Oakland, the Story of a City by Beth Bagwell

As important, his leadership resulted in substantially improvements in the working and living conditions of those serving in the military and their families.

He led successful fights to stop the misguided MX missile system, to limit the Strategic Defense Initiative (“Star Wars”) and B-2 bomber programs, as well as other expensive and unusable nuclear war-fighting weaponry. “ used his leadership positions to question US policy and brought about the first real strategic debates on military policy in the post-Cold War world. The exhibit featured four large posters depicting atrocities committed by American soldiers, embellished with red paint.” (Wikipedia)ĭuring his 28 years in Congress, he became known as an expert in military and foreign policy, and was the first African American ever to serve on the Armed Services Committee, ultimately rising to Chair of the Committee. “In January, 1971, just weeks into his first term, Dellums set up an exhibit of Vietnam war crimes in an annex to his Congressional office. Known for his opposition to the Vietnam War, his politics earned him a place on the so-called Nixon’s Enemies List. Representing Oakland, Berkeley and surrounding areas, he was re-elected 13 times before retiring mid-term, to be replaced by appointment by his first assistant Barbara Lee. He was the first African American elected to Congress from Northern California. He worked as a social worker in Berkeley before running for City Council there, serving 3 years, and later ran for Congress (one of few non-lawyers to do so). from San Francisco State University, and later his Masters degree in Social Work from U.C. He attended Oakland Technical High School and McClymond’s High School, served two years active duty in the United States Marine Corps, then received his A.A.

Today I’ll talk just briefly about our current city mayor Ron Dellums (C.L.’s nephew), as he is exemplary of the second generation of blacks in the Bay Area.īorn here in 1935, he is truly one of Oakland’s native sons. I already wrote about the Pullman Porters, the union they ultimately organized – The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, and their West Coast leader, C. If interested, meet on steps of AAMLO tomorrow, Saturday the 27th at 10 am. Can you believe February is almost over?! I realize it’s a short month – I’m sure some comedian’s done a riff about how African Americans got their own history month, but dammit if they didn’t get the shortest month of the year! In any case, this is likely my last post of the month so I want to write just a bit more about some of the Black History of our city…įor those who want to research more of the contributions of Oakland’s influential African American leaders on their own, tomorrow is the last chance till summer rolls around to take the New Era / New Politics walking tour offered by the City of Oakland.

Oakland, the Story of a City by Beth Bagwell