Events

“Generations” Celebrates Black LGBT Historical Experience

Published

10 years ago

February 13, 2014

“Generations: Black LGBT History Experience” is a free gala event sponsored by local organizations will take place Friday, Feb. 21, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the African American Art / Culture Complex, 762 Fulton St. in San Francisco.

;There will be food, art, film and entertainment celebrating historic Black LGBT Americans that have paved and are paving the way. On display at the event will be over 100 autobiographies of Black LGBT movers and shakers from the past and present.

< p>February became “Negro History Week” in 1926, to recognize the many accomplishments of African Americans, to write back into American history the contributions of those who had been written out.

From civil rights leader Bayard Rustin and blues singer Bessie Smith to college draft pick Michael Samms, who could be National Football Leagues’ first openly gay player, the lives of Black Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) people are often left out of the picture.

It is time to affirm that Black LGBT people have enriched the nation’s history – and who knows this better and than Black LGBT communities?

Facing many challenges, LGBT people of African descent must continue to work on health inequities and social isolation. As HIV transmission rates continue to occur at alarming disproportionate rates in African American men that have sex with men (MSM), efforts must continue to make free and confidential, Sexually Transmitted Disease Infection (STDI) testing available.

Stigma, homophobia, and discrimination put gay and bisexual men of all races and ethnicities at risk for multiple physical and mental health problems and may affect whether they seek and are able to receive high-quality health services, including HIV testing, treatment, and other prevention services.

According to Micah Lubensky, community development manager of SF AIDS Foundations and co-facilitates support group for African American MSM group, “A sense of well-being about one’s history is important, helping internally with the feeling that it’s a positive thing to be gay.

“The reasons for high rates of HIV (mostly have to do with self-esteem issues. If people value themselves more and felt their lives were more worthy, they would protect themselves”, said Lubensky.

Chances of survival after AIDS diagnosis are less for African Americans than other racial groups. At the same time, Black people have many accomplishments to be proud of.

Most of these accomplishments are not taught in mainstream history books, which do not identify an individual as a Black LGBT person.

Even during Black history month, we learn so little about who we are from Black history.

The producers of the event believe history plays an important role in creating a healthy individual and community.

The idea of Black LGBT history started as a small event in 2010, where members of Black Brothers Esteem (BBE) were talking about the lack of Black LGBT history and desired to host a separate event within Black History Month.

Lubensky says the idea made sense to him: “Black communities are not any more or less homophobic than any other communities, but for Black LGBT, the consequences of homophobia may be more devastating, because the community’s protection on the question of race is needed”.

In a climate of continued racial oppression, pervasive homophobia and stigma, it is time to embrace the magnificent history and journey of all Black people in America, using lessons learned to inform us how we think of HIV and how we fight the disease.

For information call 510-575-8245 or email mrjessebrooks@gmail.com

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Mind, Body, and Spiritual Well-Being for Women Addressed in NAACP Forum in Oakland

The Women In The NAACP Oakland Branch is proud to announce the upcoming “Total You – Mind, Body, and Spirit Women’s Health Forum” scheduled for April 27 at Acts Full Gospel Church. Running from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1034 66th Ave., this forum aims to provide an empowering platform for women to engage in discussions, gain knowledge, and access resources pertaining to their health and well-being.

Published

5 days ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

The panel will address various aspects of women’s health, including physical, mental and emotional well-being and relationships. iStock photo by Jorge Elizaquibel.

Special to The Post

The Women In The NAACP Oakland Branch is proud to announce the upcoming “Total You – Mind, Body, and Spirit Women’s Health Forum” scheduled for April 27 at Acts Full Gospel Church.

Running from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1034 66^th Ave., this forum aims to provide an empowering platform for women to engage in discussions, gain knowledge, and access resources pertaining to their health and well-being.

The forum will feature renowned experts, healthcare professionals, and advocates from Genentech, John Muir Health, Sutter Health of The East Bay, Kaiser Permanente, and the Alameda County Public Health Department.

Our expert panel will address various aspects of women’s health, including physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and healthy relationships. The forum will encompass a wide range of topics such as breast cancer, menopause, reproductive health, nutrition, mental health awareness, preventive care, and much more.

Participants will have the opportunity to attend informative sessions, interactive workshops, and panel discussions led by experts in their respective fields. Additionally, there will be wellness activities, screenings, and informational booths offering valuable resources and support.

This forum is open to women of all ages and backgrounds, encouraging inclusivity and diversity in the conversation surrounding women’s health. Whether you’re seeking information for yourself, a loved one, or simply looking to connect with other women, this event promises to be enlightening and empowering.

For more information and to register for the Total You Women’s Health Forum, please visit https://www.naacpoakland.org/ or contact Dr. Delores Thompson. WIN chairwoman at (510) 328-3638.

The Women In The NAACP Oakland Branch is dedicated to empowering women, and young teen girls. We look forward to your participation in this important event.

To register, go to https://www.naacpoakland.org/events/the-total-you-womens-health-forum

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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.

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Oakland’s ‘Green the Church,’ Others, Host a Climate Revival

On April 20, Oakland’s Green The Church California (GTC) and the Center For Food, Faith and Justice will celebrate Earth Day and present a Climate Revival event titled “Growing Healthy Communities From Soil To The Soul” at McGee Avenue Baptist Church at 1640 Stuart St, Berkeley, CA. The day will include inspiring talks, interactive workshops, networking opportunities, and a special panel on Food Sovereignty and Global Food Resilience.

Published

1 week ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

The revival will take place at McGee Avenue Baptist Church in Berkeley on April 20. Courtesy image.

Growing Healthy Communities from Soil to the Soul in Berkeley

By Y’Anad Burrell

The day will include inspiring talks, interactive workshops, networking opportunities, and a special panel on Food Sovereignty and Global Food Resilience.

The keynote speaker is Rev. Danté R. Quick, PhD, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, N.J. Quick is well known in the Bay Area, having served for more than 10 years as pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Vallejo, CA.

Green The Church, founded in 2010 by Rev. Dr. Ambrose Carroll, Sr., and headquartered in Oakland, helps galvanize Black churches and their local communities and leaders to address issues critical to populations historically disengaged from conversations around pollution and health, climate change, and sustainability and energy efficiency.

The organization collaborates with major environmental, sustainability, food security, faith, and community-based non-profit organizations, and is committed to “creation justice”—care and justice for God’s people and the planet—and building the Beloved Community.

Environmental justice has long been a pressing concern for communities of color who bear the brunt of pollution and ecological degradation. Climate change exacerbates these issues, disproportionately impacting vulnerable communities. Recognizing this urgency, Black churches across the country are taking action.

With deep roots in the African American community and its commitment to social justice, the Black Church has become an essential advocate for sustainable practices and policies.

Over the past 14 years, in a powerful collaboration with significant environmental, sustainability, food security, faith, and community-based non-profit organizations, GTC has created a cadre of Black churches engaging in the environmental justice, climate, and sustainability movement.

GTC presently works with more than 1,000 pastors and congregations across the U.S., and groups in the Bahamas, Ghana, Nigeria, and the UK, showing that we can make a difference together.

The partnership between environmental justice advocates and the Black Church extends beyond individual congregations. Green The Church provides resources and support for faith communities seeking to address climate change and promote environmental justice.

Through collaboration, initiatives such as energy efficiency programs, solar installations, and environmental education have been implemented in Black churches nationwide. These efforts reduce the carbon footprint and save money on energy bills, benefiting the congregations and their communities.

The involvement of the Black Church in the fight against climate change is not just a participation, it’s a powerful message that galvanizes action across communities.

By integrating environmental justice into their ministry, Black churches are demonstrating that addressing climate change is not only a matter of science but also of social and moral responsibility, inspiring change at a grassroots level.

For more information, go to: www.greenthechurch.org.