Juneteenth is different this year. A pivotal moment in US history, yet so often overlooked, is now a national holiday. Here in Oakland, we have a brand new Black Panther Party museum opening on Juneteenth, right where the life of the legendary Huey P. Newton was taken. But don’t get it twisted. Juneteenth did not free us. Freedom, then as now is…
SoBEO
Happy Kwanza, Pt II: Nia
NIA To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community to restore our people to their traditional greatness. SoBEO always wants to encourage and lift the work of Black Education in Oakland. There are stories and narratives to be told. Oakland struggles with sometimes a fear of being Unapologetically Black (Yes, Home…
Happy Kwanza: SoBEO Celebrates the Season Of First Fruits
Habari Gani! The Power of the Nguzo Saba (7 Principles) SoBEO is reaching out in the spirit of the Ngzo Saba – 7 Powerful Principles that speak to the social, economic, and spiritual wellbeing of the Black Community. Kwanzaa is celebrated from Dec 26 -January 1st. Today we greet you in the Spirit of…
What’s Really Wrong with Closing Schools and How the “Opportunity Ticket” Fixes It
Closing schools balances the district’s budget woes on the backs of the already most underserved parents. The reality of closings is that it does nothing for those parents who have been dis-served and will be displaced. Typically, they attend an equally low-performing school that is further away and/or less familiar. And while the district may…
Why We Need to Talk About the State of Black Education in Oakland
It’s a mistake to say the education system is failing, at least in regards to Black students. It is not a coincidence that by most measures Black students are being left behind. And if it were only Oakland that would be one thing, but it is literally the same everywhere 200 million test scores were…