Community

Adamika Village’s Daryle Allums Leads “Stop Killing Our Kids Movement” in Oakland

Published

7 years ago

August 6, 2017

One of those who will step up to work on the city’s new Department for Violence Prevention is CEO of Adamika Village, Daryle Allums, who will serve on the department’s board.

“Adamika, which in Swahili means “pure love,” is dedicated to helping people located in “deep Oakland” and beyond, who are losing their kids to violence and human trafficking,” said Allums.

“We have so much work to do that we need more foot soldiers, money and resources,” he said. “Our organization has accomplished a lot but with more people and resources we can do a lot more.”

Adamika Village was instrumental in supporting the Cheraka Wright family after Ms. Wright and her 22-month- old baby, Kayorie Wright, were shot in separate incidents.

Allums advocated for the Wright children, calling for them to be placed with the grandfather who was a pastor rather than to Child Protective Services.

“The last thing we want is for our children to become a part of the system. We want families to stay together.” Allums explained.

Adamika Village held a prayer vigil at Highland Hospital for 21-year old Devonte M. Thomas, Oakland’s first homicide of 2017. Allums aided the survivors of the March 27 West Oakland Fire, providing clothing and food and set up a committee that raised $50,000.
He talks to women on the streets with a message of hope and escape, even giving them money to take back so they don’t get in trouble.

Most Adamika Village members are mothers who have lost their children to violence. Adamika hosts an annual “Kings and Queens” celebration at Word Assembly Family Church to acknowledge leaders and supporters of their movement. Gang wars, bullying, human trafficking, mental illness and the homeless crisis are constant issues Adamika addresses.

The organization partnered with Youth Uprising to aid mentally ill residents and support them through the process, and work with activist Ken Houston to aid the homeless by feeding, clothing and tapping into problems to find solutions. Allums, a former drug dealer and addict, uses his history to his advantage.

“Even though we are a 501(3) (C) organization, the only people currently funding my organization are drug dealers or former drug dealers who admire what I’m doing out here in these streets,” he said.

He frequently can be seen on the corner of 90th Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard, alone in his wheelchair, handing out flyers to police, bus drivers or passing citizens. Allums, who suffers from Lupus, decided he had a choice. He could succumb to the disease or fight for “his kids.”

“In all humility, the disease of Lupus has not defined me. Rather, I give all glory to God who has shaped me, defined me and has given me purpose to form Adamika Village.”

For more information or to contribute to Adamika Village go to their Facebook page or call (510) 529-1477. Adamika Village is located at 801 Franklin Avenue Suite 504 in Oakland.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Greenlining Says New VW Diesel Plan a Step Forward for Disadvantaged Communities

Don't Miss

Greenlining Hosts Art Exhibit Inspired by Black Panther Party Legacy

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Published

5 days ago

November 12, 2024

Oakland Post

Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

STREAMED LIVE!
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/PostNewsGroup
YOUTUBE: youtube.com/blackpressusatv
X: twitter.com/blackpressusa

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

Published

1 week ago

November 9, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

OP-ED: The Illusion of Allyship. White Women, Your Yard Signs Mean Nothing to Me

NNPA NEWSWIRE – “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

Published

1 week ago

November 9, 2024

Oakland Post

Political yard signs can symbolize intentions and allegiance. But this year, they’ve also symbolized betrayal. During this general election, Black women were led to believe that more White women would stand with us. Exit polls, however, told a different story. Despite overwhelming displays of support, more White women still chose to vote for the convicted felon, reality TV star, and rapist. White women answered the call but left us hanging at the polls.

A Familiar Disappointment

I live in DeKalb County, Georgia, and the abundance of Harris-Walz yard signs could’ve fooled me. But I’ve seen this before, back when Stacey Abrams ran for governor. White women showed up, put up signs, attended rallies, knocked on doors, and phone-banked. Yet, when it came time to vote, they let us down—not once but twice. I’ve been here for over 15 years, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that political signs are symbols without weight.

In every election, I’ve talked with White women. Most aren’t the primary earners in their families and vote along party lines, aligning with the preferences of their fathers and husbands. These conversations reveal a reluctance to break from tradition, even when their votes affect women and certainly when their votes impact the lives of people who look like me.

The Illusion of Solidarity—Symbols Are Not Enough

On social media, I’m seeing White women posting pictures of blue bracelets to “prove” they didn’t vote for Trump. “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

I’ve seen Black Lives Matter signs and black squares posted on Instagram to “prove” support for Black people, but we now know that was a lie, too. Will those same people who claimed Black lives mattered now take down their Harris-Walz signs and show their true selves?

Navigating these truths is a daily struggle for me—professionally and socially. White women often misuse their privilege, supporting us only when it’s convenient. Seeing overqualified Black women sabotaged or abandoned by White women at critical moments is a constant emotional challenge. It’s exhausting to live with this reality, especially when solidarity seems like something they pick up and discard at will.

One clever campaign ad from Harris-Walz that spoke directly to White women. “Your Vote, Your Choice” emphasized that their vote was private—independent of their household situation. Another was from Olivia Howell Dreizen, the “Vote Without Fear” campaign, which empowered women to consider the greater impact of their choices. But it seems many still couldn’t choose the roadmap to freedom—even when it was handed to them.

A Call for Action Beyond Words

White women, I want to believe you care, but actions speak louder than yard signs, bracelets, or Instagram posts. Show up in our communities, advocate in your workplaces, and stand up to dismantle the structures that uphold white supremacy. Only through real action will we know where you stand.

If you choose not to act, we see you—and we know exactly where you stand. Good luck these next four years.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association.