Culture

The Black Panther Party (BPP) was founded on October 15, 1966 in Oakland, California by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. The party was a political organization that agitated for greater rights for Black people in the United States. Seale and Newton captured the attention of the country (and of law enforcement) through their tactic of openly carrying rifles and shotguns while observing police officers in their community.

On Thursday night, an intimate audience gathered at Pro Arts Gallery for a show called Executive Order Karaoke. There, they sang classic karaoke songs with lyrics from President Obama’s executive orders.

Facing a crowd of over 100 people, Nilton J. Serva, a 19 year-old Latino entrepreneur, pitched his idea for an app that connects career mentors with Latinos and Latinas. An audible “Wow!” was heard from the audience as a teammate showed a mock-up of the simple, elegant app on the screen with sections for career credentials, a profile photo and ratings.

With the 2016 local and presidential elections fast approaching, some Oakland groups are focusing heavily on Latino voter registration and education because the results will directly affect their community.

October 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of The Black Panther Party. The celebration started on October 20, when several of the original members of the Panthers came to Oakland to recognize their achievements and their struggles over the years.

Local chefs take over Steel Rail’s kitchen on Friday nights for the restaurant’s fall series, Off the Rails.

Fruitvale is the first to be featured in a city-sponsored tourism campaign launched in early October that aims to showcase Oakland’s diverse neighborhoods.