Black History Month in Oakland

Oakland is a city renowned for its diversity, and has deep roots in African American culture. Throughout Oaklands history there have been a number of pioneers and trailblazers who helped make this city as great as it is today. This month we celebrated all of this a little extra, but Oaklands Black History is on display year round.

Museums and Culture

Take a trip to the African American Museum & Library at Oakland. This venue is dedicated to the discovery, preservation, interpretation and sharing of historical and cultural experience of African Americans in California and the West. The library has an extensive archive, including 160 collections with diaries of prominent families, pioneers, churches, social and political organizations. The museum features a permanent exhibit on influential figures from Oakland, as well as temporary exhibits focused on the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Panthers.

The Oakland Museum of California is will be finishing the run of their wildly popular exhibit "All Power to the People: Black Panthers at 50" this month. The Museum engages visitors with forums, speakers and interactive events to highlight the social issues and history of California's people.

History and Tours

Radio Journalist Chris Hambrick of KALW radio presents a Black History Month Tour at the historic Peralta Hacienda Historical Park to share the memories and history of Oakland's Black Community in the amazing first-person audio stories and art exhibit she helped create: "What I Hear, I Keep, Stories from Oakland's Griots." African American Oaklanders who recorded the stories of their lives through the Griot Initiative of StoryCorps, a national nonprofit oral history project. The word "griot" (pronounced gree-oh) comes from the West African tradition of storytellers who perpetuate the oral tradition and history of a village or family.

The presentation will be Saturday February 11 from 2:30 - 5:00 pm. The event is free, but pre-registration is encouraged. 

Food

We don't lack good soul-food in The Town. From classic BBQ to California infused Southern cuisine your soul is sure to be fed. Make sure to hit up some or all of these spots before Black History Month ends!

Community leaders in Oakland

With much appreciation, we thank the African American Museum and Library at Oakland for helping us source images of some of Oakland's most influential African American citizens.