Dr. Willie Ratcliff Editorial Fellowship

Support the Dr. Willie Ratcliff Editorial Fellowship!

The voices of Black San Franciscans are loud as ever, and the SF Bay View has been here, making space for their stories. The San Francisco Bay View is a Black-owned and run newspaper that centers the voices of our people in SF and nationwide, reporting on all aspects of Black life, from street journalism and breaking news to emerging cultural figures and ongoing socio-political struggles. As a movement newspaper, we’re not just about the headlines; we are about fundamentally changing systems of white supremacy.

As the times change, so do we. It is time for a new editor – a new captain of the ship – to come aboard and steer the newspaper into its next phase of growth as an independent Black media stronghold in collaboration with our dedicated crew.

In building the future, we honor our past. In honor of our 30+ year publisher, Dr. Willie Ratcliff, we have founded the Dr. Ratcliff Editorial Fellowship to support an incoming editor – someone to fill the shoes of a true visionary and changemaker. On Friday, Sept. 16, we host a 90th birthday celebration and fellowship fundraiser launch for Willie and our future editor. Watch the event’s livestream here, and see Dr. Ratcliff’s vision come to life in Kevin Epps’ film “Dr. Willie’s Wisdom.”

Have you heard of the SF Bay View National Black Newspaper? Do you know that one of the country’s largest Superfund sites is right here in Hunters Point, and is radiating toxic chemicals and killing our children?

Do you know the country’s first-of-its-kind community biomonitoring clinic testing our people’s body burdens is right here in Hunters Point, run by a doctor born and raised here?

Do you know about the historic 2011-13 Pelican Bay hunger strikes that successfully won a class action lawsuit and got prisoners out of the torture of indefinite solitary confinement? The SF Bay View’s series of articles persuaded upwards of 30,000 people to participate in the strikes.

This online and print newspaper unapologetically tells our stories of daily life and ongoing struggles and triumphs, striving to represent the full spectrum of Black life.

One of the defining features that sets us above the rest is that we bring in the voices of prisoners to be a part of this change. Every month,15,000 print papers are distributed around the Bay Area, including 3,000 that are mailed nationally to people in prison.

Investments to fund this vision will help us fight for true lasting change for the People. Will you join us?