Community

Jefferson County Kicks Off Bicentennial Celebration

THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES — The number “200” was spelled out in the shape of orange and purple balloons as a cool breeze whispered across the Vulcan Park and Museum on Monday morning. At the top of the steps leading to the museum a purple sign announced “200 Years of Innovation” with the “Jefferson County Bicentennial” stretched across the bottom of the sign.

Published

7 years ago

May 16, 2019

Oakland Post

By Ameera Steward

The number “200” was spelled out in the shape of orange and purple balloons as a cool breeze whispered across the Vulcan Park and Museum on Monday morning.

At the top of the steps leading to the museum a purple sign announced “200 Years of Innovation” with the “Jefferson County Bicentennial” stretched across the bottom of the sign.

Welcome to the kick-off of the bicentennial celebration for Jefferson County that drew County Manager Tony Petelos and all five county commissioners President Jimmie Stephens, Lashunda Scales, Sheila Tyson, Joe Knight, and Steve Ammons.

“We’re going to have events in each commission district with the help of each commissioner in those areas to highlight the local communities and what they have meant in Jefferson County through the year,” said Petelos.

A logo announcing 200 years of innovation is a testament to how much the county has grown from an “iron and steel town to the home of UAB, a world-class medical facility,” Petelos said.

Jefferson County was founded in December 1819 and building up to that “we’re going to highlight communities and cities throughout the county…we have an incredible history and this is a great place to live and raise a family,” said Petelos.

The county was established on Dec. 13, 1819 and will reach 200, one day before Alabama turns 200.

Beginning June 27, which is 200 days from the county’s 200th anniversary, officials will begin highlighting communities, people and places on social media. Buildings will be marked with the new bicentennial logo, Petelos said.

Since its founding, Jefferson County has been home to innovation, medical technology, and served an award-winning food and dining scene, Jefferson County has become a haven for culture and innovation,” said Petelos.

Scales said she hopes people will see the intentional efforts made by the county to diversify.

“As the first woman to be elected for county commission District 1 I believe that, that also is about the changing of hearts as it relates to women, race, religion, that we all recognize that though we are different in our backgrounds, we’re one as it relates to the county moving forward in a very progressive manner,” she said. “I believe that in the years to come that Jefferson County will be known as part of Alabama’s most progressive counties that we’ve ever seen.”

While the county is celebrating the past 200 years, Stephens said he is excited by what’s to come.

“It’s in our hands to forge and to make sure that we cover the right path. Let’s make sure that we continue to work together, draw on our diversity and get that done,” he said.

Knight said there is good, bad and perhaps the ugly to see in the county’s history, “but as leaders we should learn from pass mistakes and collectively concentrate on putting the building blocks in place for those who will follow us as they become the next leaders,” he said. “I am confident that Jefferson County will thrive and continue to be on the forefront of good things to come.”

Ammons said his District 5 has something to offer for everyone, from shopping and entertainment to outdoor adventures. “We have 200 years of collected beauty and history to offer our residents. Jefferson County is moving in the right direction and I look forward to not only growing with Jefferson County but improving the quality of life for our residents and our quality of place for our residents and our visitors,” he said.

Tyson said she hopes the role of African-Americans will also be celebrated.

“We were inventing things, we were very intelligent people, we were lawyers and doctors and inventors….so I would like for people to know that,” Tyson said. “So, it’s time for someone to tell the story and people to come out of the communities that have never been asked to participate in this bicentennial.”

The county is asking residents to submit their stories about the people and places of Jefferson County history on the county website.

This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.

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Community

Four Candidates, Including Incumbent Barbara Lee, Qualify for Oakland Mayor’s Race

POST NEWS GROUP — Four candidates, including incumbent Mayor Barbara Lee, filed their papers to run for office by last Friday’s deadline, and the City Clerk issued a list this week of those who are qualified to run.

Published

2 days ago

August 15, 2026

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View of downtown Oakland, California and City Hall. iStock photo.

By Post Staff

The four mayoral candidates who will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot are:

Brenda Grisham. A business owner in East Oakland and public safety advocate, Grisham led the successful recall campaign against Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. As part of her platform, she pledges to work with local, state, and federal partners to secure stricter gun control measures and investments in community violence intervention programs.

Barbara Lee. A former congressional representative and state Assembly member, Lee was elected by voters in a special election last year for a two-year term. Now running for a four-year term, she points out that her administration achieved major successes in addressing some of the city’s major challenges, including balancing the city budget, dramatically reducing crime, and making significant inroads into homelessness and illegal dumping.

Mindy Pechenuk. An educator and activist, Pechenuk is a registered Republican and supporter of Lyndon LaRouche, who has been described by observers as a conspiracy theorist and cult leader. She ran unsuccessfully for mayor in last year’s special election and for the at-large council seat in 2024. She seeks to end Oakland’s police commission and MACRO and invest in more police while launching a new local war on drugs.

Julius Robinson. While little information is available so far about Robinson, he was quoted in a KTVU story about Thao’s recall, stating that people in Oakland want to come together as a community but lack infrastructure and leadership.

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Black History

Oakland Observes Black August with Block Parties, Film Showings, Workshops

POST NEWS GROUP — Beginning in 1979 in San Quentin State Prison, the Black Guerrilla Family called for the remembrance of political prisoner George Jackson and his brother Jonathan Jackson who were assassinated in the early 1970s. George Jackson was considered a political prisoner in that it was the anti-Black justice system that led to his incarceration for armed robbery with a sentence of one year-to-life in 1960.

Published

2 days ago

August 15, 2026

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George Jackson wrote two books: “Soledad Brother,” and “Blood in My Eye” before her was killed in an attempt to escape prison on Aug. 21, 1971.

By Jana Lang, Propel Youth Reporter

Study. Train. Fast. Fight.

These are the four tenets of Black August, a month dedicated to commemorating the sacrifices of political prisoners and Black revolutionaries in the struggle for Black liberation.

Observers are urged to study the history of the Black struggle for freedom, train their bodies for health and self-defense, fast to cleanse the mind, body, and spirit, and fight ongoing oppression alongside their communities and local political organizations.

Beginning in 1979 in San Quentin State Prison, the Black Guerrilla Family called for the remembrance of political prisoner George Jackson and his brother Jonathan Jackson who were assassinated in the early 1970s. George Jackson was considered a political prisoner in that it was the anti-Black justice system that led to his incarceration for armed robbery with a sentence of one year-to-life in 1960.

While in prison, George befriended fellow prisoner W.L. Nolen, who introduced him to the works of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong, and Frantz Fanon. This radicalization coupled with his experiences of violence while imprisoned led to him writing and publishing two books, “Soledad Brother” (1970), and “Blood in my Eye” (1972). In January of 1970, George and two other prisoners were charged with murdering a corrections officer at Soledad State Prison in Monterey County.

On Aug. 7, 1970, Jonathan Jackson burst into a Marin County courtroom armed with a shotgun to demand the freedom of the Soledad Brothers. He, along with the inmates he freed, was shot and killed while driving away. This involved one of the Black Panther Party’s most notable associates, Angela Davis, because the shotgun was registered in her name. She was later acquitted of charges of conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder in 1972.

On Aug. 21, 1971, George Jackson was assassinated by a corrections officer after attempting to escape and free other inmates. As a result, there were uprisings and protests within prisons all over the country that year, calling forth resistance against racial oppression and mass incarceration.

Since its outset, Black August has evolved across the country, taking many forms to honor this history and embody the four tenets.

In Oakland, the upcoming Black August Experience, hosted by Youth Alive! and the East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA), is a free, family-friendly event celebrating the legacy of Black August. Activities include free food and drinks, a kids’ activity zone, interactive workshops, live cooking and boxing demonstrations, and more.

Happening on Aug. 21 from 4-8 p.m. at the EOBA Patio, Carolyn Flynn, director of administration at EOBA, said the event, in its second year, will be an opportunity to engage with people in person through food, shared space, and education.

“We do regular classes in education, and those are ongoing programs that we offer, but we wanted to have [an opportunity] for our neighbors to utilize this space.” Combined with Youth Alive’s work in community violence prevention and youth leadership, this event surely aims to bring the Oakland community together to capture what Black August means today.

Here are additional Black August events happening in Oakland:

Forum and Community Discussion hosted by the Oakland Liberation Center, 1499 Fruitvale Ave., Aug. 14, 7 p.m.

“George Jackson/San Quentin” Screening hosted by Nostalgic for Nothing Cinema at Moments Co-Op, 410 13th St., Aug. 16, doors at 6 p.m., show at 6:30 p.m. (Masks required and scent-free)

Commemorating the Struggle, Building the Altar for Liberation: Black August at Bandung Books, 2269 International Blvd., Aug. 23rd, 1-5 p.m.

Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.