Kabaka Oba facts for kids

Michael Bailey, known to many as Kabaka Oba (born February 9, 1958, died April 15, 2006), was an American civil rights activist. He worked to make things fair for people and spoke out against injustice. He also worked as a public transportation driver in Cincinnati, Ohio. Sadly, he was shot and passed away outside City Hall in Cincinnati.

Who Was Kabaka Oba?

Kabaka Oba was a strong voice for change in his community. He believed in standing up for what was right, especially when it came to how people were treated.

Standing Up for Rights

Kabaka Oba used different ways to share his message and help people. He wanted to make sure everyone was treated fairly.

Speaking Out on Radio

He had his own radio show on a local public radio station called WAIF (88.3 FM). Every Tuesday, from noon to 1 p.m., he would talk about important issues and share his ideas with the community.

A Voice at City Hall

Kabaka Oba also worked as a bus driver for the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority. He often spoke at meetings of the Cincinnati City Council, which is like the local government for the city. He was very passionate about his beliefs. Sometimes, his strong words even led to him being temporarily stopped from speaking at City Council meetings for a while.

The Black Fist Group

Kabaka Oba helped start a group called "Black Fist." This group was created to speak out against police brutality, which means unfair or harsh treatment by the police. Before it was called "Black Fist," the group was known as "The Black Special Forces."

His Final Days

On April 12, 2006, Kabaka Oba was shot. This happened around 2:55 p.m. near Cincinnati City Hall, shortly after he had spoken at a City Council meeting.

The Incident

He was sitting in his green Ford Mustang car, which had special license plates that said "KABAKA." After the shooting, he was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He had surgery and was in very serious condition. Three days later, on April 15, 2006, he passed away at the same hospital.

The Outcome

A person named Howard Beatty turned himself in to the police for the shooting. Kabaka Oba had identified Beatty as the person who attacked him to the emergency workers. Howard Beatty was later found responsible for Kabaka Oba's death.

Kabaka Oba was laid to rest on April 24, 2006, at Crown Hill Memorial Park in Colerain Township. He was buried next to Roger Owensby Jr., a young Black man who had died while in police care in 2000. This was done because Roger Owensby Jr.'s father wanted it that way.