"The recognized pioneers included, in part: Ida Louise Jackson, California's first Black public school teacher; Bobby Hutton of the Black Panther Party; Marcus Foster, former Oakland Unified School District Superintendent; pioneering attorney Washington Oglesby; Jenny Prentiss, beloved nanny to author Jack London; Glenn Burke, trailblazing LGBTQ+ Major League Baseball player; and Mildred Parish Massey, the mother of Mayor Lee, who was a courageous civil rights leader and one of the NAACP plaintiffs who helped integrate the University of Texas at El Paso."
"A guided docent tour followed the program, allowing guests to walk on the grounds where the stories of the mentioned past Black leaders and other luminaries are preserved, and to honor their legacy, restore history, and reflect on the responsibilities we carry forward."
A February 28, 2026 program at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland recognized 26 Black pioneers buried there, adding special new markers to identify them and their achievements. The event commemorated the 100th Anniversary of Black History Month and was led by local leaders including Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, U.S. Representative Lateefah Simon, and historians. Recognized pioneers included California's first Black public school teacher Ida Louise Jackson, Black Panther Bobby Hutton, OUSD Superintendent Marcus Foster, attorney Washington Oglesby, Jenny Prentiss, and LGBTQ+ baseball player Glenn Burke. Mildred Parish Massey, Mayor Lee's mother and civil rights leader, was also honored for her role as an NAACP plaintiff in integrating the University of Texas at El Paso. A guided docent tour allowed guests to reflect on these leaders' legacies.
Read at San Francisco Bay Times
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]