"My sense is that these sounds are so persistent, tenacious, held with pride and love. I think of a couple of things in particular like an artist like LaRusell. I think about how the spirit and sonics of the movement never went anywhere. It's still such a touchstone for people growing up in the expanded East Bay. So that feels to me like it's persistent. It's held, it's cherished. I think about community parties at the pergola at the lake."
"Now, I do think that there seem to be these threads of continuity and persistence, and ultimately that comes back to just the way that's found in the kind of lifeblood of expression for Oaklanders. Even with all the disruption, the displacement, the dread that exists in parts of The Town right now, I don't see it going anywhere, not really."
Police and lawmakers targeted Black music and culture in Oakland across decades, shaping public life and nightlife. Migration from the American South infused The Town with distinct musical textures that are sparse, spacious, and intense. The Hyphy Movement transformed local culture and nightlife and left a lasting sonic legacy. Racially charged confrontations such as 'BBQ Becky' reveal tensions over Black presence in public spaces. Despite displacement, policing, and changing demographics, Black sonic traditions remain persistent, cherished, and central to community gatherings. Local artists and community parties sustain continuity and the lifeblood of Oakland's expressive culture.
Read at The Oaklandside
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