• Africans in America

    Africans In America

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Berkeley, Featured, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles, Vallejo News

    AIA 2

    Part 3 Propitiation honoring Ancestors According to the Odu Osa Meji, in the Yoruba belief system, Odu (female oracle) established all the sacred groves (places) and maintained secrets of the sacred shrines of the Orisas (belief of the Yoruba, divine system) after descent. Women were not excluded from performing rituals at any sacred grove....

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    Babatunde Harrison, Journalist Griot in the Diaspora

    by  • March 15, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    The Ancestress, Alice Ewurafua Baoye Arthur, at home with her great grandchildren in Hayward: Anthony Adeyinka DaSilva, JR., (far Left), Miles DaSilva, next to the Ancestress, Christiana Folarinde DaSilva and Malik DaSilva. Photo by Kenneth Walker.

    Part II By Babatunde Harrison In the ancient African empires of West Africa, the Griot was the custodian of the histories and genealogies of the people of West Africa. Through epic songs and poetry, the Griot told and preserved the traditions and memories of ancient Mali, Songhai and Ghana.. Since the arrival of the...

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    Africans In America

    by  • March 15, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Berkeley, Featured, News Group Publisher, Oakland News Articles, Rev. Hunter, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    A Veneration Ceremony often has dancing, singing ,drumming, and spiritual chants to honor the ancestors. A Yoruba Mythology saying:” As a spirit in heaven before taking a body, we each are given assignments tasks from our ancestors to achieve then we are sent to earth through selected parents. which leads to the chant - It is the errand of my ancestors that I run, or it is the path of my ancestors that I walk. Photos by Kayode Gbadebo and graphic design by Adam L. Turner

    Part II By Kayode Gbadebo According to historian John Ridpath, “Observers of traditional African culture, so inevitably influenced by Western style of thought and intellectual traditions, failed to understand and interpret the culture.” This may be because, according to writer John Bascom. “The Yoruba way of life is traditional, dating back well before the...

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    “One Man’s Battle: An African American Journey”

    by  • March 15, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Berkeley, Featured, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    The Africana and African American Studies and Friends of the Library group at Contra Costa College presented a book signing this week with Rufus Battle, author of “One Man’s Battle: An African American Journey.” The book, a tale of struggle and redemption, tells his story of living in a “sharecropper’s shack near a Louisiana...

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    Africans in America

    by  • March 14, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Berkeley, Featured, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Special Interests Articles

    Babatunde Harrison, African Journalist Griot

    “There are not enough Griots to tell the stories of the brave men, women and children who lived through the pain and stench of the dungeon castle. This castle holds millions of intangible horror stories. And, annually, thousands  of descendants of the millions gone, return to pass through this dungeon  to imagine and relive...

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    Africans In America

    by  • March 8, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Berkeley, Featured, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Elebiti (in green) and Egungun masquerader is being led from the temple beginning the procession. The man in Blue is the head of Egungun worshippers in the Ile-Ife city of Nigerian.

    Egungun Festival of Nigeria’s Yoruba Ancestors The Egungun is a secret society among the Yoruba people of Ibadan, Oyo, and Modakeke, Gbongan Osun State, Nigeria. The major Egungun festival takes place in June, when members of the society come to the market place and perform masked dances. The masks represent ancestral spirits. It is...

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    500 Attend African American Organizations Making Connections

    by  • March 1, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Berkeley, General Articles, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    From left to right: Congresswoman Barbara Lee, founding Black Panther Party Chairman Bobby Seale, and Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson at the 2nd African American Organizations Making Connections at Laney College on Feb. 23. Photo credit: Reginald James.

    In celebration of Black History Month, Supervisor Keith Carson and community leaders held the African American Organizations Making Connections 2013 conference, “Strategies and Outcomes for Our Black Community,” Feb. 23 at Laney College in Oakland.  More than 500 people attended. “The Black community faces many challenges, including high unemployment, Black-on-Black violence and poor health...

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    Darlene Lawson, 75, Fought for Equal Education

    by  • February 23, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Darlene Lawson served on the Oakland Board of Education from 1983 to January 1993. Here she celebrates her second inauguration with five of her seven children: Loretta Little, Vida Byrd, Billie Wright, Annette Wright and Charlene Byrd.

    By Ken A. Epstein Businesswoman Darlene Ann Lawson-Scott, 75, who left a lasting impact on Oakland schools during two terms on the Board of Education, died on Jan 13. A fighter for equal education for flatland children and families, she was the first African American woman to be elected to the school board. Known...

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    African American Chamber of Commerce Honors City’s Black Leaders

    by  • February 22, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Featured, News Articles, San Francisco

    Karen Roye Hiles (1 of 1)

    By Carla Thomas The San Francisco Black Chamber of Commerce recently held an event to honor the city’s top African American civic leaders, department heads, commissioners and elected officials. Held on Jan. 25 at Yoshi’s Jazz Club, the celebration was led by Dr. Toye Moses and Chamber President Fred Jordan. “We want to honor...

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    Public Utilities Commission, African American Chamber Salute Linda Fadeke Richardson

    by  • February 22, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Featured, News Articles, San Francisco

    Commissioner Linda Richardson (center), President of the Treasure Island Development Authority with Dr. Caesar Churchwell (left), San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce Vice President and Harlan Kelly, General Manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Photo by Lance Burton.

    By Carla Thomas The San Public Utilities Commission and the San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce are saluting Linda Fadeke Richardson, a champion of environmental justice, education, health and community revitalization for over 25 years. “Commissioner Richardson’s efforts have made the community a better place,” said Harlan Kelly, General Manager of the San...

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    Supervisor Carson Hosts “African American Organizations Making Connections”

    by  • February 15, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Berkeley, Featured, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Keith Carson

    “Strategies and Outcomes for Our Black Community” is the theme of African American Organizations Making Connections 2013, a free event featuring panels and workshops for members of the Black community that will be held Saturday, Feb 23, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the gymnasium at Laney College, 900 Fallon St. in Oakland. The...

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    New Documentary “End Game: AIDS in Black America”

    by  • January 18, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Berkeley, HIV, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    From left to right: Renatta Simone, producer, writer and director of End Game: HIV in Black America, Nel Davis and POST journalist Jesse Brooks. Nel and Brooks got a chance to tell their experience of being HIV positive in the film.

    By Jesse Brooks The public is invited to participate in a conversation at the Bay Area’s first public showing of PBS’s Frontline documentary “End Game: AIDS in Black America.” This documentary explores how politics, social factors and cultural factors allowed the AIDS epidemic to spread rapidly in the African American community over the past...

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    Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Makes History at Rose Parade

    by  • January 3, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles

    delta 2

    Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. is the oldest Black Greek letter organization to ever participate in the Rose Parade in its 124-year history. The parade’s theme this year was “Oh the Places You’ll Go!” named in honor of the Dr. Seuss book. One of the book’s most famous quotes: “Congratulations! Today is your day....

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    African American Physicists to Receive Presidential Awards

    by  • December 28, 2012 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Berkeley, General Articles, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Post News Feature Story, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Dr. S. James Gates

    By Hattie Carwell Dr. James Gates will receive the National Science Award, and Dr. George Carruthers will receive the National Medal of Technology and Innovation – among the highest honors conferred upon scientists and engineers by the federal government The newly named recipients will receive their awards at a White House ceremony next year....

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    Still Sounding the Alarm on African American AIDS State of Emergency

    by  • November 30, 2012 • Africans in America, Bay Area, General Articles, HIV, Oakland News Articles, Special Interests Articles

    The Bay Area Regional African American State of Emergency Coalition (BARAASEC), talked to Board of Supervisors. From left to right: Camryn Crump, Pamela Casey-Aziz, Loren Jones; Supervisor Wilma Chan; Gigi Crowder; Gloria Crowell-Cox, Dr. Neena Murgai (Alameda County Office of AIDS Surveillance), Supervisor Kieth Carson, Dr. Muntu Davis (Alameda county’s Health officer), Georgia Schreiber (Alameda County Office of AIDS linkage to care coordinator), Omar Bagani, Charlie Wilson, Jesse Brooks (BARAASEC’s Co-chair).

    By Camryn Crump The Bay Area Regional African American State of Emergency Coalition, BARAASEC, along with Dr. Muntu Davis of Oakland, are sounding the alarm concerning disproportionate HIV transmissions in Alameda County. On Nov. 19, BARAASEC approached the Alameda Board of Supervisors, providing an update on how the coalition is fulfilling its mission to...

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    Ritterman: Measure N Good for Kids and Good for Richmond

    by  • October 26, 2012 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Featured

    By Jeff Ritterman Councilmembers Nat Bates and Corky Booze, BAPAC, the Richmond chapters of the NAACP and BWOPA, several African American clergy, two popular African American doctors and Willie Brown have all urged Richmond residents to vote against Measure N, the Richmond Soda Tax. I believe that they are terribly misinformed and that following...

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    Mervyn Dymally, 86, Calif.’s Only Black Lt. Governor

    by  • October 12, 2012 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Obituary

    Mervyn M. Dymally

    Mervyn Dymally, the history-making California assemblyman, senator and lieutenant governor who also served in Congress for more than a decade, has died at age 86. Representing Compton, Dymally was the state’s first foreign-born Black assemblyman in 1962, its first black state senator in 1966 and the first and only black lieutenant governor in 1974....

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    Mindblown Labs, African-American Tech Start-up

    by  • October 5, 2012 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Education, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Team memebers of Mindblown Labs, from left to right: Kilimanjaro Robbs, Trevin York, Keegan Stone, Cherise Wilson, Tracy Moore II, and Jason Young.

    Mindblown Labs, a new education technology start-up, has launched an online Kickstarter campaign to raise at least $60,000 to launch a new mobile game, Mindblown Life. Mindblown Life is a mobile social game that combines life-simulation elements and edgy humor to help young adults develop money management and financial literacy skills. Mindblown Life puts...

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    First All-African American Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

    by  • October 5, 2012 • Africans in America, Article Archives, General Articles, Special Interests Articles

    Nina Skarra (left) and Monique Tatum, CEO of Beautiful Planning & PR.

    By Ashley Chambers For the first time in the history of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Tai Chunn and his company MVC Management Productions led an all African American production team in the Nina Skarra Spring 2013 runway show. Presented at the Lincoln Center Avery Fisher Hall in New York Sept. 8, the show was...

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    Black Panther Party’s 46th Anniversary Set at City Hall

    by  • October 5, 2012 • Africans in America, Article Archives, Entertainment, Oakland News Articles, Post News Feature Story

    BPP History Month#2012.pdf

    The 46th anniversary of the Black Panther Party will be celebrated from noon to 3 pm. Saturday, Oct. 13 in Frank Ogawa Plaza in front of City Hall in downtown Oakland, sponsored by the Commemoration Committee for the Black Panther Party. Following the outdoor celebration, the event will continue from 3 p.m. to 7...

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    Keija Minor Named Brides Editor-In-Chief

    by  • September 28, 2012 • Africans in America, Article Archives, Barak Obama, Entertainment, General Articles, News Articles

    Keija Minor collage1

    By Julee Wilson Huffington Post Keija Minor has been named the editor-in-chief of Brides, succeeding Anne Fulenwider, making her the first person of color, after 103 years, to ever hold the title at a Condé Nast Publications (CNP) magazine. Minor’s new appointment is major news. CNP is a  privately owned company that produces 18...

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    Willie Brown Speaks to Faith Leaders

    by  • September 22, 2012 • Africans in America, Faith, Featured, News Articles, Politics and Government, Richmond News

    Willie L. Brown, Jr.

    By Sabrina Saunders, Executive Direcetor, One Accord Project Willie L. Brown, Jr., former California Assembly speaker and two-term San Francisco mayor, delivered a keynote address to Richmond’s African-American faith and community leaders, urging a strong election day turnout to return President Obama to the White House, restore local Black political leadership to Richmond and...

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    Some African Americans Want Sheriff Mirkarimi to Keep His Job

    by  • September 1, 2012 • Africans in America, San Francisco

    By Post StaffThough the San Francisco Ethnics Commission found former Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi had committed official misconduct, the commission gave no recommendation as to whether he should be removed from office. The decision on Mirkarimi’s future now rests with the Board of Supervisors. The sheriff needs the votes of three supervisors to remain in...

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