Black Owned Live-Performance Venues in Oakland Struggle to Financially Breathe By JR Valrey, The People’s Minister of Information Oakland nightlife has been severely affected by the Covid pandemic, which was evident when the premiere live-performance jazz club, Yoshi’s, in Jack London Square, created a … Continue readingBlack Owned Live-Performance Venues in Oakland Struggle to Financially Breathe
By JR Valrey, the Minister of Information Morgan J is a gifted vocalist from Stockton, that I met at Pillow Session, a performance production that is put on weekly at D’Wayne Wiggins from Tony Toni Tone’s compound, in Deep East Oakland. Morgan J’s seductive, airy, … Continue readingTalented Stockton songstress Morgan J Is Making Her Voice Heard All Over Northern Cali
By JR Valrey Ms. Kujichagulia has been a freedom fighter in the community for decades, and a mother figure to me, for more than half of my life. Her knowledge and politics have always impressed me. Her passion to teach Black people to do better … Continue readingBlack Women-led Revolutionary Social Media Show, “Name It! Claim It! End It…Racism!” Is Weekly
By JR Valrey Where some people see tragedy, others see opportunity, and the owner of Complex music venue in downtown Oakland, Oscar Edwards, has his eyes on creating a pandemic – proof business, next door to his popular music venue. Opening on Saturday, March … Continue reading14th Street Market Is a Black Owned Grocery Store Opening in Downtown Oakland
By JR Valrey With all the leisure time that the pandemic has created in our lives, by slowing down reality with the shelter in place mandate, this has been a perfect opportunity for some to to explore their dreams of being an entrepreneur. While some … Continue readingOnline Upcycle Fashion Brand “Ramona K Closet” owner Takia Hooker Speaks on Starting a Business in a Pandemic
By JR Valrey, The People’s Minister of Information For the last 50 years, “The Last Poets” have been instrumental in politically educating Black Amerikkka, as well as the world, to our uphill battle against genocide and for liberation and self-determination in the land of the … Continue readingAbiodun of the Last Poets Talks About Impact After 50 Years, Weak Slogans in the Movement, and the Role of Artists Today
by JR Valrey, Black New World Media My 90-year-old grandfather had gotten sick during the COVID-19 pandemic, and my uncle. who is a nurse, gave the family new rules that we had to follow to keep us as safe as possible from the invisible biological … Continue readingFrom COVID to California fire season 2020: A nurse’s perspective on protecting ourselves