Bay Area

Mayor Sheng Thao Declares ‘Boogaloo Dance Day’ Honoring Oakland’s Street Dance Legacy

Nearly six decades ago, African American youths on the streets of Oakland gave birth to an innovative dance culture that has left an indelible mark on the world. Descendants of the Great Migration of African Americans from the southern United States to the West, these young dancers adopted the term “Boogaloo,” popularized by artists like James Brown. They applied it to their unique dance style.

Published

3 years ago

October 4, 2023

Oakland Post

Mayor Sheng Thao pictured alongside original Boogaloo Dance Pioneers of the 1960s and ’70s. Photo by JonathanFitnessJones.

By Post Staff

At the 12th annual Original Boogaloo Reunion on Sept. 16, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao paid tribute to an often-overlooked aspect of the city’s cultural heritage by declaring the third Saturday of September each year as “Boogaloo Dance Day” in the city of Oakland, celebrating the profound influence of Boogaloo dance culture.

Individual dancers and groups from various Oakland neighborhoods nurtured the Boogaloo dance culture, which thrived in local talent shows, school dances, community performances, and even national television appearances from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Oakland’s Boogaloo culture laid the foundation for modern street dance, including styles like “Popping,” “Pop Locking,” “Strutting,” and “Robotting.”

In the 1980s, these dance forms became an integral part of contemporary Hip Hop dance culture, featuring prominently in major motion pictures, commercials, and music videos by some of the world’s most renowned artists. Today, they stand as some of the most recognizable and influential dance styles in the world.

For those interested in delving deeper into the rich history of this dance culture, a docu-series titled ‘Boogaloo: The Greatest Story Never Told’ offers a more comprehensive exploration of this vibrant part of Oakland’s heritage.

The declaration of “Boogaloo Dance Day” by Mayor Thao serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of Oakland’s street dance culture and its enduring impact on the world of dance and entertainment.

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026

Published

3 days ago

September 7, 2026

Oakland Post

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Activism

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Post News Group

Dawna Williams, EOBA executive director speaks to attendees at the Black August Eperience on Aug. 21. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Flynn of EOBA.

By Jana Lang Propel Youth Reporter

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) and Youth Alive! came together on Aug. 21 to share with their community all that Black August means to them.

Held on EOBA’s patio at 816 98th Ave. in Deep East Oakland, the two organizations hosted their second annual Black August Experience, featuring a food tasting, financial literacy and mindfulness workshops, and voter registration with the League of Women Voters Oakland (LWV).

Black August is known as a time to uphold the legacy of prisoners who protested their conditions by fasting, fighting, and educating themselves on the economic and political circumstances that contributed to their incarceration.

According to its website, “EOBA is a multi-service youth and community development hub that goes far beyond the ring. While rooted in the discipline of boxing, for nearly 40 years EOBA has also integrated robust programs in workforce development, food justice, afterschool enrichment, financial literacy, mentorship, and wellness.”.

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Through Coro California, another leadership organization serving young people across the state for 80 years, they gained a broader understanding of Black August.

EOBA Executive Director Dawna Williams spoke about how much she learned about Black August from the youth who created it. “I let them educate me,” she said. Instead of talking about prison reform and mass incarceration, Williams and youth interns found that Black August meant so much more. “We would have done a disservice if we had just focused on who the people were and what their situation was…We tried to take their message from back in the day and make it relevant to the young people today. What do they need to know?”

Youth interns created and placed posters around the patio to help participants understand how traditional Black foodways, civic engagement, financial literacy, and the power of education are relevant to Black resistance today.

An EOBA member described Black August with Youth ALIVE! as “a whole vibe. “This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin’ in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.”

The food tasting, a popular event from last year, featured traditional Black foods such as black-eyed peas, johnny cakes, and fried chicken. Led by Williams, the tasting included a talk about how these traditional foods were made and why they are forms of Black resilience.

The “‘Plate of History’ was a favorite of the online writers. “Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.”

The writer also commended the “League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.”

Overall, it was a “good Friday event in East Oakland,” the writer said.

Upcoming Black August events: Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The websites for East Oakland Boxing Association, Youth Alive! and CORO are sources for this report.

Jana Lang is an Oakland resident, teacher, gardener and poet participating in the Propel News Initiative.