San Francisco, CA

Leidesdorff Street
DESCRIPTION: In 1841 William Leidesdorff sailed the 1st steamship into the bay; wealth from his shipping line purchased extensive property between California, Grant, Washington & Montgomery streets and built one of the first major hotels in San Francisco; a small street in the Financial District is named in his honor

ADDRESS: Between Sansome and Montgomery Streets  MAP

Hotel Mark Twain
DESCRIPTION: The earliest downtown hotel to permit African Americans to stay as guests; in 1949, Billie Holiday stayed here while performing at other venues around town who did not permit her to sleep on the premises; Billie’s room is restored and dedicated in her honor

ADDRESS: 345 Taylor Street  MAP

PHONE: 415-673-2332

WEBSITE: http://www.hotelmarktwain.com

Mary Ellen Pleasant Memorial
DESCRIPTION: From slave to businesswoman (1814-1903) Pleasant used wealth created from a boarding house and other business ventures to establish the western terminus of the Underground Railroad and uplift the Black business community; she won the lawsuit in 1864 which allowed African Americans to ride San Francisco streetcars; most historians consider her the “Mother of Civil Rights in California”; a large disc-like plaque now occupies the front location of her former home

ADDRESS: Southwest corner of Bush and Octavia Streets  MAP

Fillmore Street
DESCRIPTION: This street developed its world famous Jazz and Blues nightclub reputation during and just after World War II; it featured several jazz and blues clubs as well as the world famous Fillmore Auditorium as described in the Fillmore District

ADDRESS: Fillmore Street  MAP

New Chicago Barbershop #3
DESCRIPTION: One of the oldest Black-owned businesses in the Fillmore district; the walls are filled with many historic pictures when the Fillmore was still in its heyday; if you are lucky, chat with the oldest barber to hear about the old days

ADDRESS: 1551 Fillmore Street  MAP

PHONE: 415-563-9793

WEBSITE: http://newchicagobarbershop.com

Oakland, CA

Oakland Tribune Tower
DESCRIPTION: Home of the first major metropolitan newspaper owned by an African American, the late Robert Maynard, who was also Editor in Chief; the building is dramatically lit at night and stands out amongst the Oakland skyline

ADDRESS: 1200 Broadway  MAP

Ronald Dellums Federal Building
DESCRIPTION: Twin dramatic skyscrapers puncture the Oakland skyline much as the man, Ronald Dellums, pushed through legislation in 25+ years as a distinguished former US Congressman

ADDRESS: 1301 Clay Street  MAP

C. L. Dellums Oakland Amtrak Station
DESCRIPTION: A striking modern train station honoring C L Dellums, co-founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925; at that time railroad workers were nearly one third of documented African American wage earners

ADDRESS: Embarcadero at Jack London Village  MAP

Black Panther Party's First Office
DESCRIPTION: Although Huey Newton and Bobby Seale wrote the party’s founding principles on 15 October 1966 at 5500 Market Street, the first office of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense was here; the founding principles called for adequate housing, jobs, education, and end to police brutality; its fitting that the building is a source of jobs in its renovated role -- Its All Good Bakery

ADDRESS: 5624 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way  MAP

Black Panther Party Stoplight
DESCRIPTION: As David Hilliard of the Black Panther Party attests, many children had previously been killed or injured in traffic accidents at this intersection; many requests by the public for a stoplight were ignored, in 1967, the Black Panther Party exerted enough pressure on City Hall to finally get a stop light installed

ADDRESS: 55th at Market Street  MAP

McClymonds High School
DESCRIPTION: "The school" when African Americans were restricted from attending other high schools in the East Bay; long list of famous alumni include Bill Russell and the Pointer Sisters; the structure is still attractive and in use

ADDRESS: 26th Street at Myrtle  MAP

De Fremery Park
DESCRIPTION: A historic, well maintained park and community center; the venue for many Black Panther Party of Self Defense community outreach programs, rallies for jobs and against police brutality; includes tennis and basketball courts and a playground

ADDRESS: 18th at Adeline Street  MAP