Featured

Martin Luther King III Discusses Father’s Legacy

Published

10 years ago

April 4, 2014

By Clifford L. Williams

With sincerity and heartfelt passion, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott Kings’ eldest son, Martin Luther King lll, addressed an attentive audience at Allen Temple Baptist Church Saturday, drawing several rounds of enthusiastic applauds as he talked about his father’s legacy and what it means today.

King’s visit to Oakland was part of the Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series. Each year, the Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Series brings to the Bay Area speakers who represent diverse ideas that provoke conversation about America‘s past, present and future. The lecture series has attracted national media attention. Previous speakers have included civil rights icons such as Ambassador Andrew Young and Congressman John Lewis.

His visit to Allen Temple included a special musical celebration from the Allen Temple Unity Choir, in addition to an inspiring medley of musical selections from gospel singer Bettie Mae Fikes, a freedom fighter and music leader who sang with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee’s Freedom Singers.

Noting the life mission of his parents to eradicate poverty, racism, militarism and violence in society, King III has followed the same path of change to improve society.

A graduate of his father’s Alma mater, Morehouse College, King was elected to political office in 1986 as an at-large representative of over 700,000 residents of Fulton County, GA. He is has since initiated several programs throughout the years to support and nurture young people including the King Summer Intern Program which is designed to provide employment opportunities for high school students.

He founded Realizing the Dream, Inc. in 2006, which has since merged with the King Center. The organization continues to push the message of Dr. King, spearheading nonviolent education workshops and programs in Bosnia Herzegovina, India, Israel & Palestine, Kenya, Sri Lanka and the United States.

“We are nowhere near where we need to be. Black folks can’t create institutional racism, we can have prejudice and racial views but we really can’t be racist,” said King, addressing the crowd. “We all are prejudice. Prejudice is to pre-judge, but when we use our racism to oppress others that’s when it becomes true racism.”

His remarks later transitioned to praise for Oakland’s Congresswoman Barbara Lee whom he said, “because of her dedicated leadership, Oakland has become a progressive community.”

King concluded by reminding the audience that they are God’s finest creation, but operate at the lowest level when trying to solve conflict. Quoting the words of his father, he encouraged them not to be like a thermometer – a device that records temperature – and instead be like a thermostat, a tool used to regulate and control conditions.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

7 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.