Bay Area

3-Alarm Fire Damages FAME, Oakland’s First Black Church

On Sunday night, February 19 a 3-alarm fire ripped through the First African Methodist Episcopal (FAME) Church, near Telegraph and MacArthur in Oakland. Flames engulfed the rooftop and much of the interior of the oldest church in Oakland. Firefighters said it was such a challenge to put out the fire from the inside, that they retreated to the exterior while extinguishing the fire for five hours.

Published

1 year ago

February 25, 2023

Oakland Post

FAME, First African Methodist Episcopal Church near Telegraph and MacArthur was damaged by a 3-alarm fire late Sunday night, February 19. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Photo by Auintard Henderson.

By Carla Thomas

On Sunday night, February 19 a 3-alarm fire ripped through the First African Methodist Episcopal (FAME) Church, near Telegraph and MacArthur in Oakland.

Flames engulfed the rooftop and much of the interior of the oldest church in Oakland. Firefighters said it was such a challenge to put out the fire from the inside, that they retreated to the exterior while extinguishing the fire for five hours.

FAME Church was established in 1858, serving as a spiritual and cultural center for the African American community in Oakland for over 160 years. The church was a sanctuary of hope and perseverance for many who had faced discrimination, segregation, and racism.

On President’s Day, the following morning, many church members, clergy and community members — still in disbelief — stood outside the charred structure where pieces of debris, and black ash surrounded the front entry and side street of the church.

While the Oakland Fire Department investigators observed the damage to the church, onlookers drove by to view the remains of the building while some parked and chatted with congregation members to offer support.

The cause of the fire is undetermined and is under the investigation of OFD as well as the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive.

A homeless neighbor says he witnessed another homeless person light a fire for warmth or drug use, that smoked up the block. An hour later, he said, the church was on fire.

Congregation member Tasion Kwamilele was saddened to see the devastation but felt confident the church would be rebuilt. “I’m still in shock, but our pastor’s sermon yesterday entitled, “Shrink,” meaning decrease so that God can increase gives me hope,” said Kwamilele. “My faith teaches me that God will strengthen us as we rebuild and God will provide us with a place to worship.”

Harold R. Mayberry, presiding elder of the Oakland/San Joaquin District of the AME Church who has served as the senior pastor of FAME for 24 years, said the fire was tragic and impacts the community deeply.

“Not only does it displace the oldest Black congregation in the East Bay from the home that they have worshipped, witnessed and worked from, for over 68 of its 165 years of existence, but it also displaces a portion of the community.”

Mayberry further described the Oakland congregation as resilient and experienced in overcoming previous challenges like those caused by the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989.

“The congregation understands the magnitude of the hurdles that they face, however, they also understand the power of God who has never let them down,” said Mayberry.

For the past 30 years, FAME has been distributed much-needed supplies throughout the neighborhood. With a homeless encampment just a block away, the church has regularly provided food, clothing, and shelter. Oakland District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife plans to help the church continue its meal giveaways.

The denominational district leader of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop Clement Fugh, said he stands in “unity and total support” of Dr. Rodney D. Smith, FAME’s pastor and the historic congregation.

A GoFundMe page with a goal of $1 million has been set up by the FAME treasurer to raise funds to rebuild and support the church. To access the link visit: gofund.me/4f586f89

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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

1 day 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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Bay Area

State Controller Malia Cohen Keynote Speaker at S.F. Wealth Conference

California State Controller Malia Cohen delivered the keynote speech to over 50 business women at the Black Wealth Brunch held on March 28 at the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center at 301 Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco. The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

Published

7 days ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

American Business Women’s Association Vice President Velma Landers, left, with California State Controller Malia Cohen (center), and ABWA President LaRonda Smith at the Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the ABWA at the Black Wealth Brunch.

By Carla Thomas

The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

“Our goal is to educate Black and Brown families in the masses about financial wellness, wealth building, and how to protect and preserve wealth,” said ABWA San Francisco Chapter President LaRonda Smith.

ABWA’s mission is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.

“This day is about recognizing influential women, hearing from an accomplished woman as our keynote speaker and allowing women to come together as powerful people,” said ABWA SF Chapter Vice President Velma Landers.

More than 60 attendees dined on the culinary delights of Chef Sharon Lee of The Spot catering, which included a full soul food brunch of skewered shrimp, chicken, blackened salmon, and mac and cheese.

Cohen discussed the many economic disparities women and people of color face. From pay equity to financial literacy, Cohen shared not only statistics, but was excited about a new solution in motion which entailed partnering with Californians for Financial Education.

“I want everyone to reach their full potential,” she said. “Just a few weeks ago in Sacramento, I partnered with an organization, Californians for Financial Education.

“We gathered 990 signatures and submitted it to the [California] Secretary of State to get an initiative on the ballot that guarantees personal finance courses for every public school kid in the state of California.

“Every California student deserves an equal opportunity to learn about filing taxes, interest rates, budgets, and understanding the impact of credit scores. The way we begin to do that is to teach it,” Cohen said.

By equipping students with information, Cohen hopes to close the financial wealth gap, and give everyone an opportunity to reach their full financial potential. “They have to first be equipped with the information and education is the key. Then all we need are opportunities to step into spaces and places of power.”

Cohen went on to share that in her own upbringing, she was not guided on financial principles that could jump start her finances. “Communities of color don’t have the same information and I don’t know about you, but I did not grow up listening to my parents discussing their assets, their investments, and diversifying their portfolio. This is the kind of nomenclature and language we are trying to introduce to our future generations so we can pivot from a life of poverty so we can pivot away and never return to poverty.”

Cohen urged audience members to pass the initiative on the November 2024 ballot.

“When we come together as women, uplift women, and support women, we all win. By networking and learning together, we can continue to build generational wealth,” said Landers. “Passing a powerful initiative will ensure the next generation of California students will be empowered to make more informed financial decisions, decisions that will last them a lifetime.”