Oakland is a blues city, brawling and husky . . . Often overshadowed by San Francisco, its twinkling sister city across the Bay, Oakland is itself an American wonder. The city is surrounded by and filled with natural beauty—mountains and hills and lakes and a bay—and architecture that mirrors its history as a Spanish mission, Gold Rush outpost, and home of the West’s most devious robber barons. It’s also a city of artists and blue-collar workers, the birthplace of the Black Panthers, neighbor to Berkeley, and home to a vibrant and volatile stew of immigrants and refugees. In Blues City, Ishmael Reed, one of our most brilliant essayists, takes us on a tour of Oakland, exploring its fascinating history, its beautiful hills and waterfronts, and its odd cultural juxtapositions. He takes us into a year in the life of this amazing city, to black cowboy parades and Indian powwows, to Black Panther reunions and Gay Pride concerts, to a Japanese jazz club where a Lakota musician plays Coltrane’s “Naima.” Reed provides a fascinating tour of an un-tamed, unruly western outpost set against the backdrop of political intrigues, ethnic rivalries, and a gentrification-obsessed mayor, opening our eyes not only to a singular city, but to a newly emerging America.
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" Decent introduction to political and cultural elements of the city. Good gift for a new resident. "
" A very extreme non-fiction view from a well respected author. "
" Reed's look at Oakland, a lot of history, a little bit of travel, very informative and it made Oakland interesting. "
" This is an insightful book about Oakland, but it has an ax to grind that isn't always on point. Well worth it for me as someone has returned to the Bay Area after a long time in the middle of the US--a good review/getting to know the social/political fabric of the area. "
Ishmael Reed has taught at Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth and has long been on the faculty at UC Berkeley. He is the award-winning author of more than twenty books—novels, essays, plays, and poetry—that have been translated into seven languages. Reed has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and was twice nominated for the National Book Award. He lives in Oakland, California.
Richard Allen is an accomplished and respected theatrical actor whose work includes Ragtime and PBS’ Great Performances: Play On! His voice can be heard on numerous television and radio productions, as well as the animated series Jumanji. Allen is also the winner of seven AudioFile Earphones Awards.
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