Conversations at The Lake Merritt

History of the African-American Community in Oakland

African Americans have been an important presence in Oakland since the city’s earliest days. Oakland Public librarians Kathleen DiGiovanni and Dorothy Lazard will present a talk on the history of Oakland’s African American community, including stories of early settlers, the women’s club movement, the impact of the Great Migration on East Bay cities, and the political and cultural emergence of African Americans in the latter half of the 20th century. This program will include a slideshow featuring images from the Oakland History Room, a vital community resource of the Oakland Public Library. A Q&A session will follow this program.