"I Heard That" -- Super Bowl Sunday, Michelle Obama and Espanola Jackson

by Rochelle Metcalfe, 2008-02-06

Super Bowl Sunday always a blast, biggest sports party of the year. A thriller in the last moments of the 4th quarter to witness Super Bowl History when the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots - what a game!

Check it out - Michelle Obama, pretty wife of Senator Barack Obama, captured my attention, glued to C-Span’s coverage of the Barack Obama for President rally at the University of California, Los Angeles! I could not leave my pad to join Big Mac McGriff and his Super Bowl Posse, late, mesmerized by Michelle’s rallying speech talking about her man! The Sistuh’ can talk! A phenomenal woman whose feisty, intelligent, upbeat, and tough!

The Obama momentum has ignited many - Stevie Wonder a spiritual soul in music, spoke about “our Ancestors” and a vision of a united people. In the past supported Candidate Hillary Clinton, now on the Obama train. Further delayed when the surprised appearance of California’s First Lady Maria Shriver who stated she only decided earlier that morning to join Michelle, supporters Oprah Winfrey and Caroline Kennedy for Obama! She praised the Senator as a dreamer, and inspirational leader.

Stunning to see folks like Maria, the Kennedys especially, come out for Obama; as of this writing Super Tuesday morning - disappointed Black leaders have not come forward - go on record to support Obama; especially those who fought during the Civil Rights struggle of the 50S, 60S! Perhaps prefer to sit on the sidelines to see what happens after Super Bowl Tuesday!

White Politicians running for office or their supporters always come trumping to Black Churches for their vote - then you never see them until another election! The City Preacher - Rev. Amos Brown, Senior Pastor Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, has endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton. Heard Sunday morning Clinton supporters Senator Diane Feinstein, husband Richard Blum, her top staff person Percy Pinkney joined by Faith-based Bishop Ted Frazier visited during morning service (also communion which cause church service to run a little longer).

Heard from a reliable source and member, the City Preacher had been warned by the powers of the church, no politicking (as Rev. is known to do in what is called an open pulpit), if Hillary’s name was mentioned from the pulpit they would rise and holler Obama, and the possibility some would walk out!

So you would imagine when Senator Feinstein spoke to the congregation, expecting to hear a rally call to get out the vote for Clinton, surprised, thought it odd Clinton’s name was not mentioned; her message urged to get out the Democratic vote! So you can see how Obama’s candidacy is polarizing Black churchgoers whose votes are taken for granted - hey there’s a change!!!

Back to Super Bowl - Game play had started when I arrived at Big Mac McGriff’s San Francisco home. When the game ended not only were there cheers for Giants Quarterback Eli Manning and teammates, but hollers of “Obama, Obama Super bowl Tuesday!” Everyone, filled with Mac’s smokin’ finger-lickin’ delicious barbecue, were geared up for Super Tuesday ready for an Obama big upset!!!

February is Black History Month - a time to honor African Americans who have made a contribution to their community and make a difference! What better time to wish Happy 75th Birthday to Bayview Community Activist Espanola Jackson! February 9, Grace Tabernacle Community Church, located in the Bayview District of San Francisco, Pastor Rev. Ernest Jackson (no relations), her family, the church family cordially invite the community and friends to join them as they celebrate this major life milestone of 75 years, and to commemorate more than 50 years of dedicated service to social, political, and environmental causes that have impacted her community.

When asked Espanola thoughts on reaching her 75th birthday, she stated “For me, seventy-five is just another number! My work is not yet done! I remain committed to continuing the fight for social and environmental injustice and improving quality of life for my people that live in the Bayview Hunters Point Community.”

Espanola is still activating on behalf of her community, issues that continue to bother her - the Naval Shipyard for one, and affordable housing in the Bayview. She has been active with Supervisor Chris Daly and others in a signature gathering campaign to place The Bayview Hunters Point Coalition Community Affordable Housing Initiative on the June ballot which was due by February 4.

The initiative would mandate that 50 percent of all housing built by Lennar Corporation be affordable for those making between 30-80% of the area’s median income. The community contacted four San Francisco Supervisors for their support; only Chris Daly got on board.

Opposing the Bayview plan, developer Lennar and the city placed another initiative on the June Ballot backed by The Mayor, Supervisor Sophie Maxwell (Dist. 10), Redevelopment Agency and other prominent San Francisco Politicians that support Lennar. The plan require Lennar to build 25-percent of affordable housing, with a promise the residents may return (no guarantee); the Bayview group state in their initiative they shall return! The group, well aware what happened with Western Addition residents who received the same promise of return during gentrification of the area, never made it back!

Amazing, the Bayview group collected names in just 10 days, while according to Espanola the opposition group had two months. She called me Monday with good news - not only were the needed 7,168 signatures collected, but well over the mark - 11,818 turned in Monday afternoon at City Hall, and there to join the group. The future of the Bayview will be in the hands of citywide Voters.

Born in Houston, Texas, Espanola came to San Francisco with her parents in 1943, lived on Geary and Lyons in residence once inhabited by the Japanese community who were incarcerated in relocation camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941). In 1948 they moved to segregated public housing in Bayview Hunters Point, a time Blacks and Whites could not live next door to each other! 1954 Public Housing Law changed all that!

I asked Espanola when she started on the road of activism who was her mentor “Mrs. Elouise Westbrook! I admired what she was doing in Bayview, and wanted to be like her.” She went on to say Westbrook fought for Double Rock residents about to be evicted from their homes. “She fought for what she believed in - she was the Moses of the 60s !” Adding, “I consider myself the Ezekiel of the day - a watchman for my community - listening to what my people are saying - letting people know what God said. Many are called but few are chosen, there are many who have chosed themselves! “

HEY, IT’S NICE TO BE NICE AND TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE...LOOK FOR ME...I'LL BE THERE...
E-mail Rochelle at iheard@earthlink.net