The People’s War: Briefing from Oakland, CA

April 1, 2020—I spoke with a sister from the community the other day on the phone who stated she tested positive after being exposed and believes the U.S. government has something to do with the virus.

Her perspective is probably shared by many who face the daily reality of African life in Oakland. Oakland is located in Alameda County which reports 331 cases and 7 deaths from COVID-19.

The colonial reality faced by the impoverished African working class community versus the mostly white Oakland hills here has an even greater divide with the introduction of COVID-19.

The store shelves are now bare from COVID-19 panic shopping by those with the resources who emptied the stores of essential needs.

There are no testing sites, there is no healthcare that people can readily access. People who can’t work can’t pay bills and are saying they don’t know what to do.

These are the same conditions faced by African people before the COVID-19 pandemic.

With so little access to healthcare and food outlets, the community is left to defend itself. The only way for the African community to be protected and informed is to be organized.

Outreach in Oakland is directed from the Black Ankh Project of the All African People’s Development and Empowerment Project (AAPDEP). The People’s War outreach teams are wearing masks, gloves, glasses, whatever it takes to reach the people to provide leadership and needed survival information.

For more information visit developmentforafrica.org or call 510-545-6143.