Monthly Archives: February 2021

Sister’s Circle Women’s Support Network (SCWSN) is zeroing in on the very basic real needs of women, addressing a broad spectrum of in depth healing recovery, empowerment and supportive uplift within the circle.

As we continue to mourn the brutal assassination of Malcolm X, Zayid Muhammad earnestly erases any doubt that the lies persist even with impunity from the deathbed, carefully designed to be revealed only after death, Wood's cowardly written words, perpetrator and agent of evil attempting to exonerate himself in his last breaths spewing lies. As Muhammad states: “It is an absolute insult to the intelligence of all of us.”

Through Black labor, Black love, Black life and Black presence, Wanda Sabir presents jewels for honoring, learning, enjoying and discovering, by enticing our exploration in this month of Women’s History Day, International Women’s History Month, the still unfolding of story of Malcom X and struggle for liberation and self-determination through writers like Walter Mosley, theater from Oakland Theater Project, a cross-country experience with the Diamano Coura West African Dance Company and more.

Unconscionable, inhumane, violently genocidal is the reality this story by Victoria Law for Truthout informs with reports by women incarcerated at FMC Carswell about what clearly is deliberate indifference to deadly conditions putting residents’ lives in danger, validating the consideration so stated: ‘If they can’t take care of us, release us.’

Cousin Mell Monroe lovingly remembers San Francisco’s beloved icon in red, Rochelle Metcalfe, who left no stone unturned in her vibrant exploration, discovery and fully lived life. Rochelle Metcalfe’s loving legacy stands as an iconic pillar in San Francisco’s herstory. Rest In Peace and Power, Rochelle Metcalfe.

Love, creativity and determination direct renewed and expanded energy into communities hit hardest by ongoing calamity avalanches like Bay View Hunters Point. The leadership baton at Mission Neighborhood Centers is passing from retiring Santiago “Sam” Ruiz to new non-profit veteran Richard M. Ybarra.

Bayview, San Francisco – Editor Malik Washington interviews Tai Seals-Jackson, granddaughter of Bayview Hunters Point's late, beloved community activist Espanola Jackson, about bringing jobs to D10.

Emerging from the fertile earth of the Black community, seedlings begin to sprout as Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Shamann Walton present the Dream Keeper Initiative with a hefty commitment redirecting $120 million from SFPD for investments in the African American community.

Treasure Island residents live surrounded by deadly radiation and chemicals in the soil and groundwater around their homes. The illnesses they cause can continue and even kill after the families leave the island. Two weeks ago, this beautiful 10-year-old was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Now his mother sits beside his hospital bed praying he survives.

With stories so deeply compelling and told at great risk of retaliation, another of our caged community members describes the deliberate indifference to the safety of prisoners during COVID-19 in CSP-Solano prison, with no protocol, no common sense, no humanity, no recourse. Taxpayer dollars support this shame.

There’s a ‘tude’ that often comes with cops “responding” to a neighborhood complaint like vandalism or whatever, that reads, ‘there’s one, take him, game over, next? . . .’ – another Black man dead. Another father, husband, brother, son, uncle murdered. Cell phone looked like a gun, uh huh – makes sense since guns and cell phones are pretty much interchangeable with police, DAs and police unions. Another day . . . of pain and suffering for our communities. Stephon Clark – “He didn’t have to die.”

Under contract with San Francisco, the historic Compton’s Cafeteria, now signed as 111 Taylor St. Apartments, has been operating as a private prison aka halfway house run by the multi-billion-dollar multinational corporation GEO Group, which like the ICE detention centers GEO runs, has been infested with COVID-19 due to deliberate indifference to the wellbeing of those under their thumb.

We receive hundreds of letters a month, from all over the country – many detailing devastating human and civil rights abuses. Here, I ask you to write Brian Holliday and tell him you care and hope he's okay.

Hope and purpose illuminates the work that The Adachi Project and Keith “Malik” Washington are doing to lift the burden of pain and suffering from the shoulders of those marginalized, dehumanized and oppressed, to expose the injustices of modern slavery being perpetrated on the people by the racist, capitalist oppressor and GEO Group.

W.E.B. Du Bois’ book ,“Black Reconstruction in America”, reviewed by Monica Hill, tells the historical truths, which were warped and twisted from the beginning when told by the white settler and taught in the schools as part of the strategic plan to solidify the permanence of slavery on which to build the capitalist imperial regime.

Tiyo Attallah Salah-El’s “Pen Pal” is lovingly reviewed by David Gilbert, himself in his 41st year of a life sentence. In the body of 92 prison letters written by Tiyo to Paul Alan Smith, he reveals deep friendships, teaching, mentoring and lawyering accomplishments, and evidence that in the worst situation imaginable he chose to make the best of it – the very best.

It is notable that prisoner Steve McCain is caged in a prison still owning the name of the plantation it was built on, Eastham Plantation, meting out the same cruelty, disrespect and dehumanizing atrocities on prisoners as was perpetrated on the slaves before them, who originally cleared the land before the Civil War.

Downtown Oakland, Calif. – Managing Editor Nube Brown speaks with renowned gallerist and arts and community advocate Joyce Gordon on growing up in Berkeley, how she got Joyce Gordon Gallery started, the importance of the youth and the future of her art space.

Dr. Caesar Churchwell now transitioning to the Ancestors, leaves his legacy of love and service to the people of his community, and like the pebble dropped into the water, ripples far, touching those he never knew.

Art in all forms has always been a voice in movements for change and has illuminated the essence of the pain and struggle. In launching the new monthly poetry column, SF poet laureate Tongo Eisen-Martin shares his penned voice in powerful, revolutionary elegance to the struggle.