San Francisco, CA

Museum Of the African Diaspora
DESCRIPTION: The museum has an international flava’ that showcases the "best of the best" from the vast African Diaspora; drawing from the collections of museums and institutes worldwide, MoAD is more than anything, a collector of stories that are shared via technology and traditional means; permanent exhibits include Celebrations—Ritual & Ceremony, Music of the Diaspora, Culinary Traditions, Adornment,
Slavery Passages, and the Freedom Theater; temporary exhibits often include exciting contemporary art from the Diaspora

ADMISSION: Adults $10, Seniors & Students w/ID $5, ages 12 and under enter FREE

DAYS & HOURS: Wed-Sat 11a-6p, Sun 12a-5p

ADDRESS: 685 Mission Street  MAP

PARKING: garages on Third Street

TRANSIT: from Montgomery Street BART Station 1 block south on @nd Street, then 1 block west on Mission Street

PHONE: 415-358-7200

WESBITE: http://www.moadsf.org

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