Announcements
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Geoffrey’s Inner Circle Not included in City of Oakland Funding Support
Posted June 8, 2021 from the Post News Group — By Geoffrey Pete — Paul Mooney appeared at Geoffrey’s Inner Circle some 30 or more times over the years. His ... -
Getting Ready For the Inner Circle Grand Reopening
Hello Geoffrey's Inner Circle Family! We are ecstatic to announce that with much ado Geoffrey's Inner Circle is preparing for our highly anticipated Grand Reopening! With plans to open doors ... -
Join the Friends of Geoffrey’s Inner Circle in preserving this Oakland cultural treasure!
Hello, Geoffrey's Inner Circle family! PLEASE NOTE: We have raised $22,000 of our $250,000 Go Fund Me goal in only three weeks!! For those who have already contributed, thank you, ...
News Of The Day
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Video of DC Black woman being dragged by her hair in sports bar ignites protests
Posted June 15, 2021 from Daily Kos — On Sunday evening, people gathered to protest outside of Nellie’s Sports Bar, a gay bar in Washington, D.C., after a disturbing video ... -
Lin-Manuel Miranda Says He’s ‘Truly Sorry’ for ‘In the Heights’ Colorism
Posted June 15, 2021 from IndieWire — Following backlash over the lack of dark-skinned Afro-Latino actors in leading roles in the Warner Bros. musical “In the Heights,” producer Lin-Manuel Miranda ... -
oakland City Council president proposes trimming $18 million from police budget
Posted June 15, 2021 from Oaklandside — District 2 Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas unveiled her amendments to Mayor Libby Schaaf's proposed two-year budget Monday — By Darwin BondGraham — Oakland ... -
Tiffany Haddish to embody Florence Griffith Joyner in upcoming biopic
Posted June 14, 2021 from Afro News — Tiffany Haddish is about to put her comedic talents to the side and reveal her athleticism to portray Olympic champion Florence Griffith ... -
The sad story of southern slave owners, as told in 8th grade history books
Posted June 14, 2021 from Daily Kos — By Christopher Reeves — Gather around, children. I want to tell you a tale, a story of a nation divided. A story ... -
One woman killed, three injured as vehicle rams into protesters in Minnesota
Posted June 14, 2021 from Daily Kos — One woman was killed and three people were injured Sunday night when a driver sped his SUV into a protest against police ... -
Kevin Hart on cancel culture: ‘I can’t be the comic today that I was’
Posted June 14, 2021 from The Grio — The comedian spoke on the backlash he faced in 2018 after old tweets and jokes resurfaced in a recent interview with the ... -
Bernie Mac biopic in development at John Legend’s production company
Posted June 14, 2021 from The Grio — "His humor was always edgy, but it always had so much heart to it," Legend said of Mac, who died in 2008. ... -
‘Blindspotting’ is a love letter to Oakland, women of color, and local filmmaking
Posted June 14, 2021 from Oaklandside — Filmed partly in Oakland, the spinoff of the acclaimed movie makes its streaming debut on STARZ last Sunday — By Azucena Rasilla — ... -
father is suing an Illinois police department for opening daughter's ashes urn
Posted June 13, 2021 from CNN — A Springfield, Illinois, man is suing the city and six of its police officers for opening a small urn containing his daughter's ashes ... -
Casal and Diggs hope Oakland-set ‘Blindspotting’ jump-starts Bay Area filmmaking
Posted June 13, 2021 from The San Francisco Chronicle — Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs are both adamant that they wouldn’t be the creative people that they are without having ... -
Darnella Frazier, Who Filmed George Floyd's Murder, Wins An Honorary Pulitzer
Posted June 13, 2021 from NPR — Darnella Frazier, who was 17 when she recorded George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis last year, was awarded a special citation by the Pulitzer ... -
Tania León Wins Music Pulitzer For 'Stride,' Celebrating Women's Resilience
Posted June 13, 2021 from NPR — Tania León, the Cuban-born composer, won the Pulitzer Prize in Music on Friday for her orchestral work Stride. The Pulitzer jury described the ... -
Loan Forgiveness program for U.S. farmers of color Now On Hold
Posted June 13, 2021 from NPR — A new federal program created by the Biden administration to reverse years of economic discrimination against U.S. farmers of color has ground to ...
Videos Of The Day
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Oakland's "Blindspotting" Trailer
Welcome to the ordeal. #Blindspotting premieres June 13 on #STARZ.
Paul Mooney — August 14, 1941 - May 19, 2021
He Always Left Us Laughing And Then, Laughing, He Left Us
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Video: The Paul Mooney Awards (2004)
Legendary writer/comedian Paul Mooney took over the 2004 BET Comedy Awards in the way only he can. -
Paul Mooney was an elusive figure, but his influence was far-reaching
From The Undefeated — He wrote for some of the greatest Black comedians of our time while making people uncomfortable with his takes on race and culture — By Ashley ... -
Video: Paul Mooney unfiltered comedy
Paul Mooney is the black, white and brown citizens go to for comic relief with his no holds barred style of comedy, in this video clip watch as Mooney dissect ... -
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Paul Mooney, Oakland-based Comedian and comedy Writer, Dies at 79
Posted May 19, 2021 from Variety — Paul Mooney, the comedian, actor and writer for Richard Pryor, died on Wednesday morning, his representative Cassandra Williams confirmed to Variety. He was 79. ... -
Video: Paul Mooney - Dropping Knowledge
More from Reelblack's 2010 interview with MR. PAUL MOONEY. In this clip, he talks about the difference between being half-African and half-Black, DNA, his Rip Van Winkle screenplay, Willie Lynch ... -
Worthwhile Causes That Deserve Your Support
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Forbes: Black-Owned Businesses To Support Part One
Voting with your pocketbook is one of the best ways to effect change in a capitalist society. The U.S. is home to roughly 2.5 million black-owned businesses, according to the ... -
Support Black Businesses: 10 Black-Owned Businesses Highlighted By Forbes Magazine
Voting with your pocketbook is one of the best ways to effect change in a capitalist society. The U.S. is home to roughly 2.5 million black-owned businesses, according to the ... -
Forbes: Black-Owned Businesses To Support Part Two
Voting with your pocketbook is one of the best ways to effect change in a capitalist society. The U.S. is home to roughly 2.5 million black-owned businesses, according to the ...
Snapshots
Celebrating Good Times At Geoffrey's Inner Circle
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Bobby Womack Tribute
November 28, 2015 Geoffrey's Inner Circle -
Sistuh to Sistuh at Geoffrey's Inner Circle
October 9, 2010 Featuring Sheila Robinson, Jackie Hairston, Tammie Tambora, Tarika Lewis on violin, Tynetta Hare, Zakiya Hooker -
Book Launch Party At Geoffrey's For Betty Reid Soskin's Autobiography "Sign My Name To Freedom"
February 21, 2018 Bob Reid, Betty Reid Soskin, Judy Jager Betty Reid Soskin interviewed by Channel 5 News (filmmaker Bryan Gibel at far left filming the interview) Signing copies of ... -
Thanksgiving 2017 Free Community Dinner At Geoffrey's Inner Circle
Volunteers and diners Former NBA player Antonio Davis with volunteers Bob Brown of Sports Vision, Antonio Davis, and Geoffrey Pete -
Sunday Night Jazz Jam
November 5, 2013 Geoffrey's Inner Circle -
Grand Opening Of The Ruth Beckford Museum At Geoffrey's Inner Circle
Sunday, March 11, 2018 Click on images to enlarge
Geoffrey Pete And Geoffrey's Inner Circle In The News
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Live show venues in Oakland—like Geoffrey's—can now apply for emergency funding
Posted April 13, 2021 from Oaklandside — A new federal assistance program will provide over $16 billion in grants to entertainment venues that lost revenue during the pandemic — By ...
A History Of Geoffrey's Inner Circle
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2018 Jefferson Award Winner Owns Geoffrey's Inner Circle
Oakland Nightclub Owner Hosts Community Members For Free Meals -
A History Of Geoffrey's Inner Circle: The Athenian Nile Club, Part 1
By Joan Tarika Lewis Copyright 1999 To understand the significance of Geoffrey's Inner Circle is to examine, Africa’s story, our-story and history. Why is this important and what does this have to ...
Herman And Dorothy Reid Pete
Honoring The Parents Of Inner Circle Owner Geoffrey Pete
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DOROTHY PETE AT 90
MATRIARCH OF BLACK BERKELEY FAMILY MARKS 90TH BIRTHDAY — From the Berkeley Daily Planet Newspaper, March 9, 2004 — One of the great modern California folk myths is that African-Americans ... -
Herman Rideaux Pete: Outstanding Athlete And Proud Race Man
Herman Pete was a star student athlete in the 1930's, first at Alameda High School and then later at Marin Junior College, excelling in both football and baseball. Pete attended ... -
Dorothy Pete: Her Life In Her Own Words
African American Museum & Library at Oakland oral history interview with Dorothy Reid Pete discussing her family’s history in the Bay Area and her integration of the Oakland YWCA. Dorothy ...
Frank Robinson - August 31, 1935 – February 7, 2019
He Stood Out In A City Full Of Outstanding Athletes
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Frank Robinson, MVP, first black manager, McClymonds great, dies at 83
Posted February 7, 2019 from ESPN — Frank Robinson, the first African-American manager in Major League Baseball and the only player to win MVP in both leagues, has died at ... -
Remembering Frank Robinson's Legendary Career
A video tribute. -
Major League Baseball's Tribute To Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson, a trailblazing figure who was Major League Baseball's first African-American manager and one of its greatest players during a career that spanned 21 seasons, died Thursday after a ... -
McClymond's Coach Powles’s Athletes—Frank Robinson and others—Found Success
Coach George Powles speaks with McClymonds High School basketball players Frank Robinson and Brady Hord. January 8, 1953. Legendary McClymonds High School coach George Powles provided some last minute tips ...
In Sadness And Respect
Ronald V. Dellums November 24, 1935 – July 30, 2018
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Bidding You Good-bye, And Good Rest
Ron Dellums at Geoffrey's Inner Circle on the night Barack Obama was elected -
Ron Dellums, 82, Dies; Unrelenting in Congress, He Upheld Left’s Ideals
Posted August 3, 2018 from The New York Times Ron Dellums, the son of a longshoreman who became one of America’s best-known black congressmen, a California Democrat with a left-wing ... -
Ron Dellums, In His Own Words
Memorial video first presented May 9, 2019 at memorial services for Congressmember Ron Dellums at the Metropolitan African American Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. -
Gene Hazzard Remembers Ron Dellums
Photos by Oakland photographer Gene Hazzard Click on images to enlarge -
These Were The Times
Ron Dellums, Congressman/Mayor, West Oakland Elder/Pioneer, and my childhood friend Ed Howard the Producer/Director Filming RonDellums in 1971 in his first campaign to be a congressman and at DeFremery Park. ...
Memories Of Dorothy King
Beloved founder and owner of Everett & Jones Barbecue, one of Oakland's finest and most famous eating spots
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Celebrating The Wonderful Life of Dorothy King
Funeral Services for Mrs. Dorothy King Jernegan, Owner of Everett & Jones BBQ Jack London Sq. Oakland, CA. Streamed live on Mar 31, 2021. -
Memories Of Dorothy King
The beloved founder and owner of Everett & Jones Barbecue, one of Oakland's finest eating spots
Honoring Our Freedom Fighters
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John Burris, The Defender-Lion Of The Courthouse
John Burris casts a long shadow both in person and in civil rights law. In 2005 and 2009 he was named one of Californias leading 100 attorneys by the Los ... -
Dennis Pete, Black Prince And Panther
Dennis Pete is one of the older brothers of Inner Circle owner Geoffrey Pete. During the late 1960's, when the Black Panther Party was forming and recruiting young militant Black ... -
Attorney John Burris Mentors Youth
Oakland Civil Rights Attorney John Burris is known for his high profile courtroom battles but another passion is mentoring youth. Originally aired February 14, 2018 on KTVU Click here to ... -
The Unsinkable Willie Brown
It is a fact of American life that when African Americans dominate the landscape in a particular endeavor, they often find that the rules are suddenly changed midstream in order to ... -
Dr. Huey P. Newton Way unveiled in West Oakland
Posted February 18, 2021 from The Oaklandside — By Amir Aziz — Residents, activists, city officials, and community leaders gathered in West Oakland on Wednesday to dedicate a three-block section ... -
50th Black Panther Party Anniversary Celebration At Geoffrey's Inner Circle
Sports Movement icon John Carlos (who raised our consciousness along with his fist on the victory podium at the 1968 Olympics), Black Panther Party alumnus Tarika Lewis (the first woman ...
Acknowledging Those Who Wove The Fabric Of Our Community
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Esther Mabry, The Queen Of Oakland's 7th Street
June 1, 2010 East Bay News Group Esther Mabry, owner and namesake of legendary Esther’s Orbit Room in West Oakland, where blues greats such as B.B. King, Lowell Fulson, Al ... -
Betty Reid Soskin reflects on her life and career as a singer, activist and ranger
Posted August 2, 2020 from USA Today — By Autumn Schoolman — Betty Reid Soskin has lived an extraordinary life. At 98 years old, she is the oldest Ranger with the National ... -
Slim Jenkins, Oakland's Pioneer Black Entertainment Entrepreneur (1890-1967)
Harold "Slim" Jenkins was an African American entrepreneur and owner of the renowned Slim Jenkins Supper Club in Oakland, California, made popular during the 1930s to 1960s. Jenkins was born July 22, 1890 ... -
Slim Jenkins Supper Club And Market
Posted from "A Bit Of History" website Harold “Slim” Jenkins was an African American entrepreneur and owner of the renowned Slim Jenkins Supper Club on 7th Street in West Oakland. He saw the ... -
Betty Reid Soskin: Living History
National Park Service By Vanessa Hua Several times a week, Betty Reid Soskin packs the theater at the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park. Trim and ... -
Charles R. Reid Memorial Christmas Party returns to Richmond
The Mercury News Posted December 15, 2017 Note: the following article was published in the Mercury News five years ago, just before the 65th annual holding of the Charles Reid Christmas ...
Important Figures In And From Our Community
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CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF MORRIE TURNER ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF WEE PALS
Posted March 4, 2019 from the newsletter of the African American Library & Museum of Oakland — By Marco Frazier The end of February, beginning of March marks the anniversary of ... -
In all things film, it's Ryan Coogler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Oakland native Ryan Kyle Coogler (born May 23, 1986) is an American film director and screenwriter. His first feature film, Fruitvale Station (2013), won the top ... -
Rep. Barbara Lee: on 40 Years of Seeking Justice
Posted January 14, 2021 from Outrider — From her first days in Washington, her policy outlook stemmed from Black revolutionary ideas and street activism, something you’ll almost never find in ... -
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Dave ‘Davey D’ Cook passes the baton to a new generation
Posted April 26, 2021 from Berkeleyside — Davey D will appear live May 2 in a free Bay Area Book Festival conversation with Jeff Chang about their co-authored YA version ...
Black History All Year Round
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Senator Raphael Warnock's First Speech to the United States Senate
Warnock says the Senate filibuster should not be allowed to stand in the way of full voting rights for all Americans. -
Betty Reid Soskin reflects on her life and career as a singer, activist and ranger
Posted August 2, 2020 from USA Today — By Autumn Schoolman — Betty Reid Soskin has lived an extraordinary life. At 98 years old, she is the oldest Ranger with the National ... -
Ethnic Studies: Born in the Bay Area from History's Biggest Student Strike
Posted July 31, 2020 from KQED News — Earlier this summer, education advocates scored a major win in the California state Assembly. Legislation passed requiring all California State University students ... -
A Short History Of The Pullman Porters
They were overworked, underpaid and demeaned, but generations of porters on the Pullman Palace Car Company helped promote the rights and futures of African Americans. From The History Channel — ... -
Disturbingly Racist Moments in Cartoons
The point of our video is not to promote racism or to make fun of this issue, but to show how pervasive and institutionalized racism was in our culture just ... -
William Buckley interviews Huey Newton on Firing Line
Recorded on January 23, 1973 -
John Lewis knew the march is not yet over, the race is not yet won
Posted July 31, 2020 from The Guardian — By Barack Obama — In a transcript of his remarks at the congressman’s funeral, the former president calls on Americans to follow ... -
Pullman Porters - Ordinary Men, Extraordinary History
They made beds and cleaned toilets. They shined shoes, dusted jackets, cooked meals and washed dishes. Yet the Pullman porters created history in the face of adversity and racial prejudice. ... -
Baldwin-Buckley race debate still resonates 55 years on
It has been 55 years since civil-rights activist, James Baldwin, and founder of the conservative National Review, William F. Buckley, Jr., met for a debate on race in America. That ...
Hall Of Musical Giants
Those Notable Music Artists Geoffrey's Inner Circle Admires The Most
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A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE LIFE AND TRAGIC DEATH OF THE GREAT JAZZ TRUMPETER LEE MORGAN
Posted February 9, 2020 from The New Yorker — By Richard Brody Some of the best offerings in 2016 New York Film Festival were documentaries. The festival opened with Ava DuVernay’s ... -
“It Takes a While to Perfect Your Soul”: A Conversation With Sonny Rollins
Posted September 7, 2020 from Tidal — By Lee Mergner — There’s a young man, Aidan Levy, who is writing a biography on you. How are you going to feel ...
The Oaktown Sound
The Groups And Individuals Who Shaped The Music Of Our Times
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Keshia Cole, Our Homegirl With Soul
Artist Biography by Jason Birchmeier One of the more genuine R&B singer/songwriters to emerge in the 2000s, Keyshia Cole worked her way up the industry ladder diligently yet quickly, making her major-label debut ... -
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The Story Of Lenny Williams
Video history of an Oakland music legend. -
Bay Rising: Oakland Music’s Moment in the Sun, 30 Years Later
Posted May 20, 2020 from The Ringer — By Rebecca Bodenheimer — On February 12, 1990, rapper MC Hammer released his third album, Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt Em. Thanks to ... -
Oaktown's Got 5 On Luniz
Oakland rap duo Luniz, original named Luni Tunz, consisted of Yukmouth (Jerold Ellis III) and Numskull (Garrick Husbands), two friends who knew each other since junior high. The duo ... -
Larry Graham: A One In A Million Oakland Entertainer
Artist Biography by Jason Ankeny Graham Central Station was a showcase for the revolutionary pop-and-slap bass guitar of Larry Graham, an alumnus of Sly & the Family Stone largely responsible for originating the percussive groove ... -
The Oaktown Gospel Sound of the Edwin Hawkins Singers
Oakland's Edwin Hawkins Singers As directors of music at their Berkeley church, the Ephesian Church of God in Christ, Edwin Hawkins (b. August 1943, Oakland, California, USA) and Betty Watson ... -
Rediscovering The Enormous Social And Spiritual Legacy Of Oakland's Black Jazz Records
Posted September 22, 2020 from NPR — The dawn of the '70s were heady times for keyboardist Doug Carn and drummer Michael Carvin. Both men had recently relocated to Los ... -
Oakland's The Natural Four
The Natural Four Artist Biography by Andrew Hamilton From allmusic.com The Natural Four began their quest for stardom in Oakland, CA, in the mid-'60s, landing their first deal with a local outfit ...
Our Great Legacy Of Sports Stars
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Top 10 Norcal Players from the 21st Century
From SimplyBasketball.com Many fantastic hoopers have their roots in NorCal. All-time NBA greats like Bill Russell and Jason Kidd grew up in the Bay, setting a foundation for the current ... -
Damian Lillard out to show Lakers that 'running from the grind' is for chumps
Posted August 20, 2020 from CBS Sports — By Bill Reiter — The most telling sign of what Damian Lillard had in store to close the NBA bubble seeding games ... -
Jason Kidd: Homegrown Hero
Posted from The Gold Nugget — Jason Kidd was one of the most decorated recruiting prospects to come out of the Bay Area in the 1990’s. Despite receiving a vast ... -
Brian Shaw: The Shaw'Nuff B-Ball Truth From Oakland
Wikipedia Brian Keith Shaw (born March 22, 1966) is an American retired professional basketball player and former head coach for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He ... -
Joe Morgan—Oakland's Little Baseball Giant
Joe Morgan—A Little Man Playing A Big Man's Game “If I had to go into the draft right now, I never would have gotten a chance. I was 5'5", 140 ... -
Jason Kidd: From Oakland Playgrounds To NBA All-Star And Coach
LOVE OF THE GAME Jason Kidd’s story is a lesson in patience, proof that good things truly do come to those who wait. Jason embodied the qualities of a Hall ... -
Jim Hines—One-Time World's Fastest Human
Jim Hines, born in Dumas, Desha County, Arkansas, raised in Oakland, California, where he excelled in athletics at McClymonds High School, is an Olympic track and field star who won ... -
Charlie Reid's Richmond Twilight Basketball League
Video segment highlights the impact of Charlie Reid's Twilite outdoor basketball league at Shields Park in North Richmond. The league featured the top college and high school players from all ... -
Flood opened the floodgates
From The Katy Trail Weekly — By David Mullen — My next-door neighbor growing up in Oakland was a short, Italian man named Frank Russo, a wealth of information on ...
