By Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm Sez

Throughout history, when decisions were needed, the answer has often been “no.”

‘No,’ certain people don’t get the same education as others. ‘No,’ there is no such thing as equality. ‘No,’ voting can be denied and ‘no,’ the laws are different, depending on the color of one’s skin. And in the new book, “Resist!” by Rita Omokha, ‘no,’ there is not an obedient acceptance of those things.

In 1995, after she and her brothers traveled from their native Nigeria to join their mother at her new home in the South Bronx, young Omokha’s eyes were opened. She quickly understood that the color of her skin – which was “synonymous with endless striving and a pursuit of excellence” in Nigeria – was “so problematic in America.”

That became a bigger matter to Omokha later, 15 years after her brother was deported: she “saw” him in George Floyd, and it shook her. Troubled, she traveled to America on a “pilgrimage for understanding [her] Blackness…” She began to think about the “Black young people across America” who hadn’t been or wouldn’t be quiet about racism any longer.

She starts this collection of stories with Ella Josephine Baker, whose parents and grandparents modeled activism and who, because of her own student activism, would be “crowned the mother of the Civil Rights Movement.” Baker, in fact, was the woman who formed the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, or SNCC, in 1960.

Trending

Cornelia “Connie” Baker, 97

Nine teenagers, known as the Scottsboro Nine were wrongly arrested for raping two white women in 1931 and were all released, thanks to the determination of white lawyer-allies who were affiliated with the International Labor Defense and the outrage of students on campuses around America.

Students refused to let a “Gentleman’s Agreement” pass when it came to sports and equality in 1940. Barbara Johns demanded equal education under the law in Virginia in 1951. Huey Newton and Bobby Seale formed the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in 1966.  And after Trayvon Martin (2012) and George Floyd (2020) were killed, students used the internet as a new form of fighting for justice.

No doubt, by now, you’ve read a lot of books about activism. There are many of them out there, and they’re pretty hard to miss. With that in mind, there are reasons not to miss “Resist!”

You’ll find the main one by looking between the lines and in each chapter’s opening.

There, Omokha weaves her personal story in with that of activists at different times through the decades, matching her experiences with history and making the whole timeline even more relevant.

In doing so, the point of view she offers – that of a woman who wasn’t totally raised in an atmosphere filled with racism, who wasn’t immersed in it her whole life – lets these historical accounts land with more impact.

This book is for people who love history or a good, short biography, but it’s also excellent reading for anyone who sees a need for protest or action and questions the status quo. If that’s the case, then “Resist!” may be the answer.

“Resist! How a Century of Young Black Activists Shaped America” by Rita Omokha, c.2024, St. Martin’s Press. $29.00             

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

By Tamara Shiloh

George Alcorn was a trailblazing physicist and engineer whose groundbreaking inventions transformed aerospace technology and imaging devices. Best known for his creation of the X-ray imaging spectrometer, Alcorn’s work at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) not only advanced space exploration but also reshaped the scientific community’s understanding of deep space phenomena.

Born in Indianapolis in 1940, Alcorn’s scientific curiosity was sparked early on by his father, an automobile mechanic. “I was a very fortunate boy, in that my hero was my daddy,” George once shared with the National Inventors Hall of Fame®. “I thought that what my father was doing was science.” Together, the pair spent hours tinkering with car engines, setting the stage for Alcorn’s future in STEM.

That foundation propelled him through an impressive academic journey. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from Occidental College in 1962, he pursued graduate studies at Howard University, where he received a master’s degree in 1963 and a doctorate in atomic and molecular physics in 1967.

Alcorn began his career in private industry, working at IBM on high-performance semiconductor devices. In 1978, he joined NASA GSFC, where his contributions revolutionized imaging technology and space exploration.

In 1982, he invented the X-ray imaging spectrometer, a device that allowed scientists to more accurately detect and analyze elemental and chemical components. The innovation earned him the title of 1984 NASA GSFC Inventor of the Year. This spectrometer has since been used in planetary mapping, star charting, and deep space exploration, and its descendants continue to shape modern imaging technologies.

Trending

State Fiscal Austerity Agency Says 11 School Districts Face Similar Fate as OUSD

Beyond his spectrometer, Alcorn contributed to the development of the Freedom Space Station in collaboration with international agencies and invented the Airborne LIDAR Topographic Mapping System (ALTMS). ALTMS uses light to analyze Earth’s surface and has become integral to data collection for environmental studies and drone technology. 

Alongside his technical achievements, Alcorn was a passionate educator. He taught physics and engineering at Howard University and mentored underrepresented doctoral candidates at the University of the District of Columbia. Recognizing the importance of engaging students early, he co-founded the Saturday Academy, a weekend program aimed at inspiring inner-city middle schoolers in Washington, D.C., to develop an interest in math and science.

“I believe it’s so important to start learning and enjoying learning as young as possible,” Alcorn said. “It gives children even more of an advantage.”

Alcorn’s contributions earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious Robert H. Goddard Award of Merit from NASA GSFC in 2010 and the Alumni Seal Award for Professional Achievement from Occidental College in 2012.

Reflecting on his work, Alcorn remarked, “If you have a good, interesting project, work is not coming to work – it’s coming to an adventure.”

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

By Ken Epstein

Questions continue to swirl in Oakland and throughout the Bay Area over the possibility that Congresswoman Barbara Lee might run for mayor of Oakland after she leaves Congress in January.

Already, her backers are organizing to urge her to run for the position left vacant by the recall of former Mayor Sheng Thao, which became effective on Dec. 17.

At present, Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas is serving temporarily as mayor.

Lee is already meeting with city leaders and learning more about the major issues facing the city. In a social media post on Dec. 20, she released a statement clarifying her timeline for making a decision.

“The decision to run for Mayor of Oakland, a city that I have long called home, is not one I take lightly,” she said.

“As my time in Congress wraps up, my current priority is navigating the crisis before us in DC. I am working around the clock to reach a deal that will keep our government open and provide crucial resources for my district,” she continued.

“I will announce my intentions in early January,” Congresswoman Lee said.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post