Community

Buffalo Soldiers Continue to Serve the Black Community

Published

5 years ago

June 21, 2019

In 1908, Col. Allen Allensworth established the only town fully financed, built, and designed by all Blacks in California. Now it’s preserved as a state park.

Born in 1842, Allensworth got his freedom during the American Civil War. He served in the Navy, where he later got his calling to study theology and would become an ordained minister. In 1886, he received an appointment as chaplin of the 24th infantry where he served for 20 years, retiring in 1906. He was the first African American to reach the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Equally significant to California’s history is the group of men he spiritually led in the 24th infantry. The Buffalo soldiers were the African Americans that comprised the 9th and 10th cavalries whose main charge was to protect the Western frontier.

Their duties ranged from fighting wildfires and patrols (in places like Yosemite), capturing cattle rustlers and thieves, protecting settlers headed west, and fighting unremitting battles to secure western expansion and settlements.

Oftentimes this put them at odds with Native Americans who fought to protect their land and resisted the move to reservations. Despite the violent bouts between them, it was the Native Americans who honored the cavalries with their name.

Whether it’s from the soldier wooly hair, fierce fighting style, or the honorable conduct displayed during these encounters, the Native American deemed fit to name these men after the Buffalo, an animal they revered. Today the name, Buffalo Soldier, carries the same level of reverence and values of education, civic duty, and honor.

Today, The National Association of Buffalo Solider is a motorcycle club of working-class and retired men and women. With 3,500 members and 123 chapters including Hawaii and Seoul, South Korea, much like Colonel Allen Allensworth and his infantry, today’s initiatives are aligned with the original values.

The Buffalo Soldiers’ Oakland chapter was founded in 2014 by Gene Gilliam. He understands that “Blacks have been in every major conflict fought by the U.S., but the biggest ones are being fought in our own communities.”

The local chapter participates in backpack giveaways for youth in school, feeding the homeless, and connecting families with social workers to find housing. They also host block parties encouraging civic engagement and frequent local schools to teach core values practiced by Allensworh and his men.

Gilliam, a retired first sergeant of the U.S.-Army, served 33 years and conducted three tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He joined the Buffalo Soldiers to uphold the tradition of education, civic-duty and honor. He encourages everyone to join, “men and women, we share this community, we need to share the experience of strengthening it together.”

For more information on upcoming events, membership, or community events please contact the Buffalo Soldiers local chapter at (925) 338-3156.

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

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

Published

22 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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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

5 days 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

5 days 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.