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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.

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Cover of the Oakland Post

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.

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Activism

Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee Reflects on Her Career as She Bids Farewell to Congress

“Together, we have raised our voices and pushed the envelope for peace, justice and equity. It has been the honor of a lifetime to provide constituent services, deliver federal investments to my district, speak out, and often times be the only one to take tough votes against the tide. I have, and will continue to, fight for working families, the middle class, low income and poor people,” said Lee On her final day in Congress.

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Rep. Barbara Lee. File photo.
Rep. Barbara Lee. File photo.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Outgoing Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) expressed deep gratitude to her constituents and marked the end of her 26-year career in public service.

Lee, who is succeeded by Lateefah Simon, a civil rights and racial justice activist, praised people in her community for their support. She also highlighted her dedication to promoting peace, justice, and equity.

“Together, we have raised our voices and pushed the envelope for peace, justice and equity. It has been the honor of a lifetime to provide constituent services, deliver federal investments to my district, speak out, and often times be the only one to take tough votes against the tide. I have, and will continue to, fight for working families, the middle class, low income and poor people,” said Lee On her final day in Congress.

Throughout her tenure, Lee earned a reputation as a principled lawmaker known for taking bold and sometimes unpopular stances. One of her defining moments came in 2001 when she was the sole member of Congress to vote against the Authorization for the Use of Military Force in response to the September 11 attacks. This decision led to death threats but ultimately cemented her legacy of courage.

Lee’s leadership extended beyond her district, where she fought for social justice, the rights of low-income communities, and global health initiatives. She was a key figure in pushing for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). She was a vocal critic of the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding for abortion services.

The Congresswoman also faced significant challenges in her career, including a failed Senate bid in 2024. Yet, Lee’s efforts have paved the way for more excellent representation, with more Black women now elected to Congress. She worked closely with organizations like Representation Matters to encourage more women of color to run for office.

Lee says she looks to the future, confident that the next generation of leaders will continue her unfinished work, particularly on issues like military force and reproductive rights.

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Activism

OP-ED: Like Physicians, U.S. Health Institutions Must ‘First, Do No Harm’

Coupled with their lack of government and healthcare-related experience, we are concerned these nominees will significantly undermine public health, increase the number of uninsured people, worsen health outcomes, and exacerbate health disparities. Physicians observe Hippocrates’ maxim to “First Do No Harm,”, and we urge Trump administration officials to do the same. It is critical that the leadership of HHS and its agencies make decisions based on facts, evidence, and science. Misinformation and disinformation must not guide policymaking decisions and undermine evidence-based public health strategies. Spreading these falsehoods also erodes trust in our public institutions.

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Albert L. Brooks MD. Courtesy photo.
Albert L. Brooks MD. Courtesy photo.

By Albert L. Brooks MD
Special to The Post

Presidential administrations significantly impact the health and wellbeing of our patients and communities.

Through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the agencies within it, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the National Institutes of Health, this new administration will decide how financial resources are allocated, dictate the focus of federal research, and determine how our public health care insurance systems are managed, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Vaccines for Children program, Medicare, and Medicaid.

The decisions made over the next four years will impact all Americans but will be felt more acutely by those most underserved and vulnerable.

As physicians, we are greatly concerned by the nominations announced by President Trump to critical healthcare related positions. Many of their previous statements and positions are rooted in misinformation.

Coupled with their lack of government and healthcare-related experience, we are concerned these nominees will significantly undermine public health, increase the number of uninsured people, worsen health outcomes, and exacerbate health disparities. Physicians observe Hippocrates’ maxim to “First Do No Harm,”, and we urge Trump administration officials to do the same.

It is critical that the leadership of HHS and its agencies make decisions based on facts, evidence, and science. Misinformation and disinformation must not guide policymaking decisions and undermine evidence-based public health strategies. Spreading these falsehoods also erodes trust in our public institutions.

Vaccines, in particular, have been a target of disinformation by some HHS nominees. In fact, research continues to confirm that vaccines are safe and effective. Vaccines go through multiple rounds of clinical trials prior to being approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for administration to the public.

Vaccines protect against life-threateningdiseasessuch as measles, polio, tetanus, and meningococcal disease and, when used effectively, have beenshowntoeliminateorsubstantiallyreducediseaseprevalenceand/orseverity.

Because of vaccine mis- and disinformation, there has been a resurgence in vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough, endangering those who are too young or unable to be vaccinated.

Several nominees have spread disinformation alleging that fluoride in public drinking water is harmful. In fact, fluoride in drinking water at the recommended level of 0.7 parts per million, like we have in our EBMUD water, is safe and keeps teeth strong. Because of public health interventions dating back to the 1960s that have resulted in 72.3% of the U.S. population now having access to fluoridated water, there has been a reduction in cavities by about 25% in both children and adults.

We also encourage the next administration to invest in our public health infrastructure. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of public health agencies in preventing and responding to health crises in our communities.

Health departments at the state and local levels rely on federal funding support and technical assistance to develop public health response plans, implement public health strategies, and work with on the ground organizations to serve hard to reach communities. Public health agencies are critical for protecting everyone in our communities, regardless of income-level, insurance status, or housing status.

Health officials should also work to protect the significant improvements in insurance coverage that have occurred since the passage of theACAin 2010.According to HHS, the numberofuninsuredAmericansfellfrom48millionin2010to25.6millionin2023.

California has led the way by investing in Medi-Cal and expanding eligibility for enrollment. In fact, it reached its lowest uninsured rate ever in 2022 at 6.2%. Voters affirmed this commitment to expanding and protecting access to care in November by passing Proposition 35, which significantly expanded funding for California’s Medi-Cal program. The administration should advance policies that strengthen the ACA, Medicaid, and Medicare and improve access to affordable health care.

Regardless of the president in power, physicians will always put the best interests of our patients and communities at the forefront. We will continue to be a resource to our patients, providing evidence-based and scientifically proven information and striving to better their lives and our community’s health. We urge the new Trump administration to do the same.

Albert L. Brooks MD is the immediate past president of the Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association, which represents 6,000 East Bay physicians.

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Activism

The Bay Area Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day with Service, Marches, Music

“Make a career of humanity,” said King, who was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968, when he had come to support a strike by underpaid sanitation workers. “Commit yourself to the noble struggle for civil rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.”

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Statue of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King on the National Mall in. Wash., D.C. iStock photo by Italia LLC.
Statue of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King on the National Mall in. Wash., D.C. iStock photo by Italia LLC.

By Daisha Williams

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy of radical change and community empowerment will be celebrated on Monday, Jan. 20.

Though his birthday is Jan. 15, since 1986, the national holiday has been held on the third Monday of January, often as a day of volunteer service.

“Make a career of humanity,” said King, who was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968, when he had come to support a strike by underpaid sanitation workers. “Commit yourself to the noble struggle for civil rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.”

There is a myriad of ways that people can spend this day, with many different options in the Bay Area.

In Oakland, the MLK Jr. Multicultural Rally Committee will hold its 34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Rally on Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. at 99 Hegenberger Road featuring speakers from the MLK Freedom Center.  For more information, call 510-827-2414.

The same day, the 11th Annual Reclaim MLK’s Radical Legacy Day of Action will be taking place. The Anti Police-Terror Project intends this march to hold true to Dr King’s values which have been watered down since his death. The march will begin at the Oscar Grant Plaza (Oakland City Hall) at 11 a.m.

Honoring the Day of Service, people of all ages can help clean up the Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline at Doolittle Drive and Swan Way in Oakland from 9 a.m.-12 noon. Cleanups are at the Tidewater Boating Center and Oakport Staging Area, and gardening and maintenance at MLK Grove. No registration required.

The African American Museum and Library at 659 14th St. will hold its annual film festival honoring Rev. King on Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Films shown appropriate for children are “The Youngest Marcher” and “The North Star,” shown at 12:10 p.m. and 12:40 p.m. respectively.

In San Francisco, the week-long MLK festival has already started.

On Monday, one of the most enduring observations will occur.  According to Johnny Funcheap, “the  2025 MLK March is a poignant and symbolic journey that pays homage to the historic Selma to Montgomery marches and the monumental Voting Rights Act of 1965. Spanning 1.5 miles, this commemorative march and parade begins at San Francisco’s Caltrain Station and winds its way through the heart of the city, ultimately culminating at the serene Yerba Buena Gardens.

“A parade will begin at 11 am starting at 4th and King streets, ending at the Yerba Buena Gardens where there will be a music festival and a health and wellness festival later in the day.”

The Brown AME Church in Selma, Alabama, was the starting point of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's March to Montgomery to support voting and civil rights. iStock photo by Kirkikis

Selma, AL, USA September 14, 2011 The Brown AME Church in Selma Alabama was the starting point of Martin Luther King’s March to Montgomery to support voting and civil rights

San Francisco is not the only place with events that day though.

In Hayward, there will be a free event on Monday celebrating MLK’s life, with a program of music, community awards and a keynote address by Rev. Amos Brown of San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church. It will be held at the Hayward Unified School District Performing Arts Center beginning at 2390 Panama St. at 4:30 p.m.

The City of Marin’s celebration in honor of Dr. King’s life will take place at 630 Drake Ave. in Sausalito from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will include music, spoken word, youth presentation and speakers. Free and open to the public, this year’s theme will be “Voices of Change, Empowering a New Generation.”

There will be a similar celebration from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 20 at the Solano County Fairgrounds McCormick Hall at 900 Fairgrounds Dr. in Vallejo. This event has been organized by the Solano County Black Chamber of Commerce and is free to attend. RSVP is required. Please call 707-673-2148 or www.solanoblackchamber.com.

A popular way to spend MLK Day is by giving back to your community. In Richmond, there will be a day of community service on the Richmond Greenway. The Watershed Project organized this event to beautify the greenway and provide opportunity for community reflection and empowerment. They will be meeting at Unity Park Community Plaza at 9 a.m. on Monday to kick off this event. Not only is this free to participate in, but lunch will be provided.

In Stockton, there will be a two-day celebration in honor of Dr. King with keynote speaker Bishop Jerry W. Macklin. The first part of this event will be on Jan. 19 at 5 p.m. at Progressive Community Church in Stockton at 2820 South B St. The next day, a Unity March will begin at 10 a.m. at the Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium. Registration for the march begins at 9 a.m. This event is being put on by Ministers and Community United, INC.

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