James Copes and Marvin X, Organizers of Black Vendors at Lake Merritt, rap on DO 4 SELF

This interview was videoed by Ken Johnson of the Black Vendors Association, a project partially supported by a grant from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. We also acknowledge the assistance of the Berkeley Juneteenth Foundation, the BAMBD or Black Arts Movement Business District, CDC and the City of Oakland, especially Council Members Nikki Bass and Carol Fife. 

FYI, on January 19, 2016, the BAMBD was established by the Oakland City Council and extends from the Lower Bottom of 14th Street to Lake Merritt. The BAMBD is part of the City of Oakland's Downtown Plan for the Next 25 to 50 Years, and it includes a North American African presence at Lake Merritt.

Marvin X, Co-Founder of the National Black Arts Movement and Mayor Libby Schaaf at Laney College on the 50th Anniversary Celebration of BAM at Laney College, 2015.

photo Jahahara Alkebulan Ma'at

Community Planner, Organizer Marvin X and Lynette McElhaney, President of the Oakland City Council.

Marvin X, Paul Cobb, Conway Jones, Jr., Margaret Gordon and numerous Black Artists were critical and persistent  in urging then President McElhaney to push through legislation to establish BAMBD, Oakland's Black Cultural District that includes Lake Merritt. See map above.

photo Adam Turner

During the month of Black August, the BAMBD presents BAMBDFEST, a celebration of Oakland's Black Cultural District, with major support from the California Arts Council. For information about this year's BAMBDFEST throughout the month of Black August, please go to www.bambdfest.com or www.blackbirdpressnews.blogspot.com

Stay tuned for Black Street, Official Magazine of the Black Vendors Association. Publisher/Editor Marvin X can be reached at jmarvinx@yahoo.com or 510-575-7148.