Bay Area

FAME’S Pastor Smith Claims “Triumph Over Tragedy” — Fire Mobilizes a City and a Nation

FAME, the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Oakland, held its first service at a temporary location, Temple Beth Abraham on MacArthur Blvd, after their Telegraph Avenue building went up in flames last month. The temple is just 12 walking blocks away from FAME’s charred structure.

Published

2 years ago

March 6, 2023

Oakland Post

Pastor Rodney D. Smith of FAME, the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Oakland addresses the media after Sunday services at Temple Beth Abraham on MacArthur Blvd., it's temporary location. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

Amidst the music notes of an organ and shouts of “Amen,” throughout the super-charged service, Pastor Rodney D. Smith encouraged his congregation to stand on their faith. He also predicted that FAME, with the help of friends throughout the nation, would rise above the ashes be better than before. Smith’s sermon topic dealt with the concept of liminal space, which is defined as a period of transition. He cited the biblical scripture of three Hebrews engulfed in fire, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednago, but miraculously unburned and protected by God’s liminal space.

“You make sure the history books say, ‘They rose above the ashes and whatever was before, it’s greater now!’ We didn’t give up or throw in the towel,” said Smith.

On Sunday night Feb. 26, fire fighters doused the FAME building with water hoses for over 5 hours. Video footage of the fire, which burned into early Monday morning was tweeted initially by the Oakland Fire Department. The footage went viral, allowing people across the nation to view the fiery flames and billowing smoke, causing the tragedy to resonate beyond the local community. The fact that FAME is the oldest Black church in Oakland further fueled empathy toward a homeless congregation and a piece of American history burning down.

“Family you are no longer FAME, you are now America’s church,” said Smith, as parishioners stood from their pews, cheering in agreement.

Rev. Smith said Rabbi Mark Bloom, Temple Beth Abraham’s leader, welcomed FAME’s congregants with open arms and has offered space for their services through March. During the week, Bloom spoke to the media saying he was familiar with Pastor Smith, so extending the invitation was natural. Rabbi Bloom also expressed that the commonality of the history struggles and abuse of Black people and Jewish people being “othered and ostracized” throughout society added to the significance of the FAME Oakland’s use of the synagogue.

Pastor Rodney Smith said he was grateful for the outpouring of support and is “laser-focused on keeping hope, a bright future and continuity of services for our members at the forefront.”

Smith, originally based in Atlanta, Georgia, began pastoring in Oakland two years ago. “Rabbi Bloom was one of the first faith leaders to reach out to me at that time, giving me a tour of this very facility,” said Smith of the synagogue. “We had lunch and became friends. We had no idea we’d (FAME) be here two years later.”

While FAME will worship at the temple for a short time, they have yet to determine a long-term plan.

Smith also plans to produce an ecumenical service to celebrate Oakland’s resilience. “The building is burned down, but the ministry doesn’t stop. The church is not the building, the church is what’s in your heart. And with our faith, we believe that this happened for a reason giving us an opportunity to bring people together,” he said.

While the start of the fire is still under investigation, there has been some speculation that a homeless person may have started a fire to create warmth. “The frustration is that California and the city have many resources and with homeless people living under bridges and in their cars, this is an old topic that needs to be addressed. This fire presents an opportunity for us to do something about it,” said Smith.

Pastor Smith strongly feels that his church’s tragedy will change the trajectory of the entire city.

Smith said, “FAME is Oakland. FAME is Black History. FAME is strong. Oakland is strong. FAME was one of the first institutions in the area to educate Black people.” He described a scenario that would have made Martin Luther King Jr. proud: The city re-examines itself and billionaires, millionaires, the middle class, the poor, the elected officials, public officials and faith leaders of all faiths rise up together to not only rebuild the church — but transform the community and city.

“It’s going to happen. The history books will show how the tragedy at 3701 Telegraph led everyone to step up to the plate and change everything.”

After Sunday service and a brief press conference on site, Smith was chauffeured to Acts Full Gospel Church of God in Christ in East Oakland to gain fund-raising support to rebuild FAME.

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Activism

Asm. Corey Jackson Proposes Safe Parking for Homeless College Students Sleeping in Cars

Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), is the author of AB 90, which would require community colleges and California State University campuses to create overnight parking programs where students can sleep safely in their vehicles. With one in four community college students in California experiencing homelessness in the past year, Jackson says the state must act urgently.

Published

21 hours ago

April 28, 2025

Oakland Post

Assemblymember Corey Jackson. File photo.

By Bo Tefu
California Black Media

As California’s housing crisis continues to impact students, new legislation, Assembly Bill (AB) 90, promises to allow college students without stable housing to sleep in their cars on campus, offering a stark but practical solution aimed at immediate relief.

“This just deals with the harsh realities that we find ourselves in,” he said at a recent hearing.

The bill passed its first committee vote and is gaining attention as housing affordability remains a top concern across the state. California rents are more than 30% above the national average, and long waitlists for student housing have left thousands in limbo. CSU reported more than 4,000 students on its housing waitlist last year.

Supporters stress that the bill is not a long-term solution, but a humane step toward helping students who have no other place to go. A successful pilot program at Long Beach City College has already shown that safe, supervised overnight parking can work, giving students access to restrooms, Wi-Fi, and a secure environment.

However, the CSU and community college systems oppose the bill, citing funding concerns. Critics also worry about safety and oversight. But Jackson and student advocates argue the crisis demands bold action.

“If we know students are already sleeping in their cars, why not help them do it safely?” said Ivan Hernandez, president of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges.

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Faces Around the Bay: Author Karen Lewis Took the ‘Detour to Straight Street’

“My life has been a roller-coaster with an unlimited ride wristband! I was raised in Berkeley during the time of Ron Dellums, the Black Panthers, and People’s Park. I was a Hippie kid, my Auntie cut off all our hair so we could wear the natural styles like her and Angela Davis.

Published

1 day ago

April 28, 2025

Oakland Post

Karen Lewis. Courtesy photo.

By Barbara Fluhrer

I met Karen Lewis on a park bench in Berkeley. She wrote her story on the spot.

I got married young, then ended up getting divorced, raising two boys into men. After my divorce, I had a stroke that left me blind and paralyzed. I was homeless, lost in a fog with blurred vision.

Jesus healed me! I now have two beautiful grandkids. At 61, this age and this stage, I am finally free indeed. Our Lord Jesus Christ saved my soul. I now know how to be still. I lay at his feet. I surrender and just rest. My life and every step on my path have already been ordered. So, I have learned in this life…it’s nice to be nice. No stressing, just blessings. Pray for the best and deal with the rest.

Nobody is perfect, so forgive quickly and love easily!”

Lewis’ book “Detour to Straight Street” is available on Amazon.

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Barbara Lee Accepts Victory With “Responsibility, Humility and Love”

“I accept your choice with a deep sense of responsibility, humility, and love. Oakland is a deeply divided City,” Lee said in an April 19 statement. “I answered the call to run to unite our community, so that I can represent every voter, and we can all work together as One Oakland to solve our most pressing problems.”

Published

1 day ago

April 28, 2025

Oakland Post

Barbara Lee. File photo.

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌,
California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌

As a candidate for mayor, former U.S. Representative Barbara Lee released a “10-point plan” last week to reassure residents that she will tackle Oakland’s most pressing challenges.

Now that she has edged out her competitors in the ranked-choice special election with 50% or more of the vote, the former Congresswoman, who represented parts of the Bay Area in the U.S. House of Representatives, can put her vision in motion as the city’s first Black woman mayor.

On Saturday evening, Taylor conceded to Lee. There are still about 300 Vote-by-Mail ballots left to be verified, according to county election officials. The ballots will be processed on April 21 and April 22.

“This morning, I called Congresswoman Barbara Lee to congratulate her on becoming the next Mayor of Oakland,” Taylor said in a statement.

“I pray that Mayor-Elect Lee fulfills her commitment to unify Oakland by authentically engaging the 47% of Oaklanders who voted for me and who want pragmatic, results-driven leadership.”

The influential Oakland Post endorsed Lee’s campaign, commending her leadership on the local, state, and federal levels.

Paul Cobb, The Post’s publisher, told California Black Media that Lee will bring back “respect and accountability” to the mayor’s office.

“She is going to be a collegial leader drawing on the advice of community nonprofit organizations and those who have experience in dealing with various issues,” Cobb said. “She’s going to try to do a consensus-building thing among those who know the present problems that face the city.”

Born in El Paso, Texas, Lee’s family moved to California while she was in high school. At 20 years old, Lee divorced her husband after the birth of her first child. After the split, Lee went through a tough period, becoming homeless and having to apply for public assistance to make ends meet.

But destitution did not deter the young woman.

Lee groomed herself to become an activist and advocate in Oakland and committed to standing up for the most vulnerable citizens in her community.

Lee traveled to Washington, D.C. to work for then U.S. Congressman Ron Dellums after receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mills College in Oakland in 1973. Lee later won a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) fellowship to attend the School of Social Welfare, and she earned a Master of Social Work from the University of California-Berkeley in 1975.

Lee later served in the California State Assembly and State Senate before she was elected to Congress in 1998.

After serving in the U.S. Congress for more than 25 years, Lee ran unsuccessfully for California’s U.S. Senate in the 2024 primary election.

Lee joins current Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass and former San Francisco Mayor London Breed as Black women serving as chief executives of major cities in California over the last few years.