Name it, Oakland!
By Sabirah Mustafa Growing up in Oakland I used to imagine I was the mayor. Playgrounds and basketball courts would stay open 24 hours if I had my way. Big […]
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A Message to Oakland: Love’s in Need of Love Today
Is there any love left in The Town? If we look at the homicide rate of 2012 alone, one might say that love is impossible, if not non-existent. But I beg to differ. I see the love here.
East Oakland Poet ‘Bossman’ Puts in Work to Heal, Teach
Growing up in East Oakland, Dre Johnson, "the violence and crimes that go on, you don't talk about. You're just not supposed to name names, you're not supposed to say shit out loud.” He says his spoken word allowed him to express his feelings about "how the shit went down.” Poetry became one of the few ways he saw to address some hard experiences.
Reactions: Cop-on-Black vs. Black-on-Black
It seems that if you’re not killed by a cop, you’re a just a garden variety homicide victim. People don’t get too upset. You might get an impromptu curbside memorial. The local TV news might mention the killing in passing. And then, the victim of the day will be forgotten until the next man, woman, or child gets shot and killed. People seem to get up in arms only if a cop does the killing, à la Oscar Grant or Alan Blueford. If it’s black on black, it’s business as usual. But if it’s cop on black - oh, damn, it’s on!
Former Drug-Dealing ‘Street Star’ Becomes Youth Mentor
Like Sankofa - the mythical bird in West African culture that symbolizes going back to retrieve things lost in order to move forward - Michael Gibson also had to go back and reconnect, while he was incarcerated, with his own history. He regularly draws on his past struggles to help him improve his life, and those of others.
Citizens, Clergy Appeal for Peace During East Oakland Night Walk
Three East Oakland Night Walks have been organized so far by City Team and Lifelines, in support of the Oakland's Cease Fire program. I was on the second walk, which began several weeks ago at the Israelite Missionary Baptist Church at 21st Ave and 21st Street in the San Antonio area. People began arriving at 6:30 in the evening - all committed to making a difference on the violent streets of Oakland.
GUNS Part I: When in Rome… Stay Strapped!
Gun violence is rocking our city. But at Oakland Voices, not everyone agrees on whether or not owning them creates or feeds a culture of violence, or if it's just smart self-defense. Two of our correspondents have very different perspectives on the need for guns in our homes and society. Here, one has his say.
A Message to Oakland: Love’s in Need of Love Today
Is there any love left in The Town? If we look at the homicide rate of 2012 alone, one might say that love is impossible, if not non-existent. But I beg to differ. I see the love here.
East Oakland Poet ‘Bossman’ Puts in Work to Heal, Teach
Growing up in East Oakland, Dre Johnson, "the violence and crimes that go on, you don't talk about. You're just not supposed to name names, you're not supposed to say shit out loud.” He says his spoken word allowed him to express his feelings about "how the shit went down.” Poetry became one of the few ways he saw to address some hard experiences.
Reactions: Cop-on-Black vs. Black-on-Black
It seems that if you’re not killed by a cop, you’re a just a garden variety homicide victim. People don’t get too upset. You might get an impromptu curbside memorial. The local TV news might mention the killing in passing. And then, the victim of the day will be forgotten until the next man, woman, or child gets shot and killed. People seem to get up in arms only if a cop does the killing, à la Oscar Grant or Alan Blueford. If it’s black on black, it’s business as usual. But if it’s cop on black - oh, damn, it’s on!
Former Drug-Dealing ‘Street Star’ Becomes Youth Mentor
Like Sankofa - the mythical bird in West African culture that symbolizes going back to retrieve things lost in order to move forward - Michael Gibson also had to go back and reconnect, while he was incarcerated, with his own history. He regularly draws on his past struggles to help him improve his life, and those of others.
Citizens, Clergy Appeal for Peace During East Oakland Night Walk
Three East Oakland Night Walks have been organized so far by City Team and Lifelines, in support of the Oakland's Cease Fire program. I was on the second walk, which began several weeks ago at the Israelite Missionary Baptist Church at 21st Ave and 21st Street in the San Antonio area. People began arriving at 6:30 in the evening - all committed to making a difference on the violent streets of Oakland.
GUNS Part I: When in Rome… Stay Strapped!
Gun violence is rocking our city. But at Oakland Voices, not everyone agrees on whether or not owning them creates or feeds a culture of violence, or if it's just smart self-defense. Two of our correspondents have very different perspectives on the need for guns in our homes and society. Here, one has his say.