About the Project

Tales of The Town is a multimedia project that uses a podcast, album, short film, art exhibit, and a book to detail nearly 100 years of Oakland’s Black History. The project is a tribute to the Black community of Oakland and a reminder of what we can do against all odds. 

  • The podcast is an audio story written and hosted by Abbas Muntaqim and Delency Parham. Over the course of 12 episodes the hosts explore a history many people didn’t know existed: The second Great Migration of the early 1900’s that brought Black folks to Oakland en masse from the south. The birth of the Black Panther Party and the rise of the Black Power Movement. Historic championship sports teams, and internationally beloved musicians.

  • The Tales of The Town Art Exhibit makes use of different artistic mediums to give the viewer an in- depth and personal look at the culture and moments that has been birthed from nearly a century of Black life in the place called “The Town.”

    Curated by Abbas Muntaqim, Carrie Lin, Dariane Beamon, and Delency Parham- The exhibit contains twelve sections based on each episode of the Tales of The Town podcast, featuring original writings, poems, photography, clothing, and paintings from Bay Area artists printed on 8' panels, framed photographs and other images, a shrine of Oakland sports jerseys, an original 5'x4' painting, and more!

  • Tales of The Town: The Album was a collective artistic effort between People’s Programs and the broader Bay Area music community. All contributors donated their verses, hooks, and beats to ensure that all proceeds made from the streams and merch associated with the album would be donated to People’s Programs. Having accrued over 4 million streams the money made has been used to fund People’s Programs free hot meal and grocery distribution, as well as their free mobile health clinic.

  • Tales of The Town: The Book features over 100 original photographs from Bay Area born photographer, Bryan Berry. The book preserves the people and places that have made The Town such a special place.