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“Grant Station Project” urges BART Renaming of Fruitvale Station

Published

11 years ago

August 1, 2013

Written by: Eric K. Arnold, Oakland Local

One of the major criticisms applied to rap music these days is that the genre has become too corporate and/or gotten away from meaningful social commentary and activism. However, that may be a matter of perception; on an underground level, there’s plenty of messaging which speaks to those themes, yet listeners may not know where to find it.

In a perfect world, the same attention being given to Jay-Z or Kanye West would be extended to Young Gully, an Oakland-based rapper who teamed up with journalist Pendarvis Harshaw for The Grant Station project, a concept album honoring the memory of Oscar Grant, and part of a campaign to rename the Fruitvale BART station in Grant’s memory.

The project—available as a free download here — comes not only on the aftermath of the Zimmerman verdict, but also at the same time that “Fruitvale Station,” the Oscar Grant movie, debuted nationally to respectable box office numbers, but perhaps more importantly, has opened up long-overdue conversations about race in America, such as this recent opinion piece by the Washington Post’s top film critic.

Grant Station begins with the familiar sounds of a train arriving, followed by a voice-over announcement: “Welcome to Grant Station,” a single gunshot, and sound-bite snippets recounting the Mehserle verdict and imparting that Grant’s death not be in vain.

What follows next are 10 impassioned tracks—interspersed with commentary from Harshaw—on which Young Gully does precisely what Jay-Z won’t do: address the state of black life in this country in a way that is humanizing, heartfelt, and unquestionably real.

On “Grant Station,” Gully raps, “since Oscar died the whole city been in crisis mode/ so many lives is sold but it’s not surprising though/still I despise it so/how can we survive and grow?/ when they throw us in cuffs, another life is taken/ another cop that’s off the hook, another mama pacing/another shirt made, seems like it never stops/the Town ain’t really been the same since Lovelle was shot/I just want for my people to shine/but sometimes, I get the feeling my people are blind/ they see what they wanna see/but still we gotta take a stand/how can I respect a cop or even shake his hand?/when they so against us/ it’s like calling a snake a friend/ giving policemen immunity/ is what you rate a plan/shit is crazy and it just amaze me/how we get treated but I never let the system break me.”

An interview with Grant relative Cephus “Uncle Bobby” Johnson informs “Letter to Oscar,” which attains a Tupac-esque level of poignancy, offsetting its depressing subject matter with a cheery, uplifting guitar loop. Other tracks, like “Stereotype,” “By Any Means,” and “Here I Stand” speak directly to the crisis facing African Americans today, a dichotomy defined by misinformed perceptions and a repeating cycle of undereducation, incarceration and inequality.

Gully’s raw, street-level rhymes go hard over beats which eschew both the EDM and trap music trends currently dominating commercial radio. Yet “underground” doesn’t mean “inaccessible”; were urban radio interested in addressing such topical subject matter, “Dream” comes complete with a catchy, R&B-styled hook (“is it all but a dream?”), sung by a female vocalist.

Mindful rather than mindless in its content, Grant Station not only upholds the ethos of “reality rap” first referenced on Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five’s 1982 classic “The Message,” but avoids the contrived, pseudo-agitprop of Kanye West’s “New Slaves” and “Blkkk Skkkn Head.” Instead, it drills down into the heart of the conflict and the struggle, showing the anger and frustration black America feels over police brutality, but also the need for advocacy and, one hopes, eventual change. If you’ve lost faith in hip-hop recently, a listen to Grant Station might just trigger a rechristening.

**Cross Posting with OaklandLocal**

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Activism

City of Oakland Celebrates Reopening of Main Library

“Libraries are such critical facilities for all Oaklanders, whether it’s children coming to story-time, adults reading the newspapers or borrowing the latest novels, and people engaging with a range of services and programs that the library hosts,” said Council President and District 2 Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas. “Such library services and programs are only possible when the facility’s electricity, heating, roof, and lighting are fixed and running efficiently. I’m proud to join this re-opening of our Main Public Library.”

Published

4 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Left to Right- Jamie Turbak, Director of Library Services, LaTonda Simmons, Assistant City Administrator, Nikki Bas, President Oakland City Council, Shen Thao, Mayor of Oakland, Carroll Fife, Oakland City Councilmember District 3, Harold Duffey, Assistant City Administrator, Sean Maher, Projects Coordinator. Photo by Kevin Hicks.

The branch had been closed since May for critical infrastructure upgrades

Special to the Post

The City of Oakland leadership and community partners gathered to celebrate the reopening of the Main Library after completion of critical infrastructure upgrades to enhance the library’s facilities and provide a better experience for patrons.

Renovations include new roof installation, skylight repair, critical electrical system upgrades, new boiler control system installation, auditorium heating and cooling system installation, and improvements to lighting, flooring and ceilings throughout the building.

“This is truly something to celebrate, the reopening of our wonderful Main Library! I congratulate the staff and our partners for this important project to make the Main Library a more comfortable place for everyone for years to come, said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. “Thank you to Oakland voters and the California State Library for making these crucial improvements possible.”

“Public libraries are a wonderful resource for our residents, offering a safe space for learning and being,” said District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife. “It is critical to improve and modernize our libraries so more members of our community can utilize and enjoy them. I’m excited that the necessary renovations to the Main Library have been completed successfully and thank everyone involved, particularly the City team, who helped secured the necessary grant funds for this work.”

“I am proud of the City staff and project partners who kept this important project on schedule and under budget,” said Assistant City Administrator G. Harold Duffey. “The library is an incredibly important resource for our community members, and this project is an investment into the library’s future.”

“December 2nd was a momentous occasion for Oakland Public Library as we proudly reopened the doors of the Main Library following extensive infrastructure repairs,” said Director of Library Services Jamie Turbak. “Closing the Main Library for six months was no easy decision, as it serves as the central hub for our library system and is truly the heart of Oakland. Yet, this renovation was essential, representing more than just physical upgrades—it reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a safe, welcoming space for everyone.”

The City Administrator Jestin Johnson also attended the press conference and signalled his support for the completion of the record-setting completion of the renovations. Gay Plair Cobb, a newly appointed Library Commissioner said the Library represents the soul and brains of our community.

The Oakland Public Library secured funding for these crititcal repairs through a variety of sources. The California State Library’s Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program awarded the Main Branch $4.2 million. To comply with the grant terms, the City of Oakland provided matching funds through Measures KK, as approved by the Oakland City Council in October 2023.

The Main Library will host an Open House to celebrate the reopening on February 22, 2025, 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

About the Oakland Public Library

The Oakland Public Library is a part of the City of Oakland in California and has been in existence since 1878. Locations include 16 neighborhood branches, a Main Library, a Second Start Adult Literacy Program, the Oakland Tool Lending Library, and the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO). The Oakland Public Library empowers all people to explore, connect, and grow. Oaklandlibrary.org

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Activism

BWOPA Honors Black Leadership and Legacy at 2024 Ella Hill Hutch Awards Dinner

On Dec. 5, BWOPA held its Annual Ella Hill Hutch Awards Ceremony, at the Fairmont Claremont Hotel in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills. At the event, the group comprised of Black women from various professional backgrounds, honored distinguished local and state leaders whose contributions have shaped civic engagement and advanced critical social issues impacting Black communities.

Published

6 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

L-R: BWOPA State Executive Director LaNiece Jones; State Asm. Mia Bonta; BWOPA 2024 Man of The Year/Urban League SFBA CEO Ken Maxey; BWOPA State President Hon. Dezie Woods-Jones; State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas; Rowena Brown, Oakland Councilmember At-Large, Elect; BWOPA State Regional Director Vashone Huff. Courtesy photo.

By Oakland Post Staff

Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) is a statewide non-profit advocacy and membership organization committed to solving problems affecting Black Californians.

On Dec. 5, BWOPA held its Annual Ella Hill Hutch Awards Ceremony, at the Fairmont Claremont Hotel in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills.

At the event, the group comprised of Black women from various professional backgrounds, honored distinguished local and state leaders whose contributions have shaped civic engagement and advanced critical social issues impacting Black communities.

The evening was hosted by Dr. Shawna Charles, founder of The Charles Communications Group (CCG) headquartered in Los Angeles. Charles served as mistress of ceremonies.

With a track record of elevating voices and empowering communities, Charles’ leadership and insight brought a certain dynamism to the celebration.

“Each year, this event not only celebrates the enduring legacy of our beloved BWOPA founding member, Ella Hill Hutch, but also reaffirms and amplifies our unwavering commitment to building and sustaining Black political power across California,” said Dezie Woods-Jones, BWOPA founding member and State president.

“Ella Hill Hutch’s trailblazing leadership continues to inspire us as we forge ahead, empowering Black women to lead, advocate, and shape a more equitable future for all,” added Woods-Jones.

This year’s event introduced the DWJ Rising Star Award, honoring young leaders like Solano County Board Supervisors-elect Cassandra James, Danielle Motley-Lewis, Naomi Waters and newly elected State Assemblymember elect Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton).

According to organizers, the awardees all exemplify “the next generation of changemakers.”

Other awardees included:

Lifetime Achievement Awardees: Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) and Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson
Man of the Year: Kenneth Maxey, CEO of the Greater SF Bay Area Urban League
President’s Corporate Award: Yvette Radford, Kaiser Permanente
In the Spirit of Ella State and Chapter Awards: Dr. Carolyn Greene, Dr. Marcella K. Smith, Dr. Carolyn Drake, Tinisch Hollins, Jackie Jones, Gloria Burgess Johnson, Tamika L’Ecluse, Ellen Nash, Betty Reid Soskin, and Ay’Anna Moody.

BWOPA also celebrated local champions across its chapters, including leaders in voter education, healthcare, criminal justice reform, and community advocacy.

In a statement, BWOPA said, “Honoring Ella Hill Hutch’s legacy, BWOPA recognizes her pioneering efforts as the first Black woman elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Her tireless work amplifying underrepresented voices continues to inspire BWOPA’s mission to build Black political power across California.”

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to our members, partners and allies who believe in BWOPA’s vision to invest in building power for Black women’s leadership,” said LaNiece Jones, BWOPA State executive director. “Your support ensures that Black women have a voice at decision-making tables locally, regionally, statewide, and nationally, advancing diversity and equity in leadership spaces.”