Bay Area

Unsung Athletes of Color from Bay Area Get Their Props in ‘Remember Their Sacrifice’

Arif Khatib and Pete Elman are promoting and selling their book “Remember Their Sacrifice – Stories of Unheralded Athletes of Color.” They hosted a book signing event on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at YEMA, a men and women’s clothing store located at 10 Main St. in Tiburon.

Published

1 year ago

June 21, 2023

Oakland Post

“Remember Their Sacrifice” authors Arif Khatib, left, and Pete Elman pose with copies of their book in front of YEMA in Tiburon. Photo by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

Khatib is the founder and president of the Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame. Elman is an author, musician, teacher, and sports journalist in the Bay Area.

“This book is designed to teach people about African-Americans and other athletes of color, and how they greatly contributed to sports of America, (and) the Olympics,” says Khatib, “All of these athletes are heroes, and yet many people don’t know who they are, except their families and friends. It is our responsibility to shine a light on these athletes and talk about how they made their contributions.”

Khatib and Elman wrote about how these athletes did more than what they thought they could do as athletes, and hope that this book will inspire its readers to do more than what they think they can do in their own lives.

Khatib personally knew every individual in this book and many of them were in his Hall of Fame. He did further research, avoiding Google and other search engines, instead asking the athletes for raw facts, something never shared with others. What they shared was included in his book.

“We need to learn about each other, bridge that gap, and get past all that hate. It is time for diversity and inclusion, so we can live and get along together,” Khatib said.

Pete Elman, the coauthor of the book, loves playing sports, history, and teaching. Doing this book was an opportunity for him to combine his love of sports, writing, language, and teaching.

“It really makes a big difference when you know some of these people that you are writing about, and that you can call on their relatives, friends,” Elman said. “Even if they pass away, you can learn something about them.”

“These athletes crossed and broke the racial barrier and made it possible for today’s athletes to attain and enjoy the success that they have today,” Elman said.

The major athletes that are written about in the book are: Pumpsie Green, Alice Coachman, Pete Brown, Spencer Haywood, Toni Stone, Dr. Sammy Lee, Burl Toler, Billy Mills, Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, Archie Williams, Janet Johnson, Curt Flood, Dr. Tae Yun Kim, Edward Gourdin, Emilio “Millito” Navarro, Chi Cheng, Lt. Eugene Evans and Lt. Col. Eli Page Howard Jr.

Other sports figures in the book are Don Barksdale, Mal Whitfield, Silas Simmons, Willye White, Yoshihiro Uchida, Marshall “Major” Taylor, Joe Reliford, Thell Torrence, Willy T. Ribbs, Joe Gaetjens, Manny McIntyre, Julius Menendez, Eddie Hart, Sam Lacy, and “Big Sam” Skinner.

The book can be obtained through Amazon, Rowman, Barnes and Noble, and other booksellers. For more information, call Arif Khatib at 510-629-2895.

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Op-Ed Senate Bill 966 Threatens Health Equity in East Bay

My East Bay community is struggling to get by. A proposed State Senate bill would set us back even further. Serving the East Bay community has been my life’s work and my greatest joy. After leaving the Bay Area to complete my seminary, I returned home to found The Community Church in Oakland. From the outset of my time as the church’s pastor, I have been guided by the belief that my service must extend beyond the pulpit, because the health and economic needs of my community are so great. Our church has organized free food banks, COVID-19 testing clinics, and a housing and re-entry program for those suffering from addiction.

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1 week ago

July 19, 2024

Oakland Post

Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. VanHook

By Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. VanHook

Special to the Post

My East Bay community is struggling to get by. A proposed State Senate bill would set us back even further.

Serving the East Bay community has been my life’s work and my greatest joy. After leaving the Bay Area to complete my seminary, I returned home to found The Community Church in Oakland.

From the outset of my time as the church’s pastor, I have been guided by the belief that my service must extend beyond the pulpit, because the health and economic needs of my community are so great. Our church has organized free food banks, COVID-19 testing clinics, and a housing and re-entry program for those suffering from addiction.

Through my service, I have seen the challenges that our community members are facing. Oakland, my hometown, has the third-highest rate of violent crime in the state. The local economy is strained. Oakland-based businesses are leaving our community because they’re struggling to get ahead.

Both East and West Oakland has disproportionately high rates of respiratory illness due to heavy air pollution. While our local efforts have brought some aid to those in need, we are also counting on our state elected officials to help us address the systemic health disparities afflicting the community.

Chief among the health concerns of community members is having reliable and affordable access to prescription drugs. Equitable access to medications gives us the peace of mind that we can keep ourselves and our families healthy and safe. Our community should not have to choose between paying rent or purchasing prescriptions.

Unfortunately, rather than taking action to combat soaring prescription drug prices, some California lawmakers are pushing legislation that could raise patient costs at the pharmacy counter.

The Legislature is currently considering SB 966, a bill backed by special interests that would undercut the few tools we have to keep prescription drug costs contained, letting big drug companies increase their prices, profiting on the backs of working families – some of whom already live paycheck to paycheck.

SB 966 would target the fundamental programs through which small businesses, unions, and government health programs are able to offer their employees and members quality and affordable healthcare. Millions of Californians rely on these plans to obtain essential medications at the lowest-possible cost.

The bill would make it illegal for employers and unions to incentivize the administrators of their prescription drug plans to negotiate for the lowest possible cost for prescriptions. Right now, small businesses and unions can choose to pay these administrators more for taking on big drug companies and securing discounts – a choice that will be outlawed under this bill.

As a result, employers will have no leverage to stop big drug companies from setting sky-high prices, disproportionately impacting working families.

As these health costs quickly add up, employers will have little choice but to pass the increases down to their employees. That means California patients will see higher healthcare costs and co-pays.

From my perspective, most concerning is that the bill would exacerbate the health disparities impacting my community and other underserved populations. If SB 966 becomes law, the most vulnerable may be forced to skip prescription doses, stop filling their prescriptions, and avoid essential care.

By rejecting this cash grab by big drug companies, our state elected officials can send a clear message that they stand with the community, patients, and working families.

We cannot afford SB 966.

Rev. Dr. VanHook is the founder and pastor of The Community Church in Oakland and the founder of The Charis House, a re-entry facility for men recovering from alcohol and drug abuse.