The 2nd Annual Oakland Black Joy Parade
“A hyper-positive parade and festival to celebrate the Black experience past, present and future.” BlackJoyParade.org
The parade will began on Sunday, February 24th, 2019. Those that attended, described the mood and atmosphere as wholesome. The vibe on the street was electric with fun, laughter, and excitement from the people of Oakland. Young children accompanied by their parents, and Black Greek fraternity and sorority uniting to celebrate the beauty and excellence of Black Joy, there in Oakland, CA.
The historical significance of Oakland was also captured in a recent ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ town hall meeting of the minds, where beautiful young black men of Oakland, CA came together for a fireside chat with the 1st African American President Barack Obama and Golden State Warriors, MVP & 3x NBA Champion Stephen Curry.
During this town hall, the former President reminded all of us, the historical significance of Oakland, CA to the rest of the world. Giving credit to Madame Mayor of the City of Oakland, CA Libby Schaaf who spearheaded the town hall meeting for the men of the city.
Oakland is the same city that Oscar Grant, an unarmed black man and father was shot and killed face-down with his hands already behind his back, at the hands of McArthur Bart station police officer back in 2009. During the first term, our country elected the 1st Black President of the United States of America. President Barack Obama then in 2012 gave a statement during a Press Conference, stating the slain beautiful young black man, Trayvon Martin could have very well been his own son. His statement sent shockwaves around the world inspiring the creation of the #BlackLivesMatter movement out of the city of Oakland, CA. BLM is a modernized civil-rights advocacy movement that takes to the streets protesting every time an unarmed black man was killed by law enforcement across the U.S. History has shown us an uncomfortable reoccurring theme exposing those in blue uniform with the wrong intent against people of color.
Fast forward to 2019, Oakland, CA is the land of Gold, a city once with residence predominately African-American, is being red tapped and swallowed whole by gentrification. With the 2nd Annual Black Joy Parade, we can assure the current and future businesses and residents of Oakland, CA that the heart of our country resides on these streets. And these streets have been supported by businesses that withstood the test of time and supported employment and growth in Oakland, at a time in the past, when all other businesses left.
The 2nd Annual Black Joy Parade began on 14th/Harrison St. and ended on 20th /Thomas Berkeley Way. Oakland veterans took this moment to celebrate businesses like New Karribean City / Level 13's owner, Richard Ali and Oakland Fox Theatre that have withstood the test of time, by running their businesses faithfully for almost two decades and hiring students and people from the community when all other businesses did not.
We anticipate that the celebration will carry on where the soul of the city will highlight the beautiful black and brown people of Oakland, CA notwithstanding the changes that gentrification brings. Because if you know anything about #TownBusiness then you would know that the culture starts here.
