Black History

COMMENTARY: On this Solemn Anniversary; What Trump Can Learn from MLK’s Teachings about Leadership

BLACK VOICE NEWS — April 4th marked 51 years since Martin Luther King, Jr. was felled by an assassin’s bullet, yet the world continues to embrace his powerful teachings—teachings that have inspired millions everywhere who continue his fight against all forms of injustice.

Published

6 years ago

April 11, 2019

Oakland Post

S.E. Williams

April 4^thmarked 51 years since Martin Luther King, Jr. was felled by an assassin’s bullet, yet the world continues to embrace his powerful teachings—teachings that have inspired millions everywhere who continue his fight against all forms of injustice.

King dedicated his life to closing the fissures that continue to exist between races while encouraging the recognition of the oneness of humanity. Despite the many challenges he faced—which included constant struggles, conflicts and setbacks—he achieved meaningful progress in his quest for equality by leveraging the uncompromising power of agape love.

“ll life is interrelated,” King preached noting, “that somehow we’re caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

King also believed, “Words mean something.” He encouraged people to speak up for what they believe in, while at the same time stressing when you do speak up, you should first, be very sure of what you want to say and then. . . you should say it with conviction.

Through the long years of the Civil Rights movement King challenged Americans of all races to take a stand on the issue. “here comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right,” he encouraged.

Today, King’s words seem to resonate more powerfully than ever when considered in the context of modern-day America.

This is especially true when considered in light of the current president who continues to smash all civil and political norms and who is working aggressively, at cross-purposes from the wishes and desires of the majority of Americans, to undo progress on a myriad of issues ranging from health care to climate change, from immigration to the environment and the list goes on.

The future of this nation currently rests in the hands of a leader who is more concerned with catering to the whims of his political base than working on behalf of all Americans. This, in addition to his bizarre attentiveness to and fawning over the world’s despots, coupled with his narcissistic self-aggrandizement and relentless lying has left little room in the public square for anything beyond the constant churning of empty promises and hateful mandates.

As a leader, King succeeded in ways America’s current president never will because King understood that being a good leader, a wise leader, has little to do with popularity. Unlike the nation’s 45^th President, King knew, “A man all wrapped up in himself is a mighty small package.”

This article originally appeared in Black Voice News.

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Oakland Post: Week of March 12 – 18, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 12 – 18, 2025

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Arts and Culture

Beverly Lorraine Greene: A Pioneering Architect and Symbol of Possibility and Progress

Greene graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1936 with a degree in Architecture — a remarkable accomplishment for an African American woman at the time. She was never discouraged by the racial and gender discrimination that saturated her field.

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3 weeks ago

March 3, 2025

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Beverly Lorraine Greene. Public domain photo.

By Tamara Shiloh

In the mid-20th century, Beverly Lorraine Greene was recognized as the first African American woman licensed to practice architecture in the United States.

Greene was born on Oct. 4, 1915, in Chicago during an era when opportunities for African Americans, particularly women, were severely limited.

Her parents, James and Vera Greene, were deeply invested in her education, instilling in her a belief in the power of intellect and perseverance. She grew up during the Great Migration that transformed Chicago starting in 1900.

Greene continued her education, earning a master’s degree in City Planning and Housing in 1937, also from the University of Illinois. Her ambition was not merely to design structures but to shape spaces that fostered equity and community. In 1942, she became the first African American woman licensed as an architect in the United States, obtaining her credentials in Illinois. This groundbreaking achievement, however, did not translate immediately into job opportunities.

Early in her career, she faced significant discrimination from firms unwilling to hire a Black woman. However, her determination never wavered. In 1945, Beverly moved to New York City, a place she believed could offer broader professional opportunities.

She joined the architectural department of the New York City Housing Authority, focusing on affordable housing projects. Her work during this time reflected her commitment to using architecture as a tool for social justice, ensuring that marginalized communities had access to well-designed, dignified living spaces.

Greene’s talents soon drew the attention of prominent firms. She was hired by Isadore Rosenfield, a respected architect known for designing hospitals. She contributed to the design of healthcare facilities, including the modernization of Harlem Hospital. Her portfolio expanded in collaboration with architectural personalities such as Marcel Breuer and Edward Durell Stone.

Notably, she worked on the prestigious UNESCO headquarters in Paris — a landmark project that brought her skills to an international stage. Her involvement underscored her ability to navigate the intricacies of large-scale, global projects, proving that her talents transcended the limitations society sought to impose.

Greene’s career was tragically cut short when she passed away unexpectedly in 1957 at the age of 41. Though her life was brief, her impact was profound. She shattered entrenched barriers, paving the way for future generations of Black architects and women in the field.