Bay Area

The Rich Black Genealogical Roots of Oakland’s Political and Publishing Greats

Published

6 years ago

January 9, 2020

As we prepare to celebrate the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the beginnings of Black History month in February, it is important and instructive that as we appreciate the present growth of political achievements that we know the roots of the bay area’s local African American political organizations at the turn of the W.J. Oglesby was the first African American to run for public office in the Township of Oakland and in Alameda County.

Oglesby also was the first African American to pass the California bar examination making him the first African American licensed to practice law in California.

In 1918 Frederick Madison Roberts, a Republican from Los Angeles, was the first African American elected to the California Legislature. His opponent campaigned with the slogan that he was running against a “nigger.”

Roberts, one of the first African Americans elected to a state legislature west of the Mississippi, served eight terms and became known as the “Dean of the Assembly.” He was defeated in 1934, by the legendary Augustus “Gus” Hawkins.

Hawkins rode the Democratic wave from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 1932 election which saw a major exodus of African Americans from the Republican Party.

Even though Roberts was elected as a Lincoln Republican with a distinguished record of scholarly achievements, he was considered a “race man” (Black Nationalist.)

I especially want African Americans in California to understand the economic, political, and social struggles experienced by the first wave of Black migration to the state.

Roberts, along with his brother William, inherited the A.J. Roberts and Son Funeral Home, which was one of the state’s first African American enterprises. Roberts was the owner and publisher of the American Eagle, an African American weekly. He was actively engaged in fighting intolerance and racial segregation.

He co-sponsored anti-lynching legislation with assemblyman William “Bill” Knowland who also was the publisher of the Oakland Tribune.

His legislative successes also created the University of California at Los Angeles. Thomas L. Berkley, founder of the Oakland Post and the first Black Port Commissioner, graduated from UCLA in 1938.

Roberts sponsored legislation that doubled fines to businesses that discriminated against minorities.

He married Pearl Hines Roberts in 1921. She was raised in Tulare County and her family then moved to Oakland, and in 1918, she graduated from Oakland High school. She later studied classical music at the Boston Conservatory of Music.

Roberts was born September 14th, 1879 in Chillicothe, Ohio. He was the son of Andrew Jackson Roberts, a graduate of Oberlin College. His mother was Ellen Wayles Hemings, the granddaughter of Sally Hemings and President Thomas Jefferson. Sarah “Sally” Hemings was an enslaved woman of mixed race owned by President Thomas Jefferson

Sally Hemings’ elder sister Mary, was the great aunt of Monroe Trotter, thus making Trotter and Roberts first cousins.

Monroe Trotter’s genealogical tree connects to Oakland through his niece Virginia Craft Rose, the wife of Oakland’s first Black councilmember Joshua Rose.

Roberts graduated from Los Angeles High School and is believed to be its first African American graduate. He attended the University of Southern California and graduated from Colorado College.

In 1908 he edited the Colorado Springs Light newspaper. He became the President of the Mound Bayou Normal & Industrial Institute, in Mississippi. Mound Bayou, an all-black town was founded in 1887 by former slaves.

In 1912, Roberts returned to Los Angeles, where he founded and edited The New Age Dispatch newspaper until 1948. On July 19th, 1952, Roberts died in an automobile accident in route to the Republican State party convention.

This narrative is an excerpt from Virtual Murrell’s book “I had an Angel on my Shoulder”. All rights are reserved

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Related Topics:Delano Roosevelt Jr.Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Virtual Murrell

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Bay Area

Oakland Mayor Pushes Charter Overhaul to Clarify Roles in City Government, Increase Accountability and Improve Service Delivery

Under the proposal, the mayor would serve as Oakland’s chief executive, overseeing city departments, implementing policy, proposing the annual budget, and managing day-to-day operations. The measure would also give the mayor veto power over legislation and the budget, though the City Council could override a veto with a two-thirds vote.

Published

6 days ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. File photo.

By Oakland Post Staff

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee is backing a sweeping proposal to restructure Oakland’s government, arguing the changes would make City Hall more accountable and improve the delivery of basic services like public safety, homelessness response, and infrastructure repairs.

The charter reform measure, introduced April 7 and co-sponsored by Oakland City Council President Kevin Jenkins, would ask voters in November to approve a “strong mayor, strong council” system designed to create clearer lines of authority inside city government.

The City Council, meanwhile, would maintain legislative authority by adopting ordinances, approving budgets, conducting oversight hearings, and confirming key mayoral appointments. The proposal would also create an Independent Budget and Legislative Analyst Office to provide nonpartisan fiscal and policy analysis for councilmembers.

“I’ve spent months listening to Oaklanders across every neighborhood about what they expect from their city government,” Lee said. “The Charter Reform Working Group’s engagement made clear that residents want a system where there are no questions about who is responsible for delivering results on public safety, homelessness, infrastructure, and basic services.”

Jenkins said the proposal would strengthen both executive leadership and council oversight.

“I’ve long believed Oakland works best when residents have clear lines of accountability and a government structure that aligns responsibility with results,” Jenkins said.

The proposal follows recommendations from the Mayor’s Charter Reform Working Group, co-facilitated by the League of Women Voters of Oakland and SPUR.

Over five months, the group conducted more than 60 interviews, held 14 public meetings across Oakland, and engaged more than 750 residents while reviewing governance models used in other cities.

“The process of engaging residents across Oakland surfaced the governance clarity Oakland needs,” said Sujata Srivastava of SPUR. “The Charter Reform Working Group has produced a thoughtful set of recommendations that if adopted could strengthen accountability and improve service delivery across city government.”

Polling cited by the mayor’s office suggests voters may be open to the changes. A February 2026 poll by the East Bay Polling Institute found 64% of voters support adopting a strong-mayor system. Separate polling conducted by the Oakland Chamber of Commerce and David Binder Research found support ranging from 61% to 63% among likely voters.

The measure is scheduled to be heard by the City Council Rules Committee on May 21. If approved by the council, it would appear on the November 2026 ballot, where Oakland voters would have the final say.

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Activism

The Ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Hold Day of Advocacy at the Capitol in Sacramento

A member of the “Divine Nine,” Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., was founded on Jan. 13, 1913, at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The organization was established by 22 women who sought to shift the group’s focus from social activities to public service, academic excellence, and social activism.

Published

6 days ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sen. Laura Richardson (D-San Pedro) presents a Senate resolution to the Delta Theta Sigma Sorority Farwest Region at the State Capitol on May 4. Photo courtesy of the Senate Rules Committee.

By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media

On May 4, members of the Farwest Region of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., convened at the California State Capitol for the organization’s 23rd annual Delta Days in Sacramento.

The two-day advocacy event brings together chapters from across California to engage directly in the legislative process, connect with lawmakers, and advocate for policies impacting Black communities.

Members of the sorority were honored on the Senate floor by Sen. Laura Richardson (D-San Pedro), who is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta.

Richardson welcomed the Farwest Region during the presentation of a Senate resolution recognizing outgoing Regional Director Kimberly Usher for her leadership and service.

“In addition to the Far West Region, we are led by a fearless leader, regional director Kimberly Usher. She has now served her full term of what’s allowed,” Richardson said. “We are going to be having our regional conference, but we wanted to give it to her here, officially recognizing her service.”

The resolution was co-authored by Richardson and fellow members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) and Delta Sigma Theta, Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego) and Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton).

Usher has served in the leadership role since 2022.

“We are founded on sisterhood that is deeply rooted in scholarship, service, and social action,” said Weber Pierson, a member of the Gamma Alpha chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

“Today, we continue a legacy of empowering communities and upholding the high cultural, intellectual, and moral standards established by our founders over a century ago,” she added.

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Bay Area

Q&A with Steven Bradford: Why He Wants Your Vote for California Insurance Commissioner

Known for his work on issues ranging from energy and public safety to economic development, Bradford has also engaged with insurance policy during his time in the Legislature, serving on the Senate Insurance Committee.

Published

6 days ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Hon. Steve Bradford, candidate for California Insurance Commissioner.

By Edward Henderson, California Black Media

As California confronts rising insurance costs, market instability, and growing concerns about access and equity, the race for the state’s top insurance regulator is drawing increased attention.

Among the candidates is Steven Bradford, a veteran public servant with more than two decades of experience in government, including eight years in the State Senate and five years in the State Assembly.

Now, he is making his case to voters for why his background and perspective best position him for the role of California’s next insurance commissioner.

California Black Media (CBM) spoke with Bradford about his campaign experiences, key issues he plans to solve if elected, and his vision for the insurance commissioner role.

For readers who may not be familiar, what does the Insurance Commissioner do, and how would you use that role to address issues impacting communities in California?

The Insurance Commissioner is both a regulator and an administrator. The office oversees the entire insurance market—approving companies to operate, licensing agents and brokers, and reviewing rate increases or decreases.

This role is about oversight and action. The commissioner should be a watchdog, not a bystander, especially in a state like California, which has the third-largest insurance market in the world.

Last year, you shifted your campaign from running for lieutenant governor to the race for insurance commissioner. What spurred that decision?

Insurance impacts every part of people’s lives. You can’t buy a home without it—that contributes to the housing crisis. You can’t legally drive without it—that affects people’s ability to work. And businesses can’t operate without it.

For years, insurance has disproportionately impacted low-income communities and people of color. While everyone is feeling the strain now, those communities have long been hit hardest. That’s why it’s critical that insurance is not just available, but affordable.

What sets you apart from the other candidates in this race?

My record: 26 years of public service. I’ve shown up, stood up, and spoke up for Californians.

A recent Supreme Court decision impacting the Voting Rights Act has raised concerns about representation. What message do you have for voters in California regarding the importance of their vote?

It’s alarming. If people think this doesn’t affect them, they’re mistaken. There’s a real effort to roll back decades of progress and silence voters.

Your vote is your most powerful tool, and we have to use it—every election.

What are you hearing from voters as you campaign across the state?

Affordability and transparency.

People are struggling with rising costs, and many don’t fully understand what their insurance policies cover.

We saw that clearly in places like Altadena and the Palisades—people had insurance but were underinsured. They didn’t realize their coverage wouldn’t meet the cost to rebuild. That’s unacceptable.

We must acknowledge the inequities in the system. The FAIR Plan has roots in discrimination, and today we still see disparities based on ZIP code and income. We need a more competitive and equitable market where consumers have choices.