2024 Black Liberation Walking Tour
Black Liberation Walking Tour (BLWT) - a Black History, Art, and Culture tour of a historic West Oakland neighborhood.
Location
Oakland
Address sent after purchase Oakland, CA 94612Refund Policy
About this event
- 2 hours
Description
This in depth tour takes guests on a journey through Oakland’s Hoover-Foster neighborhood celebrating Black History and culture. The BLWT was rated by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the best Black History Tours in the United States.
About the Black Liberation Walking Tour (BLWT)
When most people think of Black history in the United States, they typically imagine the history of the American South, New York City’s Harlem, and Washington, D.C. This guided walking tour in Oakland, California, shares over 100 years of Black history in the American West, from the West Coast’s Civil Rights Movement and the Great Migration, to present-day stories of Oakland residents.
The Black Liberation Walking Tour (BLWT) is a community-led cultural asset map celebrating Hoover-Foster’s multi-generational Black history and culture. A project of the West Oakland Cultural Action Network (WOCAN), the BLWT captures oral histories to document the lives, art, and the culture of long-time residents, historical figures, and rapidly disappearing former Black cultural spaces.
Highlights
Tour stops include the former site of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, which was the spiritual home of the local Black Panther Party; a former home of Delilah Beasley, one of the first Black women journalists to write for major American newspapers, and the former home of C.L. Dellums, vice-president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) and a central figure of the West Coast Civil Rights Movement.
This walking experience is guided by local native David Peters, founder of the West Oakland Cultural Action Network, and Gene Anderson, author of Legendary Locals of Oakland, an Oakland historian whose family has historical roots in West Oakland. Peters and Anderson are passionate story tellers sharing the history of this area with historical stories and proclaiming its Black Heritage.
What you'll do
This walking tour starts at the former site of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church and ends at the augmented reality enabled BLWT mural. The entire tour is 1.25 miles and takes 2 hours to complete.
BOOK YOUR EXPERIENCE TODAY!
**Group booking available. Please email directly to: oakblwt@gmail.com
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Frequently asked questions
Our tour time is 2 hours long and we cover approximately 1.25 miles.
Please bring comfortable walking shoes, water for hydration, snacks, a hat and sunscreen are also recommended. Umbrellas when rain is in the forecast.
Great, California needs it! But no need to worry, BLWT explores the city in rain or shine. However, yes, we also will reschedule if necessary. You will hear from us if we have to reschedule.
Absolutely! This tour is wheelchair accessible.
We love animals! Well behaved pets are appreciated on all tours.
Black Liberation Walking Tour knows that last-minute things can occur and we are willing to change the date to a future tour. Contact us today at oakblwt@gmail.com
Street parking is available, as a reminder do not leave valuables in plain sight.
Absolutely! Closest BART stations are 19th St, or MacArthur. From there you will bus/walk/car share ride to the starting location.
Our tours always end in a different place than the starting location. Each tour starts and ends in easy-to-find locations that are accessible to public transportation.
Absolutely! Black Liberation Walking Tours provides private tours for groups of all sizes. Reach out to us today to help customize your next tour.
You will receive an email with the address of the tour starting location. If for some reason you do not please contact us!