SAN FRANCISCO and OAKLAND CULTURAL SITES
San Francisco, CA
Museum Of the African Diaspora
DESCRIPTION: art museum & cultural center
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Waterfall
DESCRIPTION: An interplay of a long horizontal structure with a waterfall cascading from a 30 foot drop in front of Dr King's "I Have A Dream" speech; his speech is written in several languages that visitors can see as they walk under the waterfall
ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS: daily, sunrise to sundown
ADDRESS: Yerba Buena Gardens between 4th, 3rd, Howard & Mission Streets MAP
TRANSIT: from Montgomery Street BART Station 1 block south on @nd Street, then 1 block west on Mission Street
PARKING: garages on Third Street
WEBSITE: none
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre
DESCRIPTION: This small theatre features works from many famous African American playwrights, including its famous namesake; also features plays by August Wilson, including King Hedley, II; call for tickets and group rates;
BOX OFFiCE: visit their website
ADDRESS: performs at a roster local venues; no longer located at 620 Sutter Street
TRANSIT: n.a.
PARKING: n.a.
PHONE: 415-474-8800
WEBSITE: http://www.lhtsf.org
Robert Moses Kin
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1995, this nationally renowned dance company is recognized for its artistic excellence and choreographic innovation; frequent collaborators with important artists in dance, music, poetry, and visual arts, RMK is dedicated to moving the art forms of dance and performance forward
BOX OFFiCE: visit their website
ADDRESS: 870 Market Street, Flood Building MAP
TRANSIT: at Powell Street BART Station and Powell Street Cable Car turntable
PARKING: garages on Fourth Street and Mission Street
PHONE: 415-252-8384
WEBSITE: http://www.robertmoseskin.org
African American Historical & Cultural Society
DESCRIPTION: A community center and library that displays important works by Sargent Johnson; also features many dance programs, art programs, lectures, poetry readings throughout the year; call for days and hours; the resident African-American Shakespeare Company provides a place for actors of color to hone their talent mastering some of the world's greatest classical roles and open classic theatre to a diverse audience
ADMISSION: Free for many events, fee-based for special events; donations always welcome
DAYS & HOURS: varies depending on event
ADDRESS: 762 Fulton Street MAP
TRANSIT: none nearby
PARKING: on street
PHONE: 415-292-6172
WEBSITE: http://www.sfaahcs.org
Bayview Opera House
DESCRIPTION: This community cultural center and venue for African American theatre was also the city's first opera house in 1888; hosts a Drama Academy, Children’s Mural Program and the Ruth Williams Memorial Theatre
ADMISSION: Free for many events, fee-based for special events; donations always welcome
DAYS & HOURS: call for calendar of events
ADDRESS: 4705 3rd Street MAP
TRANSIT: Third Street/Oakdale/Palou Light Rail station is 1 block south on 3rd Street
PARKING: on street
PHONE: 415-824-0386
WEBSITE: http://www.bayviewoperahouse.org
Oakland, CA
Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation
DESCRIPTION: Commemorates achievements of the Black Panther Party of Self-Defense’s role in the Civil Rights Movement beginning in 1966; the Panthers’ legacy includes monitoring, protesting in an organized manner, and reducing police brutality; broadening their organizational skills, the Panthers initiated free breakfast for children and free medical service programs in the 1960’s that have been copied nationwide; knowing that fundamental change had to occur in the public infrastructure, the Panthers engineered the largest voter turnout in Oakland history to elect the city’s first African American mayor, Lionel Wilson, and other public officials; unlike several misrepresentations by Hoover’s FBI and the mass media, the Panthers never had a mission or objectives to increase white hatred – quite the opposite, they welcomed members of all races who supported efforts to uplift love, well-being and justice of Black people; as such, all Americans can celebrate the Panthers contribution towards increased respect and understanding between races
ADMISSION: donations welcome
DAYS & HOURS: no appt
ADDRESS: 1442A Walnut Street, Suite 112 MAP
TRANSIT: none nearby
PARKING: on street
PHONE: none
WEBSITE: http://blackpanthertours.com
African American Museum & Library of Oakland
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1965, the museum is dedicated to discover, preserve, interpret and share the historical and cultural experiences of African Americans in California and the West for present and future generations; features 160 collections in the archives of prominent families, pioneers, churches, social, political organizations and newspapers are available on microfilm; AAMLO's oral history collection researchers help you listen to interviews with local civil rights activists, educators, writers, and musicians; also home to the Eternal Voices video library containing more than 80 years of African American East Bay history; has a rapidly filling calendar of book lectures by nationally recognized authors
ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat Noon-5:30p
ADDRESS: 659 14th Street MAP
TRANSIT: BART 12thStreet/City Center Station, walk 1 block north to 14th Street and 4 blocks west
PARKING: across the street in City Center garage
PHONE: 510-637-0200
WEBSITE: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/AAMLO
Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts
DESCRIPTION: A restored beaux arts building is home to a multicultural performing-arts complex; a 400-seat theater and five performance spaces showcase Afrocentric drama, and African and contemporary dance; you can also learn African, Caribbean and Brazilian dances from resident companies such as Xalt, Dimensions Dance Theater, Moving On Center, and DiamonoCoura
ADMISSION: varies depending on event
DAYS & HOURS: varies depending on event
ADDRESS: 1428 Alice Street MAP
TRANSIT: BART 12thStreet/City Center Station, walk 4 blocks east on 13th Street and 1 block north on Alice Street
PARKING: plenty of lots spaces aand on street nearby
PHONE: 510-238-7219
WEBSITE: http://www.oaklandnet.com/parks/facilities/mcca.asp
Museum of African American Technology Science Village
DESCRIPTION: Captivating exhibits promote science education and awareness to youth and adults using principles of Ma'at; Science Village is involved in the collaborative effort with the Dept of Energy, National Laboratories of Berkeley, Pacific Gas & Electric, and photovoltaic equipment manufacturers to address the critical issues surrounding electric energy in California
ADMISSION: donations accepted
DAYS & HOURS: Sat 12-6p, Sun 2-6p
ADDRESS: 630 20th Street MAP
TRANSIT: BART 19thStreet/Oakland Station walk 2 blocks west, thn 1 block norh on San Pablo Ave
PARKING: on street
PHONE: 510-893-6426
WEBSITE: http://www.ncalifblackengineers.org
The Oakpod
DESCRIPTION: A new art and performance space designed to unify and celebrate the diversity of artists in the region; activities include art exhibitions, artist lectors, comedy shows, fashion shows, and film festivals
ADMISSION: donations welcome
DAYS & HOURS:
ADDRESS: 450 Santa Clara Ave MAP
TRANSIT:none nearby
PHONE: 510-908-4321
PARKING: on street
WEBSITE: http://www.theoakpod.com
Berkeley, CA
Black Repertory Group
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1964 by Nora Vaughn as a Drama Program for Downs Memorial United Methodist Church; in 1967, after having success the Black Repertory Group broadened it's scope of plays and seperated from the church; in 1987, the permanent home of the Black Repertory Group was opened; today one sees plays by Langston Hughes, August Wilson and other major playwrights and celebrity actors frequently perform as well
BOX OFFICE: Sun-Sat 9a-7p
ADDRESS: 3201 Adeline Street MAP
TRANSIT: BART Ashby Station, walk one block south
PARKING: on street
PHONE: 510-652-2120
WEBSITE: http://www.blackrepertorygroup.com
San Jose, CA
Martin Luther King, Jr. Central Library
DESCRIPTION: In 1990 the main library was re-named in honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr; it has a significant collection of published material on Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement
ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Thu 8a-10p, Fri 8a-6p, Sat 9a-6p, Sun 1p-7p
ADDRESS: 150 East San Fernando Street MAP
TRANSIT: Santa Clara Station walk one block south on 2nd, then 1 block east on San Fernando Street
PARKING: on street
PHONE: reference desk 408-277-4815
WEBSITE: http://www.sjlibrary.org
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum & Planetarium
DESCRIPTION: Since 1966, it has been home to over 4,000 authentic artifacts in architecture inspired by the temple of Amon at Karnak; revere the Nubian likenesses of the earliest Pharaohs; marvel at Queen Nefertiti's bust and the statue of her Pharaoh, Aknaton, who possibly introduced the world to the concept of “One God”; a visit would be incomplete without a tour of the rock-cut tomb
ADMISSION: $9 adults, $5 ages 5-10, under age 5 enters FREE
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 10a-4:30p, Sat-Sun 11a- 5:30p
ADDRESS: 1342 Naglee Ave MAP
TRANSIT: Caltrain College Park Station is about 7 blacks east
PARKING: on street
PHONE: 408-947-3600
WEBSITE: http://www.egyptianmuseum.org




