Bay Area

Proclamation Recognizing February 2023 as Black History Month

WHEREAS, through courage, perseverance, faith, and resolve against incredible prejudice and hardships, Black Americans have positively influenced, enriched, and advanced every aspect of American life; and the continuing fight for civil rights, equality, and respect motivates every American to strive for a more promising, peaceful, and just future.

Published

3 years ago

February 27, 2023

Oakland Post

During Black History Month, we honor the extraordinary contributions made by Blacks throughout the history of our Nation including the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, and the current Vice-President of the United States, Kamala Harris.

From Vallejo Weekly
By cityofvallejo

WHEREAS, during Black History Month, we honor the extraordinary contributions made by Blacks throughout the history of our Nation including the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, and the current Vice-President of the United States, Kamala Harris, and we renew our commitment to liberty and justice for all by supporting freedom, diversity, equity, and inclusion; and

WHEREAS, the 2023 theme is Black Resistance.

Since arriving on these shores, Blacks have resisted historic and ongoing oppression in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial pogroms, and police killings. The resistance has been to advocate for a dignified self-determined life in a just democratic society in the United States and beyond. The 1950s and 1970s in the United States were defined by actions such as sit-ins, boycotts, walk outs, strikes by Black people and white allies in the fight for justice against discrimination in all segments of society from employment to education to housing. Black people have had to consistently push the United States to live up to its ideals of freedom, liberty, and justice for all. Systematic oppression has sought to negate much of the dreams of the griots, like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston and the freedom fighters, like Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman, Marcus Garvey, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Huey P. Newton, and Fannie Lou Hamer fought to realize. Black people have sought ways to nurture and protect Black lives, and for autonomy of their physical and intellectual bodies through armed resistance, voluntary emigration, nonviolence, education, literature, sports, media, politics, and legislation*; and

WHEREAS, the City of Vallejo has benefited from the contributions of African Americans who settled in Vallejo from the early 1800’s to present including Alfred Coffey, Johnnie M. Thomas, Alonzo Gholikely, James Owens, Alvin Logan, Sam Brown, Charles A. Toney, James Williams, Charles McGree, Collia Scruggs, Reverend C.H. Toney, Ellsworth Courtney,

Haskell Forte, Bernice McGriff, Sargent Johnson, Walter Freeman, Ernest Gains, B.W. Williams, Dick Bass, Grace Logan Patterson, Jesse M. Bethel, Philmore Graham, Lewis Brown Sr. , Bernard Tyson, Jimmie Jackson, Foster Hicks, Osby Davis, Earl Stevens, C.C. Sabathia, H.E.R. (Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson), and numerous others; and

WHEREAS, This month, we celebrate the cultural heritage, diverse contributions, and resilient spirit of African Americans; and we commend the heroes, pioneers, and common Americans who tirelessly fought for and firmly believed in the promise of racial equality granted by our Creator, enshrined in our Constitution, and enacted into our laws, so let us pledge to continue to stand against the evils of bigotry, intolerance, and hatred so that we may continue in our pursuit of a more perfect America.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED that I, Robert H. McConnell, Mayor of the City of Vallejo, and the Vallejo City Council, hereby proclaim February 2023 as Black History Month, and we call upon public officials, educators, and everyone to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities; and we urge all organizations to embrace the spirit of Black History Month yearround by supporting and practicing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

* https://asalh.org/black-history-themes/

Dated: February 14, 2023

ROBERT H. McCONNELL, MAYOR

Vice Mayor Rozzana Verder-Aliga

EdD, District 1

Councilmember Tina Arriola District 6

Councilmember Peter Bregenzer District 5

Councilmember Mina Loera- Diaz District 3

Councilmember Diosdado “JR” Matulac District 2

Councilmember Charles Palmares District 4

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

OP-ED: Addressing the Issues Around Public Safety and Policing

Don't Miss

OP-ED: President Biden is Investing in America’s Underserved Communities

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Bay Area

IN MEMORIAM: Longtime OUSD Employee Debra King-Cooper, 73

Longtime OUSD Employee Debra King-Cooper, 73 Caption: Debra King-Cooper. Courtesy photo. Special to The Post Debra King-Cooper, a beloved mother, grandmother, queen, sister, church member, caregiver, and matriarch, transitioned peacefully on May 20 surrounded by family and love i

Published

6 days ago

June 17, 2026

bpusa-syndication

Debra King-Cooper. Courtesy photo.

Special to The Post

Debra King-Cooper, a beloved mother, grandmother, queen, sister, church member, caregiver, and matriarch, transitioned peacefully on May 20 surrounded by family and love in the comfort of her home. To her children, she was royalty, grace, strength, and unconditional love embodied.

Debra Diane Edgar was born on May 28, 1952, in San Francisco, California, to Charles Edgar Sr. and Mamie Arthur Edgar. She was raised alongside her younger brother, Charles Edgar Jr., affectionately known as “Little Brother” or “Lil Bruh.” She also shared close bonds with her older siblings Carol Edgar-Lang, Maryann Edgar Calloway, and Lonnie Lewis Sr.

A proud product of San Francisco’s historic Fillmore District, Debra attended Andrew Jackson Elementary School, where she met her lifelong best friend and adopted sister, Lynn Green, in the fifth grade. She later attended Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School, Roosevelt Junior High School and Thomas Jefferson High School.

Debra’s mother transitioned when she was only 17 years old, and her father transitioned when she was 23. Despite these profound losses, Debra remained grounded through the love and support of extended family and lifelong family friends,

In 1971, she married Harold King. On Sept. 24, 1972, they welcomed their first son, Dajuan Artese King, affectionately called “Pop” or “Poppa.” On Aug. 5, 1976, they welcomed their second son, Dante Dupree King, affectionately called “Tay” or “Taboocoo the Baby.”

After her divorce in 1982, Debra assumed full responsibility for raising her sons.

She supported Dajuan’s passion for football by purchasing sports equipment and attending games faithfully. She supported Dante’s love of music by enrolling him in the San Francisco Boys Choir, Oakland Boys Choir, and the Castlemont Castleers.

Professionally, Debra built an exceptional career. She worked at Blue Shield of California from 1973 until 1994, earning multiple promotions.

She later joined the Oakland Unified School District, initially in a temporary role before being promoted into management within the Labor Relations Department. She retired from OUSD in 2015 after years of distinguished service. During her years at OUSD, she built meaningful friendships with her colleagues.

Faith was central to Debra’s life. During the 1980s, following personal hardship, she joined Love Center Church under the leadership of Bishop Walter Hawkins, where she brought her children regularly. She later became a member of Triumphant: A Church Without Walls Ministries under Pastor Dr. Larry Short, who became a beloved spiritual mentor.

After Triumphant closed in 1992, Debra joined Cosmopolitan Baptist Church in Oakland under the leadership of Pastor Larry Ashley, where she remained for the rest of her life.

At Cosmopolitan, she worked in numerous ministries. She served on the usher board, sang in the choir, participated in the AIDS ministry during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, helped feed and support unhoused community members, and mentored and supported a group of young girls.

After retirement, she cared for older adults in her church community, driving them to appointments, cleaning their homes, managing finances, preparing meals, and helping families navigate funeral arrangements after loved ones transitioned.

Even while battling Stage 4 cancer herself, she continued caring for others.

Debra was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Edgar Sr. and Mamie Arthur Edgar; her brothers, Lonnie Lewis Sr. and Charles Edgar Jr.; her sisters, Maryann Edgar Calloway and Victoria Stephenson Knight; and her adopted mother, Clara Oliver.

She leaves to cherish her memory her beloved sons, Dajuan King and Dante King; grandson, Tiyler Dajuan Artese King; sister, Carol Edgar-Lang; goddaughters Monique Belle and Ricketa Matthews Jones (Leonard); daughter-in-love Quiona Sullivan; son-in-love Marcel Walker; sister-in-law Delores Lewis; adopted sisters and lifelong friends Lynn Green, Barbara Stephenson Hill, and Sarah Fine; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nieces, great-nephews, extended family members, her church family and dear friends.