Blues City : A Walk in Oakland

by Ishmael Reed

Release Date: 21 October, 2003

Edition: Hardcover

Price:

More Info

Not the "L"east Bay...

While reading Mr. Reed's words, I was reminded why my husband and I keep choosing Oakland as our home, despite our overburndened and poorly run Oakland Unified School District and long work commutes to San Francisco and beyond. Reed reminds us that this city steeped in natural beauty stands alone as a gem--
shadowed with distinct architecture, a progressive appreciation of (and engagement with) diversity, and a long and current history of civil rights efforts.

I enjoyed Reed's references to San Francisco and Berkeley for context, but remind non-native readers that Oakland has its own distinct history and pulse. Oakland exists and thrives and is home to some of the most progressive and creative thinkers, students, artists and teachers I know. Is Oakland a Blues City or a cure from the blues of conformity, planned subdivisions and homogeneous communities? This is a good read, especially if you already find yourself lucky enough to live here.

stop misquoting Gertrude Stein

That famous quote "There is no THERE there" was in reference to her childhood home, which had burned down. It didn't have anything to do with oakland itself.
Glad to see this book - looking forward to reading it.