Exhibit A: A Townhall on Anti-Blackness in Oakland

The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) partners with Edutainment for Equity and the City of Oakland Department of Race and Equity to host Exhibit A: A Townhall on Anti-Blackness in Oakland, an interactive data experience on anti-Blackness in the city of Oakland.

Exhibit A employs the power of statistics and data visualization, and casts the city of Oakland into the future to give a glimpse of what continued anti-Black models can bring and what futures are possible if such anti-Black structures are resisted. 

Exhibit A builds off of the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois’ prolific statistical work by using interactive data visualizations created by Oakland based artists to illustrate trajectories impacted by both pro and anti-Black futures. Exhibit A is supported by participating policy makers and city workers from critical sectors including leaders from the Department of Race and Equity and is an expression of Oakland’s community.

Between digital interfaces, augmented reality experiences, and interactive workshops designed to spark conversation and critical engagement, this experience is one meant to be amplified.

Participants are enlisted to engage their own friends through social media by sharing images of the art and their response to it, and offering visions and forecasts for the future of Oakland.

The community dialogue will be moderated by journalist and host of Hard Knock Radio DJ Davey D and educator, community leader, and Exhibit A co-producer, Hodari Davis. Interspersed between dialogue will be musical stylings and performances by CEO and founder of Edutainment for Equity and Exhibit A co-producer, Candice Wicks-Davis (also known as Mama Candice), and several Oakland favorites. 

ABOUT EXHIBIT A

Exhibit A employs the power of statistics and data visualization, and casts the city of Oakland into the future to give a glimpse of what continued anti-Black models can bring and what futures are possible if such anti-Black structures are resisted.

This project is meant to be jumping off point for deeper conversations about the nature and direction of Oakland in general and in Black life in Oakland specifically. The project produced by Hodari Davis and hosted by Edutainment for Equality is happening in partnership with the City of Oakland Department of Race and Equity, the City of Oakland Department of Arts and Culture and is situated within a larger network of several Oakland based Organizations. Exhibit A,  though firmly rooted in the Oakland community and dedicated to issues of anti-blackness facing communities here in the Bay Area, is also intended to develop and expand beyond and impact the broader political mythos that institutional racism does not exist in the United States.