187 Search results for "oakland"

To deal with intergenerational Black trauma, we must care for our elders
By Amber Butts As children, we are told to stay out of grown folk business. As adults and elders, we then continue that wheel and narrative, which doesn’t give space for us to build an intergenerational emotional intelligence. What if children were in more “grown folk” conversations? Could we better prepare for it if children […]
Nearly 200 protestors arrested as Kavanaugh is confirmed by the Senate
Hundreds of people were arrested Saturday in protests against the confirmation of embattled judge Brett Kavanaugh’s bid to become a member of the Supreme Court, according to CBS News. In Washington, DC alone, police reported arresting at least 164 people, including 150 demonstrators on the steps of the Capitol building. Protestors were heard shouting “I do […]
Elbert Howard, one of the Black Panther Party founders, dies at 80
Elbert Howard, one of the original six members of the Black Panther Party, formally the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, has died at the age of 80 years old. Howard had been sick for a number of years, according to his wife Carol Hyams who confirmed his death to the Associated Press. Howard had been […]
Black witnessing is an insistence on Black being: Re-membering those who were lynched
by Tabias Olajuawon This essay contains discussion of anti-Black violences, particularly lynching, and mention of r/pe “… Ancestors, you will find us still in cages, Despised and disciplined. You will find us still mis-named. Here you will find us despite. You will not find us extinct. You will find us […]
Former 911 dispatcher dishes on racist white callers, how ‘BBQ Becky’ is not an anomaly
In a first person essay for Vox, former 911 dispatcher Rachael Herron recently wrote about her experiences with racist white people calling the police on Black people in overwhelmingly white neighborhoods. In the wake of white women calling the police on Black people for little or nothing in Oakland, at Yale and in a Philadelphia […]
Washington Magazine’s “I’m Not a Tourist” campaign featuring D.C. gentrifiers sparks backlash
Recently, Washingtonian Magazine ran a photo campaign titled “I’m Not a Tourist” intended to showcase the many native residents of Washington D.C. However, no Black natives were featured, despite the fact Washington D.C.’s city population is 47.7% Black.
Weed legalization highlights how progressive policies deceptively re-entrench anti-Black dynamics
By Mark Matlock The possibility of weed legalization can be exciting to young people like me. Especially since our country’s current policies regarding weed have increased discrimination already fueled by the War on Drugs. But excitement can make us forget that being able to consume weed doesn’t get rid of the overt anti-Blackness that comes […]
How Jay-Z & other venture capitalists are creating new problems in the name of social justice
By Alyxandra Goodwin Rapper and criminal justice reform advocate Jay-Z recently announced that he is investing in a “decarceration start-up” called Promise. The app sets up a “care plan” for individuals that would have alternatively been monitored while housed in a jail facility, instead monitoring them out in the world and providing reminders for court […]
As light-skinned people, it’s our job to make space for those silenced most by colorism
By michal “mj” jones A few years ago, I invited a group of scholar-activists to present a panel on intergenerational movement building and breaking barriers between elder and younger organizers. The conversation went well, I thought, and we gave the floor over to the attendees to share their stories. Afterwards, an older woman with a […]
Oprah’s $500k support of the Parkland students is a raw reminder of her lack of support for Black lives
by Jamila Mitchell Oprah Winfrey recently committed a $500,000 donation for the upcoming March for Our Lives protest, matching contributions from other celebrities such as George Clooney, Steven Spielberg, and world renown luxury brand, Gucci. Inspired by the recent Parkland school mass shooting, the March for Our Lives event will bring together pro-gun regulation proponents […]
A 2018 calendar and watch list for Black moviegoers and film buffs
Nearing the end of each year, I like to compile a list of upcoming films that look intriguing to me or that I have been anticipating for months, or even years. This year, I tailored my list to be extensive and hella Black, just for y’all. Each of these feature a predominantly Black cast, Black […]
Where were internet access crusaders when Facebook stopped Korryn Gaines from streaming cops murdering her?
On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission finally delivered its long-expected and devastating death knell to Obama-era Net Neutrality rules—policies supposedly put in place to ensure the internet remained on a level playing field with access equity. The repeal is likely to further impede the work of digital organizers for social justice and exacerbate economic disparities […]