By Katherine Brown
Is it possible to quantify how deep your love is for something or someone? As I continue to delve into my love for The Town, I begin to reminisce.
My love for Oakland began in infancy, when my family decided to make this city our home in the late 1970s. In my 35 years, we have floated around several neighborhoods in East Oakland, and our roots here are as sturdy as the mighty oak that symbolizes this city. Growing up here, I have seen The Town’s share of ups and downs, but I tend to hold my memories of the ups much more closely to my heart.
Memories of going to the Castle and Malibu Grand Prix on the weekends – with golden tokens in hand, anxiously waiting in line to play the hot new arcade game, or to play a round or two of miniature golf.
Or reflecting on the countless hours my brother and I spent roaming Eastmont Mall while our mom got her hair done at J.C. Penney. Our visit wouldn’t be complete unless we got a scoop or two of the bubble gum ice cream from the candy store on the second floor. Ahhh, such sweet memories from when my love for The Town began. So fresh. So innocent. So real.
As I dig deeper into my memories, I can’t help but think of the positive reputation Oakland once had. From the 1980s to the mid-1990s, East Oakland was poppin! Local businesses – from T’s Wauzi’s record shop to Mother’s Cookies – were flourishing. And even though the Oakland Raiders left during that time, The Raider Nation stayed faithful until they returned to their rightful home. The sports stage was also shared by Billy Ball, The Bash Brothers, and Run TMC.
And let’s not forget the music scene. Sheila E., Pete Escovedo, MC Hammer, EnVogue, Too $hort, Tony! Toni! Toné! – the list runs deep. All of this greatness was rooted in the East.
I often reminisce about my city with my equally – if not more – Townish co-worker and good friend Sergio Martinez. The 38 year-old health educator was born in the East – at Highland Hospital, to be exact. He grew up in neighborhoods near Fremont High School, and around 23rd and E. 14th Street. “I did go to San Diego in the summer of 1994,” says Martinez, “but Oakland called me back.”
When Sergio and I engage in our Townish discussions, they are often peppered with points of nostalgia – like the programming that used to run on the Oakland-based cable network, Soul Beat Television.
Or local eateries and staples like Food King, Talk of the Town, and Kwik Way. And we can’t forget about the local clothing stores like Harputs and Z-man. All of these and more fueled the one-of-a-kind and esoteric culture that is simply Oakland.
And how about our lingo? If you don’t know that hecka and hella came from here, then you truly do not know Oakland, let alone genuinely love it. Martinez feels that Oakland “is unique – the music, art, our view of the world is very unique.”
With all of the originality in Oakland, how could you not love it? “Just look at the deep history,” says Martinez, “Oakland has had folks that have struggled and persevered. People see it and gravitate to it. The environment is a cultivator of culture. It provokes creativity.”
So what happened? Why did the momentum that the East once had stop? Why is the love that once existed now replaced with hatred? Nowadays, my city is on the map for actions that are no where near as positive as they were almost 20 years ago.
Oakland is “losing that culture through gentrification,” says Martinez, “which is good for business and the economy. For example, look at ‘Uptown’ and Temescal.” He sees The Town being “in a transition. Folks are moving out and new people are moving in.” Over the past few years, I have seen parts of North, Downtown, and West Oakland get some love, as neighborhoods in those areas get lots of attention via commercial and residential development.
But what about the East?
As Sergio and I continue to talk about how the tide has turned in The Town, he makes this simple statement: “Am I a part of this new Oakland? I don’t know. This ain’t Oakland.”
I tend to agree with Sergio. I don’t know how I fit in to what this city has become. With this new wave of Oaklanders, it seems like The Town is being boiled down to a fad – slowly losing its identity as it becomes a caricature of other metropolitan cities.
My hope is to keep the positive legacy of Oakland alive. The Oakland that I grew to love.
Katherine Brown was born in Houston, and her family moved to Oakland when she was 6 months old. “I am fortunate to have a loving family and an amazing community of friends,” Katherine says. “I love to help others, which is fused into my life and work.” Katherine enjoys volunteering, dance, and sports, with football being her favorite.
Hi I was wondering is this ms.brown that worked at eoc?
No problem Kat, In life all we have is memories. Memories from loved ones or relatives that have passed away. I can actually say the old Oakland I can remember when Eastmont Mall was the place for a teenager or the Castle was it. I will always have those memories and plenty more of the Oakland we grew up in and we all miss. Thanks again Kat for the reminder of memories of the Old Oakland I remember…
Ali, thank you so much for checking out my blog and for your thoughtful comment. It continues to sadden me that we are loosing so many elements that we held so closely – many that I mentioned in my article. It’s sad that we only have memories to hold onto – even though they gave us so much joy. I do hope that the articles I write will serve as a catalyst to keep Oakland love alive. Thanks again, I truly appreciate it!
Wow, I would like to say this is probably the first Blog I have read in my life. The only reason I read this was because I was wondering what every happen to the Castle and Malibu grand Prix. The way you described the gold token in hand, I really could visualize it. I recently moved back to the Bay Area. I was born and raised in East Oakland. E. Morris Cox, Elmhurst and Castlemont. I have been out of the area for almost 15 years. Coming back home I was looking forward to going to the Talk of the Town and some of the other places we use to love. I remember when I left the Flints had been out of business, but that was it. Coming home I would really have to agree with Sergio. “This Ain’t Oakland” I was in West Oakland one late night and saw a caucasian lady walking a yorkshire around 2 in the morning. While drinking her cup of coffee. When I was growing up you would never see that. I went to all my neighborhoods and there wasn’t one person I knew. The Oakland I remember is gone. Everyone has moved out or moved far away. I was watching a special on Viceland of the Bay last week and Regentrification is happening. I also saw this special the other day on the Bay from XXL magazine with Marshawn Lynch and Mistah Fab. Lynch said it the best though. We can’t just be use to the same 580 and 880. We need to expand and take what we learned from The Town and use it. I saw what I wanted to see in the USA and came home. So I can understand what he meant when he said that. It is bigger than the Town, but there is no place like home…