Events

Dr. King’s “Bank of Justice is Bankrupt” Speech Was Tested in Oakland in 1962

Published

10 years ago

January 15, 2016

When the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited the Oakland Auditorium Dec. 28, 1962 before a 7,000-plus crowd, the themes of his famous March on Washington speech were tested.

Many of the economic justice ideas that King presented, which were a precursor to a call for reparations from the Freedmen’s Bank experience, were also presented months earlier at the McClymonds High School “Mind of the Ghetto” Conference, sponsored by the Afro-American Association, which Malcolm X, Don Warden, Cassius Clay, Floyd McKissick, Wil Ussery, Thomas Berkley, Paul Cobb and many other Black leaders attended.

Rev. Ray Williams, pastor of Morning Star Baptist who attended the historic event, said: “Pastor Edward Stovall of the progressive Baptist Church of Berkeley led a group of ministers into history. Rev. Stovall reached across the denominational lines to invite ministers of other faiths including Rev. Roy Nichols, a Methodist leader; activist George Henderson of the Star Baptist Church; Rev. Peyton E. Pierce, president of the Baptist Minister Union; and several leaders of the Catholic Church.

“The predominantly Black audience signaled for a political awakening that set the stage for the elections of Attorney Thomas Berkley and Barney Hilburn to the Oakland Broad of Education, and Byron Rumford to the State Assembly.”

Rev. Frank Pinkard, pastor of Evergreen Baptist, said, “King captured our desire for economic redemption when he opened his March on Washington speech where he said the US Government has given Blacks a note marked “insufficient funds.” That part of the speech should have been equally glamorized as the famous I have a dream phrase.”

In his speech King said: “We have come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.

“This note was a promise that all men, yes black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

“It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds.’

“But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.

“So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now.”

Assembly member Rob Bonta and Post Publisher Paul Cobb will speak about Dr. King on Sunday, Jan. 17, at 2:30 p.m. at Morning Star Baptist, 1136 34th St. at Adeline in Oakland.

Bonta’s father and Cobb marched with King in Selma in 1965. Cobb will also speak at 11:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian in Oakland on Sunday.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Related Topics:Cassius Clay Malcolm X MLK Oakland Paul Cobb Rob Bonta Thomas Berkley

Up Next

Charter School Teachers Fired

Don't Miss

San Leandro Library to Host Mystery Author Forum

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

January 2, 2026

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

Activism

Big God Ministry Gives Away Toys in Marin City

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grow up.

Published

3 weeks ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

From top left: Pastor David Hall asking the children what they want to be when they grow up. Worship team Jake Monaghan, Ruby Friedman, and Keri Carpenter. Children lining up to receive their presents. Photos by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

Big God Ministries, pastored by David Hall, gave toys to the children in Marin City on Monday, Dec. 15, on the lawn near the corner of Drake Avenue and Donahue Street.

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Around 75 parents and children were there to receive the presents, which consisted mainly of Gideon Bibles, Cat in the Hat pillows, Barbie dolls, Tonka trucks, and Lego building sets.

A half dozen volunteers from the Big God Ministry, including Donnie Roary, helped to set up the tables for the toy giveaway. The worship music was sung by Ruby Friedman, Keri Carpenter, and Jake Monaghan, who also played the accordion.

Big God Ministries meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA Their phone number is (415) 797-2567.