Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.: He Kept Hope Alive
tion, two campaigns for U.S. president and diplomacy efforts that deescalated international incidents, passed away on Monday. He was 84. Jackson’s health had been in decline since he was diagnosed with a neurological condition similar to Parkinson’s disease in 2017.
Born in Greenville, South Carolina in 1941, Jackson did well in school and attended first the University of Illinois, the North Carolina A&T and Chicago Theological Seminary until he left in 1966 to devote himself to the Civil Rights Movement.
and
organiza-
Gaining the attention of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Jackson was chosen to head a branch of Operation Breadbasket, the economic arm of
the Southern Christian Leadership Coalition whose aim was to get jobs for blacks.
In the wake of King’s assassination in Memphis in 1968 – the same year he was ordained – Jackson’s management of the 15-acre tent city in the Poor People’s campaign and holding a Black Expo event that brought Black business leaders and politicians from across the country to Chicago for five days presaged his renown as a leader.
In 1971, Jackson started Operation PUSH (People United to Serve Humanity) whose goals were to boost economic empowerment and expand educational, business and employment opportunities for the disadvantaged and people of color.
Known for his powerful oratory supporting the humanity in every-
one no matter their racial or ethnic background, ability, age, or sexual orientation, his appearance on the children’s show “Sesame Street” leading the kids in a call-and-response of the poem “I Am Somebody,” galvanized the next generation of humanitarian leaders.
Jackson brought that ‘Somebody-ness’ to reality in founding the National Rainbow Coalition, a social justice effort devoted to political empowerment in 1984 and converging it with Operation PUSH. The same year he followed in the footsteps of U.S. Rep. Shirley Chisholm in running for the U.S. presidency.
Though he didn’t win the nomination, Jackson’s campaigns in 1984 and 1988 forced the Democratic Party to widen its vision
for human rights for people of the ‘rainbow’ when it brought millions more voters to the polls and boosted
The first Presbyterian Church of Oakland has chosen the theme
‘Good Trouble’ in honor of Civil Rights Movement leader John Lewis to celebrate Black History Month
By Carla Thomas
The Golden State Warriors and Chase bank hosted the third annual Alley-Oop Accelerator this month, an empowering eightweek program designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs bring their visions for business to life.
The initiative kicked off on Feb. 12 at Chase’s Oakland Community Center on Broadway Street, welcoming 15 small business
By Carla Thomas
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee welcomed a group of local influencers to City Hall on Feb. 12, for the “I Love Oakland” influencer event, a pre-Valentine’s Day offering, designed to celebrate and promote civic pride, community storytelling, and social media savvy.
The one-hour guided tour gave a dozen Instagram and TikTok creators, each with audiences ranging from 5,000 to over 100,000 followers, a behind-the-scenes look at Oakland City Hall, one of the city’s most iconic buildings.
Participants included content creators focused on local food, family life, culture, and social justice, representing handles such as @booziebrunch, @510families, @oaklibrary, @thetownexperience, @bayareafoodz, @naeemahtravels, @senor_barragan, @townstrides, @ thetownexperience, @visitoakland and @phamamiii.
The tour included stops at his-
with special programs, music, sermons, and educational discussions each week.
The Voices of Legacy, founded in 1973 by the late Mary Cobb-Hill, performed traditional Negro Spiri-
tuals that originated during the slavery era in America as well as modern arrangements.
Cobb-Hill, known as an impresario of Negro Spirituals, once performed at the Oakland Auditorium
with gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. Over the years, many of her students became professional singers throughout the world. Mrs. Velmar Brown has been the director since Cobb-Hill’s death in 2017.
owners who joined a growing network of local innovators working to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Over the past three years, the Alley-Oop Accelerator has helped more than 20 Bay Area businesses grow, connect, and gain meaningful exposure. The program combines hands-on training, mentorship, and community-building
LoveLife Foundation.
Lee joined the group in her office, which provided sparkle and spirit with a Mardi Gras-themed entrance, complete with green foil pom-poms in a cheerful nod to the holiday tradition.
As she greeted the visitors, Lee called them “cheerleaders for Oakland.” That reference carried special meaning for the new mayor, whose office lobby features a 24”-by-24” photograph of herself as a high school cheerleader, a nod to her own history of breaking barriers.
By Ken Epstein
Oakland Councilmember Carroll Fife has been a driving force working to raise public awareness and bring change to longstanding practices revealed by a cityfunded Disparity Study, which shows dramatic evidence that the City of Oakland has been practic-
ing a deeply entrenched pattern of systemic discrimination in the spending of public money on outside contracts, excluding minority- and women-owned businesses and especially African Americans.
The Disparity Study shows that a lot of public money, almost a half
By Post Staff
Members of the National Probate Reform Coalition (NPRF) met Feb. 5 to share frustration in the lack of response all have experienced in attempts to engage State Bar Associations, as well as Judicial Councils responsible for oversight of judges, attorneys, and guardians in the probate court system.
“I now know what finding a needle in a haystack feels like,” remarked Nedra Jones, a member of the coalition. “These people protect each other. They are not going to admit error or fault. It’s a ‘good old boy’ system. All I know
I’m proud to write this piece about my mother, DJean Collins, and her debut book.
She is a National Merit Scholar, an author, and now retired after
torical spaces such as the City Council Chambers, the Mayor’s conference room, and the ornate lobby, each serving as a reminder of Oakland’s storied past and its vibrant civic life. Karen Boyd, communications director for the City of Oakland offered historical insights about City Hall’s architecture and its role during historic moments in Oakland’s evolution.
Journalist and influencer Carla Thomas of the Post News Group helped guide portions of the tour, sharing local context about the City’s “Love Life” motto, and its roots honoring the memory of Donald Lacy’s daughter, LoEshé Adanma Lacy and the work of the
Lee shared a personal reflection with the group, recalling how, with persistence, her mother’s support, and the NAACP, she became the first Black member of the San Fernando High School cheerleading team. The story illustrated both her lifelong dedication to racial diversity, organizing, and her deep personal connection to the community.
“I can’t turn a cartwheel, but
A shout out to local author,
as she publishes her story, “Beseeching Light-Journal of an Eccentric Anachronism.” Her son Maagic Collins tells her story.
By Post Staff
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, whose lifelong work for human dignity began during the Civil Rights
Movement under the tutelage
influence of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was followed by leadership of the Rainbow/PUSH
By Post Staff
By B. Bauer
DJean Collins,
Councilmember Carroll Fife and Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. File photos.
Reverend Jesse Jackson spoke at the UN March 2012 for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. In his remarks, Reverend Jackson highlighted the importance of freedom of expression in the fight
combat racial discrimination. Photo: United States Mission Geneva.
Reverend Jesse Jackson and former Oakland Post reporter Chanelle Bell at the 2011 NNPA National Conference n Chicago. Photo by Brenda Hudson.
Bay Area social media influencers with 5k-100k-plus followers, tour Oakland City Hall. Mayor Lee refers to them as Oakland’s cheerleaders. Photo by Kim Barkadian.
Bay Area entrepreneurs attend the Alley-Oop Accelerator, a small business incubation program at Chase Oakland Community Center. Photo by Carla Thomas.
The Voices of Legacy perform at First Presbyterian Church. Photo by Linda Carter does not show all members. The full roster is: SOPRANOS: Lenora Cole, Shirley Graves, Marilyn Reynolds. ALTOS: Loreda Quarles-Brown, Dianne Doss, Nina Fallon, Dalya Jones, Ana People, Janice Williams, TENORS: Marco Akil, Carolyn Jones, Carlton Jones, Marcella Logwood, Joshua Williams, Dr. Rev. Fredrick Williams, BASSES: Lee Ball, Willie Kelly, Dennis Ward, BASS PLAYER: (Guest) Raye Jackson, DIRECTOR: Velmar J. Brown.
DJean Collins’ new book is available at Marcus Books in Oakland. Courtesy photo.
Tensions Flare at Newsom’s Signing of $90 Million Reproductive Health Bill
By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media
Senate Bill (SB) 106, authored by Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), is a direct response to federal funding cuts enacted in H.R. 1 by the Trump administration. That legislation blocked Medicaid (Medi-Cal) funding for Planned Parenthood and similar reproductive health providers, Newsom stated.
“California is taking steps to ensure people don’t lose access to the range of services provided by Planned Parenthood,” Newsom stated. “As the Trump administration’s ‘Big Ugly Bill’ punishes women and community health providers, California continues to stand in support of women’s access to essential health services and reproductive freedom.”
California is home to seven Planned Parenthood affiliates, which operate 115 health centers across the state serving patients from all 58 counties. Each affiliate is an independently incorporated 501(c)(3) organization, according to the California Planned
Parenthood Education Fund.
According to the California Planned Parenthood Education Fund, about 80% of California Planned Parenthood patients rely on public health insurance programs, including Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal is California’s version of the federal Medicaid program.
The seven Planned Parenthood affiliates in California operate over 100 health centers, organized regionally to cover the entire state. They are divided into Northern California, Mar Monte, Central Coast, Los Angeles, Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley, Orange and San Bernardino, and Pacific Southwest.
Planned Parenthood California Central Coast reported that Black patients consisted of 1.8% of their total patient population in the 2023—2024 fiscal year Impact Report.
Jodi Hicks, the CEO and President of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, said SB 106 is an indispensable, “bold and significant” action by state leaders to protect reproductive health care.
“The Planned Parenthood affiliates in California are grateful to our state leaders for continuing to protect Californians’ constitutional right to reproductive freedom by ensuring patients from Eureka to El Centro can continue to access the essential care they need and deserve, no matter what.”
A moment of visible tension occurred inside the room when reporters shifted their questions to unrelated political issues and Siebel-Newsom stepped in and sharply criticized them for straying from the purpose of the event.
In the hours that followed, Siebel-Newsom became the center of a national conversation, drawing headlines and sparking debate across social media.
The bill was designed as a direct response to sweeping federal funding cuts that have strained reproductive health providers across the state. But as reporters pressed the governor, many of their questions veered away from the legislation at hand.
That’s when Siebel—Newsom stepped in.
“We just find it incredulous that we have Planned Parenthood here, and women are 51% of the population, and the majority of the questions — all of these questions — have really been about other issues,” Siebel-Newsom said.
Journalists routinely ask Newsom about a range of timely issues regardless of the subject of a press conference.
But Siebel-Newsom’s reaction made it clear that she believed the significance of that moment deserved more attention.
“It’s just fascinating,” she continued. “We have this incredible women’s caucus and all these allies, and you’re not asking about it. And this happens over and over and over and over again. You wonder why we have such a horrific war on women in this country and that these guys are getting away with it. Because you don’t seem to care.”
By Edward Henderson, California Black Media
To stabilize and strengthen local journalism across California, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) announced on Feb. 10 that it has launched an initiative called the Civic Media Program and appointed a diverse advisory board to steer the effort.
According to GO-Biz, the grant program is a $20 million public-private partnership funded equally by the State of California and Google.
“An informed public is the foundation of a healthy democracy,” said Dee Dee Myers, senior advisor to Gov. Gavin Newsom and director of GO-Biz.
“By bringing together distinguished leaders from across the state who care deeply about supporting local journalism, expanding access to trusted information and improving newsroom sustainability, the Civic Media Program will help Californians stay connected to the issues that shape their lives and strengthen their communities,” Myers continued.
Over the past two decades, local journalism in California and across the United States has been decimated, with more than 3,200
newspapers shutting down since 2005 and closures continuing at a pace of about two per week, leaving a shrinking ecosystem of roughly 5,600 outlets today, according to statistics provided by Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
For Regina Wilson, the executive director of California Black Media (CBM) who has been appointed to the board, the program represents an important — even if incremental — advancement.
“I think even if this is just a baby step, it’s important that the state of California is working to address our news ecosystem,” Wilson said.
“It is a democratic safeguard,” she said. “Our founders understood that freedom of the press is essential. It is enshrined in the Constitution. A free press serves as a check and balance on government.”
Julian Do, co-director of American Community Media and a member of the advisory board, framed the Civic Media Program as part of an effort to rebuild California’s news infrastructure.
“Protecting and rebuilding California’s robust media ecosystem and ensuring it serves immigrants, Latinos and communities
of color equally requires an important role for philanthropy, our tech and private sector, and, yes, California state government,” Do said To ensure independence, GOBiz has selected the James B. McClatchy Foundation as the thirdparty administrator for the grant program.
“Local journalism is essential civic infrastructure,” said Priscilla Enriquez, president and CEO of the James B. McClatchy Foundation.
“The California Civic Media Fund must prioritize support for communities of color and local journalism in a way that reflects our state’s true demographics. By addressing the unique needs of a diverse media ecosystem, we recognize that local news is not just a service, but a critical civic function,” said Arturo Carmona, President of the Latino Media Collaborative.
Members of the advisory board are: Arturo Carmona, president of the Latino Media Collaborative
Chuck Corra, associate director of policy and advocacy at Local Independent Online News Publishers
• Erik Cushman, publisher of Monterey County Weekly
• Julian Do, co-director of American Community Media
• Sean Emery, president of the Media Guild of the West and journalist at Southern California News Group Jeff Glasser, general counsel at the Los Angeles Times Marian Kaanon, president and CEO of the Stanislaus Community Foundation Julie Patel Liss, chair of the California State University, Los Angeles Department of Television, Film & Media Studies
• Regina Wilson, executive director of California Black Media
On Feb. 11, California Gov. Gavin Newsom held a news conference to sign a $90 million one—time emergency funding bill for Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health care clinics in the state. The event became tense when questions from reporters veered into unrelated political issues, prompting California’s First Partner Jennifer Siebel—Newsom to step in and sharply criticize the press.
Adult Day Program
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As Black History Month Closes Out, A Few More Chances to Celebrate
tory Month, students from Oakland Technical High School’s Fashion, Art & Design Academy (FADA) created artwork exploring themes of ethnic and cultural identity, and personal empowerment. Exhibition on view with the Art of the African Diaspora showcasing the creativity of Bay Area artists of African descent. Learn more at Studios11Oakland.com
Curated by Katherine and Rachel Osajima and Eric Murphy.
Studios 11 Gallery
Jack London Square,
560 Second St., Oakland
Opening reception: Feb. 28, 2-5 p.m.
Exhibit closes 5 p.m. March 1
Month celebration on Feb. 24, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
By Post Staff
Without that extra day, February, and Black History Month, seem shorter than ever. But if you didn’t get a chance — or get your fill — of offerings centennial year of the holiday, there are a few more events left.
Oakland
CROWNS: Power, Grace & Wisdom
In celebration of Black His-
Marie Clark Taylor ...
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firmly in them herself. Representation matters, and Taylor represented excellence, brilliance, and possibility.
Her accomplishments include decades of research, department leadership, national scientific presentations, and transforming science education at a major historically Black university. She proved that light fuels plants — and education fuels people.
Taylor also taught a summer science series for the National Science Foundation designed for biology
forming, please DM our Instagram page at @acoupleofkidsfromoakland or @O2TheGBG.
(If it says sold out or you can’t register for tickets you can still show up and participate)
Club Dezi’s
1802 Telegraph Ave.
Oakland, CA
Feb. 26, 8-11 p.m.
Reflecting on Black Contributions Laney College will close out BHM with an art showcase featuring work from the student body at Umoja Village.
Laney College
900 Fallon St.
Black History Month Spoken Word Poetry Open Mic Event
SNAPS, CLAPS & DAPS is a weekly open mic at Club Dezi’s hosted by O2TheGoodBadGuy and UpsideDownGhost. This open mic serves as a platform for artists to express themselves and a safe space for the audience to have an opportunity to hear some of the most talented spoken-word artists in the Bay Area. Sign-up starts at 8 p.m. until full. First come, first serve seating. RSVP for free your tickets now! For more information or if you’re interested in per-
teachers to make use of botanical materials for their courses to illustrate cell life. These summer classes also developed her teaching methods, where she also emphasized microscopes to study living cells. During the mid-1960s, she was requested by President Lyndon B. Johnson to expand her work overseas, bringing her teaching style to an international level.
After her death, an auditorium in the Ernest E. Just Hall at Howard University was named in her honor. Taylor died on Dec. 28, 1990, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
Oakland CA
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Berkeley
Join the City of Berkeley’s Health, Housing, and Community Services Department, Mental Health Division, for a vibrant celebration of Black History Month honoring “A Century of Black History Commemorations.”
This free, community-centered
event will feature live music, a dance performance, food, wellness resources, inspiring speakers, and interactive activities celebrating Black history, culture, resilience, and community leadership. The guest speaker will be Mack “Shooty” Babitt, a former A’s player and sports analyst.
All community members are welcome. For questions or to request an accessibility accommodation, please contact Cynthia Hall, call: 510-981-7624, email: chall@berkeleyca.gov
North Berkeley Senior Center
1901 Hearst Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
Tuesday, Feb. 24
11 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Richmond
Richmond is bringing the community together for the 2026 Black History Celebration, a free event that focuses on joy, culture, and local history. Attendees can look forward to line dancing and live music. Organizers are providing light refreshments. The family-friendly environment is built on good vibes and community pride. While the event costs nothing to attend, you must sign up in advance to get through the
door. You can register now to save your spot for this afternoon of education and entertainment. If you have questions about the event or how to sign up, call the city team at 510-620-6793. Richmond Memorial Auditorium 403 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, CA Sat., Feb. 28. 1-3 p.m. Doors open at 12:30 p.m.
San Francisco Museum of the African Diaspora
MoAD is hosting an illuminating edition of “MoAD Mix: A Spirited Discussion on Art & Culture,” featuring Nigerian-American artist Mikael Owunna and his celebrated photographic series “Infinite Essence.”
Owunna’s work reimagines Black bodies as sites of cosmic brilliance — glowing with light, divinity, and ancestral power. Through multispectral photogra-
phy, he transforms the Black figure into a celestial being, challenging narratives of violence and invisibility by revealing a universe within.
In this conversation, Owunna will share the inspirations behind Infinite Essence, his creative process, and how spirituality, science, and mythology converge in his image-making. We’ll explore the ways his work opens radical possibilities for
Mack “Shooty” Babitt, a former A’s player and sports analyst will be a guest at the North Berkeley Senior Center Black History
Courtesy photo.
Fife Shines Light on Discrimination in City Contracting ...
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billion dollars in five years, goes disproportionately to a handful of white male-owned companies that are based outside of Oakland, according to the 369-page report produced for the city by Mason Tillman Associates, an Oaklandbased company that performs statistical, legal and economic analyses of contracting and hiring.
Completed in March 2024, the study was not made public until Councilmember Fife brought it last week to the council’s Life Enrichment Committee, which she chairs. Release of the study was held up while it was being reviewed internally.
The City Charter requires disparity studies to be completed every two years.
The 2024 Disparity Study is available online at www.oaklandca.gov/Government/Departments/City-Administrator/2024Disparity-Study
The public needs to know about these discriminatory practices if there are ever going to be changes, said Councilmember Fife in an interview with the Oakland Post.
“Equity in contracting in Oakland means equity in outcomes,” she said. “When communities of color- and woman-owned firms do not receive their equitable share of contracting dollars, City Hall runs counter to Oakland values. Residents in this city understand that living wage employment is critical to a robust economy and an individual’s ability to thrive here.”
“When economic inequality persists, then a host of other challenges spring up as social ills (such as poverty, homelessness, and public safety issues),” Councilmember Fife said.
“The reality is that everything is connected,” she continued.
“When we do right by the individuals who have struggled inside of inequitable systems, then society gets better for everyone.
“Everyone deserves access, and that hasn’t been the case here. I am going to do everything in my power to rectify that,” she said.
Contacted by the Oakland Post, Mayor Barbara Lee said she is committed to changing current practices.
“The 2024 Disparity Study documents significant disparities in contracting opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses during the July 2016 to June 2021 study period,” said Mayor Lee.
“As a former local small business owner, I know firsthand how hard these entrepreneurs workand these findings are deeply concerning,” she said. “My administration is moving forward with a forensic audit and comprehensive reforms to ensure economic diversity, uplift Black and Brown businesses, and make certain that Oakland’s procurement practices truly reflect our city’s values of equity and inclusion.”
Also weighing in, the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce (OAACC) called for immediate and decisive action following the release of the City of Oakland’s 2024 Disparity Study.
“(This study) confirms longstanding systemic discrimination in public contracting that has excluded Black- and women-owned businesses from their fair share of nearly half a billion dollars in city contracts, the statement from the OAACC said.
“This is not just a policy failure — it is an economic justice crisis. Change must be made now,” according to the OAACC.
“We urge the City to implement enforceable reforms, strengthen accountability across all departments, and ensure that Oakland’s procurement practices reflect the equity and inclusion our community deserves,” the statement continued.
“Black businesses must no longer be shut out of opportunities that directly impact the economic health of our city.”
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. 84 ...
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Mason Tillman’s team found that the city’s contracting policies are good, but “the practices are not consistent with policy,” said Dr. Eleanor Ramsey, founder and CEO of Mason Tillman Associates, speaking at last week’s Life Enrichment Committee meeting.
Mason Tillman has conducted four disparity studies during the last 20 years, all showing a pattern of discrimination against women and minorities, especially African Americans, she said. “You have good procurement policy but poor enforcement.”
“Most minority and women businesses did not receive their fair share of city funded contracts,” she continued. “Over 50% of the city’s prime contract dollars were awarded to white-owned male businesses that controlled most subcontracting awards. And nearly 65% of the city’s prime contracts were awarded to non-Oakland businesses.”
Much of the discrimination occurs in the methods used by individual city departments when issuing outside contracts. Many departments have found “creative” ways to circumvent policies, including issuing “emergency” nobid contracts for emergencies that do not exist and providing waivers to requirements to contract with women- and minority-owned businesses, Dr. Ramsey said.
Many of the smaller contracts, 59% of total contracts issued, never go to the City Council for approval.
Councilmember Fife said she has been receiving calls, emails and texts from city residents who support her efforts and want to see change.
“This report is an opportunity to do something about these conditions,” she said. “But we didn’t need this disparity study to show that something needed to be done.
The Mason Tillman Report confirmed what so many already know. Moving forward, the entire community should be able to see a difference in how these contracts are doled out.”
As a demonstration of the community-wide impact of these inequities, Councilmember Fife pointed to studies that show Black workers are more likely to find jobs with Black employers.
Recent federal statistics indicate that Black unemployment in Oakland is more than double white unemployment: 10.5% for African Americans compared to 4.2% for whites.
The councilmember said minority-owned enterprises level the playing field, which is why government contracts are important, even smaller ones. She would like to see the city organize public events for potential small, minority-, and women-owned firms to get them into the city’s contractor pool and explain procedures and opportunities available at the city.
Contracting issues at the departmental level can be complicated, she said. “I’ve spoken with the staff about challenges with vacancies and high turnover in departments, contributing to lack of staffing and long-standing leadership.”
“We need to overhaul major aspects of the program, but we don’t have to wait until we work out all the kinks before significant changes are made,” she said.
“Departments could break out some larger contracts into smaller pieces to allow more minority firms to bid. The city must also look at ways other municipalities have overcome similar challenges,” she said.
There are things that the City can do immediately, and there are changes that are going to take more time. What’s certain is that the status quo has failed far too many Oaklanders, and that is going to change.”
successes for local and state legislators.
Jackson proved an able and active diplomat, securing the release of prisoners in Syria, Cuba, Iraq, Colombia, and Gambia. A longtime supporter of a two-state solution in the Middle East and the dismantling of apartheid in South African, he visited both places in unofficial capacities that were effective.
He received the Medal of Freedom Award from President Bill Clinton in 2000, an acknowledgment of his contribution to human rights here and abroad. But he wasn’t done yet by any means. He continued to participate in protests for civil and human rights and supported Barack Obama’s campaign for president in 2007. When Obama won in 2008, Jackson famously shed a tear during the spontaneous celebration in their adopted hometown of Chicago.
Citing his health and age, Jackson stepped down from Rainbow/ PUSH in 2023.
Upon Jackson’s passing, leaders from all over the nation and the world shared their love.
“Reverend Jackson created opportunities for generations of African Americans and inspired countless more, including us,” Obama said in a statement on Tuesday. “Michelle got her first glimpse of political organizing at the Jacksons’ kitchen table when she was a teenager. And in his two historic runs for president, he laid the foundation for my own campaign to the highest office of the land.”
“He was a pioneer,” said former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, who served as national chair of Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign. “Jesse Jackson changed the nature of the Democratic process of selecting their nominee.”
“Rev. Jackson’s life was a testament to the belief that ordinary people, organized and unafraid, can
move mountains,” said Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, a Civil Rights Movement veteran and longtime friend of Jackson who officiated at her son’s wedding. “From marching with Dr. King to founding Rainbow PUSH, he never stopped fighting for the forgotten, the dismissed, the left behind.
“We mourn Rev. Jackson today, but we also celebrate a life fully lived in service to others. Every sermon preached, every march led, every heart changed. His legacy lives in every victory for working people, every voice lifted in protest, every barrier broken.”
“He respected the worth and dignity of all persons. He was one of the best servant leaders anywhere to be found,” former Third Baptist Church pastor Rev. Amos Brown said of Jackson, a longtime friend and fellow civil rights leader mentored by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. “We had similar experiences that motivated high engagement in the struggle for human rights,” Brown told ABC News 7. “We’re not just concerned about civil rights for Black people – but human rights.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Jackson “was a towering contribution to the global anti-apartheid cause,” adding: “we are deeply indebted to the energy, principled clarity and personal risk with which he supported our struggle and campaigned for freedom and equality in other parts of the world.”
Jackson is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jacqueline and his children Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, Jaqueline, and Ashley. Funeral plans are pending.
Wikipedia, CNN News, Yahoo, ABC News 7, People magazine, The Guardian, San Francisco Chronicle and Mayor Barbara Lee’s press office are the sources for this report.
Chase Oakland Community Center Hosts Alley-Oop Accelerator ...
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to help participants navigate the legal, financial, and marketing challenges of small business ownership.
for Impact program, which provides complimentary, personalized business consulting.
At its core, the accelerator is designed to create an ecosystem of collaboration, where local entrepreneurs can learn from one another while accessing the resources of a global financial institution.
“This is our third year in a row working with the Golden State Warriors on the Alley-Oop Accelerator,” said Jaime Garcia, executive director of Chase’s Coaching for Impact team for the West Division. “We’ve already had 20plus businesses graduate from the program, and we have 15 enrolled this year. The biggest thing about the program is really the community that’s built amongst the business owners — plus the exposure they’re able to get through Chase and the Golden State Warriors.”
According to Garcia, several graduates have gone on to receive vendor contracts with the Warriors and have gained broader recognition through collaborations with JPMorgan Chase.
“A lot of what Chase is trying to do,” Garcia added, “is bring businesses together because what they’ve asked for is an ecosystem, a network where they can connect, grow, and thrive organically.”
This year’s Alley-Oop Accelerator reflects that vision through its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on practical learning. Participants explore the full spectrum of business essentials including financial management, marketing strategy, and legal compliance, while also preparing for real-world experiences such as pop-up market events.
Each entrepreneur benefits from one-on-one mentoring sessions through Chase’s Coaching
Faces Around the Bay ...
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struggle, and pain realized through firsthand accounts of lives that are systematically upended for profit over people and the work it takes to stay positive.
She writes about integrating a third-grade class in a white school in Mississippi, escaping abusive situations and living on the streets of Los Angeles. She tells of multiple major health crises while battling ‘gentrification’ at the same time.
Readers will find their own sto-
ries of survival in these pages, as they relate to a cruel system levied on working-class people. It is with great love and respect for my mother, and hope for a better humanity, that we announce this book in hopes that it becomes part of lifting up a healthier, more whole global village of truth, love, and light.
The book is available at Marcus Book Store, 3900 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Oakland. (510-6522344)
National Probate Reform Coalition ...
Continued from page 1 is that when you appeal to these agencies nothing changes.”
Zakiya Jendayi, a co-chair of the organization concurs. “It’s obvious that the judicial system deliberately tilts in their favor. The court system has everything to gain, because the longer they keep us engaged, the bigger the paycheck. It’s a self-serving system without oversight…like the Wild, Wild West. They take and do whatever they want with impunity.”
NPRF hopes to change that paradigm at their next meeting on March 5. They have invited Attorneys General, State Assembly and State Senate officials, including presiding judges to their “Listen Only” meeting.
“By getting the people who fund the courts to hear what we are going through, perhaps real systemic change will occur,” says Tanya Dennis, another co-chair. “We control the ballot box. If attorneys general, Senate, and Assembly members ignore us, vote for change. The purpose of this coalition is to unite people nationally – that makes us a greater force then individuals pleading their case, who are easily ignored and discounted.
NPRF emerged from the Post Newspapers advocacy work for the past decade that brought numerous advocates and victims together. Forming first as a local organization, it is now reaching out on a national level by utilizing the Black Press.
Says Dennis, “Historically
Garcia described the impact this hands-on approach has had on local small business owners. He recalled one candlemaker, who, after participating in the program, was invited to provide candles as gifts at Chase events.
“We were able to help give that business exposure,” he explained.
“But then our team also worked with them on how to access capital to buy inventory and manage operations once those orders started coming in. It’s about preparation. When a hiccup happens, are you ready to handle it?”
The Coaching for Impact initiative, which launched in 2020 in just four cities, has since expanded to 46 nationwide.
“Every business is different,” Garcia said. “That’s why personal coaching matters so much. It’s life-changing.”
Participants in the 2026 program will each receive a $2,500 stipend, funding that Garcia said can make an outsized difference.
“It’s amazing what some people can do with just $2,500,” he noted.
“It sounds small, but it goes a long way when you have a plan for how to use it.”
For Chase and the Warriors, the Alley-Oop Accelerator represents more than an educational initiative, it’s a pathway to empowerment and economic inclusion.
The program continues to foster lasting relationships among the entrepreneurs who, as Garcia put it, “build each other up” through shared growth and opportunity.
“Starting a business is never easy, but with the right support, it becomes possible, and even exhilarating,” said Oscar Lopez, the senior business consultant for Chase in Oakland.
Black people are used to being in the forefront of change. We’re used to oppression and it’s in our DNA to push back. This coalition is strong because it is inclusive and welcomes anyone seeking justice from court criminality.
“The stories are horrific! We hear of guardianship cases where loved ones are isolated from family members, their health neglected, many times ending in premature death, all merely for profit.
“Court delays are common operating procedure that results in depleting estates to zero leaving beneficiaries destitute. The probate court must be reformed, if not dismantled. We have solutions and we demand they be addressed.
NPRF members concur with Dennis that a cap should be placed on how much of an estate the court can take to resolve issues and there needs to be a people’s advocate at the State Bar, Judicial Council and the Commission for Judicial Performance that has a say in the complaints submitted.
“As it is now, when a person makes a complaint, we’re asking a judge to rule against another judge, an attorney to rule against another attorney,” continued Dennis. “The playing field needs to be balanced so the average citizen gets a fair shake.”
National Probate Reform Coalition Zoom meetings are on the first Thursday of each month and all citizens are welcome to join.
Meeting ID: 825 0367 1750
Passcode: 475480
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I’m still cheering,” she said. “And I believe in uplifting this city in a way where we don’t sweep our challenges under the rug. We acknowledge them. We work on them, but we definitely lift up the food, the art. The children, the businesses, our amazing topography, and everything in Oakland,” she said.
A screening of a documentary on Lee, “Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power,” – winner of an NAACP Image Award for best documentary – showcased the mayor’s advocacy for the underserved.
Attendees enjoyed refreshments provided by the mayor’s staff and received swag bags filled with Oakland-themed gifts: a Visit Oakland magazine, a notepad, and a clear blue water bottle.
“When we love Oakland and show it, the whole world sees what makes this city shine,” Lee told the group.
Lee also highlighted the decline in Oakland crime, how the small business community will be supported by new banks in the city, and that current vacancy rates may lower rental costs for new businesses.
I Love Oakland’ Event at City Hall ...
