Reginald Lockett, R.I.P.

Reginald Franklin Lockett

(1948–2008)

“If there was ever a poet deserving of the title of poet laureate for a city, Reggie was Oakland’s unnamed honoree. His work breathed Oakland–each syllable an experience that we, who call this fair city home, could relate to."

Wanda Sabir, Author & Journalist

“Lockett is definitely one of Oaktown’s best-kept secrets.”

Jack Foley, Poet & Host of KPFA’s Cover to Cover

___________________________________________

" Black Power!

Her natural stood tall,

erect and golden like the flame

we thought would ignite the revolution

that never came...

I know, I know. I am a vague,

remote amorous memory,

color and image

fading each step closer

sistah love gets to death.

My heart erupts in tears. "

Reginald Lockett

_______________________

Lockett taught creative writing at City College of San Francisco, Laney College and College of Marine. He was a tenured instructor of Langauge Arts at San Jose City College for the last 20 years.

Because of Reginald’s work as a teacher and mentor to so many young writers, it is appropriate that we honor him in Harambee.
A dedicated teacher, Reginald was best known as a poet. He was the author of “Where the Birds Sign Bass,” which won a PEN/
Oakland/Josephine Miles Award in 1996, ”Good times and No Bread,” “The Party Crashers of Paradiese” and “Random History
Lessons,” published by Creative Arts Books in 2003. He was also the owner and publisher of Juke Box Press, which published many other poets and raised thousands of dollars for Hurricane Katrina victims with the publication of “Words on the Water.”

To honor Reginald Locket, we are creating the Reginald Lockett Writer’s Collective to continue his work of supporting artists.

Sean Bell's Second Slaying

By Mumia Abu Jamal
SPECIAL TO HARAMBEE

It was a classic ‘Only in America’ moment.
The bench trial of three killer cops in New York City, charged with firing some 50 shots into a car, killing one man, Sean Bell, and wounding two others (all unarmed).
The case rushed across America, spreading outrage in each city.
Initially, the cops moved to have the trial transferred to a site upstate, to the rural, northern tiers. This motion denied, they opted for a bench trial (or trial by a single judge), not trusting their fates to a so-called jury of”citizens” they are sworn to serve and protect.
Time, it seems, has proven that they made the right decision -- for, predictably, the judge acquitted them of all charges, arguing that the witnesses gave conflicting testimony.
By so doing, the court essentially ruled that Bell’s killing was justified; no crime was committed.
The defense utilized the “bad company” argument: that Bell was shot and killed because he was among “the wrong crowd.”
That such an argument swayed Supreme Court justice Arthur Cooperman (in New York state, unlike most other states, the trial court is termed the Supreme Court, and the state’s highest court is their Court of Appeals.) is a measure of how devalued Black life is, and how easy Black men are to demonize and disparage.
If none of the cops knew the men, what does it matter what their backgrounds were? They could’ve been lawyers, basketball stars, or -- cops.
That they were Black men -- even unarmed Black men -- was deemed sufficient to unload on them, because in America, their color was crime enough.
So, 22 year old Sean Bell joins Amadou Diallo, and others guilty of the capital offense of WWB- Walking While Black.
And while millions of Black and white Americans thrill at political illusions of “post-racialism”, Sean Bell’s case proves how deeply deadly race can still be.
Even rumors of a weapon were enough to unleash 50 shots -- or should we say “alleged rumors”, for there were no guns found in Bell’s car. In the past, wallets, candy bars, keys, and packs of cigarettes were deemed sufficient to provoke such malicious responses.
Now, nothing is required.
Sean Bell was shot to death, and his friends, Joseph Guzman and Trent Benerfield were seriously wounded.
Shot and killed for being ‘the wrong crowd.’

Ancestral Nationality

By Dr. Mujahidun Sumchai
SPECIAL TO HARAMBEE

“Mental bondage is invisible violence. Formal physical slavery has ended in the United States. Mental slavery continues to this present day....it is worse than physical slavery....the person who is in mental bondage will be “self-contained”. Not only will that person fail to challenge beliefs and patterns of thought which control him, he will defend and protect those beliefs and patterns of thought virtually with his last dying effort.” 

–Asa Hilliard

In the minds and hearts of all Americans, especially African Americans, are the painful connections and liberation truths of the past. Yet we are not victims.

We are living our victory.
The present American heart and mind is in recovery, trying to find the language and behaviour that makes our truths of today new for tomorrow.
The American future is both sure on one hand and uncertain on the other. All Americans, but especially African Americans are in need of new ideas that respect and honor our cultural traditions, norms, values and way of life.
Our ways of knowing, being, truthing and universing are culecopolsomatic as we seek survival-purpose justice-solutions. America’s behavioral aesthetics are transforming.
We are looking for a new medicine language, which includes a bunker government for some, a black president, a democratic society, education that leaves no child behind with highly qualified teachers in the classroom and a country without racism, classism, sexism, ageism and mindism––forever more.
Our actions and words must have the ability to hold Culecopolsologic (CEPS) healing conversations or else we stay injured and in pain.
Today’s CEPS healing conversations must respect and honor our ancestral nationality.
Our ancestral gene pool is our biological reality that shall not be denied–except perhaps in error. We would not be here but for our fathers and mother’s and their parents is all I am really saying.
Today’s healing conversation must also respect and honor the geophysical place in which we act out our daily life and living, of community, work, education, family relations, personal and professional relations, art and science. Ancestral nationality is the embodiment of the new American medicine language.
In instead of using skin color descriptive characterizations when talking and writing about others and ourselves, we could use ancestral nationality.

A person might write or say:
• African American
• European American
• Asian African American
• European African American
• Mexican American
• Pacific Islander American
• African Asian
• American African
• European African
• Pacific Islander African
• Irish American
• Greek American
• American Italian
• Japanese American
• American Japanese
• African American Mexican
• French American
• French African
• German American

The applications are endless and limitless within the finite populations of our country, our planet and our imaginations. Skin color descriptive characterization in speech and writing is the last hinge on the door of racism both international and domestic.
Albert Einstein once said, “Problems generated by one way of thinking can not be solved by that same way of thinking.” Race and racism are a problem that is the result of a certain way of thinking. Thinking precedes action in most instances of our daily life and living. If we think a certain way we act a certain way.
Ancestral nationality is a new way of thinking and being in America. Our time for healing is a gift, it isn’t quick and sometimes it appears as if there are no results. We change slowly each and every day with small moves and deep breaths. What if ancestral nationality could be a helpful innovation in our thinking, being, truthing, universing and healing?
W. E. B. Du Bois said in 1903, “The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color-line, –– the relation of the darker to the lighter races of men in Asia and Africa, in America and the islands of the sea.”
In Du Bois’s day and time (the 20th century) this idea was appropriate for the slowly changing American landscape. We are more than a century later and still too many people are thinking in the century past.
We need another way of thinking and being about this American dilemma with its peculiar institutions and badges of color.
The American challenge of the 21st century is ancestral nationality, so that the respect and honor we must show for our mothers and fathers and country helps us to change ever so slowly with small moves and deep breaths.
The late Stephen Jay Gould quotes Darwin’s Voyage of the Beagle, “If the misery of our poor be caused not by nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin.”
Dr. Mujahidun Sumchai, J.D. is a professor of African American Studies at Laney College in Oakland and the Laney BSU advisor.

'African Liberation Day' turns 50

Celebrating one century towards the independence of the motherland

By Reginald James
MANAGING EDITOR

Africa was raped and brutalized by the colonial powers of Europe for hundreds of years. Millions of her children were stolen and subjected to dehumanizing conditions across the world.
There was naturally always resistance, on the continent and abroad, it was not until the 20th century that the Pan-African family began to reconnect.
As the creator of the Red, Black, and Green flag, the rise of Pan Africanism is often attributed to Marcus Garvey, who coined the phrase “Africa for the Africans.” Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association was the largest Pan African movement in the history of the world. At its peak in the 1920s, it boasted over four million members.
W.E.B. Du Bois, often labeled the “Father of Pan–Africanism,” organized the first Pan African Congress in 1919.He presided over other congresses, three were held in the 1920s in London, Paris, and New York, and the final Pan–African Congress in 1945 in Manchester, England.
A co-organizer of the Manchester Pan African Congress was Kwame Nkrumah.
Nkrumah, after bringing together the Conventions People’s Party for African self-government in the Gold Coast called for “Positive Action” in 1950 against British colonial rule. Soon after, Nkrumah was elected premier and became the first president of Ghana.
On April 15, 1958, in Accra, Ghana, African leaders and activist gathered at the first Conference
of Independent African States. This was the first Pan-African Conference that was ever held on African soil.
The conference also gave sharp clarity and definition to Pan-Africanism, “the total liberation and unification of African under scientific socialism,” according to thetalkingdrum.com.
The conference also called for the founding of African Freedom Day, to “mark each year the onward progress of the liberation movement, and to symbolize the determination of the People of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.”
Five years later on May 25, 1963 leaders of 32 independent Africa states met to form the Organization of Africa Unity (OAU). More than two-thirds of the continent had achieved independence from colonial rule. At the meeting, African Freedom Day was changed from April 25 to May 25th and African Freedom Day was declared African Liberation Day (ALD).
Though nations of Africa are independent, they are still subject to neo-colonial manipulation and economic exploitation; while Africa is minerally rich, its resources are not controlled by its people, nor do they benefit the masses of people.
The African Union (AU) must return to its roots, as Nkrumah said, “Africa must unite.”
We celebrate the 50 years of ALD– Africa must be free.

Juneteenth

African American independence day

By Marlene C. Hurd
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

This month as be celebrate Juneteenth as African Americans we must never forget what our ancestors went through to achieve freedom. It is a time when we honor our past, celebrate our present and prepare for our future.
Marcus Garvey stated, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots”.
Juneteenth is a celebration to remind us of the end of slavery in the United States.
Ellen Rollins California State Director of The National Association of Juneteenth Lineage, Inc stated, “Juneteenth is a day when our communities come together. It’s also a time to let African Americans know we should never forget the struggle we went through.”
“What we do today is just as important as where we have come from. It’s a celebration of what we’ve accomplish,” Rollins added.
As we attend Juneteenth events let us not forget its symbolic significance. It should be viewed as a family reunion, celebration of freedom, independence, solidarity and togetherness.
Juneteenth is a day when men and women fought to end slavery, racism, discrimination and may other injustices.
Yes, we cannot undue what has happen in our past. As we become acquainted with our history we can make sure we don’t repeat the same mistakes.

African American Male Summit at Coastline

Examines institutional barriers to academic success

Editors Note: This is part one of a three part “Focus” series.

By Reginald James
MANAGING EDITOR

Although community colleges are affordable, open access institutions that provide quality education for many Californians, statistically, they appear to be failing African American males.
African American males have the lowest average cumalitve grade point averages, earn the lowest percentages of degrees, and transfer disproportionately low compared to their percentage of the community college population throughout the state.
To address this educational crisis, the African American Men Education Network for Development (A2MEND) hosted its’ first annual African American Male Summit , “Critical Examination of Institutional Barriers in Community Colleges.” March 19 at Coastline College in Westminster.
Over 350 students, faculty and staff, administrators and trustees came together to “collaborate and form effective strategies to eliminate unnecessary barriers African American males are currently facing,” according to Dr. Shalamon Duke, dean of Counseling and special programs at Coastline.
“A2MEND is working hard to work continuously address the issue of the disappearing African American male in higher education,” said Duke, co-founder and the President–elect of A2MEND,” specifically,California Community Colleges.”
The summit consisted of four inter–related strands: the administrative strand, faculty/instructional strain, student support strand, and the student strand. The administrative strain consisted included college chancellors presidents, trustees and other senior managers. The faculty/instructional strain those involved and in issues relating to instruction strategies and practices while the student support strain included student services managers, counselors and staff who analyzed the impact of student support services on overall academic success.
The student strain was designed for students to be actively engage in their own academic empowerment.
The first step in all strains was “Identifying the Problem.”
The following were identified as the most common barriers to success of African American men at community colleges: disconnect between student and faculty expectations, poor academic preparation, little to no understanding of Matriculation process, no mentors, racism and hostile campus climate, and the low rate of involvement.
Students were actively engaged during the afternoon session of “Holla if you hear Me: Discussion on Strategies to Improve the Achievement of African American men.” Students were broke–out into groups to discuss ways to improve African America male success in college. Students shared what the institutions could do for the students and what students can do for themselves.
“This really motivated me,” said Berkeley City College student Sean Thompson. “I want to share what I learned with other brothers on campus.”
A2MEND plans on hosting another summit next year and continues to present workshops at institutions.

To learn more about A2MEND, or to schedule a workshop at your institution, visit http://www.a2mend.org.

Reginald James is Black Caucus Secretary and Harambee Managing Editor. Email him at harambeenews@gmail.com

Budget Update from State Chancellor's Office

State Budget Update

Dear Colleagues:

Today the Budget Conference Committee began its work. In doing so, the Legislature departed from its normal practice of first convening the full budget committees in each house to formalize the respective Assembly and Senate budgets. This move appears to be an effort to expedite adoption of the state budget and, likely, an acknowledgment that the real sticking point in this year's budget process is the fundamental leadership negotiations on revenues rather than the fine detail of the spending plans. These leadership conversations are more likely to occur once Conference Committee and Big 5 meetings commence.

The Conference Committee is comprised of Senators Ducheny, Dutton, and Machado and Assemblymembers Laird, Leno, and Niello. Assemblymembers Evans and De Leon will be sitting in the committee hearings but not voting, apparently being groomed as future budget leaders.
The Community Colleges have only two issues before the Conference Committee this year, as the two houses agreed on nearly all aspects of our budget. The two open issues are:

· Partial COLA—with a 1.6 percent COLA in the Assembly version and a 3.68 percent COLA in the Senate. The difference does not reflect a true conflict between the versions, but rather that the COLA item was used in both budgets as a "balancer." That is, the COLA amount in each version was determined based on how much funding was available within the Proposition 98 funding guarantee. Because the Senate's budget plan calls for more taxes that drive up the Proposition 98 minimum guarantee, the Senate's COLA is also larger. The final COLA, if one is adopted, will likely be "cut to fit" based on the Proposition 98 guarantee in effect in the final budget. The K-12 and CCC COLAs will both be determined in the same way and set at the same level.

· A Senate proposal to provide $25 million from various special funds to support expansion of green CTE programs in high schools.
In today's opening comments, it was clear that considerable distance still exists between the Democrats and Republicans. Assemblymember Niello indicated that there were "no votes" for tax increases in the Assembly Republican Caucus. Senator Ducheny stated that leadership from the four caucuses (Republicans and Democrats in both houses) have been meeting to negotiate and she is hopeful they will find common ground.

Just as a refresher, the Governor's May Revision included a proposal to generate $15.2 billion in revenues over three years by borrowing against future State Lottery revenues; $5.1 billion of this amount would be used to meet budget needs in 2008-09.The Senate budget plan rejected the Governor's State Lottery proposal and instead relies on $11.5 billion in new tax revenues. The Assembly budget plan relies on $6.4 billion in new tax revenues as well as approximately $5 billion from a modified State Lottery proposal. Neither the Assembly or Senate have provided details on specifically which taxes they would increase or which tax loopholes they would close.

The wide variation in these revenue proposals, along with resistance by legislative Republicans to adopt any of the revenue proposals, make it extremely difficult to predict the outcome of this year's budget process. More updates will follow.

Regards,

Erik Skinner
Vice Chancellor for Fiscal Policy
Chancellor's Office California Community Colleges

'The Black Hour'

'The Black Hour'

Laney BSU members form internet radio show to air issues

By Reginald James
MANAGING EDITOR

The word ‘black’ is often used figuratively to describe negative occurences–“Black Tuesday” or the “Black Plaque” but a few Laney students are redefining “Blackness.”
The Black Hour is an internet radio show, organized by members of the Laney Black Student Union (BSU), airing online at 9th Floor Radio.
The Black Hour sheds light on the voices of Laney’s Black students, taking them from the abyss of silence to the glow of empowerment.
Weaving lively student-driven discussions with live music, The Black Hour airs students issues and topics relevant to the community in first person. The show features discussions led by students on topics ranging from the Presidential Elections to Black male and female relationships.
The Black Hour can be heard online at www.9thfloorradio.com.
For more information about the Laney BSU or The Black Hour radio show, visit www.myspace.com/laneybsu.

Obama Drama

Obama Drama

Part 3

By Dr. Marvin X

SPECIAL TO HARAMBEE

And so it is the man from Illinois, Barack Obama, who shall be the Democratic Party nominee for president. Elijah Muhammad told us the white woman would be the last weapon used to check the rise of the black nation. And so it is.
Mrs. Clinton persisted until the bitter end to fight for her gender rights. But apparently in the eyes of the people, the descendant of slavery and colonialism takes priority over Miz Ann. After all, no matter what, enjoyed the fruits of slavery and thus there is blood on her hands as well.
In the good days of his pimping, my brother told me he pimped the white woman because he disdained her as he did her brother and father.
But let us go beyond the white woman--she put up a valiant fight, although it obviously wasn’t her time. It was time for Jack (Barack) to jump out of the box.
We saw the same thing in Oakland’s mayoral race.
Ron Dellums was an unknown factor until late in the race when his supporters gathered enough signatures to encourage him to enter the race–it was the Latino Ignacio de la Fuente who was expected to become Oakland’s first Latino mayor.
But Jack jumped and Dellums is Oakland’s third black mayor.
We won’t discuss whether he has brought about any change–certainly not in bringing down the homicide rate.
Likewise, it is doubtful how much change Obama can bring about as our first black president, for we must be clear: Wall Street rules America, not politicians. Politicians are merely puppets on a string of the international bankers who finance friend and foe alike.
The question North American Africans must ask themselves is what items we want on Obama’s agenda: National Health Care, Reparations, a general amnesty for prisoners of America’s domestic war against our community, a radical national educational curriculum that includes consciousness and do for self economics to prepare our community for the diminishing job market in light of globalism, a priority for African reconstruction to erase the vestiges of colonialism and neo-colonialism.
We learned from the 60s black power revolution that a black face will not save us, so we must have no illusions Obama is our savior.
He will carry out the will of American imperialism to the best of his ability.
But as he is pressed from the right, we must pressure him from the left to keep him from being totally useless. No matter what, he will need us as much as we will need him.
Just remember politics in not about friends but interests. Let us be clear what we want and fight to secure it.
Marvin X is the author of “How to Recover from the Addiction to White Supremacy.” Visit his blog: www.marvinxwrites.blogspot.com.

Sean Bell's Second Slaying

Behind Enemy Lines

Sean Bell's Second Slaying

By Mumia Abu Jamal

It was a classic ‘Only in America’ moment.
 The bench trial of three killer cops in New York City, charged with firing some 50 shots into a car, killing one man, Sean Bell, and wounding two others (all unarmed).
The case rushed across America, spreading outrage in each city.
Initially, the cops moved to have the trial transferred to a site upstate, to the rural, northern tiers.   This motion denied, they opted for a bench trial (or trial by a single judge), not trusting their fates to a so-called jury of”citizens” they are sworn to serve and protect.
Time, it seems, has proven that they made the right decision -- for, predictably, the judge acquitted them of all charges, arguing that the witnesses gave conflicting testimony.
By so doing, the court essentially ruled that Bell’s killing was justified; no crime was committed.
The defense utilized the “bad company” argument: that Bell was shot and killed because he was among “the wrong crowd.”
That such an argument swayed Supreme Court justice Arthur Cooperman (in New York state, unlike most other states, the trial court is termed the Supreme Court, and the state’s highest court is their Court of Appeals.)  is a measure of how devalued Black life is, and how easy Black men are to demonize and disparage.
 If none of the cops knew the men, what does  it matter what their backgrounds were? They could’ve been lawyers, basketball stars, or -- cops.
That they were Black men -- even unarmed Black men -- was deemed sufficient to unload on them, because in America, their color was crime enough.
So, 22 year old Sean Bell joins Amadou Diallo, and others guilty of the capital offense of WWB- Walking While Black.
 And while millions of Black and white Americans thrill at political illusions of “post-racialism”, Sean Bell’s case proves how deeply deadly race can still be.
Even rumors of a weapon were enough to unleash 50 shots -- or should we say “alleged rumors”, for there were no guns found in Bell’s car.  In the past, wallets, candy bars, keys, and packs of cigarettes were deemed sufficient to provoke such malicious responses. 
Now, nothing is required.
Sean Bell was shot to death, and his friends, Joseph Guzman and Trent Benerfield were seriously wounded.
Shot and killed for being ‘the wrong crowd.’

Transcend beyond college education

Transcend beyond college education

By Jacquinn Scales

Congratulations to all who have completed the spring semester.
Many have graduated after four or more grueling years of college while others have advanced to the next phase of their colleg or vocational educations.
It is important to go beyond the borders of standard education, or just what is taught in the classroom. There is so much more that can be acquired on campuses, aside from classroom education.
By aligning with a campus organization teaches you team working, enhances communication skills and indicates that you maximized your college opportunities.
Far too often individuals engage in things that divert their attention and sole purpose for being in college.
Some of those things can be excessive partying, dramatic entertained relationships, (just to name a couple) and at the end of the day have majored in the minor and minored in the major.
There is nothing wrong with partying and having a good time but one must have the ability to perform the fine balancing act and prioritize accordingly.
It is imperative to stay focused so that you can permit your unlimited potential to aid you in transcending the borders and not just doing enough to get by. We live in a very competitive world and having every edge is essential in ‘making it.’
College presents the perfect opportunity to meet and network with a plethora of people who share a lot of commonalities; so the proper utilization of college will enable you to make the right connections.
It is not so much what you know but more so who you know and you never know when or who you are being watched by.
Use school and don’t let school use you.
When you use school you obtain all that you can by participating in organizations, sports, networking with fellow students, establishing rapport with instructors and getting your gusto from what is commonly referred to as the best years of your life.

Inheriters of the African Diaspora

Inheriters of the African Diaspora

By Muja’hid AbdulBari

Some members of America’s Democratic Party have decided to post Barack Obama as our choice for the leader of our government. In the evolution of the stream of consciousness of these adults, this event signals a huge plateau in our thinking.
Look at who made this choice. We are those committed to building a better tomorrow, not primarily preserving a tenuous yesterday.
Though there is much attention given to the gap between our academic performance and that of other groups, the disparity between white California youth and the white youth of the rest of America points to one third (1/3rd) of the manifest meltdown caused by the inadequate thinking behind the management of our governance and human development enterprise systems.
This linear, Eurocentric, discriminatory thinking has brought about the foretold convergence that is euphemistically referred to as the ‘great and dreadful day’ of the Lord- by some people.
And the much talked about ‘Baby Boomers’ are about to retire, en masse, from the American Workforce, leaving the greatest ever vacuum in our nation’s talent pool at work.
The selfish, shortsighted stupidity of the America and California elected leadership since Jimmy Carter has produced an economic CLIFF that can well push us into a Third world status. Do you remember Ronald Reagan?
Now, at the very same time, consider this; among our peoplew, across three generations, WE KNOW HOW TO DO EVERYTHING that is done in America and beyond.
So, what’s the biggest, most comprehensive barrier to our helping one another?? The Willie Lynch Syndrome has still got a dominant grip on our consciousness.
Want proof?
There are approximately 250,000 African American students enrolled in California’s CC’s. We have Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, Presidents, Deans, Faculty, Counselors, Administrators and Administrative Support and Classified Staff up and down the State.
But…how many FUNCTIONING Black Student Unions do we have?
Many of my generation walked away from our responsibility to you. But…many of us, spread out across the nation, didn’t. Find those minds who are still committed to our FREEDOM. Link up with them. Get into the reality of this economy.
Pretend that come 2009 YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE OVER THE OPERATION OF YOUR WHOLE CITY. Are you ready?
For complete text of “Inheriters of the African Disapora,” please visit www.harambeenews.blogspot.com. Muja’hid AbdulBari is Black Caucus Parliamentarian and Harambee Opinions Editor. Email him at don-federico@hotmail.com.

Message from the President

Message from the President
"Reclaiming our Inheritance"

By Marlene C. Hurd
EDITOR–IN-CHIEF

In June, we celebrate two great achievements; Juneteenth and Allensworth (page 3).
Our ancestors example shows us that we must reclaim our inheritance by creating our own resources.
Students see the effects of educational budget cuts daily. African American student achievement rates have fallen because of limited funding. Jobs are taken away from us though outsourcing. Textbooks are so expensive we can’t afford to buy them, many have to choose between education and eating.
Prisons are the new economic and housing plantations. Corporations and governmental systems make decisions on our behalf without our consent. The Iraq War has endangered our economic safety net. Student support program funding like Cal Grants are being reduced. Enough is enough. It is time for change.
Our ancestors went through many struggles to obtain our freedom. Many died because of racism and discrimination. Their perserverance is our road map. Our time has come to become our own creators and providers. Our history shows: success is in our DNA.
Now is our time to reclaim it. Just as Allensworth did, we must build our own cities.
At our 10th Annual Black Caucus Leadership Conference students were given the message to ‘build.’
California Community Colleges Board of Governor Member Dr. Rev. J Alfred Smith gave us clear directions that we are to build.
We must build our own economic systems, re-build Black Wall Street, fulfill the needs of our youth, set up our own governmental systems. Yes, we can do it. We will become the change want to see in the world.
This month as we celebrate Juneteenth and the 100th Centennial Anniversary of Allensworth let’s not forget what our ancestors left for us to build on.
We must now get in position to reclaim it. God has given it to us. The winds of change are calling upon us to build. Reclaim our inheritance.
The front door is now open.

Tenth Black Caucus Conference held at El Camino College

Tenth Black Caucus Conference held at El Camino College
Student advocacy group returns to roots with 'Sankofa'

By Kathleen Madden

FEATURES EDITOR

The Black Caucus of the California Student Association of Community Colleges (CalSACC) held its 10th Annual Black Caucus Leadership Conference (ABCLC), “Sankofa: Honoring our Past, Celebrating the Present, Building our Future,” February 15–16 at El Camino College.
Friday’s activities were kicked off with African drumming and dance, followed by the opening session “Hip Hop Comes to School” by Bryant K. Smith.
Black Caucus Secretary Reginald James deftly facilitated the “Harambee” workshop simultaneously in two separate rooms prior to the dinner speech by Assembly Member Mervyn Dymally. The night closed with a screening of the film ‘Sankofa.”
Saturday morning began with the Soulful breakfast with a keynote address by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors’ Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith. After two morning education sessions by Lasana Hotep and Alonzo Jones, students attended an inspiring keynote address by Congresswoman Maxine Waters during lunch.
Following three motivating afternoon education sessions, President Marlene C. Hurd delivered the ‘State of the Black Caucus’ address before schools elected for the upcoming academic year.

Students rally against budget cuts

Students rally against budget cuts

Coalition of UC, CSU, community college students organize across state for Higher Education

By Reginald James
MANAGING EDITOR

History has repeated itself, again. Five years ago, thousands of community colleges students from throughout California marched on the State Capitol to protest the Governor’s proposed budget cuts and potential fee increases. At the time, community college fees were $11 per unit, but the legislature soon voted to raise fees to $18 per unit.
The following year, at the “March in March II” of 2004, students rallied again at the State Capitol and, angry at the higher education fee mockingly told the Governor, “I’ll be back.” That summer fees were raised again, this time to $26 per unit.
Five years later, community college students stayed true to their word and returned to the Capitol, but this time, they brought reinforcements.
Hundreds of University of California, California State University and California Community College students demonstrated at the State Capitol Building April 21, showing a united front against budget cuts and possible fee increases for higher education.
Yelling slogans such as “Knowledge is Power,” “Education-Liberation” and the call-and-response anthem, “What do we want-free education; when do we want it-NOW!”, the students, along with many faculty and staff union members, marched from Raley Field in West Sacramento over the Sacramento River across the Tower bridge, down Capitol before the 10 a.m. press conference.
On the 80 Highway overpass, commuters and truckers alike honked their horns in solidarity as the students sojourned east towards the rising sun. At the Employment Development Department building, as well as other state agencies, people looked out of their windows amazed at the sight of students carrying banners and signs with slogans such as, “Educate, don’t hate,” or “Education, not occupation.”
Under the banner of “Students for the Future of California,” students held simultaneous rallies in Los Angeles, San Diego, as well as Riverside and Santa Barbara.

'Educate, don't hate!'

The Sacramento rally was kicked off Joel Bridgeman, director of campus advisement at San Jose State University, who initiated the mornings most popular chant and message to Sacramento politicians, “Kick us out, we’ll vote you out.”
“What we stand for is affordable, accessible and quality education,” shouted Bridgeman.
California State Students Association (USSA) Chair Dina Cervantes then told the crowd of the pre-rally media coverage and the nay saying she heard from a few republican legislators that morning.
“Many republicans say they don’t want to raise taxes,” said Cervantes, “but they will raise student taxes; fees!”
Cervantes emphasized the need to put more funding into education, opposed to the robust prison budget.
We need to change the “mindset that they are building first-class jails and second class schools,” said Cervantes.

There is no better investment than the investment in students.

Lt. Governor John Garamendi

“There is no better investment than the investment in students,” said Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi. “Infrastructure is important,” he continued, “but the most important thing is to build the minds of students, because you are the future.”
Black Caucus President and Peralta Student Trustee Marlene C. Hurd also addressed the crowd emphasizing this was students’ “call to action.” Hurd, along with Mary Logan, vice-president of the Peralta chapter of SEIU local 1021, organized a delegation of Peralta students who travelled to the rally.

No budget cuts!

Black Caucus President Marlene C. Hurd

“You are going to walk through those politicians doors and tell them, ‘No budget cuts,’” said Hurd, kicking off another spontaneous and thunderous chant of “No budget cuts!”
“Ten years from now,” said United States Student Association (USSA) Chair Gabe Pendas “you can say ‘the movement started here,’” speaking to the national crisis in higher education. “Educate, don’t incarcerate.”
Speaking in solidarity with the students were both Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Senate President Don Perata. The crowd then burst into a spontaneous chant of “Yes, we can!” which soon morphed into “Si, se puede!”

For the first time, you have the UC, CSU, and community college students together.

Incoming UC Student Regent D'artagnan Scorza

Incoming UC Student Regent D’artagnan Scorza said, “For the first time, you have the UC, CSU, and community college students together.” Adding, “And the students united, will never be defeated,” prompting another protest anthem.

For more information about what students can do to combat the cuts, go to www.studentsforcalifornia.org.