Activism

Honoring Black Women in Bay Area Who fought for Equal Education for Children

Not many people think of California as having deep roots embedded in slavery, and practices of white supremacy. California was admitted as a free state on Sept. 9, 1850. Pioneer Blacks and those who came during the Great Migration, were in search of freedom, yet they were met with the same oppressive racism and hostility that existed in the South.

Published

4 years ago

March 31, 2022

Oakland Post

By Rev. Dr. Martha C. Taylor

One of the most egregious laws enacted in the State of California was the denial of Black children having an equal opportunity for education.

Blacks were aware that the key to upward mobility was education. It is important to note in Black history that, as the late Alice Childress, playwright, actress and novelist once said Blacks “are the only racial group within the United States ever forbidden by law to read and write.”

Though not as extreme as the anti-literacy laws of the South, one racist California law stated: “every school, unless otherwise provided by special law shall be open for white children…. On the other hand, “The education of children of African descent…shall be provided for in separate schools.”

Further, Black parents were forced to pay public school taxes for white students, while Black children attended separate schools that were not equal.

Many inequities were addressed through the Black Church, the institution described by C. Eric Lincoln as the social, cultural, political, location for the Black Community; it was their school, forum, political arena, social clubs, art gallery and much more.

Ministers and others formed four California Colored Conventions with a focus on racial uplift from 1855-1865, which provided Black Churches to address concerns about state laws.

In the Bay Area and other places, the Black Church became the educational institution for Black children.

St. Cyprian African Methodist was the first organized Black church in San Francisco (later renamed Bethel AME) in 1852. Two years later, on May 22, 1854, the church served as the first schoolhouse for 23 Black children in the basement of the church. Children from elementary to high school age shared the same room with no books.

In Oakland, the First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME) established in 1858, also was the first school for Black children.

Black women played key roles in the education of Black children.

Mrs. Elizabeth Thorn Scott-Flood opened a private school for colored children circa 1857 in the old carpenter schoolhouse that was abandoned by whites for being inadequate. Lydia Flood-Jackson, daughter of Elizabeth Flood, was a race woman who also fought tirelessly for education and women’s rights.

Lydia Floyd Jackson fought tirelessly for education and women’s rights. Wikipedia.org photo.

Ten years later, the first public colored school in Oakland was taught by Miss Mary J. Sanderson, near 10^th Avenue and E. 11^th Street in an area previously known as Brooklyn, an annex of Oakland. The school closed as Black families began to move out of the area and relocate where work was available.

Bits of history often fall between the cracks if not taught or discussed. Long before the 1954 landmark case involving 8-year-old Linda Brown vs. Board of Education, Topeka, where the Supreme Court struck down the 1896 Plessy vs. Ferguson ‘separate but equal’ decision, there was a case in San Francisco that dates to 1874.

In Mary Frances Ward vs. Noah Flood, the 11-year-old was denied enrollment to Broadway Grammar School, a white school near her home strictly based on her race. The matter advanced to the California State Supreme Court which ruled that Ward’s rights were not violated because there was an all-Black school near her home.

But the next year, with the support of white citizens, the school system changed. According to historian Alfred Broussard “the segregated school was more expensive to operate on a per pupil basis than were the larger white institutions.”

Looking down the corridors of time, Black Lives have always mattered.

We honor our ancestors who struggled for equality when we continue the struggle; the fight has not been won.

Vivian Rodgers was the first Black female to graduate in 1909. Vivian Osborne, a local graduate from Berkeley High School, 1914 applied to U.C. Berkeley with excellent academic records but was required to take four entrance exams.

Ida Louise Jackson, a pioneering Black woman graduated in 1922 from U.C. Berkeley, becoming the first Black public school teacher in California.

As we honor women during this month, let us also remember men who struggled for achievement through education.

Alexander Dumas Jones of San Francisco was the first Black to enroll at UC Berkeley in 1881, followed by Charles Edward Carpenter as the first Black graduate in 1905.

There are so many more, some known, others unknown. As James Weldon Johnson wrote in his poem that became the “Black National Anthem,” ‘Let us march on til victory is won.’

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Agricultural Engineer Effie Gant Plans Bay Area Farmers Market Initiative

Published

1 week ago

July 18, 2026

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Agricultural Engineer Effie Gant displays watermelons from her Sacramento farm at the Temescal Festival in Oakland. Photo by Carla Thomas.

In her 80s and still actively working as an agricultural engineer, Effie Gant continues to break barriers in urban farming and community leadership.

The certified USDA grower and respected urban farmer, based in South Sacramento, was recently spotted vending at the Freedom Farmers’ Market by the Temescal Street Fair on Saturday, July 11, where she proudly displayed dozens of sweet, juicy watermelons.

Festivalgoers gathered not only to purchase her produce but also to enjoy activities like the popular watermelon-eating contest. Yet beyond the festive atmosphere, Gant has a larger vision.

Gant is now setting her sights on the Bay Area, where she plans to launch a farmers’ market to increase access to fresh, locally grown food.

Known for her leadership in sustainable agriculture and food justice, she brings decades of hands-on experience and community advocacy to regions where food access remains inconsistent.

She has built a strong reputation through her work with Meadowview Urban Farm and the Yisrael Family Urban Farm, cultivating crops such as watermelons, honeydew melons, and collard greens. Her approach emphasizes sustainability, education, and empowering residents to grow their own food, even in small urban spaces.

As a USDA-certified grower, Gant blends technical expertise with grassroots engagement to combat food insecurity.

Beyond farming, Gant serves as CEO and President of Highways to Hedges, a nonprofit focused on environmental justice and community development. She is also president of the Hampton Station Neighborhood Association and board chairman for HHCORE, where she advocates for safety, equity, and economic opportunity.

Her proposed farmers market will connect small-scale farmers with urban communities while elevating Black farmers and other underrepresented growers.

“I want to teach the next generation about farming and how lucrative it can be,” Gant said. “You don’t need hundreds of acres. You can start with one acre or even your backyard.”Gant also noted her involvement in a collective of farmers who supply produce through government-supported programs.

“We operate as a team, and we all benefit,” she said.

Through workshops, speaking engagements, and hands-on training, Gant and her organization continue to educate communities about agriculture and food justice. Her market initiative will emphasize affordability, cultural relevance, and nutrition education.

Her broader work includes creating edible forests in partnership with Soil Born Farms, planting fruit trees directly in neighborhoods to expand food access. As a mentor with the Center of Expertise on Food Justice and Health Equity, Gant remains a leading voice in building sustainable and resilient food systems.

Gant says she welcomes the community to join her in creating a new farmer’s market.

“Farming is essential to life,” she said. “I want to train as many people as I can to use food and farming as a tool for empowerment, health, and long-term change.”

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Oakland Post: Week of July 15 – 21, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of July 15 – 21, 2026

Published

1 week ago

July 18, 2026

Oakland Post

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From Disparity Study to Solutions: Oakland Coalition and Mayor Barbara Lee Renew Commitment to Reform City Contracting

She committed to ensuring the coalition has direct access to City leadership by designating Assistant Deputy City Administrator Chuck Baker the primary liaison. Working alongside Deputy City Administrator Sofia Navarro, DWES Director Emylene Aspilla, Race and Equity Director Darlene Flynn, and other City departments, the coalition will continue advancing these priorities while maintaining regular communication with City leadership.

Published

2 weeks ago

July 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Present at the recent meeting on implementing recommendations on Oakland’s Disparity Study on city work contracts were (first row, l. to r.): Chuck Baker, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and Darlene Flynn. Second row, l. to r.) Samuel Adams, Erica Astrella, Chadwick Spell, Cathy Adams, Stanley Cooper, Maria Wagner, Len Turner, Derek Barnes, Paul Cobb. Photo courtesy of Oakland Mayor’s Office.

Special to The Post

On June 30, a coalition of minority business leaders, contractors and others met with Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee to discuss the City’s commitment to implement recommendations outlined in Oakland’s Disparity Study and eliminate barriers that have historically prevented Black and minority-owned businesses from fully participating in public contracting opportunities.

Representatives of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce (OAACC), National Association of Minority Contractors Northern California (NAMC NorCal), Construction Resource Center (CRC), and the East Bay Rental Housing Association (EBRHA) said the meeting represented an important milestone in a process that has been underway for several months.

On April 21, the Oakland City Council’s Life Enrichment Committee received a progress report from the Department of Workplace and Employment Standards (DWES), where Director Emylene Aspilla presented the coalition’s working document and outlined a collaborative implementation plan between the coalition and the City. That report established 30-, 60-, and 90-day objectives focused on five key priorities:

Reforming Local and Small Local Business Enterprise (L/SLBE) waiver practices
Strengthening prompt payment compliance
Improving procurement forecasting and transparency
Expanding contractor capacity building and business development
Increasing oversight, accountability, and public reporting

A series of working sessions was scheduled between coalition representatives, DWES, and the City Administrator’s Office to begin implementing those priorities but were temporarily delayed by the resignation of former City Administrator Jestin Johnson.

Rather than allowing that momentum to stall, OAACC President and CEO Cathy Adams requested a meeting with Lee to gain clarity on the City’s direction and reaffirm its commitment to implementing the recommendations contained within the Disparity Study.

Coalition leaders described the meeting as productive, candid, collaborative, and encouraging.

During the meeting, Lee spoke not only from her role as mayor but also from her experience as an 8(a) contractor and business owner, sharing that she understands firsthand what it takes to build and grow a successful company, employ a substantial workforce, compete for public work, and navigate the complexities of municipal contracting.

Mayor Lee also expressed her commitment to personally participate in future working meetings with the coalition.

“This meeting represents a renewed commitment to partnership,” said Adams. “Mayor Lee listened, engaged, and demonstrated that she wants to move beyond conversation and into implementation.”

CRC’s Len Turner said the roadmap is already in place. ““The City already has the evidence. What’s been missing is execution. …Now it’s time to deliver results.”

Mario Wagner, president of NAMC NorCal agreed that the next phase must focus on implementation, funding, and accountability.

“The coalition is ready to get to work. …The next step is ensuring these initiatives receive meaningful funding in the upcoming fiscal budget cycle. Just as important, the City must establish transparent reporting mechanisms that keep the public informed through regular progress reports, measurable benchmarks, and accountability.”

Coalition leaders also acknowledged that while City leadership has indicated it is reviewing Local and Small Local Business Enterprise waiver practices, the community continues to seek a formal response regarding existing long-term waivers, including waivers extending 10 and 25 years. The coalition believes those waivers should be comprehensively reviewed and, where appropriate, rolled back as part of the City’s broader contracting reforms.

The coalition is also calling on the City to include meaningful funding in the upcoming fiscal budget cycle to support implementation of the Disparity Study recommendations and establish better methods and mechanisms to keep the public informed through regular progress reports, measurable benchmarks, and transparent accountability.

The coalition’s immediate next step is to schedule a working meeting with Baker, Aspilla, Lee, and the appropriate City staff to review what has already been accomplished under the implementation framework.