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Grandmothers Who Help Welcomes You
Teaching Black History in the 21st century
The very moment a child is exposed to their own history, a world of possibilities presents itself. It is essentially, the knowledge of one’s past that paves the way for one’s future. While there’s no doubt that the historical footprint of African Americans within these United States has been marred with pain, degradation and injustice. Notably however, there is also a footprint overflowing with accomplishment, triumph, strength, and value, reaching back from before Jamestown 1619 through to this present day.
Through our black history presentations, educational programs and lectures, Grandmothers Who Help is determined to replace the barrage of negative images pressed upon black youth in almost every aspect of today’s society, and the lack of inclusion within US History lessons taught throughout schools across this nation. We work with teachers, librarians, churches and community organizations to create an experience that for one child builds pride and for another creates bridges of understanding.
We are determined not only to use black history as lessons of the past, but also as a resource to connect to the future. Our presentations bring full exposure to current and historical figures who make up a long lineage of scientist, educators, politicians, civil rights leaders, musicians, inventors, doctors, domestic workers, and entrepreneurs. Those whose contributions are not only woven within the fabric of these United States, but also played one of the most important roles in helping the United Stated of America become the economic powerhouse it is today.
Knowledge is power, and by opening up [their own] history to a black child, we are building in them self-awareness, pride and the permission to dream…to dream big!
Farraha Kwanzaa
Celebrate Kwanzaa with friends and family
Habari Gani - Whats the news of the day?
December 26th - UMOJA (oo-mo-jah) Unity
To strive for and maintain Unity in the family, community and race.
12-27 - Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
12-28 -Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.
12- 29- Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together
12-30-Nia (Purpose)
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
12-31-Kuumba (Creativity)
To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
01-01-22-Imani (Faith)
To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle
Nguzo Saba
Source: Kwanzaa Book
The Seven Symbols
Mazao (The Crops) These are symbolic of African harvest celebrations and of the rewards of productive and collective labor.
Mkeka (The Mat) This is symbolic of our tradition and history and therefore, the foundation on which we build.
Kinara (The Candle Holder) This is symbolic of our roots, our parent people -- continental Africans.
Muhindi (The Corn) This is symbolic of our children and our future which they embody.
Mishumaa Saba (The Seven Candles) These are symbolic of the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles, the matrix and minimum set of values which African people are urged to live by in order to rescue and reconstruct their lives in their own image and according to their own needs.
Kikombe cha Umoja (The Unity Cup) This is symbolic of the foundational principle and practice of unity which makes all else possible.
Zawadi (The Gifts) These are symbolic of the labor and love of parents and the commitments made and kept by the children
Christmas Toy Give Away 2022
Sunday December 25, 2022
Holy Cross Church
949 55th Street
(North) Oakland, CA 94608
2:30 - 4:30 pm
Pastor Errol Ussher
Registration Is Now Closed
Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday Provides Avenues For You To Help Thru.
Sponsorship:
You can sponsor a Black History presentation or a Code Your Botz event at a K-12 school, or at a community event both public & private.
Volunteer:
There are countless opportunities to volunteer virtually or in person with our organization.
Donate:
Donations are key to Grandmothers Who Help, Inc. being able to continue to harness the energy cultivated by teaching and helping in our community
Save Black History In Our Schools.
This Giving Tuesday
Help Us Make The Difference!
Make Good Trouble!
Remembering Rep. John Lewis on the 1-year Anniversary of the civil rights Icon's Death
Lewis died on July 17, 2020
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down, begging for his life and repeatedly saying "I can't breathe"
Floyd's death triggered demonstrations and protests in many U.S. cities and around the world against police brutality, police racism, and lack of police accountability.
George Floyd’s brother Philonise Floyd said the former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin's legal defense team is “trying to assassinate" his brother's character.
“He's fighting for his life, just like I'm fighting for my brother's life. We have seen the video. We have facts. They are in there trying to assassinate his character. When you don't have facts, that's what you have to do,” he told CNN.
Describing the first day of Chauvin’s trial as an “emotional roller coaster,” Floyd said he didn’t know that the former police officer knelt on his brother for nine minutes and 29 seconds.
“The video, every time I watched it, I only just hear eight minutes and 46 seconds. I never try to watch the entire video. It's not something that you want to watch — your brother tortured and screaming and asking for our mom and saying ‘tell my kids I love them. I can't breathe.’”
He added:
“To everybody else, it was a case and a cause. To me, it was my brother. Somebody that I grew up with — eating with, sleeping in the same bed with, going fishing with. Just watching him dance with my mother. Those are the things that I think about when I think about my brother. He was a protector. He was someone who we can go to when we were in trouble and in need of anything,” he said Tuesday.
WATCH:
Derek Chauvin is on trial for George Floyd's death
By Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, Meg Wagner, Melissa Mahtani and Veronica Rocha, CNN
Updated 7:14 PM ET, Tue March 30, 2021
Downtown Oakland Mural
