney Serve Notice of a Recall Drive

By Daisha Williams Post Staff

A tribute to the late Dr. Marcus Foster opened recently at the African American Museum and Library of Oakland.

After the opening reception on Aug. 3, this exhibit will be open from 12-5:30 on Fridays and 105:30 on Saturdays-Thursdays from now until Nov. 30.

With about 50 people attending, the reception began with a recording of an excerpt of a famous speech by Foster. After sharing this with the audience, curator Patanisha Williams talked about her pro-

cess creating this exhibit, and her connections to Foster and the work he did while he was alive.

Williams, a local artist and storyteller, is intimately familiar with Foster’s career, and spent a lot of time going through the public archives. Growing up in the 1980s, she was aware of his work, but previously did not recognize the gravity of his influence.

“I was aware of him as an educator, but it was not until this exhibition did I understand how heavy he’s marked Oakland in a positive way,” said Williams.

Continued on page 10

AG Bonta Releases Gun Violence Data

Special to the Post California Attorney General Rob Bonta Monday released the first “Office of Gun Violence Prevention Data Report,” shedding further light on the impact of gun violence in California and the nation.

The report provides a robust review of gun violence data in California and throughout the U.S. to help guide policy and strategy discussions related to reducing gun violence.

The California Department of Justice’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) hosted a webinar event for the public to discuss the report and other efforts being led by OGVP on Aug. 16..

Continued on page 10 Continued

“Gun violence is America’s

disease, and it’s infecting our communities and traumatizing our families. Protecting public safety and preventing further devastation from these tragedies is my top priority—both as California’s chief law enforcement officer and as a concerned father,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta.

“That work begins with illuminating the complex problem before us. By increasing our understanding of this issue, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention’s report will aid our continued efforts to innovate bold and effective strategies, strengthen and defend our nationleading gun-safety laws, and get illegal guns off the streets. Good data

By Bay City News

Opponents of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price have given formal notification that they intend to remove her from office.

A notice of intention to circulate a recall petition was filed Tuesday with the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.

The notice, addressed to Price, said she “is failing us in her responsibility to enforce the law, prosecute criminals, and keep violent offenders off our streets.”

Proponents call themselves

Save Alameda For Everyone (SAFE), defined as “a broad coalition of Alameda County residents, business owners, victims, victims’ families and concerned citizens.”

Price was elected in November on a platform of criminal justice reform. Her campaign office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Price has previously described the recall effort as coming from a Republican-backed group who “refuse to accept the results of a legitimate, democratic election to remove the status quo.”

Story and Photo By Jonathan Fitness Jones

The Collective Co-owner Wesley Dawan shown packing up and closing their business.

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. Courtesy photo.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta. File photo..

Curator Patanisha Williams, right, with an attendee at the opening of the exhibit at the African American Museum and Library on Aug. 3. Photo courtesy Ariana Morales.

Ucal Kenard is the first graduate of the Oakland Barber Academy, founded by the Oakland Jobs Foundation. Courtesy photo.

Barbara Lee supporting the Screenwriters Guild.

(Clockwise from top left:) Former Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong; Oakland NAACP President Cynthia Adams; California Governer Gavin Newsom; and Barry Donelan, president of the Oakland Police Officers’ Association.

Poll: Black Voters Are Concerned About the Quality of K-12 Education in California

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. Edward Henderson California Black Media

Last week, the Black in School Coalition released the results of its comprehensive survey titled “California Black Voters Perspectives on the Quality of Education for Black Students.”

The Black in School Coalition is a statewide organization that works to improve academic and social outcomes for Black students in California.

The coalition commissioned this statewide survey of 1,200 Black voters for the third consecutive year to assess their viewpoints on education funding, school performance, and the biggest challenges facing Black students today.

• The data gathered from the poll is intended to offer policymakers, educators, and other relevant stakeholders insights into the education-related concerns of Black voters. These insights can be used to help them develop more effective policies and programs to improve the quality of education that Black students receive.

Currently, 70% of Black students are not meeting English lan-

guage arts standards and 84% are not meeting math standards.

The survey found that 84% of Black voters want education funding to target the lowest performing schools.

Additionally, 71% of Black voters believe that allocating additional money based on student performance would improve education for Black students.

• 79% of respondents support a legislative proposal to change the way that LCFF is funded by creating a new grant for California’s lowest performing subgroups, including Black students.

• 50% of respondents do not think that schools in their area are providing quality education for Black students. This finding suggests that Black students are not receiving the same quality of education as their white peers.

• 93% of respondents think that chronic absenteeism is an urgent problem. This is a major issue for Black students because it can have a devastating impact on their academic achievement.

• 48% of Black voters disagree

that the California Legislature is working hard to improve education for Black students.

Only 27% of respondents agree that Gov. Newsom is doing enough to improve educational outcomes for Black students.

All of these findings suggest that Black voters in California are deeply concerned about the state of education for Black students.

Dr. Margaret Fortune, president and CEO of Fortune School of Education said during the release of the poll, “I think that the point of this work is to improve the academic performance of all of our students including those that are the lowest performers.”

Brian Rivas with The Education Trust-West and a Black in School Coalition member said in the coalition’s press release, “Almost half of those surveyed do not believe the California Legislature is working hard to improve education for Black students, and that is a problem. We must do better.”

Black August Just Got Blacker with The Montgomery Melee

By Wanda Ravernell-Stewart

It really wasn’t funny.

But for a week, I could not stop laughing about what had been dubbed, among other things, “The Montgomery ________”

You fill in the blank: Uprising.

Tea Party Massacre. Melee Mutiny and other appellations too colorful for a family newspaper.

Posted on social media, the video footage had received 85 million views by Aug. 8.

If you haven’t seen it — and mainstream broadcast news has barely touched it — the Incident occurred on Aug. 5, 2023, when a riverboat cruise ship was attempting to dock and offboard passengers. But a pontoon was illegally moored at the dock. Damien Pick-

ett, the co-captain of the Harriott II, managed to untie the rope mooring the pontoon and was confronted by the boaters.

The footage from various witnesses’ cameras shows an exchange of words rise to a verbal confrontation that initially seemed to settle before Pickett was bum rushed and knocked to the ground.

Scrambling to his feet, Pickett threw his hat in the air and began scrapping with his attacker, holding his own until more attackers piled on until it was eight or nine to one.

When the attackers got off of the co-captain, they strolled away, some to the pontoon.

And now I reveal the obviousPickett was Black and his attackers were white.

Pickett pulled himself up and his attackers sauntered back to the boat as if it was all over.

But it was just getting started.

Black people came out of the proverbial woodwork: running down the ramp overlooking the dock; uniformed cruise ship employees leaping to the dock and a lone swimmer, his arms gracefully slicing through the water, got to the dock, hauled himself up and out of the water, and soaking wet and wearing one shoe joined the fray.

Pushing, shoving, fists flying, feet kicking, and a folding chair swinging ensued before police, who had their hands full, subdued the melee and arrested some of the original attackers.

It was just a fight, but within hours the fight was legend and overnight it achieved myth status with the folding chair now a weapon as powerful as Thor’s hammer.

Memes of our iconic martyrs proliferated: Malcolm X looking out a window holding a chair instead of a rifle; Martin Luther King Jr. has a chair tucked under his arm in the statue of him in Washington, D.C.

Spirituals and the Black National Anthem got a variety of re-

A folding chair was a guest on a Tik-Tok ‘interview’ in the aftermath of the Montgomery Melee.

Folding chair earrings were produced and sold within days of the Montgomery Melee.

A teacher demonstrates a lesson for young students. Shutterstock photo.

Biden Administration Issues New Guidance on College Admissions Post-Affirmative Action

By Brandon Patterson

The Biden Administration on Monday issued new guidance to colleges and universities on how to approach pursuing diverse student bodies given the Supreme Court’s decision to gut affirmative action in June.

The Department of Justice and Department of Education issued the guidance jointly in a “Q&A” document explaining the Court’s ruling and its implications for admissions.

The administration’s guidance, in sum: schools can consider how race has impacted a student’s life but are not allowed to use overall demographic numbers or quotas to make admissions decisions. The administration encouraged schools to explore other avenues for recruiting and enrolling Black and brown students.

“With respect to admissions practices themselves, especially for the upcoming cycle, the departments encourage colleges and universities to review their policies to ensure they identify and reward those attributes that they most value, such as hard work, achievement, intellectual curiosity, potential, and determination,” the administration said in a letter

accompanying the guidance.

It continued: “… schools can consider the ways that a student’s background, including experiences linked to their race, have shaped their lives and the unique contributions they can make to campus. Students should feel comfortable presenting their whole selves when applying to college, without fear of stereotyping, bias, or discrimination. And information about an individual student’s perseverance, especially when faced with adversity or disadvantage, can be a powerful measure of that student’s potential.”

Notably, the guidance also

encourages schools to reevaluate their use of legacy programs in admissions. “Nothing in the decision prevents an institution from determining whether preferences for legacy students or children of donors, for example, run counter to efforts to promote equal opportunities for all students in the context of college admissions,” the guidance notes.

In June, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in the famed case of Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina et al. that the University of North Carolina and Harvard University’s consideration of individual students’ race in their admissions

processes violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. In its ruling, the court outlawed the use of affirmative action in college admissions nationwide.

In California, the use of affirmative action in college admissions by public schools had already been outlawed by state law since 1996.

The University of California has since used more holistic review practices in an effort to enroll a diverse student body, including considering a range of factors outside of test scores like the location of student’s school, their socioeconomic status, and their achievements relative to the opportunities available at their high school, according to EdSource.

Yet the university system has long been criticized for falling short, failing to enroll a student body that reflects the diversity of the state. The Supreme Court’s ruling now means that private schools are also banned from using affirmative action.

Godfather’ Clarence Avant, Dies at 92 in Los Angeles

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. Edward Henderson California Black Media

Clarence Avant, known for his exceptional ability as a “kingmaker” and deal-closer in power circles from Hollywood to Washington died at his home in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Avant, born in Greensboro, N.C., was 92.

“Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘The Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports,” read a statement released by his children Alex and Nicole Avant and his son-in-law Ted Sarandos.

“Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss,” the statement continued.

In December of 2021, Avant’s wife, Jacqueline Avant, was shot during a home invasion at the family’s Beverly Hills mansion.

A close friend of Quincy Jones, Avant’s influence impacted the careers of many celebrities and politicians, including former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama; Michael Jackson; Jimmy Jam; Snoop Dogg; Terry Lewis; Whitney Houston; Jay-Z, among others.

‘Black

The Biden Administration encouraged schools to explore other avenues for recruiting and enrolling Black and brown students. Courtesy photo.

Clarence Avant. Photo courtesy of California Black Media.

COMMENTARY: Fourth Indictment of Trump in Georgia is ‘Of the People’

In the first count alone, there are 161 acts of criminality charged:

• Making false statements, concocting a fake elector scheme, Harassing, and intimidating election workers Soliciting high-ranking U.S. Department of Justice officials, soliciting Vice President Pence

• Soliciting state legislators and high-ranking state officials.

Breach of election equipment

• General obstruction in the “furtherance of the conspiracy and the cover-up,” and

crime mobs and gangsters, here it’s organized politicos attempting to steal our democracy.

The narrative laid out by Willis is blunt and stark.

By Emil Guillermo

If you’re African American, don’t feel left out of the American Indictment Dilemma. You’ve got a rooting interest.

The historic fourth indictment is led by Georgia’s Fani Willis, the fearless African American Fulton County prosecutor who prior to this week said she’d been called the Nword enough for 100 lifetimes.

Now that the Georgia Grand Jury’s indictment has been released, expect that number and frequency of epithets to grow exponentially.

And be balanced by cheers from every real American.

I’ve read over the latest indictment on the disgraced former president who wants to be president again. Don’t get inured to the shock of it. That’s the real threat to our nation.

We are in the game. And yet we also must understand No. 45 is innocent until proven guilty and will no doubt say that his tweets, his misstatements, and his cajoling of officials to help him steal the election was some form of free speech.

But it’s not. Not when it’s connected to the commission of a crime. In this case, the theft of our democracy.

Free speech I know intimately.

I’m not committing a crime in the pursuit of art.

Donald Trump can’t claim a free speech right in his new criminal indictment.

And Now for the Hard Stuff

After the historic fourth indictment against the twice impeached, criminally indicted former president has happened, there can be only one reaction by every American— a wholehearted embrace of the efforts of Fulton County DA Willis to seek justice and accountability in the attempted steal of the 2020 election.

The 41-count indictment names Trump and 18 people, including his once-esteemed lawyers Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Sidney Powell, and even his chief of staff Mark Meadows. All were unnamed in the third indictment brought by federal special prosecutor Jack Smith. They’re named in this fourth one.

You’ll recall the Trump conversation with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who felt threatened when Trump asked him to “find 11, 780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state.”

Now add another 160 just as damning moments, such as Trump telling aide John McEntee to come up with a strategy to disrupt and delay the official count of electoral votes by Congress on Jan. 6.

Or add the acts that were attacks on African American election workers like Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Shaye Moss. Each criminal act within the 41 counts comes with a mandatory minimum sentence of five to 20 years.

And it had to be this voluminous, considering the framework of the racketeering charges under Georgia’s version of the RICO ACT (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, signed into law by Nixon in 1970).

RICO targets groups of individuals who commit a series of crimes in an ongoing criminal concern. Usually reserved for organized

the November 2022 General Election.

“We have a probability-based model used for who might be identified as Black, but then we also had a pool of the general voting public who were allowed to participate,” said Byerly. “We did a screen to determine whether they identified as Black and also as a woman, either they were cisgender or transgender.”

Approximately 40% of those polled stated that systematic racism and discrimination have hampered their income and earning abilities, which sheds a light on the structural inequalities faced by Black women, according to the survey.

Not having enough cash saved for retirement (77%), maintaining or achieving financial stability (76%) and being unable to make ends meet (70%) were among primary concerns.

“Defendant Donald John Trump lost the United States presidential election,” is the first line of the indictment. “One of the states he lost was Georgia. Trump and the other defendants charged in this indictment refused to accept that Trump lost, and they knowingly and willfully joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump.”

That’s the simple narrative. The indictment is more list than narrative, but it tells how many people allegedly were willing to steal the election and break the law in the name of Trump.

Much broader than the narrow set of federal indictments for Jan. 6 brought by Special Prosecutor Jack Smith that was geared to get to trial fast, Willis’ focus is on the depth and breadth of the criminal activity.

Trump may have been the leader, but this was a group effort to commit crimes against democracy.

As a state case, it also stymies Trump’s hope that by winning the election he can pardon himself. Not in Georgia.

And what a specter a trial would be with cameras allowed in the courtrooms in Georgia. The whole world will be watching whether the U.S. can protect and preserve our nation. It only happens if the indictments spark a pro-democracy movement in America.

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. Reach him at www.amok.com

said. “We need real data on the experiences of Black women so that the legislators, anyone involved in advocacy positions, can make meaningful policies that would drive the change we need to improve their lives.”

James A. Van Der Zee: Capturing the Essence of Harlem’s Renaissance

By Tamara Shiloh

Augustus Van Der Zee,

James

a pioneering American photographer, left an indelible mark on history through his stunning portraits of Black New Yorkers. As a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance, his lens captured the vibrant spirit and cultural richness of this iconic era.

Born on June 29, 1886, in Lenox, Mass., Van Der Zee initially displayed a gift for music and dreamed of becoming a professional violinist. However, his fascination with photography led him to buy his first camera as a teenager, setting the stage for his illustrious career.

In 1906, Van Der Zee moved to Harlem, New York City, where he took on jobs as a waiter and elevator operator. In 1915, Van Der Zee settled in Newark, New Jersey, where he worked in a portrait studio, first as a darkroom assistant and later as a portraitist.

In 1916, he returned to Harlem, just as the neighborhood experienced an influx of Black immigrants and migrants. With his sister, Jennie Louise Van Der Zee

(Madame E. Toussaint), he set up a studio at the Toussaint Conservatory of Art and Music, which she founded in 1911.

During World War I, his business flourished, earning him widespread recognition for his remarkable portraits. In 1919, he famously photographed the victory parade of the returning 369th Infantry Regiment, also known as the “Harlem Hellfighters,” a predominantly African American unit.

The 1920s and 1930s marked a period of immense productivity for Van Der Zee, as he captured the growing middle class of Harlem through hundreds of photographs.

From weddings and funerals to celebrities and sports stars, he meticulously composed images that documented the social life of the community. Some of his renowned subjects included poet Countee Cullen, dancer Bill (“Bojangles”) Robinson, Charles M. “Daddy” Grace, Joe Louis, Florence Mills, and Black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey.

Van Der Zee’s work gained global recognition when featured Continued on page 8

By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media

A study released last week by the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute (CBWCEI) presents a grim picture of the financial stability of Black women voters in the state.

A total of 1,258 women participated in the poll used in the study. Their answers give insight into the web of challenges Black women across California confront daily.

“Black women in California and around the country are struggling socially and economically while serving as primary breadwinners of their households,” said Kellie Todd Griffin, president and CEO of CBWCEI. “The results are sobering and paint a picture of the pressures that threaten Black women’s stability and financial security. This data is a call to action for meaningful change to policymakers, advocates and community leaders to address these pressing issues and disparity gaps.”

The survey conducted by EVITARUS, a Black-owned public opinion research and public policy consulting firm based in Los Angeles, provides an in-depth analysis of Black women’s opinions about state and federal elected officials. It also reveals CBWCEI’s top policy priorities for enhancing the wellbeing of women and girls in California.

Top among the issues Black women face are racial discrimination, lack of opportunities for career advancement, adverse mental and physical health conditions, pay inequity, parenting challenges,

among other serious issues.

EVITARUS Managing Partner Shakari Byerly served as the principal investigator and lead researcher on the study. She said the survey reveals the financial and economic burdens that Black women confront as they contribute to their families, communities and the state.

Griffin, Byerly, Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City), and Dr. Thomas A. Parham, president, California State University Dominguez Hills held a virtual media briefing on Aug. 8 to discuss the study’s results.

“This type of project is exactly why the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) pushed to have the California Black women think tank funded through the Legislature,” said Wilson, who chairs the CLBC. “California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute received $5 million in funding from Gov. (Gavin) Newsom to launch this first-ever think tank to focus on Black women in California.”

Titled “The California Black Women Voters’ Quality of Life Survey,” the 26-slide PowerPoint presentation makes public the opinions of Black women who took the survey between May 24 and June 6.

The results reflect political party, age, profession, income, and geographical and other demographic information about the participants.

Byerly said EVITARUS had “good coverage” in terms of selecting women who were eligible and active voters. Eighty percent of the women who took the poll voted in

Nearly two-thirds of Black women reported having difficulty coping with stress, reflecting the emotional toll of navigating social and economic pressures.

The study found that nearly 2 in 5 Black women work multiple jobs yet still struggle to meet basic expenses. The researchers say this is due to inflation and the rising cost of living in California. Among Black women who are employed, two-thirds are the primary breadwinners in their households.

In addition, 89% of Black women emphasized the importance of having Black representatives in elected office, reflecting their desire for diverse and inclusive political leadership. Among California’s 2.5 million Black population, Wilson said there are over 1 million Black women and girls in the state.

Assembly Bill (AB) 179, which was championed by Wilson, paved the way for the creation of CBWCEI, a non-profit “think tank” focused on improving structures and practices that impact the lives of Black women and girls across the state.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a trailer budget legislation in September 2022 allowing the think tank to receive $5 million from the state to conduct such studies. The think tank is housed at California State University at Dominguez Hills.

CBWCEI also serves as a resource for lawmakers, elected officials, business leaders, and advocacy organizations. The poll on Black women voters is the first public project of the think tank.

“It is essential that we do all that we can to protect them,” Wilson

James Van Der Zee. Wikipedia photo.

Kellie Todd Griffin, President and CEO of the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute (CBWCEI) (left) and Shakari Byerly, managing partner, EVITARUS (right).

COMMENTARY: Fourth Indictment of Trump in Georgia is ‘Of the People’

In the first count alone, there are 161 acts of criminality charged:

• Making false statements, concocting a fake elector scheme, Harassing, and intimidating election workers Soliciting high-ranking U.S. Department of Justice officials, soliciting Vice President Pence

• Soliciting state legislators and high-ranking state officials.

Breach of election equipment

• General obstruction in the “furtherance of the conspiracy and the cover-up,” and

crime mobs and gangsters, here it’s organized politicos attempting to steal our democracy.

The narrative laid out by Willis is blunt and stark.

By Emil Guillermo

If you’re African American, don’t feel left out of the American Indictment Dilemma. You’ve got a rooting interest.

The historic fourth indictment is led by Georgia’s Fani Willis, the fearless African American Fulton County prosecutor who prior to this week said she’d been called the Nword enough for 100 lifetimes.

Now that the Georgia Grand Jury’s indictment has been released, expect that number and frequency of epithets to grow exponentially.

And be balanced by cheers from every real American.

I’ve read over the latest indictment on the disgraced former president who wants to be president again. Don’t get inured to the shock of it. That’s the real threat to our nation.

We are in the game. And yet we also must understand No. 45 is innocent until proven guilty and will no doubt say that his tweets, his misstatements, and his cajoling of officials to help him steal the election was some form of free speech.

But it’s not. Not when it’s connected to the commission of a crime. In this case, the theft of our democracy.

Free speech I know intimately.

I’m not committing a crime in the pursuit of art.

Donald Trump can’t claim a free speech right in his new criminal indictment.

And Now for the Hard Stuff

After the historic fourth indictment against the twice impeached, criminally indicted former president has happened, there can be only one reaction by every American— a wholehearted embrace of the efforts of Fulton County DA Willis to seek justice and accountability in the attempted steal of the 2020 election.

The 41-count indictment names Trump and 18 people, including his once-esteemed lawyers Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Sidney Powell, and even his chief of staff Mark Meadows. All were unnamed in the third indictment brought by federal special prosecutor Jack Smith. They’re named in this fourth one.

You’ll recall the Trump conversation with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who felt threatened when Trump asked him to “find 11, 780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state.”

Now add another 160 just as damning moments, such as Trump telling aide John McEntee to come up with a strategy to disrupt and delay the official count of electoral votes by Congress on Jan. 6.

Or add the acts that were attacks on African American election workers like Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Shaye Moss. Each criminal act within the 41 counts comes with a mandatory minimum sentence of five to 20 years.

And it had to be this voluminous, considering the framework of the racketeering charges under Georgia’s version of the RICO ACT (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, signed into law by Nixon in 1970).

RICO targets groups of individuals who commit a series of crimes in an ongoing criminal concern. Usually reserved for organized

the November 2022 General Election.

“We have a probability-based model used for who might be identified as Black, but then we also had a pool of the general voting public who were allowed to participate,” said Byerly. “We did a screen to determine whether they identified as Black and also as a woman, either they were cisgender or transgender.”

Approximately 40% of those polled stated that systematic racism and discrimination have hampered their income and earning abilities, which sheds a light on the structural inequalities faced by Black women, according to the survey.

Not having enough cash saved for retirement (77%), maintaining or achieving financial stability (76%) and being unable to make ends meet (70%) were among primary concerns.

“Defendant Donald John Trump lost the United States presidential election,” is the first line of the indictment. “One of the states he lost was Georgia. Trump and the other defendants charged in this indictment refused to accept that Trump lost, and they knowingly and willfully joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump.”

That’s the simple narrative. The indictment is more list than narrative, but it tells how many people allegedly were willing to steal the election and break the law in the name of Trump.

Much broader than the narrow set of federal indictments for Jan. 6 brought by Special Prosecutor Jack Smith that was geared to get to trial fast, Willis’ focus is on the depth and breadth of the criminal activity.

Trump may have been the leader, but this was a group effort to commit crimes against democracy.

As a state case, it also stymies Trump’s hope that by winning the election he can pardon himself. Not in Georgia.

And what a specter a trial would be with cameras allowed in the courtrooms in Georgia. The whole world will be watching whether the U.S. can protect and preserve our nation. It only happens if the indictments spark a pro-democracy movement in America.

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. Reach him at www.amok.com

said. “We need real data on the experiences of Black women so that the legislators, anyone involved in advocacy positions, can make meaningful policies that would drive the change we need to improve their lives.”

James A. Van Der Zee: Capturing the Essence of Harlem’s Renaissance

By Tamara Shiloh

Augustus Van Der Zee,

James

a pioneering American photographer, left an indelible mark on history through his stunning portraits of Black New Yorkers. As a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance, his lens captured the vibrant spirit and cultural richness of this iconic era.

Born on June 29, 1886, in Lenox, Mass., Van Der Zee initially displayed a gift for music and dreamed of becoming a professional violinist. However, his fascination with photography led him to buy his first camera as a teenager, setting the stage for his illustrious career.

In 1906, Van Der Zee moved to Harlem, New York City, where he took on jobs as a waiter and elevator operator. In 1915, Van Der Zee settled in Newark, New Jersey, where he worked in a portrait studio, first as a darkroom assistant and later as a portraitist.

In 1916, he returned to Harlem, just as the neighborhood experienced an influx of Black immigrants and migrants. With his sister, Jennie Louise Van Der Zee

(Madame E. Toussaint), he set up a studio at the Toussaint Conservatory of Art and Music, which she founded in 1911.

During World War I, his business flourished, earning him widespread recognition for his remarkable portraits. In 1919, he famously photographed the victory parade of the returning 369th Infantry Regiment, also known as the “Harlem Hellfighters,” a predominantly African American unit.

The 1920s and 1930s marked a period of immense productivity for Van Der Zee, as he captured the growing middle class of Harlem through hundreds of photographs.

From weddings and funerals to celebrities and sports stars, he meticulously composed images that documented the social life of the community. Some of his renowned subjects included poet Countee Cullen, dancer Bill (“Bojangles”) Robinson, Charles M. “Daddy” Grace, Joe Louis, Florence Mills, and Black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey.

Van Der Zee’s work gained global recognition when featured Continued on page 8

By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media

A study released last week by the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute (CBWCEI) presents a grim picture of the financial stability of Black women voters in the state.

A total of 1,258 women participated in the poll used in the study. Their answers give insight into the web of challenges Black women across California confront daily.

“Black women in California and around the country are struggling socially and economically while serving as primary breadwinners of their households,” said Kellie Todd Griffin, president and CEO of CBWCEI. “The results are sobering and paint a picture of the pressures that threaten Black women’s stability and financial security. This data is a call to action for meaningful change to policymakers, advocates and community leaders to address these pressing issues and disparity gaps.”

The survey conducted by EVITARUS, a Black-owned public opinion research and public policy consulting firm based in Los Angeles, provides an in-depth analysis of Black women’s opinions about state and federal elected officials. It also reveals CBWCEI’s top policy priorities for enhancing the wellbeing of women and girls in California.

Top among the issues Black women face are racial discrimination, lack of opportunities for career advancement, adverse mental and physical health conditions, pay inequity, parenting challenges,

among other serious issues.

EVITARUS Managing Partner Shakari Byerly served as the principal investigator and lead researcher on the study. She said the survey reveals the financial and economic burdens that Black women confront as they contribute to their families, communities and the state.

Griffin, Byerly, Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City), and Dr. Thomas A. Parham, president, California State University Dominguez Hills held a virtual media briefing on Aug. 8 to discuss the study’s results.

“This type of project is exactly why the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) pushed to have the California Black women think tank funded through the Legislature,” said Wilson, who chairs the CLBC. “California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute received $5 million in funding from Gov. (Gavin) Newsom to launch this first-ever think tank to focus on Black women in California.”

Titled “The California Black Women Voters’ Quality of Life Survey,” the 26-slide PowerPoint presentation makes public the opinions of Black women who took the survey between May 24 and June 6.

The results reflect political party, age, profession, income, and geographical and other demographic information about the participants.

Byerly said EVITARUS had “good coverage” in terms of selecting women who were eligible and active voters. Eighty percent of the women who took the poll voted in

Nearly two-thirds of Black women reported having difficulty coping with stress, reflecting the emotional toll of navigating social and economic pressures.

The study found that nearly 2 in 5 Black women work multiple jobs yet still struggle to meet basic expenses. The researchers say this is due to inflation and the rising cost of living in California. Among Black women who are employed, two-thirds are the primary breadwinners in their households.

In addition, 89% of Black women emphasized the importance of having Black representatives in elected office, reflecting their desire for diverse and inclusive political leadership. Among California’s 2.5 million Black population, Wilson said there are over 1 million Black women and girls in the state.

Assembly Bill (AB) 179, which was championed by Wilson, paved the way for the creation of CBWCEI, a non-profit “think tank” focused on improving structures and practices that impact the lives of Black women and girls across the state.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a trailer budget legislation in September 2022 allowing the think tank to receive $5 million from the state to conduct such studies. The think tank is housed at California State University at Dominguez Hills.

CBWCEI also serves as a resource for lawmakers, elected officials, business leaders, and advocacy organizations. The poll on Black women voters is the first public project of the think tank.

“It is essential that we do all that we can to protect them,” Wilson

James Van Der Zee. Wikipedia photo.

Kellie Todd Griffin, President and CEO of the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute (CBWCEI) (left) and Shakari Byerly, managing partner, EVITARUS (right).

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Oakland Barber Academy ...

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school at California State University, East Bay, where he is pursuing a graduate degree in public administration. In addition to opening his own shop, Kenard wants to pay it forward and become a barber instructor at O.B.A. and pass on the knowledge he acquires to other aspiring barbers.

The mission of OJF is to bridge the gap between business and community by supporting local job training and hiring programs that teach jobs skills and expand job opportunities for Oakland’s residents. Since it was founded in 2017, OJF has provided more than

Dr. Marcus Foster Exhibit ...

The exhibit is a celebration of Foster and his accomplishments during his life. The first Black superintendent - not just of the Oakland Unified School District -- but of any major school system, Foster did much to repair the public school system by making it more equitable for Black youth when he took over in 1970.

It was the first time in Oakland’s history that some schools were predominately Black. This was also the height of the influence of the Black Panther Party, which had been founded in 1966 and heavily affected the atmosphere of Oakland. Foster had an active part in the fight for change that was happening not just in Oakland, but across America.

$250,000 to local job training programs. As Oakland’s crime rate soars, OJF believes one great antidote is the opportunity for a job. The best way to ensure a brighter future for vulnerable residents is to provide them with the opportunity to learn skills that will launch them on a career pathway. Supporting programs like O.B.A. is at the heart of what OJF does.

To learn more about the Oakland Jobs Foundation and to support its efforts contact them at www.oaklandjobsfoundation.org and the Oakland Barber Academy at https://www.oakbarberac.com/

Mimi Rohr is the executive director of the Oakland Jobs Foundation

district’s plan in a way that had never been done before. He often pushed the colleagues, teachers, and administrators to have “the audacity to believe” not just in themselves, but in the families, and the kids who have been working at a disadvantage.

Rise in Crime Due to Firing of Chief Armstrong ...

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Thao had no comment Tuesday on the letter from the NAACP.

Gov. Gavin Newsom sent seven California Highway Patrol officers to Oakland recently to help curb crime, but more help is needed, Oakland NAACP President Cynthia Adams said Monday.

Adams said Newsom’s assistant had called her, but she hasn’t heard anything from the mayor or her office.

Adams said she would like to meet with the mayor and each City Council member. NAACP leaders may have ideas for solving the surge in crime, she said.

“This is a crisis,” she said.

Other data from police shows residential robberies are up 57% from this time last year, burglaries are up 44% and motor vehicle thefts are up 52%.

on the NAACP’s claim that Armstrong’s firing has led to a local surge in crime, saying he hadn’t read the letter.

Adams said Thao should have had a replacement in place for Armstrong when he was fired.

The Police Department is currently being led by interim Chief Darren Allison, who was an assistant chief before Armstrong’s departure. The department presently has 713 sworn officers in its ranks.

Since his firing, dozens of residents have rallied in support of Armstrong, who Thao dismissed because of his approach to police misconduct.

“We need more police in our district,” said Diana Galbraith, executive director of the Temescal Telegraph Business Improvement District, an organization that advocates for the neighborhood.

Continued from page 1

leads to good policy and effective programs that can save lives.”

“The Office of Gun Violence Prevention Data Report underscores the need for targeted, placebased solutions to reducing gun violence and mitigating the distinct harms done to communities disproportionately impacted by violence,” said Fernando Rejón, executive director, Urban Peace Institute.

“Solving a problem as complex as gun violence requires nuanced solutions, and our approaches only stand to benefit from more data,”

Kris Brown, president of Brady.

“This report, highlighting both successes and challenges, is a massive stride towards progress in this fight.”

Bonta established the OGVP in September 2022. Its mission is to reduce and prevent gun violence, firearm injury, and related trauma.

and 2022, rising by 23% in Florida and 48% in Texas. In 2020, the United States experienced record increases in gun homicide rates. California was no exception. Following a year of nearrecord low gun homicide rates in 2019, the state, like the rest of the nation, experienced substantial increases in gun violence in 2020 and 2021. Nevertheless, California’s gun homicide rate for youth under 25 was 50% lower in 2022 than it was in 2006. In contrast, the rest of the United States experienced a 37% increase in youth gun homicide rates over the same period. The report, which can be found here, provides addition information and data on gun violence in California including:

• Additional comparisons of California and national data

• Analysis of Gun Violence Injuries in California by intent, lethality, and county

This phrase he used, is what the event is named after.

He founded the education institute early in 1973, but in November of that year, he was assassinated in 1973 by the Symbionese Liberation Army.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the Marcus Foster Education Institute (MFEI). MFEI is dedicated to improving educational experiences and creating opportunities for students that historically have lacked them– BIPOC and first-generation students.

“By any measure, it’s terrible,” said Barry Donelan, president of the Oakland Police Officers’ Association, the police officers’ union.

Both Adams and Donelan said the city needs a plan for curbing crime.

Donelan wouldn’t comment

Barbara Lee Gains in New Independent Poll ...

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Continued from page 1 firms that when voters learn about the inspiring work Congresswoman Lee has done on behalf of the people of California, support for her campaign for Senate grows.

“He was not just an education, he was an activist, he was embedded fully in the community,” Williams. “He went door to door registering students, asking parents their needs... He was addressing issues on every level.”

He began a “Master Plan Citizens Committee” which involved the communities affected in the

Black-Owned Downtown Business ...

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we supposed to not just survive but thrive in these circumstances?” she asks.

According to Walton and Davan, crime has surged since former Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong’s termination. Car break-ins, robberies, assaults, and homicides—have left local residents and business owners living in perpetual fear.

The tourist area of Old Oakland, just a block from the Oakland Police Department and only three blocks from City Hall, appears to be transforming into a “new Oakland danger zone,” Walton and Dawan assert.

They said they have wished and prayed that the police could have been assigned to walk Eighth, Ninth, 10th streets to help protect their customers from the constant car break-ins, burglaries, assaults. These attacks have them traumatized, fearful, and scared to return to the area.

“We are a small, Black-owned business grappling with the brunt of these crimes,” Walton said.

Walton’s frustrations extend to local law enforcement.

She recounts instances where police have been slow or made no response at all to address crimes and vehicle thefts. “Our business might be thriving, but it’s no longer safe to continue.”

The break-ins and vandalism —five in less than a year—have left them with shattered windows, tampered doors, as well as countless car thefts.

Despite her enduring commitment to the community, which encompasses initiatives such as gift-

They do this by providing various programs, career mentorship, scholarships, and internships.

Most notably, they have partnered with UC Berkeley School of Education to establish the Marcus Foster Fellowship (MFF). They also annually offer the Umoja Health Workforce Internship to students who are interested in healthcare.

ing books to children and hosting community events, the crime wave cast a shadow over her business’s future.

Even their attempts to hire armed security for community events have been met with doubt, rooted in the dread of criminal retaliation. Walton’s decision to close her store is underpinned by her earnest concern for her community’s well-being.

“I came from Foster City and came back to Oakland to help my community,” Walton said. “We did not expect all of this to happen: This is not the Oakland we grew up in and used to know.”

Walton is calling for swift action from the mayor, City Council, and OPD. Her proposed solutions include:

• Heightened police presence in crime-ridden areas

• funding for education

• robust support for small businesses

• prioritizing the interests of local residents

She passionately argues that nurturing a sense of community and safeguarding local pride are essential to pave a path toward a brighter future for Oakland.

Walton would like to give a special thanks to Richard Johnson of the Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back (FIGB) organization, who assisted with moving her belongings out of her store for two days. In return, Walton donated the books to Richard Johnson’s non-profit organization which he will personally deliver and drop the books to the reentry homes.

Galbraith said the biggest problems in her district are property damage and vandalism, including brazen car break-ins, which may stop people from enjoying the restaurants in the neighborhood.

“It’s beyond frustrating,” Galbraith said. “Everyone’s being affected.”

She said the Police Department’s community resource officer is dedicated and responsive, but in her opinion, police are underfunded.

fundamental rights.

“There is an important difference between the candidates in this race - and only Barbara Lee has had a record of progressive accomplishments and the proven ability to legislate, negotiate and appropriate. That clearly matters to voters and will give Barbara Lee the advantage as we get closer to the Primary.”

More and more voters are seeing that Barbara Lee will be their champion in the Senate - a leader who will work to lift people out of poverty and stand up for the middle class, working families and the 20 million Californians living one paycheck away from poverty; who will fight to protect reproductive freedom; and who will work to stop extremists from rolling back

There are currently no Black women serving in the U.S. Senate. Since 1789, when the first Congress met, only two African American women have been in the Senate, serving a total of 10 years. For more information on Lee and her campaign for U.S. Senate, visit www.BarbaraLeeforCA. com.

The OGVP supports DOJ’s ongoing gun violence reduction efforts by promoting research and data collection; increasing awareness about effective legal and policy strategies; and collaborating with federal, state, and local partners. Monday’s report provides a compendium of research and data to help guide and shape these policy discussions.

California’s Successes in Reducing Gun Violence

The report highlights California’s successes in preventing gun violence, and through insightful data, it shines a light on successful strategies and further areas for improvements. For example, over the last 30 years, California has reduced its gun violence rate compared to the rest of the United States; once 50% above average, California’s firearm homicide rate is now 33% below the rest of the United States.

Additionally, if the firearm mortality rate in the rest of the United States had matched California’s between 2013-2022, there would have been nearly 140,000 fewer firearmrelated deaths nationwide in that decade alone.

California has made especially significant progress in reducing rates of youth gun homicide since 2006. Even after pandemic-era increases, California’s youth gun homicide rate in 2022 was 50% lower than it was in 2006. In contrast, the next two most populous states after California — Florida and Texas — experienced substantial increases in youth homicide rates between 2006

Analysis of gun violence factors, disparities, and recent challenges

• Domestic violence and firearms

• Data on mass shootings

• Strategies for breaking the cycle of violence

Attorney General Bonta stands with partners throughout the state to continue tackling the issue of gun violence strategically and aggressively by:

• Advocating for commonsense gun laws including by sponsoring Assembly Bill 1594 to increase accountability for the firearm industry, working to strengthen federal laws to protect the public from ghost guns, and successfully defending California’s laws to prevent gun violence; Seizing guns from prohibited persons in the Armed and Prohibited Persons System, and through multiagency sweeps in the Bay Area and Los Angeles County, conducting operations targeting individuals attempting to illegally purchase guns, and collaborating with local law enforcement partners; and

• Ending the sale of illegal firearms through litigation against ghost gun retailers, and by putting a stop to the sale of illegal assault weapons in Orange County

Oakland Black Farmers’ Market Celebrates 10th Anniversary

By Zack Haber

Freedom Farmers’ Market Oakland, a seasonal market that honors Black farmers and African American foodways, is opening again starting on Saturday, August 12. This year, the market is celebrating its tenth anniversary and will run every second and fourth Saturday of the month until November 11, from 9 am until 2 pm, at 4521 Telegraph Avenue in Oakland’s Temescal District.

Freedom Farmers’ Market is operated by Farms to Grow Inc, a nonprofit organization whose mission is “to assist African American farmers and other under-served farmers/gardeners to maintain and create sustainable farms and spaces to grow food and motivate the next generation.” It was established by Farms to Grow’s co-founder, Dr Gail P. Myers, in 2013, and is part of her 20 years as a cultural anthropologist to document and share stories and knowledge of African American farmers through lectures, writing, film, and other projects.

According to Adrionna Fike, who is involved with Freedom Farmers’ Market and works with Farms to Grow, the market is unique because it specializes in legacy foods and food crops grown by Black farmers, such as okra, sweet potatoes, collard greens, and purple pole peas. While some of these crops are common in grocery stores, others aren’t. Fike said many varieties of watermelon that would be hard to find elsewhere

will be sold along with under-ripe tomatoes, which are perfect for making fried green tomatoes.

Fike, who began attending the market since its 2013 opening, thinks a community has grown there that “taps into the spiritual quality” of African American foods and “encourages present and future generations to get into farming.” Music, workshops and art that celebrate Black culture have also been present at the market.

“Freedom Farmers’ Market is a particularly special place where people converge,” Fike told The Oakland Post. “It’s there in the music, in the way that food is talked about and how recipes are shared. It’s a great unique experience that’s needed for the Black community to remember in particular but it’s welcoming to all.”

Celebratory events also occur. Carrying on a yearly tradition,

there will be a watermelon eating contest on the opening day and a sweet potato pie-tasting contest at the end of the season.

Some Black farmers have been coming back year after year. Fresno based farmer Will Scott Jr, who is also the president of the nonprofit African American Farmers of California, has been selling at

the market since its opening day in 2013. Other farmers come from Capay Valley in Yolo County. Many of the farmers who sell at the market are Black elders interested in passing on the knowledge and experience they have of growing food.

“They’re trying to pass on a tradition,” said Fike. “They really spend time with people and form lasting relationships with folks.” Farms to Grow also hopes to attract new vendors this year and aims to make participation affordable. New vendors interested in selling prepared food, beverages, crops, or crafts and art can get started by filling out a vendor application for $25. After turning in the application, there’s a $37 per week fee for stall fees and taxes. The application can be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/ e/1FAIpQLSedh2hfWCHesyzy8 6FCnxv13T9anGdH0Ckg9HVT jK_QfG7VTQ/viewform

Will Scott Jr, a Fresno-based farmer and president of African American Farmers of California, stands with Iyana Haynes, a beginning farmer and worker at Farms to Grow, Inc. at Scott’s farm in Fresno in January 2023.