Tag Archives: oakland
The Tree Hugger
This is for Oakland, for the fallen brothers, for the fallen trees – and for the good men in my life. The Tree Hugger his skin is brown limbs long, he is lanky like me but still: strong arms, thick spine he is an oak tree rooted in the Town…
Occupy Your Imagination — Oakland Youth Speak Out
Last month, I had the joy of teaching in two of my favorite schools in the world: Metwest High School and Oakland School for the Arts. And no, they’re not two of my favorite schools just because they’re right down the block from me here in Oakland. Although that doesn’t…
May Day in Oakland: Immigrant Rights, Occupy Agitation, and a Tank
I wake up to the sound of helicopters. Living in Oakland, the city of beautiful rebellion and tragic violence, I’ve long since learned to recognize the distant buzz of police choppers, but I usually don’t hear it before 8 am. Then I remember: Today is May Day! The revolution is…
The First City to Defeat Gang Injunctions? It Could Happen in Oakland.
America is not a total police state, but Oakland sure damn feels like one sometimes. Police murders of unarmed civilians, ICE raids outside middle schools, cops brutalizing anti-war protesters down at the docks — welcome to The Town. And now, just down the block from me in Fruitvale – the…
Taking a Minute (or a Month)
It’s been a tough month. I tore my miniscus, had knee surgery, and watched daytime TV for three weeks straight. (Since when has Drew Carey hosted Price is Right?? For me, it’s Barker or Bust.) My man Russ Feingold lost his Senate seat in Wisconsin to a Tea Party millionaire….