Leila Mottley Takes Us on a Tour of Her Fave Oakland Hangouts
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Located to the east of San Francisco, Oakland is the largest city in Alameda County. The Huichin territory belonged to the Chochenyo-speaking Ohlone people before Spain claimed the unceded land in 1772. Like any other American city, Oakland has a long and fraught history; it has seen changes in housing and industry, and is now an amalgamation of the cultures that have cycled through in the intervening years.
Oakland was predominately occupied by European immigrants before World War II; however, following the Great Migration from southern to northern states, the number of Black residents increased. The Black Panther Party was founded in 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale in Oakland to protect Black residents from police brutality and provide food to the community. However, the Black population has been steadily decreasing with gentrification and rising housing prices in the past two decades.
Nightcrawling author Leila Mottley was born and raised in Oakland, where she still lives. With a vibrant arts and culture scene, it’s no surprise that the talented Mottley was nurtured in this community. A 2018 Oakland youth poet laureate, Mottley features her beloved city—its beauty, community, and changing demographics—in her work. In this video, she takes us on a tour of her favorite places, including Black-owned Marcus Books, and Fruitvale Bart Station in East Oakland, which features restaurants and stores. The area around Lake Merritt, a National Historic Landmark and home of the Ohlone people, is a main draw for picnics, concerts, and festivals. The Annual Lake Merritt Black Father's Day Walk is held there.
The sports teams, arts scene, tech industries, and food are just a few reasons to visit the city. A new generation of Oaklandites are keeping the history and culture of Oakland alive, among them artists Mottley, Ryan Coogler, Zendaya, and Tommy Orange.
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