In Richmond, Tony Thurmond Hosts Oral Exploration of City’s Rich Black History

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted the Black History Month event at DeAnza High School. Thurmond was a former Richmond City Councilmember and a former member of the State Assembly. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey. (CBM) – California State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) hosted an oral history presentation for Black History Month at DeAnza High School in the Contra Costa County city of Richmond. In front of a diverse group of public officials, guests and students from five other campuses within the West Contra Costa Unified School District — attending in person and by ZOOM — panelists shared their experiences of Black life in the city 16 miles northeast of San Francisco. “I am a believer that the best history is living history and today you have an opportunity to hear from many who have made history in this community,” Thurmond told the students. “They are incredible leaders who have watched this city and how it has grown, evolved, and changed. They share this with you from a first-person narrative.” An educator, social worker, and public-school parent, Thurmond served on the Richmond City Council, the West Contra Costa...