We are all part of one another
Dear Friends,
Last Friday was Juneteenth, the celebration of African American emancipation from slavery. Next week, the 4th of July will be another national celebration of freedom — our country’s independence from Great Britain. But with the looming asterisk of freedom for whom? In fact, Independence Day in 1776 was limited to white males. As Frederick Douglas described it, “What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is constant victim.” Even 244 years later, freedom does not ring for Black people in this country.
Over the past few weeks, numerous organizations and businesses have declared allyship with the Black community, that Black Lives do indeed Matter. Principles around equity and inclusion has moved front and center to a much greater circle of people, organizations, and even corporations.
As a community development organization founded by activists in Oakland Chinatown, EBALDC wants to affirm our allyship and proclaim loudly that Black Lives Matter. Though we have long approached our work with an aim to be equitable and inclusive of ALL who live here, it feels especially important to make this important declaration in this time.
As we acknowledge and celebrate the significance of Juneteenth while looking towards the Fourth of July holiday, EBALDC will continue to invest in communities to lift up their historical and cultural heritage, support Black-led community development efforts, bolster Black entrepreneurs in their enterprises at our commercial properties, and partner with Black-led organizations in our collaborative work across Oakland will continue. Simultaneously we will thoughtfully and strategically continue to work through a lens of equity and inclusion, strengthen our internal mechanisms to uplift our staff’s diverse voices, create space to dialogue amongst one another, and will strive to dig deeper to be even stronger allies.
As our former San Pablo Hotel resident and Nobel Prize nominated civil rights leader Yuri Kochiyama said, “We are all part of one another.”
In Solidarity,
EBLADC Executive Leadership Team