This article does not cite any references or sources. (May 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (September 2007)

East Oakland is the southeastern portion of Oakland, California, and takes up the largest portion of the city's land area. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links Emblem-important. ... “Oakland” redirects here. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ...

Geography

East Oakland stretches between Lake Merritt in the northwest and San Leandro in the southeast. It generally has a diagonal layout. East Oakland has numbered avenues (1st to 109th) that run northeast to southwest, and numbered streets (East 7th to East 33rd) that run northwest to southeast. Interstates 580 and 880 also run northwest to southeast. Main northwest-southeast thoroughfares include East 14th Street (renamed International Blvd. in 1996 (within the city of Oakland only)), MacArthur Blvd., Foothill Blvd., and Bancroft Ave. Main northeast-southwest thoroughfares include Fruitvale Ave., 35th Ave., High St., Seminary Ave., 73rd Ave. (which becomes the Hegenberger Expressway south of East 14th St. to Oakland International Airport), and 98th Ave. East Oakland is home to Mills College, McAfee Coliseum, the Oracle Arena, Knowland Park Zoo, and Lake Chabot Golf Course. Lake Merritt is a large tidal lagoon that lies just east of downtown Oakland, California. ... San Leandro is a city located in Alameda County, California. ... Interstate 580 (abbreviated I-580) is an interstate highway in Northern California. ... Interstate 880 (abbreviated I-880) is an interstate highway in the San Francisco Bay Area. ... Oakland International Airport (IATA: OAK, ICAO: KOAK, FAA LID: OAK), also known as Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, is an airport located 4 miles (6 km) south of downtown Oakland in Alameda County, California. ... Founded in 1852 and established in Oakland, California, in 1871, Mills College is an independent liberal arts womans college, with graduate programs for women and men. ... For other uses, see Coliseum. ... The Oracle Arena also known by its former name of The Arena in Oakland is an indoor arena in Oakland, California, United States. ... Oakland Zoo main entrance Oakland Zoo is a zoo located in southeastern Oakland, California, United States. ...

Residents generally identify themselves as being from the respective numbered avenue in their proximity when claiming turf. Neighborhoods in the Deep East Side or d.e.o[deep east oakland] (between 70th and 98th Avenues and near the airport) have traditionally been known as some of the most notorious streets in all of California, and this was after much of the area experienced a drastic socioeconomic decline after the 1970s; prior to this, most of East Oakland was middle-class and almost suburban in nature. Many middle-class families relocated to the suburbs, leaving the most poor citizens behind (in the Deep East Side these were almost exclusively African American); also, many long-time industrial jobs in the area dried up as the economy changed and factories along the Southern Pacific railroad tracks shut down, most notably regional facilities for Granny Goose, a regional snack foods brand, and Gerber. An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... The Southern Pacific Railroad (AAR reporting marks SP) was an American railroad. ... Granny Goose is the name of a brand of potato chips and other snack foods. ... The Gerber baby, who appears on the packaging of all Gerber products, is a portrait of four-month-old Ann Turner Cook. ...

Some areas of East Oakland, such as Maxwell Park and the neighborhoods between 98th Avenue and the San Leandro border are gentrifying as higher-income families, headed by young professionals, are rediscovering the area and advocating neighborhood improvements. The general high cost of living in the entire Bay Area is creating the effect of making East Oakland increasingly unaffordable for lower-income families. The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ...

The entire area was designated the Central City East Redevelopment Area by the City of Oakland in 2002. With this designation, the City will support redevelopment projects within the area that will be funded by tax-increment financing.

Numerous East Bay rappers and singers, such as Raphael Saadiq, Keak da Sneak, 2Pac, Dru Down, Too $hort, Digital Underground, MC Hammer, The Luniz and Keyshia Cole have originated from Deep East Side. Raphael Saadiq (born Charlie Ray Wiggins on May 14, 1966 in Oakland, California) is an acclaimed American music artist. ... Keak Da Sneak (born May 9, 1979 (full name Charles Toby Bowens[1], commonly referred to as Keak) is a rapper from Oakland, California . ... Years after his death, Tupac Shakur is still considered one of the most influential hip hop artists of all time. ... Dru Down (born Darnel Robinson) was a rapper in the early 1990s from Oakland, California. ... Todd Anthony Shaw (born April 28, 1966 in Los Angeles, California), better known by his stage name Too $hort, is an American rapper who started his career at the age of seventeen in Oakland, California. ... Digital Underground is an alternative rap group hailing from Oakland, California. ... MC Hammer (born Stanley Kirk Burrell on March 30, 1962) is an American MC who was popular during the late 1980s and early 1990s, known for his dramatic rise to and fall from fame and fortune, his trademark Hammer pants, and for leaving a lasting influence on hip hop culture... The Luniz is a rap duo formed by rappers Yukmouth and Numskull. ... Keyshia Michelle Cole (born October 15, 1981) is an American R&B singer-songwriter and record producer known for her soulful voice. ...

Neighborhoods

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into East Oakland, Oakland, California. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into East Oakland, Oakland, California. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into East Oakland, Oakland, California. ...

History

Melrose and Elmhurst were annexed by the city after the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake.^[2] The area known as Brooklyn until it was annexed by the city in 1909, was once suburban and predominantly white until World War II, when it became the backbone of Oakland's African American community due to an influx of workers from the southeastern U.S. and the exodus of more prosperous whites to suburbs south and east of the city. In the 1950s and 1960s, many areas of East Oakland remained predominantly white. In recent decades, the African American population has been steadily declining (as more middle-class African Americans are seeking opportunities in the nearby suburbs and even outside of the Bay Area altogether) and is being replaced by a thriving Latino and Asian (primarily Cambodian, Lao, and Chinese) population. Fruitvale has become the backbone of Oakland's Latino community and has a thriving shopping district. A diverse Asian population, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian, and other southeast Asian ethnic groups generally inhabit the area of East Oakland closest to downtown, from New Chinatown east to San Antonio. Year 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... For the Brazilian pop singer, see Latino (singer). ... Fruitvale is a residential neighborhood in eastern Oakland, California. ... Legendary Palace restaurant at the corner of Franklin and 7th st in Oakland. ...

The Brookfield district is located from 98th-85th Avenues. Residential streets are named for letters of the alphabet (A st...B st ...C st, etc.) This is a part of the Deep East area which has some of the highest rates of criminal and drug activity in the city.

Image

Many areas of East Oakland, however, have been plagued by high crime in the postwar period and still remain a haven for prostitution and drug activity. Companies and corporations continue to bypass Oakland because of its image problem. East Oakland continues to have high unemployment and dropout rates, primarily because of its drug problem, and its most poverty-stricken neighborhoods continue on a cycle of despair and apathy. The prostitution scene in the city was made popular in the 1970s with movies like "The Mack", and in the early 80's was one of the first areas in the United States where crack cocaine became a serious epidemic. During that time much of the drug trade was run by the notorious Felix Mitchell and the Flowers family. Unlike South Los Angeles, there are no major affiliations with Bloods or Crips in Oakland. Drug turf determines its street politics. Then-East 14th Street was plagued with a prostitution and drug problem for years. Due to synonymous effect it had on the street's name (as it was one of the deadliest arteries, mostly from the San Leandro city limits to at least High Street), city council changed the name of East 14th Street to International Blvd. in 1996. Even after the change, prostitution continued for years until the CHP stepped in to patrol the stretch (also known as California State Route 185 to 42nd Street) until crimes went down. The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... The Mack is a 1970s blaxploitation movie starring Max Julien and Richard Pryor. ... A pile of crack cocaine ‘rocks’. Crack Cocaine is a highly addictive form of cocaine that is popular for its intense high. ... Felix Mitchell Jr. ... South Los Angeles South Los Angeles is the official name for a large geographic and cultural area lying to the southwest and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California. ... The Bloods are one of the Los Angeles, California street gangs. ... The blue bandanas worn by most Crip gangs. ... JUNCTION POSTMILE SR-92 / SR-238 ALA 0. ...

Major events since year 2000:

• 2000

Jul. 9 Woman dragged by car 20 blocks at International Boulevard

• 2001

Jan. 12 An undercover police officer killed by fellow police

• 2001

Oct. 24 2 young women and a man were found shot to death

• 2003

Sep. 17 Two 3-story apartment buildings that were under construction were completely gutted and 3 other suffered damage in a 6-alarm fire

• 2005

Aug. 24 Wal-Mart opening near the Oakland Airport brings crowds. It is the largest retailer to open in Oakland in years

• 2006

Aug. 2 Police officer fatally shoots a 17-year-old boy, investigated in connection with multiple shootings. The boy fired multiple shots from a handgun at the officers

Culture

East Oakland, together with West Oakland and North Oakland, California, remains the heart and soul of Greater Northern California's African American community and its hip-hop community. The prostitution and drug culture inspired a new sub-genre of hip hop by the late 1980s. Rappers like Too $hort incorporated this culture into the music, in sharp contrast to much of the East Coast hip hop of the day. The result was music that had more reality-based lyrics. Too $hort was also one of the first rap artists to promote and sell records independently, and is one of the pioneers responsible for the birth of Northern California's independent hip hop scene, inspiring many to pursue success in the music industry without the assistance of a major record company. The sound of the music was different from East Coast hip hop, which is known for its technique of sampling and looping to create a song. Instead, Funk and Blues were infused with synthesizers and drum machines, giving birth to the Bay Area hip hop sound known as Mobb music. Today, mainstream hip-hop continues to lyrically and musically incorporate much of what was pioneered in East Oakland. Much of East Oakland's street slang has also become mainstream; phrases like "hella" (hell of), and "fa sheezy" (for sure) have their origins in Oakland. Another key term is "hyphy", meaning crazy and out of control, often referring to a style of dancing called "going dumb". Known as "The Town" throughout Northern California, it is now nationally famous for its sideshows, in which cars do various stunts in intersections at night. Fights, as well as car crashes and reckless driving, have claimed many victims at sideshows in Oakland in the recent past. West Oakland is a neighborhood in Oakland, California. ... North Oakland is an area of Oakland, California. ... Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. ... Hip hop is a subculture, which is said to have begun with the work of DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, and Afrika Bambaattaa. ... Todd Anthony Shaw (born April 28, 1966 in Los Angeles, California), better known by his stage name Too $hort, is an American rapper who started his career at the age of seventeen in Oakland, California. ... USGS satellite photo of the San Francisco Bay Area. ... Hyphy (pronounced HI-fee; IPA: ) is a style of music and dance primarily associated with the Bay Area hip hop culture. ... A sydeshow (sometimes sideshow) is an informal demonstration of automotive stunts held on public street corners, most often in low-income, non-white neighborhoods of cities in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, United States. ...

Notes