Today you can open a Bay Area newspaper or online news source and find plenty of negative stories about East Oakland. Of course, most of them are true. A few minutes ago I read a story about two boys, ages 8 and 10, who tried to rob an ARCO gas station with a BB gun on 98th and International. It's depressing, and it is reality, just like the four police officers shot down at 74th and MacArthur, and just like Oscar Grant shot in the back by a BART police officer at the Fruitvale BART Station. I suppose we do need to know that these things happen.
However, what if at this time in East Oakland, we should also make a point to lift up the good things, the people who love this community and serve fellow humans day in and day out? I'd love to see a series of articles on the life and legacy of J. Alfred Smith Sr. of Allen Temple Baptist Church. If you haven't read his biography, On the Jericho Road, you should. What about the work with young people being done over at Youth Uprising? How about some stories on Harry Williams and his book, Straight Outta East Oakland, through his own Soul Shaker Publishing? What about neighborhood leaders volunteering their time and expertise to work with our NCPC's (Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils), serving each police beat? What about Faith Network of the East Bay, connecting churches willing to serve with under-resourced public schools in the Flatlands?
Does more attention to the violence and crime sell newspapers? Or am I just on a kick to emphasize the good in the midst of the evil and there really is a balance in the local media?
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