News & Press

Governor Greeted Warmly On Visit To Black Oakland Church

Oakland Tribune

Martin Ricard

OAKLAND — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was greeted with open arms Sunday at Allen Temple Baptist Church, one of the city's largest black churches, just days after a furor erupted over his characterization of a Latina legislator as hotblooded because of her black and Latino roots.

But Schwarzenegger didn't show up to apologize for his comments — as some observers expected. Instead, he met with community leaders and applauded the church for its work with youth in Oakland.

And the Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith Sr., pastor of the church, blasted those who criticized the Republican governor for his remarks. In comments published Friday, Schwarzenegger described Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, R-Cathedral City, as hotblooded, saying her Puerto Rican ethnicity makes her passionate.

"So who's upset because our governor referred to a fellow Republican legislator as being dynamic because her blood was African-American and Latin-American?" Smith asked. "If the governor wants to say African-American blood runs through her veins, that's fine because I'm not ashamed of being who I am. I'm not ashamed to say I'm black and I'm proud."

Smith invited the governor to recognize several members of the church for their achievements in the community and the state. Smith also gave him a copy of his latest book, "Speak Until Justice Wakes."

Schwarzenegger replied that he was inspired by the church's work in East Oakland, especially with youths, which he said serves as an example to all communities.

He then urged the congregation of about 1,000 parishioners to continue their efforts and to keep motivating local and state government to support positive youth programs.

"It's about helping people in the community because, as we all know, the government can't do it all," Schwarzenegger said.

While Smith denied the Sunday service was an effort by Schwarzenegger to garner black support in light of his recent comments, Smith's remarks followed those of another prominent Bay Area black leader, who criticized Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides for using the governor's comments to gain political support among a group of college students he met with on Friday.

Following Angelides' backlash, the Rev. Amos Brown, pastor of San Francisco's Third Baptist Church and chair of Democrats for Schwarzenegger, issued a statement Friday saying the treasurer's comments were meant to divide black voters and many of the governor's Democratic supporters.

"Anyone who knows the governor as I do shares my deep offense to Mr. Angelides' calculated political attack on the governor today," Brown said in the statement. "Mr. Angelides' record of divisive and partisan politics stands in sharp contrast to this governor's leadership and commitment to all communities."

Charles Sanders, 44, of Vallejo, who was sitting in the audience with his 9- and 4-year-old daughters during the governor's visit to Allen Temple, agreed with Smith's response.

Sanders said the governor's comments shouldn't be viewed as offensive. He added that African-Americans probably were expected to react negatively because the legacy of slavery has conditioned them to react whenever an ethnic comment is made.

Instead, their focus should be geared toward getting more of Schwarzenegger's support for positive community efforts rather than on blasting the governor each time he makes a mistake, he said.

"If the governor gets behind the church and gets behind the youth, he'll have more accolades to give to the church because they'll have more avenues (opened)," he said.

Following the service, Schwarzenegger met privately with community leaders.

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Also on Sunday, Schwarzenegger's press office announced that he signed a new bill making it a crime to steal more than 25 copies of a free newspaper.