Memorializing Milpitas Black History Beyond Black History Month

2025 Milpitas Black History Month Flag Raising Ceremony

As I reflect on the most recent conclusion of Black History Month, another long time Black resident relocated to retire and be closer to grandchildren. I was grateful to hear about the grandchildren (a little jealous), and realized the historic loss to Milpitas, our city. I asked myself, what could be done to show Milpitas forefathers and mothers love and preserve the names of the families, civil servants, educators and electeds forever in our community. Here is my first attempt:

Black history in Milpitas, California lies in recognizing and memorializing the contributions, struggles, and achievements of the residents, community leaders, civil servants, public education system teachers, administrators, staff and elected officials. Each group contributed to the city's cultural, social, economic, and political life over the past 70 years. Each group dealt with anti-Black racism, discrimination, redlining and other human injustices. Each group participated in building systems of equity for all residents, creating a village of shared partnerships in parenting,  cultural practices, foods, and history. 

Understanding and appreciating the social, economic, and leadership contributions of these individuals, their families, the civil servants and the Black education community of the Milpitas Unified School District enriches the city’s sense of shared history. It fosters a more empathetic, responsive, and equitable society. It highlights the importance of diversity, equity inclusion, and belonging. It transforms victims of wrongdoing into victors of life.  It shapes our tradition, narrative history, and the soul of Milpitas into an inclusive safe community in pursuit of joy and happiness. In 1954, the story of Sunnyhills, the first planned integrated community (to my knowledge), was one of the primary reasons for the tremendous diversity in the city where today more than 52 languages are spoken. And while many of these Black people no longer live in Milpitas, those that remain today, and many others are benefiting from the fruits of their struggles and labor. Milpitas Black History Is American History. 

The Black Educators of Milpitas (Past & Present)
Chuck Gary, Henry Robinson, Sandra Edwards, Wallace Osborne, Lilian Green, Hattie Morris, Levert Traveler,  Patrice Glover, Camela Jackson, Joann Basnight, Melina Johnson, Dorothy Brown, Gwen Carr, Carolyn Johnson, Brenda Ray, Ann Sturkin, Cyd Mathias, Hilda Boyland, Geri Murray, Irene Augustine, Lola Dorsey, Mitzi Hays, Beverly James, Hellen Rhem, Sylvena Dorner, Carolyn Johnson, Geri Forte, Vernell King, Herman Johnson, Deanna Elzey, Diallo Sims, Alta Harvey, Jackie Saffold, Elaine Heath, Mary Starling, Thelma Green, Alicia Padilla, Gail Henly, Karen Mathis, Calvin Jones, Dorothy Dixon, Angela Holmes, Chuck Murray, Mitzi Hayes, Katherine Jenkins, Cheryl Rivera, Sean Anglon, Kimberly Marion, Annie Handy, Damon James, Herman Wilson, Champ Wrencher, Reynard Elzey, Jillian Valdez, Tana Rainer, Shanae Morley, Gina Sainten, Dr. Hanna Asrat,  Dr. Latisha Roberts, Jonathan Payne, Pete Mesa, Ray Dillard, Tamara Roberson, Gwendolyn Mills, Thadarine McIntosh, James Carter and others…

The Black Families (Past & Present)
Dunbar, Augustine, Hankins, Wilson, Kennon, Dixon, Wilson, Eiland, Goode, Shelton, McGee, Watts, Nichols, Brown, Thomas, Welch, Thompson, Henry, Gray, Ward, Smith, Benjamin, Baldwin, Bridgewater, Carter, London, Butler, Flunoy, Hadnot, Ahmad, Rainier, Moore, Jones, Hayes, Rigmaiden, Morris, Haynes, Pickens, Banks, Gross, Levine, Norwood, Crane, Davis, King, Peterson, Royal, Ellison, Carswell, Jordan, Hutchinson, Thompson, Mallory, Washington, Wiltz, Scott, Choates, Topps, Morris, Alexander, Wilkinson,  Baldwin, Elsey, Bernard, Fullbright, Williams, Chambers, Butler, Lewis, Parker, Levine, De Soto, Drew, Handy, Hopkins, Stewart, Barr, Ellis, Campbell, Wright, Jones, Givens, Fortman, Ranger, Crane, Wyatt, Martin, Pecot, Baker, Anderson, Deering, Cannon, Boyland, Randolph, Cooper,  Peterson, Schooler, Copeland,  Bird, Holmes, Fontenot, and others...
 
The Milpitas Police Department Black Police Officers (Past and Present)
Chief Charles Lawson, Sergeant Chester Pridgeon, Officer Johnny Crain, Commander Gregory Lawrence, Officer Donald Dunbar, Officer Valarie Johnson, Sergeant William King, Officer Johnny Slater,  Officer Frank Herbert, Officer Ryon Lawson, Officer Loren Wutzke, Officer Marlo Moore, Officer Treyvon Hartley, Officer Tailor Goods, Officer Marquis Sayyid, Officer Kim De Soto, and others…

The Milpitas Fire Department Black Officers (Past and Present)
Courtney Anderson, Brandon Smith, Aubrey Bailey, Nathaniel Wooten, Reggie Sutton, Steve King, Anthony Purnell, Johnny Crain, Corey Saunders, Nate Price, Mike Wells, Gary Evans, Ruben Swendell, Dwayne Price, Kevin Taylor, Michael Wells, Christine Ferguson, Tenisha Bernard, Rodney Dunbar, Paul Gaskin, Anthony Purnell, Steven King, Nehemiah O'neal, Melvin Vaughn, Bobby Dixon Jr., and others…

The Black Electeds (Mayor, School Board Past & Present)
Ben Gross, Gilbert Brooks, Chris Norwood...
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If the names of any residents, electeds, police officers, fire fighters, Milpitas Unified School District employees were omitted from this list, please email [email protected] and the list will be updated immediately. 

In Service & Gratitude,

Chris Norwood
Milpitas Unified School District
Senior Governing Board Trustee 2024

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