Oakland

Oakland, located on the West Coast in Alameda County of the Bay Area is also know as “the Town” for its small town vibe. Located across the Bay from San Francisco, it is known as the sunny side of the Bay. Oakland has a rich history of African Americans migrating from the south to work on the railway, the ports and in the shipyards that line the area. With the influx of African Americans to the area, came a rich culture of jazz, blues and soul music. Black people settled and created thriving black businesses centered in West Oakland that would leave a lasting legacy. Oakland also has a rich political history, with the Black Panther Party of Self Defense starting there in 1966 with the headquarters being located at 14th and Peralta St. You can still find the legacy of the Black Panthers in various parts of the city. For instance, DeFremery Park has been renamed Lil’ Bobby Hutton Memorial Parkin West Oakland at 1651 Adeline Street. Oakland is a uniquely geographically beautiful place to live, with the water—The Bay—as it’s front yard, and the picturesque Redwoods at its backyard.

Stuff to know

• Population: 433,031 (Jul 2019 est)

• Attractions: African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Chabot Space and Science, Children's Fairyland, Lake Merritt, Oakland Coliseum (Oracle Arena), Chinatown

• Popular Foods: Like many major cities in America, Oakland has lots of great food options. Three restaurants that are a must try are Everett & Jones BBQ, Brown Sugar Kitchen, & Kingston 11

• Language: English

• Sports: Basketball, American Football, & Baseball

You can hike for hours, bike along the many bike trails along the water or through the city and have a relaxing day at Lake Merritt—referred to as “the Lake” by locals.

As BBQ Becky’s were making themselves famous by calling the police on black people just being black, “the Lake” exploded with black people from all over the Bay coming to gather, grill, sell and support small business products and enjoy each other in the face of rampant ridiculous racism. It’s become a regular link up in the warmer months and a middle finger to anyone who has a problem with black joy in public spaces.

Though gentrification and other capitalist trends have forced many black people native to Oakland out of their home, you can still find hubs of black culture, black joy and black business there. We are home to a black owned juice spot, black owned retail stores, black owned vegan food spots likeVegan Mob and Malibu Burger, and even a black owned crystal botanica–Queen Hippie Gypsy.

A major West Coast port city, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third largest city overall in the San Francisco Bay Area, the eighth most populated city in California, and the 45th most populated city in the United States. Its Port of Oakland is the busiest port in the SanFrancisco Bay. An act to incorporate the city was passed on May 4, 1852, and incorporation was later approved on March 25, 1854, which officially made Oakland a city. Oakland is a charter city. Oakland has a significant art scene and claims the highest concentration of artists per capita in the United States. Galleries exist in various parts of Oakland, with the newest addition centered mostly in the Uptown area.

Oakland ranked 11th in cities for designers and artists. (Artbistro.monster.com) The city is a renowned culinary hotbed, offering both a wide variety and innovative approaches to diverse cuisines in restaurants and markets, often featuring locally grown produce and international styles such as French, Italian, Portuguese/Spanish, Ethiopian, Asian, Latin American, as well as Caribbean, Southern United States/Louisiana Creole, etc., all of which reflects the culinary traditions of the city's ethnically diverse population.

Historically a focal point of the West Coast blues and jazz scenes, Oakland is also home to musicians representing such genres as rhythm and blues, gospel, funk, punk, heavy metal, Rap/Gangsta rap, and hip hop.