Berkeley

Rev. William Barber Leads Spirited Conversation on Reviving Democracy

Published

8 years ago

July 24, 2018

By M.C. Blakeman

Echoing the call for a moral force to resuscitate the heart of America that he sounded at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Rev. William Barber led a spirited conversation on “Reviving Our Democracy” in front of an enthusiastic crowd of more than 750 at the First Congregational Church of Berkeley on July 12.

Part political rally, part teach-in, and part revival meeting, Rev. Barber’s evening of conversation with Ari Berman, senior reporter for Mother Jones magazine, was interrupted by frequent applause and spontaneous standing ovations, as the talk ranged over core issues of the Poor People’s Campaign: systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation and militarism. Rev. Barber is co-chair of the current campaign which aims to re-consecrate the work of Rev. Martin Luther King who was organizing a diverse coalition for the original campaign before his assassination in 1968.

Rather than address each of its core issues separately, the Poor People’s Campaign brings them together in a “fusion” strategy – which draws its name, in part, from the Fusion Party that united freed black slaves and poor whites in North Carolina after the Civil War, as Rev. Barber explains in his book, The Third Reconstruction.

Voter suppression is but one example of a fusion between issues, because, as Rev. Barber often points out, states with the highest levels of voter suppression have the highest levels of poverty. Fights against voter suppression also brought Rev. Barber across the path of Mother Jones’ Berman, author of Give Us the Ballot, whose reporting on data from Wisconsin revealed that as many as 45,000 people were prevented from voting in the 2016 election – and Trump won that state by only 23,000 votes.

When Berman raised the subject of that election during their evening of conversation, Rev. Barber characterized Donald Trump as “nothing new” and compared his campaign speeches to those given by George Wallace in 1968. “Trump benefited from a culture that was developed over 50 years,” he said. “The (Nixon) white southern strategy had a goal of lasting 50 years. This is the 50th year.”

Rev. Barber went on to contend that Trump’s campaign reflected the same elements of racism, gerrymandering and voter suppression he fought for years as head of the North Carolina NAACP. “When you mix (those elements) with fear and white rage and lies, it’s a powerful poison,” he said. “It’s a poison that’s often been placed in the veins of this American democracy.”

The antidote to that poison, he told the assemblage, is the mobilization of moral witnesses to expose the forces that now keep 140 million Americans poor or stuck in low-incomebrackets. “This is beyond left and right,” Rev. Barber said. “It’s about right and wrong. It’s a heart issue. This is not about Trump or one election. It’s about giving America a dream again.”

In a climactic moment toward the end of the evening, Rev. Barber led the crowd in a Poor People’s Campaign rallying cry.

“Forward together!” he called out.

“Not one step back!” they responded.

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Activism

Black Repertory Group Needs Volunteers to Help Shape the Next Generation of Artists and Leaders

Legendary performers such as Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover worked with and were inspired by BRG’s founders. More recently, Grammy award-winning artist Kehlani attended the Black Repertory Group Summer Day Camp for several years.

Published

3 months ago

June 26, 2026

Oakland Post

Courtesy image.

By Sean Vaughn Scott, Special to The Post

For more than 60 years, the Black Repertory Group (BRG) has changed lives through the arts.

Founded in 1964 by educators and visionaries Birel L. Vaughn and Nora Vaughn, BRG has become one of America’s oldest continuously operating Black theater institutions. For generations, it has preserved culture, developed talent, and provided opportunities for young people to discover their voices and their potential.

The results speak for themselves.

Long before international recognition, Kehlani performed on the BRG stage. During a summer day camp production of “Princess and da Frog,” she portrayed Ray, the lovable firefly whose light guided others through the darkness. Her journey is proof that today’s camper may become tomorrow’s artist, entrepreneur, educator, or leader.

Located at 3201 Adeline St. in Berkeley, BRG continues that mission through its Youth Summer Day Camp of the Arts.

BRG is currently accepting applications and maintains an open enrollment program. Students may enroll throughout the summer as space permits and immediately become part of the BRG family.

We are also proud to be a multicultural opportunity program, welcoming children and families from all backgrounds, cultures, and communities. Through theater, music, dance, public speaking, visual arts, technical theater, and leadership development, students gain confidence, discipline, creativity, and lifelong skills.

As our programs grow, so does our need for volunteers.

We are seeking community members to assist with youth mentoring, registration, costumes, set construction, painting, props, ushering, photography, social media, marketing, technical theater, and fundraising activities. Whether you volunteer for a few hours or throughout the season, your support directly impacts the lives of young people.

BRG also partners with churches, civic organizations, alumni associations, fraternities, sororities, and community groups through theater party fundraisers, group sales, and buy-out performances. These partnerships have helped organizations raise funds while supporting arts and cultural programming.

The theater also serves as the home of the Berkeley NAACP Chapter, which meets every second Saturday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m.

For more than six decades, the Black Repertory Group has remained committed to one belief: every child deserves an opportunity to shine.

The next great artist may already be among us.

The next Kehlani may already be walking through our doors.

We invite you to volunteer, enroll, participate, and become part of the legacy.

For more information please go to www.blackrepertorygroup.com, call (510) 652-2120, or email info@blackrepertorygroup.com

Sean Vaughn Scott is the director of the Black Repertory Group.

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Bay Area

UC Berkeley Named Top Public University in the U.S. and No. 7 in the World by ‘U.S. News’

Berkeley has been consistently awarded the distinction of the U.S.’s top public university since the Best Global Universities list was first published in 2014. “A strong position in the Best Global Universities rankings recognizes a school’s profound commitment to world-class research and cross-border academic excellence,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News.

Published

3 months ago

June 24, 2026

Oakland Post

Photo by Keegan Houser/UC Berkeley.

The 2026 Best Global Universities rankings evaluated 2,250 research institutions from more than 100 countries

By Lila Thulin

U.S. News & World Report has ranked UC Berkeley No. 7 in its 2026 list of the best global universities, which assesses more than 2,250 research institutions worldwide.

Berkeley also claimed the honor of top public university in the U.S.

Released on Monday, the list evaluates universities from more than 100 countries on 13 metrics such as global and research reputation (as reported by academics and peers) and number of highly cited scholarly papers.

Berkeley has been consistently awarded the distinction of the U.S.’s top public university since the Best Global Universities list was first published in 2014.

“A strong position in the Best Global Universities rankings recognizes a school’s profound commitment to world-class research and cross-border academic excellence,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News.

The rankings also assess a university’s strength in various subject areas; these assessments are separate from U.S. News’ 2026 Best Graduate Programs rankings released in April.

This year, Berkeley was named in the top three nationally in seven subject areas – environment/ecology, ecology, water resources, physics, computer science, chemistry, and engineering – and in the top five for a total of 17 subjects. Subject rankings are based heavily on scholarly publications and citations as well as reputation.

In September, U.S. News also released its 2026 Best Colleges list, in which Berkeley was also named the No. 1 public institution among American universities.

That honor joins other accolades judging campus to be the best public university in the country, such as those from Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education.

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Arts and Culture

Farwest Region Deltas Celebrate Centennial With “September Breakfast” Honoring Vivian Osborne Marsh

The region was established in 1925 under the leadership of Vivian Osborne Marsh, who became its first Regional Director. Marsh was a pioneering scholar and civic leader, earning recognition as the first Black woman to receive both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in anthropology from UC Berkeley.

Published

1 year ago

September 14, 2025

Oakland Post

Farwest Regional Director, Kimberly Usher, Mayor Barbara Lee, US Representative Lateefah Simon, and Farwest Regional Representative, Radiya Ajibade. Photo courtesy of Farwest Regional Photographer Vicki P. Love.

By Antoinette Porter

Hundreds of members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and their guests gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union at the University of California, Berkeley, to mark the 100th anniversary of the sorority’s Farwest Region.

Marsh went on to serve as Delta Sigma Theta’s 7th National President, where she launched the sorority’s National Library Project to expand access to books in underserved Black communities in the South. During her presidency, the organization also became a prominent voice in the civil rights movement, lobbying Congress to pass anti-lynching legislation.

Bak in the Bay Area, Marsh devoted her career to advancing educational opportunities, mentoring young people, and strengthening community life. That commitment continues to shape the region, which supports initiatives in education, social justice, and economic development. Current projects include raising scholarship funds for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, voter education campaigns, and health and wellness programs.

A century after its founding, the Farwest Region of Delta Sigma Theta remains active across California and other western states, carrying forward Marsh’s vision of service and advocacy.