Activism

Black Rage is Justified – Statement from the Brotherhood of Elders Network

Published

4 years ago

June 9, 2020

Brotherhood of Elders Network

“To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious, is to be in a rage almost all the time.” James Baldwin

“We revolt simply because, for many reasons, we can no longer breathe” Franz Fanon

We embrace the rage. The knee on George Floyd’s neck symbolizes the historic weight on the neck of the black community for our entire history in this land. It must be lifted, or we all perish. We feel the pain expressed across the nation given our lived experiences of racism, economic disinvestment, failed health care systems, joblessness, disparate impacts of covid-19, and disparate impacts of the criminal justice system. We express our outrage at the blatant racism and act of murder and other violence against Black people by law enforcement. We condemn the federal, state and local officials who, through their silence and inaction, condone these acts of terror against our community. It is time for immediate and substantial action to shift away from the current culture of policing to meaningful, community-based safety and well-being strategies.

Police in Minneapolis murdered George Floyd just for being black and denied him human dignity. The same is true for Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Tony McDade in Tallahassee, and Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia; as well as countless others. Too many of us, no matter our race, gender, or unique identity, struggle everyday with the violence of our society that serves the rich and privileged at the expense of the struggling workers.

The violence generated by the economic, political, social and cultural institutional racism against our community caused the reactions in the streets. We fully support our activist family and friends who are waging a principled demonstration of the pent-up anger we all feel. In the Spirit of John Brown, we applaud the solidarity of antiracist white people in our struggle. We stand with all who fight for change. While we do not seek to promote the violence, looting and other activities that can undermine the message that Black Lives really do Matter, We are committed to the belief that if there is no Justice, there will be no Peace. Our demand is for justice—true justice – justice for George Floyd and all victims of police violence, health and economic justice, educational equity and economic and housing justice. We commit a renewed energy and resources to demand accountability and to the removal of obstacles to change policies, institutions, or change individuals.

To our young people, we understand your distrust of government and law enforcement. We stand with you to change this system of unequal justice. We know that judges represent as much a part of the inequities in the justice system as District Attorneys, City Attorneys, law enforcement and lawyers. Systemic change is required.

As an intergenerational network of men of African descent, we are working hard to bring the world we want to see into being. We have organized a response to the COVID pandemic in Oakland over the last month and created a fund to provide resources to our most vulnerable family members. We have partnered with City officials to support the creation of an effective Department of Violence Prevention.

Lastly, a major tool in this transformation is the Oakland Police Commission which finds itself at a crossroads. We have engaged the debate and won’t give up until this vehicle for accountability is working at its highest level for us. To be successful in their duties, it requires the trust of the Oakland Community; the appropriate number of qualified trained staff; and complete autonomy from Oakland’s elected officials, administration and Police Department. The current debate on making changes to the Commission are critical to their mission of overseeing the policies and practices to meet the national standards of constitutional policing. We are determined to create a humane “use of force” policy and practice for the Oakland Police Department; to eliminate biased policing in the Oakland Police department and the Sheriff’s Department, to strengthen the Citizen Police Review Agency, and elect a District Attorney that prosecutes police violations of citizens’ rights, and elect a sheriff that protects the rights of our community.

Join us in our work. Join us in this fight. Join us in the larger movement for Black lives.

The Brotherhood of Elders Network is an intergenerational network of men of African descent based in Oakland California whose mission is to foster environments where Black males are empowered to flourish.

www.brotherhoodofelders.net

Brotherhood of Elders Network

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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

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Activism

Oakland Schools Honor Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties

Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice. His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.

Published

6 days ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

Fred Korematsu. Courtesy of OUSD.

By Post Staff

Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice.

His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.
One OUSD school is named in his honor: Fred T. Korematsu Discovery Academy (KDA) elementary in East Oakland.

Several years ago, founding KDA Principal Charles Wilson, in a video interview with anti-hate organization “Not In Our Town,” said, “We chose the name Fred Korematsu because we really felt like the attributes that he showed in his work are things that the children need to learn … that common people can stand up and make differences in a large number of people’s lives.”

Fred Korematsu was born in Oakland on Jan. 30, 1919. His parents ran a floral nursery business, and his upbringing in Oakland shaped his worldview. His belief in the importance of standing up for your rights and the rights of others, regardless of race or background, was the foundation for his activism against racial prejudice and for the rights of Japanese Americans during World War II.

At the start of the war, Korematsu was turned away from enlisting in the National Guard and the Coast Guard because of his race. He trained as a welder, working at the docks in Oakland, but was fired after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Fear and prejudice led to federal Executive Order 9066, which forced more than 120,000 Japanese Americans out of their homes and neighborhoods and into remote internment camps.

The 23-year-old Korematsu resisted the order. He underwent cosmetic surgery and assumed a false identity, choosing freedom over unjust imprisonment. His later arrest and conviction sparked a legal battle that would challenge the foundation of civil liberties in America.

Korematsu’s fight culminated in the Supreme Court’s initial ruling against him in 1944. He spent years in a Utah internment camp with his family, followed by time living in Salt Lake City where he was dogged by racism.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford overturned Executive Order 9066. Seven years later, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco vacated Korematsu’s conviction. He said in court, “I would like to see the government admit that they were wrong and do something about it so this will never happen again to any American citizen of any race, creed, or color.”

Korematsu’s dedication and determination established him as a national icon of civil rights and social justice. He advocated for justice with Rosa Parks. In 1998, President Bill Clinton gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom saying, “In the long history of our country’s constant search for justice, some names of ordinary citizens stand for millions of souls … To that distinguished list, today we add the name of Fred Korematsu.”

After Sept. 11, 2001, Korematsu spoke out against hatred and discrimination, saying what happened to Japanese Americans should not happen to people of Middle Eastern descent.
Korematsu’s roots in Oakland and his education in OUSD are a source of great pride for the city, according to the school district. His most famous quote, which is on the Korematsu elementary school mural, is as relevant now as ever, “If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don’t be afraid to speak up.”

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Activism

WOMEN IMPACTING THE CHURCH AND COMMUNITY

Published

1 week ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Juanita Matthews

Sister Juanita Matthews

55 Years with Oakland Public School District

The Teacher, Mother, Community Outreach Champion, And Child of God

Juanita Matthews, better known as “Sister Teacher,” is a walking Bible scholar. She moved to California from the great state of Arkansas in 1971. Sister Teacher has a passion for teaching. She has been a member of Bible Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church since 1971. She followed her passion for teaching, and in 1977 became the lead teacher for Adult Class #6. Her motto still today is “Once My Student, Always My Student”.

Beyond her remarkable love for the Lord, Sister Teacher has showcased her love for teaching by working for the Oakland Unified School District for 55 years, all but four of those years spent at Emerson Elementary and Child Development School. She truly cares about her students, making sure they have the tools/supplies needed to learn either at OUSD or Bible Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.

She’s also had a “Clothes Closet Ministry” for 51 years, making sure her students have sufficient clothing for school. The Clothes Closet Ministry extends past her students, she has been clothing the community for over 50 years as well. She loves the Lord and is a servant on a mission. She is a loving mother to two beautiful children, Sandra and Andre. This is the impact this woman of God has on her church and the community.