Tag Archives: West Oakland

Oakland After the Midterm Elections, Now What?

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

The local mid-term elections in Oakland have come and gone. We will have a new mayor and other new officials. What will be different? What will stay the same? What does Oakland need? Will a new administration bring us a … Continue reading →

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The American Century Cycle

Posted on October 12, 2014 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

I am often asked why August Wilson? Why did I decide to direct the American Century Cycle? I am producing the America’s greatest playwright’s seminal work in its entirety. I will be the first director to do so in chronological … Continue reading →

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Sedi Bo: A West Oakland Tale of Art and Transformation

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

Sedi Bo’s image is memorialized in a mural on the corner of 14th and Campbell. Sedi’s name was Cedric, people also called him Country. He was a musical artist. He grew up in West Oakland. His sister’s runs a hair … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Arts, I'm Just Saying!, non fiction essay, North American African Perspective | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Gentrification: No Resting Place, Pt. 3

Posted on December 26, 2013 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

West Oakland: Gentrified “West Oakland is situated on the Bay side of Highway 980 and is easily accessible by public transportation including BART and buses. If you are an urban pioneer who is looking to buy somewhere before it really booms, look … Continue reading →

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Seven of One, Five of the Other: Half way through August Wilson’s Century Cycle

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

Wilson is a bluesologist and we are blues people. Avotcja Jiltonilro explained to me once that the blues as we know it actually evolved from praise music not from the angst of the American experience as we have been taught. It is our song. Our ever overstanding of the beauty and majesty inherent in life and our heart’s determination to continue beating. Continue reading →

Posted in Black Arts, Craft, non fiction essay, North American African Perspective, Performing Arts, Tales of Iron and Water, Theater, work in progress | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Gentrification: No Resting Place, Pt.1

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

The Bottoms in West Oakland was once a desirable destination for North American Africans recently freed from chattel slavery. Ex-slaves and Pullman Porters wrote a chapter in this neighborhood’s history. This chapter, like many that followed, is informed by race. Continue reading →

Posted in I'm Just Saying!, non fiction essay, North American African Perspective | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Two Shades of Green

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

Two Shades of Green

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