History
The Black Press: Our Trusted Messenger
Our Black newspapers are now celebrating 194 years of being the keeper of the flame of liberty and the source of information in “our” struggle for freedom and equality.
![](https://www.postnewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/post-may-5-11-featured-web.jpg)
Sometimes it’s necessary to be reminded who we are and who our friends are. It’s also important to remember from whence we have come.
Such is the case this week with the Black Press. Our Black newspapers are now celebrating 194 years of being the keeper of the flame of liberty and the source of information in “our” struggle for freedom and equality.
With the advent of the recent pandemic and the visible disparity of Blacks dying at greater numbers than others, getting fewer vaccines, working in the highest risk occupations and death at the hands of law enforcement, our need for a “trusted” source of information is greater than social media, which has become an alternative for many.
At the same time, the interest in reaching our communities has increased on all levels. The question has become “who is in touch with the Black community” as injustice, murder and social disparity continues to grow among Blacks.
The NAACP and the Urban League gave the impression that they were in touch with the Black community. But the reality is neither organization has ever been in touch with the Black community without the Black Press. It is Black newspapers and not CNN, ABC, NBC or CBS that carries the articles and commentaries of these organizations to the Black community.
Yet, neither of these organizations ever mentions the Black Press when taking both credit and dollars for outreach to the Black community.
The African American and Black communities of America should not be duped into believing that social media has become a substitute for the Black Press. The Black Press is now both print and electronic, it’s a newswire service as provided by the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), providing coverage of both news here in America and around the world.
It is the Black Press that has been the “Trusted Messenger” to our communities for 194 years, and that says a lot. Our newspapers are the rear guard, the battle ground against the efforts to resegregate America and return to “Jim Crow” racism.
As we celebrate Juneteenth, let us remember that we are not only free but capable of defending and determining our futures if we get serious. Let’s remember how we got here, on the backs of those like the Black Press who bought us thus far; let us not forget in the words of James Weldon Johnson: that “ we have come over a way that with tears has been watered, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered.” We are still being slaughtered today by others as well as each other.
Let’s remember who is truly telling our story and our obligation to keep and support that effort. Pick up a Black newspaper and get involved. You owe that and more to keeping the Juneteenth principle of freedom alive today.
Editor-in-Chief note: The Post News Group consists of nine newspapers: Oakland, South County, San Francisco, Vallejo, Marin, Stockton, Richmond, Berkeley Tri-City and El Mundo. We are also online at postnewsgroup.com.
Black History
Betty Harris: Inventor of Spot Test That Revolutionized Chemical Detection
Our accomplishments never cease to amaze me. Imagine being a scientist who can detect hidden chemicals with just a simple test. Here’s another hidden gem. Dr. Betty Harris is a brilliant scientist and inventor known for her work in chemistry. She was born on July 29, 1940, in Louisiana. From a young age, Betty was fascinated by science. She loved to learn how things worked and always asked lots of questions. Her passion for science led her to become a chemist.
![Dr. Betty Harris](https://www.postnewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/betty-wright-harris-featured-web.jpg)
By Tamara Shiloh
Our accomplishments never cease to amaze me. Imagine being a scientist who can detect hidden chemicals with just a simple test. Here’s another hidden gem.
Dr. Betty Harris is a brilliant scientist and inventor known for her work in chemistry. She was born on July 29, 1940, in Louisiana. From a young age, Betty was fascinated by science. She loved to learn how things worked and always asked lots of questions. Her passion for science led her to become a chemist.
By 1961, aged just 19, she had graduated from Southern University in Baton Rouge with a chemistry degree.
She did her research at Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, where she worked in the areas of hazardous waste treatment and environmental remediation as well as explosives chemistry. Areas of focus included explosives detection, synthesis and characterization of insensitive high explosives and sensitivity of weathered high explosives.
Her invention, a spot test for TATB, represents a significant advancement in the detection of this crucial but stable explosive compound.
TATB stands for 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene. It’s a type of explosive that is very stable and safe to handle, making it important for various safety applications. TATB is used in explosives because it doesn’t explode easily under heat or shock, which means it’s safer to store and use.
Harris invented a special test called a “spot test” to detect TATB. Before her invention, finding TATB in materials was difficult and time-consuming. Her spot test made it quick and easy to detect this important chemical.
The spot test developed by Harris is a simple yet powerful method that involves a few straightforward steps. A small sample of the material in question is obtained. The sample is treated with a special chemical solution formulated by Harris. If TATB is present in the sample, the solution undergoes a color change, providing a clear and immediate indication of its presence.
Harris’s spot test is important for several reasons. The test helps ensure that explosives are safe to handle and store. By detecting TATB quickly, accidents can be prevented. It is easy to use and provides fast results, saving time and resources.
Inventions like Harris’s help science to progress by making it easier to work with important chemicals.
Her contributions extend beyond her scientific achievements. She is a passionate advocate for education and has been a mentor to countless young scientists, particularly encouraging girls and African American students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields.
Her dedication to fostering the next generation of scientists has earned her numerous accolades and respect in the academic community.
Harris still lives in New Mexico.
Black History
Gov. Newsom, Other California Leaders, Pay Tribute to Baseball Great Willie Mays
Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom, several California government officials, private sector leaders and Americans from all walks of life paid tribute to former San Francisco Giant, Major League Baseball (MLB) great, and Negro Leagues icon Willie Mays, who passed away at 93 on June 18. Nicknamed “The Say Hey Kid,” Mays made history as one of the greatest baseball players in MLB. A powerful hitter and center fielder, his sportsmanship and athleticism earned him a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.
![Willie Mays made the MLB All-Star team 24 times. Photo courtesy of California Museum.](https://www.postnewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/willie-mays-featured-web.jpg)
By California Black Media
Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom, several California government officials, private sector leaders and Americans from all walks of life paid tribute to former San Francisco Giant, Major League Baseball (MLB) great, and Negro Leagues icon Willie Mays, who passed away at 93 on June 18.
Nicknamed “The Say Hey Kid,” Mays made history as one of the greatest baseball players in MLB. A powerful hitter and center fielder, his sportsmanship and athleticism earned him a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.
Mays previously played in the Negro American League for the Birmingham Black Barons. He was a pioneer and legend in baseball as one of 10 Black players in the 1950s that secured a contract with a major league team.
Newsom acknowledged Mays as a baseball icon and role model who broke barriers, set world records, and inspired future generations of athletes.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of my friend, Willie Mays,” said the Governor.
“His impact extends far beyond baseball. He became an integral part of San Francisco’s cultural fabric and a cherished member of our community. His legacy will forever be intertwined with the legacy of the city he loved,” he said.
Throughout his career, Mays was renowned for ‘The Catch’ during the 1954 World Series after catching a fly ball over his shoulder with his back to the diamond. This play was marked as one of the greatest catches in the history of baseball.
San Francisco Giants Chair Greg Johnson called Mays a hero and praised the 24-time All-Star athlete for his contributions to the game of baseball and the fabric of America.
“Today we have lost a true legend,” said Johnson. “In the pantheon of baseball greats, Willie Mays’ combination of tremendous talent, keen intellect, showmanship, and boundless joy set him apart.”
San Francisco Mayor London Breed called Mays “the greatest player of all time.
“To a native San Franciscan, some things just go without question: it’s foggy in the summer, cable cars go halfway to the stars, and Willie Mays is the best there ever was,” wrote Breed in a statement. “It was an unbelievable opportunity of a lifetime to meet someone like Willie Mays. I remember hearing about the struggles that he endured because he was Black, and what he overcame to become an icon on the field.”
Sen. Steve Cortese (D-San Jose) said Mays contributions to baseball and the Bay Area are “immeasurable.”
Watching Willie Mays play was a privilege I will never forget. As great as he was at the sport, he was an even better man. His work through the Say Hey Foundation stands as just one example of how he made our community stronger,” said Cortese.
California Assembly Speaker Robert A. Rivas (D-Hollister) also saluted Mays.
“The greatest. Rest in Peace, Willie Mays,” Rivas posted on the social media platform.
Activism
“A Time to Reflect and Rejoice”: Black Caucus Members Commemorate Juneteenth on Assembly Floor
On June 17, two days before Juneteenth, members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) delivered remarks on the Assembly floor commemorating the national holiday and its significance in American history.
ACR 192, introduced by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), aims to honor, and reflect on the emancipation of African Americans from chattel slavery and honor their contributions throughout America’s history.
![Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa) speaking on the California Assembly Floor.](https://www.postnewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BLACK-1.jpg)
By California Black Media
On June 17, two days before Juneteenth, members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) delivered remarks on the Assembly floor commemorating the national holiday and its significance in American history.
ACR 192, introduced by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), aims to honor, and reflect on the emancipation of African Americans from chattel slavery and honor their contributions throughout America’s history.
Speaking on the Assembly floor, Jones-Sawyer said the resolution is the CLBC’s annual commemoration of Juneteenth as “Freedom Day.”
“Two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, the bell of freedom rang true for over 3 million Black Americans, marking the beginning of the fight to secure the freedom of those still enslaved and provide fair and equal treatment for the formerly enslaved,” Jones-Sawyer said.
“Juneteenth is a time to reflect and rejoice for all the work it took to reach this point, as well as a reminder that true equality is not accomplished overnight,” he added. “While there have been great strides to acknowledge and address the history and plight of Black Americans, society, as a whole, still has a long way to go. Juneteenth is an opportunity to educate all communities that we may not repeat injustices and abuses committed in the past.”
The resolution particularly highlights how Black Americans have helped enrich American civic life through their steadfast commitment to promoting unity and equality.
Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa), also a member of the CLBC, spoke on behalf of the Women’s Caucus in support of Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 192, the California Legislature’s resolution acknowledging the federal holiday and celebrating the emancipation of African Americans from slavery.
Weber highlighted that African Americans won their hard-won freedom after providing free labor illegally for two-and-a-half more years in Texas.
Weber shared the story of Opal Lee, known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.” Lee is among numerous civil rights activists and leaders who campaigned for decades for June 19th to be recognized as a federal holiday.
Lee traveled around the country educating people about Juneteenth and led walks each year commemorating Juneteenth before it was federally recognized.
At 89, Lee led a symbolic walk, said Weber, from her hometown of Ft. Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., leaving in September of 2016 and arriving in January of 2017.
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021 and Lee was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024 for her activism.
“Lee represents the millions of women throughout the history of this country who have worked tirelessly to ensure that our history is not erased, reframed nor ignored,” said Weber.
Other lawmakers who recognized Juneteenth on the Assembly floor included Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), Chair of the CLBC; Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-Colton), chair of the California Legislative Latino Caucus; Assemblymember Jim Patterson (R-Fresno); Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), chair of the California Native American Legislative Caucus; and Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley), also a member of CLBC.
“It is a call-to-action for all Californians to interrogate the systems that keeps others in bondage,” said Wilson.
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