Bravewoman’s Arduous Journey From CCSF Student to Faculty Union President
By Gracia Hernandez Rovelo Ghernadez-rovelo@theguardsman.com
In a busy classroom at City College’s Ocean campus, Mary Bravewoman stands at the front with a whiteboard full of equations behind her. She speaks energetically, explaining details of Pre-Calculus and Trigonometry, using big gestures to show important concepts. At her feet, Dolly, her faithful canine companion, rests, occasionally raising her head to look around the room.
Bravewoman’s journey from student to math professor to President of the American Federation of Teachers 2121 (AFT) highlights her resilience and self-belief. The Guardsman honors Mary Bravewoman, whose story at City College exemplifies values celebrated this, and every, Women’s History Month.
Born in Santa Cruz, California, Bravewoman’s heritage is a mix of Mexican and Native American. Guided by her grandfather’s influence, she joined the union and pursued a degree.
“When my grandfather became a union man, he always instilled in us that you were stronger with the union because you have your rights protected,” she said.
Bravewoman embarked on her educational
journey ten years out of high school, as anunemployed single mother living below the poverty level.
“People can take a lot from you, such as your physical possessions, but they can never take your knowledge from you,” Bravewoman said.
Despite having once been labeled as ‘lazy’ and ‘not college material,’ Bravewoman persevered. “You will go as far as you want to go, and oftentimes you go farther than you ever dreamed,” she affirms.
Bravewoman’s path began at City College in 1990, where she met counselors Joan Vitorelo and Joseph Padua, who supported and encouraged her to pursue an Associate of Arts (AA) degree. Guided by mentors like Cindy Moody and Bie Han Tan, she spent four years at City College, accumulating a hundred units across various subject areas. Her experiences there motivated her to pursue two degrees, including advanced mathematics, after transferring to San Francisco State University.
“It was a long road, sixteen years from the time I started at City and the time I finished my master's program, but it was worth it,” Bravewoman said, “Find a mentor in your discipline, for edu -
Bravewoman continued on page 2
By Ellen Yoshitsugu egiese@mail.ccsf.edu
Unity Day Showcases Campus Clubs Despite Local Opposition, California Faculty Association Ratifies Tentative Agreement with State Universities
Unity Day for the Spring 2024 semester was held in the amphitheater next to the Wellness Center on Feb 13. Students browsed tables representing student groups and resource centers, and enjoyed the music and warm sunshine.
Several Guardsman reporters wandered around chatting with people and taking pictures.
Clubs are financed by student fees, and participation in Unity Day is required. The Inter Club Council (ICC) puts on the event every semester, and ICC VP Jason
Luong did a great job getting people involved, according to Amy Coffey, Dean of Student Engagement and Wellness.
Student participation in campus life is still recovering from the pandemic, said Coffey. More student groups are now being recognized and it feels more like a vibrant college campus.
Here's just a few of the many groups on display.
The Filipino Student Association's biweekly meetings are open to anyone. They organize events that are relevant to Filipino culture, and have an annual event for Mental Health Awareness month,
Unity Day continued on page 2
By Julia Chong jchong@theguardsman.com
Members of the California Faculty Association (CFA) voted to ratify the tentative agreement
offered by California State University (CSU) this past Sunday, finally ending eight months of open bargaining and staff action.
The agreement passed with 76 percent of voters in favor, a drop from the previous 95 percent majority for
Students and faculty attend City College's Unity Day at the Mission campus on February 13, 2024. Unity Day is a campus-wide event for students to come have fun, learn about clubs and resource programs, and get to know one another. Photo by Jenna LaCome/ The Guardsman.
Faculty members and students gathered in Malcolm X Plaza on San Francisco State’s campus to voice their displeasure to the tentative agreement vote on January 25, 2024. Photo by Elena Chiaruttini/ The Guardsman. Rally continued on page 3
Mary Bravewoman, math professor at City College and president of the American Federation of Teachers 2121 (AFT), teaches her Pre-Calculus class on October 12, 2023. Photo by Gracia Hernandez Rovelo/ The Guardsman.
2 | NEWS
Bravewoman continued from page 1 cation; challenge yourself, don’t be afraid of doing things that you were told you couldn’t do.”
When she started at City College as a student, Bravewoman never envisioned that she would become a professor in the math department, never mind holding the position of president of the teacher’s union. Her involvement in labor work felt like a natural extension of her commitment to education as an act of social justice.
“When I first met her, she was starting to volunteer with the Union,” said James Tracy, Chair of Labor and Community Studies at City College, “You could hardly get a word out of her, she was very quiet at meetings, what we did know is that she was taking it in, almost like a mathematician.”
Tracy has known Bravewoman for approximately five years, witnessing her dedication to labor organizing within the union. He describes her as an exceptionally committed and principled leader. He emphasizes her widespread respect among students and colleagues, “She really starts her work from a place of love and rigor, whether she is in a classroom or a picket line”.
According to Bravewoman, when she was asked to take on a leadership role within the union, it wasn’t something that she actively sought, but she felt a responsibility to step up. She recognized the need to safeguard their values and the college’s vision, which, from her point of view, wasn’t being well-represented. “When we are educated then we can make decisions for ourselves, and we can engage in the conversations with the decision makers and we can be part of that decision making process, so it’s really an act of social justice.” She said, “I was asked to run for union leadership, which I hadn’t sought. But with no one else stepping up to fight for our values and the college’s vision, I felt I had a responsibility.”
Bravewoman leads the college’s largest union, the American Federation of Teachers 2121, which represents the faculty. As the president of AFT2121, Bravewoman’s responsibilities include serving as the chief spokesperson, organizing and leading meetings, liaising with other campus constituents, and overseeing the bargaining team. She is particularly proud of AFT2121’s collaboration with other labor unions, such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1021, in initiatives like Proposition O and the successful replacement of trustees who voted for faculty layoffs.
In her candidacy statement, Bravewoman emphasized the depth of her connection to the college. As a mathematics faculty member, a precinct representative, budget analyst, among other roles, she has been shaped by City College. The driving force behind her desire to be the president of the
teachers’ union was the profound commitment to students, colleagues and the college’s mission of remaining a true community college. “City College is a life saver; it changes lives for the better, it is the heart of the city,” she said.
Bravewoman’s future goals and aspirations in professional aspects included the desire to see the teachers’ union settle a fair contract before she is out of office. She recounted how an agreement was reached on Dec. 1, 2023, fully restoring concessions made during the 2021-2022 academic year, which had resulted in wage reductions ranging from 4 to 10 percent for faculty.
Additionally, starting in July 2023, there was a nine percent raise, followed by a three percent raise for the 20232024 academic year and another three percent raise starting in 2024 through the 2024-2025 year. Finally, in July 2025, there will be a final two percent raise, totaling a 14 percent increase over the three-year contract period from 2023 to 2026.
“We won not all of that faculty deserves, certainly, but we won the best contract that we could, and our board of trustees were very instrumental in helping us get that
Michelle, tabling for Anakbayan, said they are a national organization that uplifts "issues of the working class in the Philippines and overseas." They oppose military aid and see the issues in the Philippines as linked to issues at City College. Their small table was covered with event flyers, literature and buttons.
Brianna, a student worker, is happy to be a part of the relaunch of the African American Student Resource Center, located in Rosenberg Library Room 300, next to EOPS. It's a place for African American students "who are facing so much displacement and financial instability," she said, to have a place to feel welcome and "just be themselves."
contract settled,” Bravewoman said. “I am very pleased,” she added.
Bravewoman plans to retire in five years in order to spend more time with her family. By that time, since the college is not currently in a contract dispute, she hopes their focus will be on supporting the college’s efforts to increase enrollment and meet its needs to support students.
“I am eternally grateful for City College, and I just really want to make sure it’s here for future generations,” Bravewoman said. “Its impact goes beyond individual students; the ripple effects on families and the community will pay dividends for years to come.”
Her message to women, especially women of color, and anyone starting out, is that the opportunities available at City College serve as a gateway to pursuing and achieving your dreams.
“No one should ever tell you that you are limited to be anything, that you’re limited in your potential because of who you are, how you look, or where you come from,” Bravewoman said, “that potential for growth and achievement is in all of us.”
"The best thing about the event is always the people involved," said Coffey,"There was a moment during the event in which a student started singing and without realizing it, everyone at the event just froze to listen. A lot of students really loved that part of the event and remarked about how nice it was to share that collective experience."
According to Coffey, students are facing wellness and mental health issues following the pandemic, and clubs can be a way to find and meet other like-minded students. This can make a huge difference for someone who may be struggling or feeling isolated.
Alpha Beta Gamma is a national Business Honor Society, founded in the 1970s. Emily La manages social media for the City College branch. As a marketing major, she really enjoyed one of their recent events with a speaker on the marketing field. Emily says the club is a great opportunity to network and learn about careers, making it a good addition to your resume.
Emily La, member of the Alpha Beta Gamma Business Honor Society. ABG’s mission is to recognize and confer lifelong distinction on students achieving academic excellence. February 13, 2024. Photo by Ellen Yoshi/ The Guardsman.
Students listen to a musical performance during City College’s Unity Day on February 13, 2024. Photo by Jenna LaCome/The Guardsman.
Mary Bravewoman solves and checks equations with her students on October 12, 2023. Photo by Gracia Hernandez Rovelo/The Guardsman.
according to Shawn, an FSA member, as he greeted passersby.
Unity Day continued from page 1
the union’s February 2022 agreement, indicating some dissatisfaction amongst membership. CFA represents 29,000 faculty members across the 23 CSUs.
The tentative agreement followed negotiations that began last May, the first time in CFA history where open bargaining occurred amongst all 23 chapters.
After unsuccessful mediation with the university, the union initiated their five-day walkout on Monday, Jan. 22. On the same day, CSU presented the latest tentative agreement contingent on the immediate end to the largest university strike in U.S. history, and a return to work that following Tuesday.
The proposal was accepted, leaving CFA members questioning the transparency of negotiations. San Francisco State University’s local branch of CFA (CFASF), joined by staff from Cal State East Bay and San Jose State, pledged to reject the tentative agreement with a “VOTE NO” demonstration at Malcolm Plaza X on the SFSU campus on Thursday, Jan. 25.
"A few members of the leadership of the union made decisions without consulting the membership, so open bargaining was out the
door,” said Brad Erickson, CFASF Chapter President. “They decided to call off the strike and accept a contract that they had pledged all along they wouldn’t accept.”
The deal agreed to a five percent retroactive raise from June 1, 2023, as well as a provisional five percent in June 2024; the anticipated increase would be entirely dependent on whether CSU secures the same amount of state funding sanctioned in the prior fiscal year.
In addition to salary increases, the tentative agreement promised a service step increase of 2.65 percent for 2024-25, ten weeks of paid parental leave (formally six weeks), and an extension of the current contract until June 30, 2025.
“It was the first time CSU management had approached us with a serious offer,” said Kevin Wehr, Bargaining Team Chair. “It wasn’t everything, but it was substantial enough to bring to the Bargaining Team and Contract Development and Bargaining Strategy Committee, and that group decided it was good enough to take to the Board of Directors.”
With Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2024-25 California state budget, revealing
a shortage of $38 billion, demonstrating faculty members were not confident. The requested twelve percent had already been a compromise in relation to rising costs of living in California, and a nationwide inflation rate of 12.9 percent from July 2021 to December 2023, according to CFASF in an open letter to statewide CFA leadership.
The letter also proclaimed that CSU’s sufficient funds could better address this gap, highlighting CSU’s $8.6 billion in unrestricted reserves and $15 billion in restricted reserves. Rallying SFSU faculty and students also questioned CSU’s $7.89 billion investment portfolio for 2023.
"$91.6 million is going to Vanguard, a company involved in funding projects in the Palestinian occupation," said an SFSU alumni and member of the Palestinian Union Movement, who wished to remain anonymous. “We clearly have more than enough money, so it makes you question the priorities and ethics of the administration.”
Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and General Dynamics, five of the top six most profitable international
defense corporations of 2023 and all found to have affiliations with the Israeli military, constitute The Vanguard Group’s financial holdings.
Furthermore, the CSU Board of Trustees plans to enact a 34% tuition increase over the next five years, as reported by CFASF. This has raised concerns about affordability, particularly for working-class students. With about 32% of City College of San Francisco (CCSF) students relying on financial aid, the decision may bring significant ramifications.
“Four-year degrees should be more accessible because they’re often required for a family-sustaining wage,” said Emily Gifford, CCSF student. “The tuition increase is only going to discourage students.”
Simultaneously, the recent dismissal of approximately 325 faculty and 655 classes has brought additional challenges. CFASF contends that this not only hinders students’ progress towards graduation but also jeopardizes the workload of tenure-track faculty. The failure to enforce the normative teaching load, as established by Academic Senate Policy Rf02-203, along with a proposal to increase class sizes have
intensified concerns.
The discontinuation of the Peggie H. Smith Counseling Clinic, a 40-year-old on-site training program for the Masters of Counseling that would offer free, supervised counseling to other SFSU students, has likewise added a layer of discontent among demonstrators.
“At Psych and Counseling Services, since we’re only allowed to see students short-term, 5 or 6 sessions per year, we refer them to someone at Peggie Smith Clinic where they get counseling for a whole semester,” said Karla Castillo, a SFSU Counselor Faculty member. “It’s a great educational program for the students, it’s a great experience for our students seeking services, and it’s free and confidential, so this is very upsetting to many of us.”
Combined with the elimination of Residential Life positions and Counseling tenure tracks, the changes made by the university reflect the broader erosion of essential support structures on campus, according to SFSU community members.
The CSU Board of Trustees is set to meet on Mar. 24 to approve the agreement, at which time it will take effect.
City College’s Queer Resource Center is Hosting Monthly Pride Lunches
Guardsman.
By Julia Chong
jchong@theguardsman.com
Baby burritos, games, and friendly faces- what better way to spend a Tuesday afternoon?
The Queer Resource Center, located in Cloud Hall 232, hosts a Pride Lunch on the last Tuesday of every month, from noon to 2 p.m. The event features games, music, queer community-building activities, and free food provided by La Corneta Taqueria.
“It’s a space to meet people like you, especially on a college campus that can be so isolating,” said Katie Dalla, Queer Resource Center Coordinator and CCSF graduate. “There’s not really a lot of hangout spaces here on campus, so it’s a place to do homework and talk with other students, not just about academics, but also other social things in the community.”
Pride Lunches were started by the last Queer Resource Center Coordinator, Juan Fernandez, to provide a safe environment for City College’s LGBTQ+ community. Dalla has carried forward its success, and since garnered both a group of regulars and newcomers.
“It’s nice to have a hot meal for the community once a month,” shared Dalla. “I hope to do more events like this, so we’re trying to get more programming.”
The lunch series will resume into the Spring 2024 term.
Community principles are listed on the wall of the Queer Resource Center, a center for queer students at City College. Photo by Emilio Lopez-Molina/The Guardsman.
In reaction to the recent tentative agreement announced by the California Faculty Association (CFA) and the California State University (CSU) system, members of the San Francisco chapter of the CFA (CFASF) organized a rally urging a ‘NO’ vote. San Francisco State faculty members, students, and supporters, gathered at Malcolm X Plaza on SFSU’s campus to express their frustration on January 25, 2024. Photo by Elena Chiaruttini/The Guardsman.
In reaction to the recent tentative agreement announced by the California Faculty Association (CFA) and the California State University (CSU) system, San Francisco State faculty members, students, and supporters, gathered at Malcolm X Plaza at SFSU campus to express their frustration on January 25, 2024. Photo by Elena Chiaruttini/The Guardsman.
Katie Dalla, coordinator for the Queer Resource Center, waves a pride flag. “It’s a space to meet people like you, especially on a college campus that can be so isolating,” said Dalla. Photo by Emilio LopezMolina/The
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Family Resource Center Coordinator Works to Improve Program Despite Challenges
By Elena Chiaruttini echiarut@mail.ccsf.edu
If you happen to wander around the Student Union on City College’s Ocean Campus, sometimes you’ll notice babies and toddlers, accompanied by their grown-ups, on their way to Room 201. That’s where the Dr. Betty Shabazz Family Resource Center (FRC) is located. It’s a safe space that provides key support for City College student parents. However, it’s not as simple as it looks.
Despite providing key support for student parents today, many of them had to speak up for their rights to make it happen.
“Why does it always need to be a fight?” Tracey Faulkner sighed, allowing herself to have a moment of discouragement. Faulkner has been the FRC’s coordinator since 2003, and was one of the founders of the program. Every morning, she walks into the FRC office to work for equal opportunities.
Faulkner was the driving force that made those walls get built. She has been fighting for the rights of student parents since she was a City College single mom on welfare herself. “It’s a long story,” she said with a laugh.
It was 1996 when then President Bill Clinton’s welfare form passed, requiring parents to wait for childcare until their kids were 2.9 years old.
“Luckily, someone told me about it when my daughter was under one year old,” Faulkner said, since the waiting list was ridiculously long. “My daughter’s name came up when she was almost three. I had to potty train her in two weeks. I did a lot of laundry.”
Finally with childcare, Faulkner was encouraged by her mother to return to school, deciding to pursue an Early Childhood Education degree at City College.
“I got my daughter into childcare on campus which was really helpful,” she said.
However, not long after that the Federal Welfare Reform Act changed things again. To keep their benefits, the student parents were suddenly told to quit school and go to work for 32 hours a week.
“I would have had to stick with the job they provided me, which was for $490 a month. I was supposed to pay for rent and everything.”
At that point, Faulkner and other student parents on welfare started talking about the unfairness of the situation.
“We started saying we needed to find a resource center for childcare,” Faulkner said. It took months and determination, but it turned out to be more than worth it. “The Associated Students gave us $15,000 to start.”
“This space, here,” Faulkner said, opening her arms gesturing towards the office, “was completely open.” The nonprofit Christmas In April volunteered to build the center in 1998. “They literally built these walls for us. It was amazing.”
“We ended up becoming a task force that created this program,” she
said. The newly founded FRC was given a licensed childcare provider from the Childcare Development Department, receiving the funding from the Chancellor to do so.
However, the founders soon realized they would all leave the campus eventually.
“Several of us were going to State University because, you know, especially after what we made possible, we all felt empowered and ready to get our BAs. But there was no leader behind us,” Faulkner said.
So, they created the position that Faulkner holds today to ensure the program remained student-focused. Faulkner left to get her Bachelor’s degree at San Francisco State University (SFSU) in Childcare Education, but was back in charge in 2003.
Since January 1999, the FRC has reached great achievements, despite facing challenges through the decades.
The 2008 economic downturn followed by the accreditation crisis of 2012 inevitably affected the program. Its budget, never enough to serve all of the families in need on campus, was reduced drastically.
“We lost our childcare provider in 2008, we didn’t have the budget for that anymore. It took me a year to get a provider back,” Faulkner said.
Going through those difficult times made Faulkner realize how fragile the program was. Because of that, she decided to go back to SFSU to get her Master's degree in Early Childhood Education.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented another big challenge. However, the response of FRC was surprisingly resourceful and well-organized.
“We rocked with our virtual programming! And it was noticed that we did,” Faulkner said. The FRC organized many workshops, including ones on self-care and combating Asian hate. “We still had food carts and searched everywhere for resources, workshops in different languages, we still had our student parents advisory meetings,” Faulkner said.
In that same period, the FRC also started contacting community partners such as the Pregnant Scholar Program and informed all its student parents on federal rights.
“We acknowledged the rights provided by Title IX, which is better known to cover sexual harassment issues,” Faulkner said. “It actually covers anything to do with gender, including rights as pregnant parenting students, gender identity and women in athletics rights.”
The FRC then started to do workshops to educate the faculty on the student parents' Title IX rights, where students could talk about their experiences in general and during the pandemic.
“It’s also important to us having peer mentors, students within the staff who speak different languages,” Faulkner said. “We have Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin and Spanish currently spoken here.”
The program is constantly working to improve and fight for the rights of students.
“We got student parents priority registration, just last May,” Faulkner said, “And we are working on a web page for student parents because I want
A picture of the City College Family Resource Center day care, taken on April 29, 2024. The Family Resource Center supports the campuses parents with a variety of services, including an in house day care. Photo by Jenna LaCome/The Guardsman.
them to have their rights clear.”
And yet, the program’s problems haven’t ended. Budget struggles and discrimination are still ongoing.
Last semester alone, the FRC served 400 student parents, who actually walked through the door. According to Faulkner, there are around 4,0000 student parents on campus. She knows that the department doesn’t have the capacity and budget to serve them all.
Faulkner says that, weirdly, there is still a lot of prejudice towards student parents. “You know, you’re a parent so it’s
kinda your fault. There is still a lot of that attitude.”
Faulkner vividly remembers an episode happening two semesters ago. A student parent came into the office crying one day, because of the way she was treated by the faculty.
The student had a job in the Civic Center. Because of San Francisco’s traffic, she arrived late to class two times in a row. The third time, she arrived at class less than 10 minutes late. They had a test that day, and she was so proud she made it. Yet, she received an email from her instructor, saying she should ‘evaluate her priorities’.
“You know, it’s stuff like this that makes people give up,” Faulkner said.
“Student parents have the same problems as regular students, plus kids. If the parents are going through some problems, their kids are going through that too,” she said. The program is sensitive to issues of discrimination and fights them daily.
Faulkner says that on top of the sexism that most women within the program face, there are other barriers and systemic issues, such as racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia. “If you are a parent, it is even harder. As parents, we want to protect our kids from those issues.”
Another injustice Faulkner has to deal with is regarding her position in the program. Despite having the responsibilities of the program manager of FRC, her title has always been ‘School Aide Assistant’.
“I make half the money of the other program managers here at City College for doing the same job. It’s always been like that because, at the beginning, we didn’t know any better. We were told that was what the campus could offer us,” Faulkner said.
Faulkner has been trying to receive proper compensation for her work, and change her title since 2018, when she found out how things work for the rest of the departments. However, nothing has changed so far.
“I said ‘Wait a minute here, this is not fair,’” Faulkner said. “The work we do, the amount of students we take care of, and they just treat it like it's a lifestyle choice or something.”
Despite her work being undervalued by the college, students who are benefiting from the FRC are full of praise.
“The program has had a tremendous impact on my life,” Leticia Arce said. Arce is a student parent who joined the program in Fall 2022, when her baby was about to turn one year old. She decided to go back to study, supported by her husband,
who’s currently the only provider of their family after that decision. Arce is also able to find time to study thanks to the Drop-In program, which allows student parents to have childcare for a maximum of four hours a day while they study in the same building.
“It’s such a supporting space. I know I can count on trusting people to look over my baby Miguelito when I go to class,” Arce said. “He can interact with other kids and I’ve found a wonderful community among fellow student parents.”
Arce only has one class left to take this semester, microbiology, to complete the prerequisites to take a Master's in nursing.
In a couple of years, the benefits of the Drop-In program will be even more valuable when all the departments that serve students will be moved into the new Student Success Center. This way, student parents could take advantage of counseling and tutoring during the Drop-In hours.
Student Trustee Heather Brandt, who has previously held other leadership roles such as City College Student Chancellor and President of the Associated Students Council of Ocean Campus (ASCO), discovered the program in 2014.
“If I had known about the FRC earlier, when I had only one child, I would have gotten into my education a lot sooner,” Brandt said. “Having childcare here and through the preschool program offered beyond the FRC, was a game changer for me.”
She never left, starting to actively help the program as a student worker in 2017, fighting for the rights of student parents and budget barriers along with Faulkner.
For the future, Faulkner also hopes the program will expand further, having more people on staff. She also wishes the center could stay open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., instead of its current hours 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., “because [the current schedule] doesn’t serve students as much as we would like to,” she said.
Faulkner, who will turn 60 later this year, plans to soon hire someone she could train to ensure a smooth transition of leadership by the time she retires, that will probably be between the next 3 or 5 years.
“I want to make sure that this program is gonna be as strong when I leave,” Faulkner said. “Because, you know, I put too much heart in this place.”
Meicui Barrios, a student parent of Child Development, volunteers at the FRC while her son enjoys a snack on January 22, 2024.
Photo by Elena Chiaruttini/The Guardsman.
Student Trustee Heather Brandt, also a worker at the FRC, helps two kids during playtime on January 24, 2024. Photo by Elena Chiaruttini/The Guardsman.
Recognizing and Celebrating the Impact of Iconic Black Journalists
By Kateryna Malch kmalch@theguardsman.com katrina.malch@gmail.com
Since 1976, the United States has celebrated Black History Month, dedicating February to black people’s memorable contributions and outstanding achievements. Their resilience and brilliance, from leaders and innovators to artists and activists, have profoundly shaped our world today.
Each year, there is a unique theme for the celebration, this year’s being “African Americans and the Arts.” The Guardsman compiled the legacies of pioneering African American journalists in and out of the Bay Area to honor and recognize their achievements.
Ida Bell Wells was an iconic figure in American investigative journalism, as well as an educator, suffragist, and an early leader in the civil rights movement.
Wells was one of the most influential and pioneering figures in the field of journalism. Born into slavery on Jul 16, 1862, in Holly Springs, Mississippi, Wells defied racial and gender barriers to become a prominent civil rights activist and investigative journalist during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Wells fought for women’s suffrage, particularly for Black women. In 1909 she co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She played a crucial role in the women’s rights movement and battled for equality regardless of race and gender.
Throughout the 1890s, Wells exposed a series of groundbreaking articles about lynching black people in the South. This work led to Wells being known as a fearless investigator who was forced into the fight against racial injustice.
Wells owned a third of The Memphis Free Speech, a newspaper that served the local African American community. Wells edited the publication, where she published many of her investigative works and articles about racial segregation and inequality.
In 2020, 89 years after her death, Wells was honored with a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation recognizing her contribution to investigative journalism and reporting about the violent era of lynching of African Americans in the 20th.
Wells’ legacy remains a testament to the power of journalism as a tool for social change and her unwavering commitment to justice and equality for all.
You can learn more about the life and journalistic work of Wells by reading “Ida B. the Queen The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells” written by Michelle Duster, available at the San Francisco Public Library.
journalist known for her groundbreaking work in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the first African American woman to become a news anchor on the West Coast.
Davis was born on Oct. 13, 1932, in Monroe, Louisiana. Her family moved to Oakland when she was eight. Davis graduated from Berkeley High School and got accepted into San Francisco State University, but her family couldn’t afford it.
In 1957, Davis got her first job as a freelancer at the magazine Jet, a publication out of Chicago that covered African American news and culture. The gig earned Davis $5 for a piece without bylines. In the following years, Davis wrote for local African American newspapers The Sun Reporter and the Bay Area Independent.
Davis’ broadcasting career began in 1961 when she worked at KSAN (now KEST), a San Francisco radio station. Davis also performed at different radio stations in the Bay Area, including KDIA and KNEW. She made public service announcements to KNEW listeners, becoming known as “Miss KNEW.”
Davis has won eight local Emmy Awards and received lifetime achievement awards from the American Women in Radio and Television and National Association of Black Journalists for her reporting on.
In 2010, Davis and Vicki Haddock published an autobiography, “Never in My Wildest Dreams: A Black Woman’s Life in Journalism, ” which can be borrowed from the San Francisco Public Library.
Otis R. Taylor Jr. is a journalist, columnist, and editor known for his writings at KQED and The San Francisco Chronicle. With a broad background in reporting, Taylor brings knowledge from his previous position into today’s news.
Now he focuses on diversity and equality issues, delving into the rich history, culture, and politics that define the East Bay. Taylor also writes columns about race, housing, policing, immigration, and reparations for African Americans in the U.S.
Taylor began his path as a sports reporter in South Carolina, moving into art, culture, and entertainment while reporting at The State Media Company. He then moved to the San Francisco Chronicle, working as their East Bay columnist for almost five years.
In 2020, Taylor earned the title of Journalist of the Year from the Northern California Society of Professional Journalists chapter for drawing attention to police brutality and the tragic officer-involved killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
In 2021, he started his job at KQED as a Supervising Senior Editor of Race and Equity, focusing on the role of systemic injustice in journalism, working with reporters and senior editors to bring cultural competency to story production and editing.
Now, Taylor is managing editor of six reporting desks at KQED, lead editor on enterprise and investigative reporting projects, and launched Reparations in California, a project chronicling the work of California’s statewide reparations task force.
Carlton Benjamin Goodlett was born on Jul. 23, 1914, in Chipley, Florida. Goodlett worked in many different trades: An American physician, newspaper publisher, political power broker, and civil rights activist in San Francisco, his life was filled with passion for medicine, journalism, and fighting for the equal rights of
Goodlett got a bachelor’s degree in 1935 from Howard University in Washington, D.C. In 1938, he became one of the first African Americans to earn a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California at Berkeley. In 1944, he finished his Doctor of Medicine degree at Meharry Medical College in Nashville. Goodlett returned to San Francisco in 1945 and opened a medical practice to serve the black community in the city.
In addition to medicine, he was interested in journalism. In 1948, Goodlett became co-owner of The Reporter (now The Sun-Reporter,) a weekly newspaper serving the African American community in San Francisco.
As an editor and publisher, he used his platform to advocate for civil rights. The Sun-Reporter was a vital voice for the African American community in San Francisco, addressing diverse issues from police brutality to social justice.
Goodlett served three terms as president of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (Black Press of America). In addition to his journalistic work, Goodlett was deeply involved in civil rights organizations and political movements. He served as president of the San Francisco chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He played a significant role in desegregating public schools and fighting for fair employment practices.
During his life, Goodlett led boycotts of businesses that discriminated against people of color and participated in student protests at San Francisco State University. He was one of the most influential black men in San Francisco who fought for civil rights, securing jobs for African Americans and demanding improvements in public housing.
On January 18, 1999, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to change the official address of San Francisco’s City Hall to 1 Carlton B. Goodlett Place, honoring his many achievements.
Ida B. Wells. Photo courtesy of The New York Times.
Carlton Benjamin Goodlett. Photo courtesy of History Center, SFPL. Belva Davis. Photo courtesy of KQED.
Otis R. Taylor Jr. Photo courtesy of the Berkeley School of Journalism.
Ida B. Wells
Carlton Benjamin Goodlett
Belva Davis
Belva Davis is an award-winning
Otis R. Taylor
Illustration by Jess Oledan
Catherine Eaton Skinner is Back in the Bay Area for Her Latest Solo Exhibit, ‘Echo of Silence’
By Eduardo Tizoc Morales eduardo.tizoc@gmail.com
Growing up by the shores of Lake Washington, Catherine Eaton Skinner found inspiration in nature from a young age and was emboldened to be an artist. Since then Skinner has been given countless awards, has been published in numerous media outlets, and has had over 50 solo exhibits. Her latest solo exhibit is “Echo of Silence”, here in San Francisco’s International Art Museum of America (IAMA), Mar.10, through Apr. 22
Skinner’s artistic roots lie here in the Bay Area as well. She took painting classes from iconic Bay Area Painters Nathan Oliveira and Frank Lobdell while studying at Stanford for her Biology Degree, as well as illustrating for the department professors. That jump-started her career spanning 20 years as a Biological Illustrator and her introduction to being a multidisciplinary artist for over 50 years. Being a multidisciplinary artist, Skinner uses various mediums and canvases. Her work contains uses of oil paints, oil sticks, beeswax, natural dyes, and inks among other mediums, along with a lot of encaustic incorporations. You can find her paintings on unique canvases such as bamboo scrolls, panels, and different textured papers. When sculpting, Skinner doesn’t limit herself. She integrates magnificent metals, stones, cloths, and industrial components to form amazing sculptures that draw spectators in. Skinner is also a proficient photographer and printmaker and embraces those skills in much of her art. She is also an author featured in various books and occasionally incorporates poetry in her craft. Although her works vary in technique, she implies common themes all through her art. You see nature empowered, eastern philosophy, the five elements, a balance of positive and negative forces, and a lot of atmospheric energy among other similar themes in her art.
The IAMA is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and general admission is free. Skinner will be in attendance during the open reception of her exhibit on Mar. 10, from 3 to 5 p.m. Students can meet and learn a lot from such a skilled and knowledgeable artist and writer.
Catherine Eaton Skinner - Between The Gates XVII
Catherine Eaton Skinner - Indigo Hills
Rams Fend Off the Los Positas Hawks With Their Ninth Consecutive Win of the Season
By John Adkins jradproduction@gmail.com
The Rams head to the playoffs on a high note after their 82-70 win against the Los Positas Hawks on Feb. 21.
The victory secured a Coast Conference North Division championship for the Rams, the program's 13th consecutive conference title.
The last matchup between the two teams ended with the Hawks suffering a 14-point deficit to City College. Los Positas came out swinging this game, hoping it was time for payback.
“We’ve developed a lot since the first game for sure, a lot more team chemistry, hitting more of our open shots,” Rams guard Jermaine Haliburton said.
The Rams took charge at tip-off, with guard Ray John Spears drawing a foul to put the first point on the board after four offensive rebounds.
Both teams started aggressively on both ends of the court in the first half, but it was City College who maintained control. Despite their efforts, Los Positas remained locked up under a tight Rams defense and were kept to just two points on the board in the first three minutes of the game.
“We knew coming into this game they were going to play hard too,” Rams guard Miles Amos said. “So we knew we just had to lock in for the full 40 minutes.”
The Hawks came back in the first quarter with a 7-7 tie just before the Rams found their groove and peeled away, ensuring a lead for the remainder of the game.
Rams point guard King-Jhsanni Wilhite knocked down the first three of the game which sent the Rams on an 11-3 run in just a few minutes.
With a 10-point lead in the first quarter, power forward D'Aunte Johnson intercepted a pass, dribbled behind the back in transition, and fed it back to Spears for another three-pointer. Feeling hot off the fresh three, Spears tipped away a pass for another turnover and fed it to guard Willie Williams who took flight with a show stopping dunk attempt. Although he couldn't throw it down, the attempt had the fans on their feet.
Los Positas Head Coach Hawks James Giacomazzi threw his arms in defeat as more of the Ram’s open threes connected on goal.
With five minutes and 30 seconds left in the first half, the Hawks answered with a three-pointer and a time out. Despite trailing in points, the Hawks continued the fight with each team accumulating 10 fouls in the first half.
In the final two minutes of the first half, Rams finished strong with a 9-3 run thanks to two turnovers and the team went into halftime with a 40-30 lead.
The Rams dialed in during the second half, pulling away with back to back three pointers by Wilhite and Amos. Johnson secured an offensive rebound to extend the Rams lead by 20 just five minutes into the second half.
“We were just looking for stops, we knew our defense could turn to offense really. Once we started getting stops and everything started to pick up, that's how we were able to extend the lead to 20…” Amos said.
In the final 10 minutes of the game, the Hawks rallied to close the gap to a 12-point deficit after drawing a foul and securing possession after a turnover. The Hawks caught the rebound off a three-point attempt and drew a foul on their layup for a huge three-point opportunity. Still, the Rams maintained a 10-point lead.
The fight wasn't over for Los Positas as they scored 14 points to City College’s 15 in the final 6 and a half minutes of the game.
In the final 60 seconds, Spears drove through the paint for a layup and extended the lead by 12. The Hawks lost possession and the Rams took two more shots on goal before Jordan Aquino ran down the clock and ended the game with a comfortable 12-point lead and a final score of 82-70.
“We didn't execute our game plan but we were able to get the win, I thought we could've improved our defense. But overall we’re feeling good going into the playoffs” said Johnson after the game.
“They got us in the transition at the end… I know it's not over, onto the next one” said Williams, who led the team in scoring with 24 points overall.
City College continued their reign over the league with their 10th straight win by defeating the Canada Colts 89-85 on February 23rd, making their season record 23-5. The Rams’ next game will be the second round of the Northern California Regional Playoffs against Gavilan College, on March 2, at 7:30 p.m. on City College’s Brad Duggan Court.
25
Rams Put Up Strong Home Performances Against Chabot, Ohlone to Continue Impressive Home Game Record
By James Wavro, Seamus Geoghegan, and Don Collier
jwavro@theguardsman.com geogheganspg@gmail.com dcollier@theguardsman.com
The Rams are charging towards another State championship after winning their last 10 games of the season.
Rams V Gladiators
The Rams beat No 4-ranked Chabot at home 84-80 on Feb. 7, maintaining an impressive 10-1 home record.
The Rams were narrowly defeated during their visit to Chabot earlier in the season, falling to the Gladiators 77-79.
Ram’s starting point guard King-Jhsanni Wilhite started the game with 2 three pointers made in back-to-back possessions, giving the Rams the momentum they needed early on the offensive end.
From there, it was a close battle. Point guard Willie Williams came off the bench with a hot hand, scoring two three pointers to keep the Rams alive during the first half.
Chabot’s offense got to work with just three minutes left in the second quarter, putting up an impressive 16 points, leading the Rams 43-36 going into the half.
At the start of the second, defense intensified on both sides, making every possession a hard-fought battle for points.
The Rams refused to falter, with Williams stepping up again to deliver crucial baskets when it mattered. Williams scored 28 points on the night to secure City College’s victory.
After a series of clutch plays and defensive stops the Rams managed to tie the game, sending the crowd into a frenzy of excitement.
The final moments of the game saw a nail-biting finish with guard Jermaine Haliburton securing the and-one basket to give the Rams the lead they needed to win the game.
The victory meant six straight wins for the Rams going into their game versus Ohlone.
Rams V Renegades
City College men’s basketball defeated the Ohlone Renegades 88-85 on Feb 14, propelling them closer to what would be a fifth State championship under coach Justin Labagh.
Ohlone had lost their previous three matches and were looking to turn the tide with a win on the night. The start of the game showed that, with Ohlone keeping up with the Rams and taking a five point lead going into the half.
The Gladiators came out of the break strong, extending their lead to a 16 point deficit.
The Rams started their comeback, with guard Miles Amos sinking two free throws to give the Rams their first lead since the midway point of the game. The Gladiators took back the lead right after.
Guard Ray John Spears scored the most baskets for the rams with 14 points on the night.
The game was close throughout the last quarter. With 1:17 on the clock, Amos won two free throws for the Rams after
being fouled on a drive to the basket. Amos put both shots away, closing the deficit again for the Rams.
With just seconds on the clock in the final drive of the game, Haliburton received the ball on the outside of the three point line. You didn’t need to hear the buzzer to know the game was over; The crowd’s roar echoed as the team went to celebrate with Haliburton who put away the three pointer to win the game.
City College only lost one home match this season to West Valley, succumbing to the Vikings 77-65 on Jan. 5. After their win versus Ohlone, they went on to beat Los Positas, Skyline, and Canada to secure themselves a spot in the playoffs.
The Rams’ next game will be the second round of the Northern California Regional Playoffs, on Saturday, Mar. 2, at 7:30 p.m.
Rams guard Willie Williams (3) attempts a layup in a game against Las Positas. Williams finished with a team-high
points on February 21, 2024. Bob Kinoshita/The Guardsman
Rams Guard William Williams (3) dunks the ball after receiving the lob pass from Rams Guard Jermaine Haliburton (25) in the second half of their game against Chabot on February 7, 2024. Photo by Don Collier/ The Guardsman.