Today’s episode is all about waterfront history. The first segment covers the only Black whaling Captain in California history: William Shorey. The media called him “Black Ahab” and his adventures made him an Oakland hero. He was one of the most powerful men of color in California—but there’s a complicated side to his story that’s … Continued


Fred Korematsu’s story of resistance against the mass incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II isn’t just a fascinating chapter of history – there’s still so much to learn from this shameful era. In the first segment of today’s episode, Berkeley-based author Laura Atkins discusses her book “Fred Korematsu Speaks Up.” Published by Heyday Books, … Continued


The first part of this episode features a one-on-one interview with Cheryl Fabio, the director of “Evolutionary Blues: West Oakland’s Music Legacy.” Cheryl discusses local blues history, the legendary 7th street music scene, and her event series “Resistance, Resilience & Anticipation: A fresh look at the Black Arts Movement in Oakland.” For more about those … Continued


Although rarely credited, Berkeley became America’s first sanctuary city on November 8, 1971. This episode explores how an ancient idea was revived in protest of the Vietnam War and again to support Central American refugees during the 1980s. With sanctuary cities under attack by the Trump administration, learn how the sanctuary movement started—and triumphed over … Continued


Segment 1: Although Oakland has one of the highest concentrations of lesbians in the country, the history—and impact—of this community is relatively unknown. Lenn Keller is trying to change that with the upcoming launch of the Bay Area Lesbian Archives, a wide-ranging collection of photographs, activist materials, meeting notes, videos and more. In this episode, … Continued


North Oakland’s Golden Gate neighborhood has undergone a rapid demographic shift over the past decade as many longtime Black residents have moved out and wealthier, younger white people have moved in. The first segment of this episode features five stories that explore how folks are navigating these changes. The second segment of this episode features … Continued