Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
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Weekly Edition November 27 - December 3, 2024
61st Year, No. 48
Calling All Bay Area Ballers, Activists, and Visionaries! The Hoopbus is Rolling to Oakland – Let’s Revitalize Bay Area Basketball Courts Together!
Promotional graphic for the Town Hall on Racism and Its Impact, featuring Carla Thomas, Post News Group journalist, and Cynthia Adams, Oakland NAACP president.
Oakland Post Hosted Town Hall on Racism and Hate
By Carla Thomas
(Above) Players fool around in front of a Hoopbus. (Upper right) The Hoopbus team and the Hoopbus met with a Black Lives Matter board (right(). Courtesy photos. By Nick Ansom Special to The Post The Hoopbus and the Warriors 1975 championship team is on a mission to bring new life to the basketball courts of Oakland and the Bay Area, and we’re calling on nonprofits, community activists, basketball players, and anyone passionate about their community to join us. Together, we’re creating spaces that inspire, unify, and uplift. This initiative is bigger than basketball. It’s about honoring the
Bay’s rich legacy of resilience and championship glory. Partnering with the “Cardiac Kids,” we’re celebrating a winning tradition while building a brighter future. With the support of NBA legends like Rick Barry, Clifford Ray, Charles Dudley, Jamaal Wilkes, Butch Beard, Jeff Mullins, and many more, we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible talent and history of the Bay. But that’s not all – The Hoopbus is pulling up to schools and community centers too! We’re bring-
ing legendary players straight to the heart of your community to inspire, educate, and celebrate the next generation. Tell us why the Hoopbus should visit your school, court, or community center. What’s the story of your neighborhood? What type of talent does it hold? We’re here to highlight your players, your leaders, and your dreams. If there’s a court in your
neighborhood ready for transformation, or if your community deserves a legendary visit, we want to hear from you. Share your story and tell us why we should pull up. Send details, including court addresses or community center locations, to info@hoopbus.com or write to The Post Newspaper Group, 360 14th St., Oakland, CA 94612.
On Nov. 14, the Post News Group hosted a virtual town hall on racism and hate. The event was moderated by Post News Group’s Global Features Journalist, Carla Thomas. Thomas and guests, including Oakland NAACP President Cynthia Adams; San Francisco NAACP President, Reverend Amos Brown, and James Williams, Jr. of the California Civil Rights Department discussed racism and shared information about resources provided by the State
of California to support victims of racism, hate incidents and hate crimes. Thomas mentioned how slavery, redlining, Jim Crow laws, and other discriminatory practices have limited the Black community for over 400 years in the United States. Thomas also spoke about how the Civil Rights Movement and other hard-won modern-day justice movements organized and led by Black Americans have provided rights and resources for other ethnic groups. Continued on page 8
For Those in Need, Alameda County Can Help with Food Insecurity
Barbara Lee and Lateefah Simon Urge Black Leaders to Unite to Protect Civil Rights Gains as Project 2025 Looms
BEO board of directors and panelists. (L-R) Front: Aimee Allison, Supervisor Wanda L. Williams, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Dr. Gethsemane Moss, Haley Hester. Rear: Donald R. White, Dr. Lynette McElhaney, Gregory Ritchie, Henry Gardner, Essex Cook, Marla Matime Photo by Jonathan Fitness Jones. Special to the Post
and newly elected officials Friday
agenda.
In a powerful display of in-
at the historic Beth Eden Baptist
The forum brought together a
tergenerational leadership, the
Church to strategize protecting
remarkable confluence of leader-
Black Elected Officials of Cali-
civil rights gains against Project
ship transitions, featuring Con-
fornia (BEO) convened current
2025’s sweeping conservative
gresswoman Barbara Lee and
her successor, Congresswomanelect Lateefah Simon, alongside former Oakland City Manager Henry Gardner and She The People Founder Aimee Allison. Their collective message was clear: California’s Black leadership stands ready to defend progressive gains and advance justice, regardless of federal headwinds. “The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 lays bare their intention to dismantle 75 years of progressive achievements,” warned Congresswoman Lee. “But understanding their playbook gives us power. We must harness state and local authority to protect our communities and advance our vision of a just, inclusive nation that rejects endless wars.” Joining virtually from Congressional freshman orientation in Washington, Congresswomanelect Simon acknowledged the challenging political landscape while emphasizing Democratic unity. “We will stand firm in deContinued on page 8
Recall Leader Brenda Harbin-Forte Says City Should End Fight Against Coal in Oakland
Alameda County Community Food Bank distributes free groceries to those in need. Photo courtesy Alameda County Community Food Bank. City of Hayward News
round to serve hot meals and dis-
Food insecurity hits harder during the holidays, challenging spirits and stomachs during times of celebration and gratitude. The Alameda County Community Food Bank and its network of community partners work year-
tribute free groceries to those in need. Visit the Alameda County Community Food Bank (foodnow.net) to learn more about these services. CalFresh benefits are also Continued on page 8
Tip “T.I.” Harris, entertainer, actor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and podcast host with Morgan DeBaun, founder, chairperson, and CEO of Blavity, Inc. at the AfroTech 2024 Conference at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Photo courtesy of Morgan DeBaun.
AfroTech 2024 Hosted Black Innovators, Learners, and By Ken Epstein (56,700). environmental activists for not Speaking at the press con- living in Oakland, she praised Networkers in Houston Retired Judge Brenda HarbinForte, a primary leader of the recall against Mayor Sheng Thao and a losing candidate in the recent election for City Attorney, spoke at a press conference this week opposing the city’s legal fight against building a coal termi-
Former Superior Court Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte lost her bid for the Oakland City Attorney post. Courtesy photo.
nal in Oakland. In the City Attorney’s race, Ryan Richardson beat HarbinForte 58.76% (80,782) to 41.24%
ference Tuesday on the steps of Oakland City Hall, Harbin-Forte denounced the organization No Coal in Oakland, saying it does not “have the best interests of Oaklanders in mind,” that many of its members “don’t even live in Oakland” and that they “hijack our city budget and insist that we follow and continue to fight a losing battle in court.” While Harbin-Forte criticized
Piedmont resident and hedge fund multimillionaire Phillip Dreyfuss who was a major funder of the recalls of both Thao and Alameda County D.A. Pamela Price. “I want to say thank you, Philip (Dreyfuss),” she said. “Thank you for the resources, of course, but more importantly, thank you for your courage. You didn’t have to do that. You really did not. But you Continued on page 8
By Carla Thomas
AfroTech Conference 2024, a premier event shaping the future of Black tech and entrepreneurship, drew nearly 40,000 industry leaders to the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas, for four days of shared innovation, learning, and networking from Nov. 13 - 16. Intersecting the landscape of technology, entrepreneurship,
culture, and activism, the convention featured hundreds of Fortune 500 company representatives and attendees from all over the world. Panel topics ranged from data engineering, AI, cybersecurity, and medical technology along with networking sessions and workshops arming Black professionals with knowledge, while fostering various perspectives in the tech world. Continued on page 8