Black History

‘Against All Odds’ Film Showing at Marin City Library on April 18

The Marin City Library, located on 164 Donahue St., will show the film “Against All Odds: The Fight for a Black Middle Class” on Tuesday, April 18, at 5:30 p.m. All library events are free. Call 415-332-6158 or visit www.marinlibrary.org. The film, “Against All Odds,” written and produced by Bob Herbert in 2017, probes the harsh and often brutal discrimination that has made it extremely difficult for African Americans to establish a strong middle-class standard of living.

Published

1 year ago

April 17, 2023

Oakland Post

Herbert explains what African American families have confronted in pursuing the American Dream, and explores, through historical footage and personal interviews, the heroic efforts of Black families to pursue that dream despite the obstacles and setbacks that have emerged from the Jim Crow era through the Great Recession.

By Godfrey Lee

The Marin City Library, located on 164 Donahue St., will show the film “Against All Odds: The Fight for a Black Middle Class” on Tuesday, April 18, at 5:30 p.m.

All library events are free. Call 415-332-6158 or visit www.marinlibrary.org.

The film, “Against All Odds,” written and produced by Bob Herbert in 2017, probes the harsh and often brutal discrimination that has made it extremely difficult for African Americans to establish a strong middle-class standard of living.

The Black middle class is nearly invisible when it comes to daily news and headlines that tend to focus on the dysfunction in poor Black neighborhoods, confrontations with police, and disappointing achievements in urban schools, writes PBS.

“Against All Odds” further explores the extraordinary difficulty that African Americans have historically faced in their efforts to establish and maintain a middle-class standard of living.

Nearly 40% of all Black children are poor. In proportion to the white middle class, the Black middle class remains significantly smaller and far less healthy, according to the imdb.com summary of the film.

Herbert was born March 7, 1945, in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Montclair, N.J. He became a reporter in 1970 and later the night city editor for The Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J. From 1976 to 1985 Herbert worked as a reporter and an editor for the New York Daily News where he joined the editorial board and became one of its columnists.

He received a B.A. in journalism from Empire State College in 1988. He then worked for the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) as a national correspondent for The Today Show, and the NBC Nightly News from 1991 to 1993.

He joined The New York Times as an op-ed columnist in 1993 and wrote about politics, urban affairs, and social trends until 2011. That year Herbert became a fellow at Demos, a progressive think tank and also began writing for The American Prospect magazine.

Herbert taught at Brooklyn College and at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and has written several books, including “Promises Betrayed: Waking Up from the American Dream” (2005), and “Losing Our Way: An Intimate Portrait of a Troubled America” (2014).

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Marcus Foster Education Institute Turns 50, Recognizes 100 Change Makers

Don't Miss

VP Harris Unveils $1 Billion African Investment During Historic Continent Visit

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

Published

6 days ago

April 19, 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.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Black History

Matthew Henson: Explorer Extraordinaire

Matthew Henson, a trailblazing explorer who overcame countless obstacles to leave an incredible mark on history. Born on August 8, 1866, in Charles County, Maryland, his journey is a testament to the power of determination and the spirit of adventure.

Published

1 week ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Matthew Henson (File Photo)

By Tamara Shiloh

Henson’s life began amidst the backdrop of post-Civil War America, where opportunities for African Americans were scarce. From a young age, he possessed an insatiable curiosity about the world beyond his small town. At the age of 12, he embarked on a journey that would change the course of his life forever when he joined a merchant ship as a cabin boy.

His most famous expedition was his journey to the Arctic with renowned explorer Robert E. Peary. In 1887, Henson joined Peary’s crew as a seaman and quickly proved himself to be invaluable with his skills as a navigator and craftsman. Over the course of several expeditions, Matthew endured extreme cold, treacherous terrain, and grueling conditions as he and Peary sought to reach the elusive North Pole.

In 1908–09, Peary set out on his eighth attempt to reach the North Pole. It was a big expedition, with Peary planning to leave supplies along the way. When he and Henson boarded their ship, the Roosevelt, leaving Greenland on August 18, 1909, they were joined by a large group. This included 22 Inuit men, 17 Inuit women, 10 children, 246 dogs, 70 tons of whale meat, blubber from 50 walruses, hunting gear, and tons of coal.

In February, Henson and Peary left their anchored ship at Ellesmere Island’s Cape Sheridan, along with the Inuit men and 130 dogs. They worked together to set up a trail and supplies along the way to the Pole.

Peary picked Henson and four Inuit people to join him in the final push to the Pole. However, before they reached their destination, Peary couldn’t walk anymore and had to ride in a dog sled. He sent Henson ahead to scout the way. In a later interview with a newspaper, Henson recalled being in the lead and realizing they had gone too far. The group turned back, and Henson noticed his footprints helped guide them to their destination. At that location, Henson planted the American flag.

Henson’s legacy extends far beyond his expeditions to the Arctic. He shattered racial barriers in the world of exploration and inspired countless individuals, regardless of race, to dream big and pursue their passions. In 1937, he was finally recognized for his achievements when he was inducted into The Explorers Club, an organization dedicated to promoting scientific exploration and field research.

Matthew Henson died in the Bronx, New York, on March 9, 1955, at the age of 88.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Art

Marin County: A Snapshot of California’s Black History Is on Display

The Marin County Office of Education, located at 1111 Las Gallinas Ave in San Rafael, will host the extraordinary exhibit, “The Legacy of Marin City: A California Black History Story (1942-1960),” from Feb. 1 to May 31, 2024. The interactive, historical, and immersive exhibit featuring memorabilia from Black shipyard workers who migrated from the South to the West Coast to work at the Marinship shipyard will provide an enriching experience for students and school staff. Community organizations will also be invited to tour the exhibit.

Published

1 week ago

April 16, 2024

Oakland Post

Early photo of Marin City in the exhibit showing the first department store, barber shop, and liquor store. (Photo by Godfrey Lee)

By Post Staff

The interactive, historical, and immersive exhibit featuring memorabilia from Black shipyard workers who migrated from the South to the West Coast to work at the Marinship shipyard will provide an enriching experience for students and school staff. Community organizations will also be invited to tour the exhibit.

All will have the opportunity to visit and be guided by its curator Felecia Gaston.

The exhibit will include photographs, articles and artifacts about the Black experience in Marin City from 1942 to 1960 from the Felecia Gaston Collection, the Anne T. Kent California Room Collection, The Ruth Marion and Pirkle Jones Collection, The Bancroft Library, and the Daniel Ruark Collection.

It also features contemporary original artwork by Chuck D of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Public Enemy, clay sculptures by San Francisco-based artist Kaytea Petro, and art pieces made by Marin City youth in collaboration with Lynn Sondag, Associate Professor of Art at Dominican University of California.

The exhibit explores how Marin City residents endured housing inequities over the years and captures the history of plans to remove Black residents from the area after World War II. Throughout, it embodies the spirit of survival and endurance that emboldened the people who made Marin City home.

Felecia Gaston is the author of the commemorative book, ‘A Brand New Start…This is Home: The Story of World War II Marinship and the Legacy of Marin City.’ Thanks to the generous contribution of benefactors, a set of Felecia’s book will be placed in every public elementary, middle, and high school library in Marin.

In addition, educators and librarians at each school will have the opportunity to engage with Felecia in a review of best practices for utilizing the valuable primary sources within the book.

“Our goal is to provide students with the opportunity to learn from these significant and historical contributions to Marin County, California, and the United States,” said John Carroll, Marin County Superintendent of Schools.

“By engaging with Felecia’s book and then visiting the exhibit, students will be able to further connect their knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of this significant historical period,” Carroll continued.

Felecia Gaston adds, “The Marin County Office of Education’s decision to bring the Marin City Historical Traveling Exhibit and publication, ‘A Brand New Start…This is Home’ to young students is intentional and plays a substantial role in the educational world. It is imperative that our community knows the contributions of Marin City Black residents to Marin County. Our youth are best placed to lead this transformation.”

The Marin County Office of Education will host an Open House Reception of the exhibit’s debut on Feb. 1 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.. All school staff, educators, librarians, and community members are encouraged to attend to preview the exhibit and connect with Felecia Gaston. To contact Gaston, email MarinCityLegacy@marinschools.org