a lot of this history is not african-american history. it's american history. there's a letter that benjamin banneker wrote to thomas jefferson in 1791. and he's basically -- thomas jefferson at the time was the secretary of state, and benjamin banneker was this accomplished astronomer who would help plan that print for the nation's capital. he was this accomplished man. he published annual almanacs that, with a striking precision, rejected crops. so he was this accomplished man your he was making clocks. i can go on and on about his accomplishments, and he was thomas jefferson insisted that african-americans were intellectually inferior and would never be equal to whites. so benjamin banneker writes this letter that should be a part of our education, because he's basically appealing to him as an american, as, you know, as a scholar, as a christian. and he sang, you know, yeah, my skin is as black as night, but unequal. like, how could you see otherwise? we are equal. sure, we are integrated in circumstances now, so you don't see us in full flower, but the pote

the local chapter of that group is what is now known as the african-american cultural and historical society. so it's an honor. we've been doing this for many, many years and it's great to see so many faces out here today. right now what i'd like to do is thank our partners and acknowledge them for their participateation. the san francisco public library much the california cultural arts program and we couldn't do it without the good folks in the mayor's office of neighborhood services. what i'd like to do now is strue -- shall truce -- intro duce tanish hollins from the mayor's office of neighborhood services. >> good amp, family. happy black history month. could we hear it one more time? [applause] >> we are so honored to be here. we look forward to this every year. it's a hall mark event for the city and county of san francisco. an opportunity to reflect on the many, many contributions of african-americans in this city and how each of us has changed the gee graval and cultural landscape of this city. how fitting that we celebrate black history month today, which is also the same a

, it's about what african-americans have been doing for us as a society

i'm al williams, president of the board of the san francisco african-american historical society.elcoming you all to this annual 2011 kickoff program for black history month. first of all i'd like to say that the chairs to my right are vacant and will be filled shortly. the mayor will be arriving about 11:30. he had another engagement that he was they'd at. and supervisors -- he was delayed at. and supervisors -- no, that's not them -- miracle arim aye and coyne are in committee and i understand they will be finishing up shortly and then they will be joining us to bring greetings. i want to thank pastor curran and ms. suites for their participation in the program. and ms. suites with her wonderful voice, we use this program as an opportunity to present cameos of people who are otherwise engraged shall -- engaged in black history month programs and ms. suites is going to be appearing next tuesday, february 8 at yoshii's. and of course pastor is appearing weekly and a couple times sunday at jones united methodist church. so let's certainly visit and support her at jones united memor

he talked about the local african-american community.ar lisa amin gulezian. >> the african-american community in the bay area has made national news for situations that has not always been in the best of light. >> on this new year's day the people of the baptististers mins union want to. >> for some, their spirit is also broken. especially after crimes like the gang rape of 15-year-old girl in richmond and the shooting death of an unarmed barber in oakland by police. >> we are a hurting community, but there has to be a change or a strategy of survival set up in our churches. >> the movement initiative encourages economic development and help and wellness and it will be the church's job to put a positive step out. >> they are trying to figure out a schedule so financial aid can begin as soon as possible. >> richmond city councilman says they need this initiative to work. rich monday monld's ranked high in the country in 2009. >> for us to make change we need to believe in change. so it's our responsibility to put those in focus. >> moveme

our next item is the france african-american historical society and the kinsey collection. i want to thank our guests tonight for being so patient. this was a big board meeting, as you saw, and we really do appreciate your coming out and sharing with us the wonderful collection that both commissioner maufas and i were able to see a little bit of at the kick-off at city hall. so welcome, and we appreciate you being here. >> press the button. >> great. thank you very much. commissioners and superintendent. i am al williams, president of the board of the african-american historical and cultural society. the best place to start is to express my admiration for all of you, the work you are doing here and your perseverance and your ability to maintain a high level of energy and enthusiasm as the meeting goes on. i was waning back there. i have gone through the presentation three or four times now in different versions. i am delighted to be high with you. the san francisco african-american historical and cultural society was founded back in 1955. it was founded for the purpose of p

the san francisco african-american historical and cultural society was founded back in 1955. it was founded for the purpose of providing a forum or vehicle to educate the general public in the african-american culture with the history of african-americans, with an emphasis on the city and county of san francisco. other than -- over that period of time we have had a good relationship with the district. a couple of years ago we worked a curriculum person, and we had a joint history reading program. the teachers met on occasions and read books on cultures. we are very excited about that relationship and look forward to continuing it. we have a short video on the kinsey collection, an interview that was done we would like to show that would give you -- hopefully it will work and give you a little bit of background and insight into what the kinsey collection is all about. >> there we go. why is it not going? >> well, maybe we should just go ahead without it. >> ok. [laughter] >> we will just all have too come down and see it for ourselves. >> and in fact, that is the bottom line.

the contributions that made african-americans part of -- the cut to beaches that african- americans have made are very important to the city. -- the contributions that africans and americans have made are very important to the city. i would like to think mike's sonmy grandson, my children. -- and i noticed that carol is in the house. all of these people were strong supporters of me when i was working for supervisor maxwell. thank you. [applause] >> congratulations, alice. don't be a stranger. our next commendation will be offered by a our supervisor from district 6. >> we wanted to recognized two advocates in district 6. the importance of recognizing a black history month. i recognize the position that i am in and the honor of serving our city and i would not be here if it was not for the work of many who have come before me, particularly in our civil-rights movement, in the community. many leaders men toward others and the day mentored me. i was mentored by an african- american woman who taught me the importance of making a difference. we wanted to recognize two leaders in district 6. v

many african-american women rely on w.i.c. while they seek jobs, which we're trying to hopefully create. how can we cut $317 million in funding for vital family planning health services, provided through a network of clinics throughout the country that serves nearly one in five women? these programs are vital, not just in saving lives, through cancer screening, h.i.v. and s.t.d. testing, but for providing a link for the many poor and low number women -- low income women in terms of their link to the public health system. many of these women are african-american women. and how can we cut nearly $1.1 billion from the head start program, which will effectively knock out 200,000 children from participating in this critical early education program which helps provide health, nutritional and support services to prepare children for school? many african-americans who were part of the head start program are now making history in our country, because of this great early childhood education program. the other side has made it clear that

that document the story of the african-american community. it's called the -- called the kinsey collection, shared treasures of bernard and shirley kinsey, where art and history intersect. it's been on tour to six city as -- cities and opened at the national museum of american history at the smithsonian institute and we anticipate more than 2.5 million folks will visit that exhibit. how's that for success? terrific. their wonderful book it that documents the kinsey collection has been selected by the florida department of education for the curriculum to team african-american studies to 3.6 million students throughout the state. so that's also a wonderful accomplishment. it's indeed mip pleasure to welcome a man to waves a wonderful cultural narrative of a people. please, give a warm welcome to bernard kinsey. bernard? [applause] . >> first of all i want to make sure you can hear me. who has the sound in here? just bring it up a little bit so we can do this. first of all, luis, thank you so much to the san francisco public libraries, stewart,

plus, where do african-americans stand in washington?t's what's going on in our world, starting now. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> as white house senior adviser and longtime friend to president obama, valerie jaret has the inside scoop on the president's strategy for the next two years. we went to washington, d.c., for this exclusive interview. ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> thank you so much for spending some time with us. >> my pleasure. >> it's no secret that in the last year and a half the obama administration has taken a few hits. >> it's been challenging. it has been challenging times in which he is the president, that's true. >> absolutely. in 2010, the midterm elections democrats took a big hit -- >> schlacking to use his words. >> losing the house and losing leverage in the senate and so forth. how do you make sense of that kind of a loss? >> well, look. . the fact of the matter is our country has been through an extremely devastating economic time and there wasn't a family in our country that wasn't touched by the recession, worst recession in our life time and

that need to be told because it is not just about recognizing african-americans, it's about what african-americans have been doing for us as a society for many, many years. so when i have a chance to talk about my life because i'm just new rookie payor, wants to know how am i thinking, where am i coming from, i'm going to tell about these stories that never get told because they're about life. they're about contributions. they're about how we relate to each other and so i am so proud to be up here with malia cohen, who is going to create many, many new stories to come along with all of san francisco and the other supervisors up here and the oop leaders and al williams and the historical society who are doing very important work to document the contributions so that we can justify why we need to make a special effort to make sure that there is no outmigration, to make sure that there are jobs. to make sure we protect the family structure. because from my heart and where i come from and what my family is all about, i know what it is to be helped by the african-american community. i know that that's