Black Liberation Walking Tour – David Peters

#030 – Today we speak with David Peters from the award winning Black Liberation Walking Tour. Dave leads guests on a 2 hour 10 stop walking tour through the Hoover-Foster West Oakland neighborhood along the San Pablo corridor. Audio has been recorded by longtime residents so you get a first hand history. The tour has been recognized by Conde Nast as one of the “6 Standout Black History Tours in the U.S., From California to Charleston”.

The idea came to life when neighborhood elders were telling stories that captivated both longtime residents and newcomers alike. Dave knew he had to not only capture and preserve this rich history, but find a way to share it with others. He says the tour….

“celebrates artistic, cultural, and heritage sites in this neighborhood that spans over 100 years- things, people, and events that Black folks did right here.”

The tour highlights the neighborhood’s rich history, which served as one of the early stops for African Americans escaping the Jim Crow South to find better opportunities in the west. In the early 1960s it birthed The Black Panther Party and the tour includes the Panther’s first breakfast program site. It also includes the home of Delilah Beasley, the first African-American woman to be published regularly in a major American metropolitan newspaper.

Out of his own nostalgia, Dave wanted to create a sense of community and belonging.

“I wanted to create belonging in my neighborhood, particularly for longtime residents. What if we start to think about and celebrate 100 years of Black history in this neighborhood as a way to encourage people to stay here? There is a place for us where we could have stories and a culture and places that reflect who we are and who we want to be and what we’ve done.”

He does guided tours once per month. You can find the schedule by clicking on the Eventbrite link below.

Be sure to stick around until the end to hear how Dave thinks the Oakland A’s Howard Terminal project can help the neighborhood and serve as a model for future projects in similar communities across the country.