California Black Media

Over 10,000 Calif. Black Women Join Kamala Harris Support Effort

At a July 22 rally in San Francisco — where U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris served as district attorney from 2004 to 2001 before becoming California’s attorney general — Bay Area elected officials, advocates and other stakeholders showed support for one of their own. “Right now. she needs us more than ever,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed told a cheering crowd of well-wishers. “We, as Democrats, we don’t have time to waste,” Breed leaned in. “Kamala Harris is the person.”

Published

2 years ago

August 19, 2024

Oakland Post

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12). Courtesy of Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives.

By Tanu Henry

California Black Media

“Right now. she needs us more than ever,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed told a cheering crowd of well-wishers.

“We, as Democrats, we don’t have time to waste,” Breed leaned in. “Kamala Harris is the person.”

The event was held one day after President Joe Biden announced his decision to drop out of the 2024 race for president and endorse Harris.

In various cities across California and around the country, Black women are coming together and echoing a similar level of passion to Breed’s as they express their full-hearted support of Harris.

California State Controller Malia Cohen — a former San Francisco official herself — called on the audience to commit to Harris’s winning against GOP nominee, former President Donald Trump.

“One thing we have on this stage is the united understanding about what we need to do, which is get Harris elected,” Cohen told the crowd.

On July 22, the California Black Women’s Collective PAC (CBWCPAC) wrote an open letter to Harris signed by more than 1,300 Black women from around California.

“As the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first South Asian woman to hold the office of vice president, you have not only broken historical barriers. You have also served as a beacon of hope and inspiration for countless individuals who see themselves reflected in your journey,” the CBWCPAC letter read.

On June 22, Kellie Todd Griffin, convener of CBWCPAC, organized a call with over 10,000 Black women from across California. Another 9,932 registered for the call but could not log on because of capacity limits.

“We stand at a crossroads in our nation’s history, where the path we choose will shape the destiny of future generations,” said Todd Griffin.

Todd Griffin added that California Black Women are rallying behind Harris “united in our shared vision for a brighter, more inclusive future.”

We know that our greatest strength is the way in which we use our collective power to transform the nation into the perfect union it proclaims to be. Vice President Harris is not just a candidate for the President of the United States; she is a catalyst for the change that is needed now,” Todd Griffin stated.

The night before, an estimated 90,000 Black women and their allies – about 44,000 of them on Zoom and tens of thousands more on other digital platforms – rallied to show their support for Harris.

Participants on the historic Zoom call, organized by #WinWithBlackWoman, raised more than $1 million for Harris in three hours.

Among the women on the call were U.S. Reps Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30) and Joyce Beatty (D-OH-3); former Democratic National Convention Chair Donna Brazile; the Rev. Berniece King, daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr; D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Maryland first lady Dawn Moore.

“We expressed our gratitude for the extraordinary work President Biden has done, while we affirmed our individual commitment to stand united in unwavering support of Vice President Kamala Harris as the leader our nation needs,” said Jotaka Eaddy, founder of #WinWithBlackWomen.

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Oakland Post: Week of June 17 – 23, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of June 17 – 23, 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

June 20, 2026

Oakland Post

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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

2 weeks 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.