Monthly Archives: July 2026

As the San Francisco Bay View enters its 50th anniversary year, a new editorial leadership team is building on the newspaper’s legacy while preparing it for the future through community-centered journalism, multimedia storytelling and unwavering accountability. Editor in Chief JR Valrey, Manager of Production Leah Harmony and Managing Editor Tabari Morris each bring distinct experiences, united by a shared commitment to amplifying Black voices, documenting all of what makes up a community and ensuring the people themselves have a place for their own stories.

Afro-Play is creating a joyful, culturally affirming space where Black children ages 0–5 and their families can learn, play and build community together in Oakland. Co-founders Ellen Hamilton and Ajhana DeRamous share how a grassroots playgroup grew into an award-winning nonprofit dedicated to nurturing Black joy, early childhood development and stronger family support networks.

Yoga instructor CJ Spears believes healing begins by slowing down, listening to your body and making space for your emotions. In this conversation with JR Valrey, she discusses yoga’s ancient roots, how the practice carried her through difficult times, and why she combines movement with journaling to help people process stress and deepen self-awareness. She also shares the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of yoga, along with upcoming classes designed to make wellness accessible to the community.

A Black and Indigenous-owned quarter-acre sanctuary in deep West Oakland is redefining what community healing can look like.

As the Black Arts Movement District marks its 10th anniversary, master artist and Oakland Poet Laureate Ayodele Nzinga reflects on the enduring legacy of the Black Arts Movement and why theater remains a vital tool for liberation, healing and community building. In this conversation with JR Valrey, she previews BAMAVERSARY, a four-day celebration of Black art and culture, while tracing the movement’s living influence from the 1960s to today’s artists, activists and youth.

Glenridge: Broken promises on the hill examines how a housing cooperative once envisioned as a model of resident control and long-term affordability has become mired in deferred maintenance, governance disputes, financial questions and growing uncertainty. Through interviews with residents, co-founder Fred Butler and current management, the SF Bay View investigates whether Glenridge’s struggles reflect isolated failures—or a broader pattern that threatens Black and working-class communities across San Francisco.

After a three-year hiatus, Oakland favorite Souley Vegan is back — and bigger than ever. Founder Tamearra Dyson talks with JR Valrey about the restaurant’s rebirth, the challenges that forced its closure, its new retail marketplace and community space, and why vegan soul food remains a celebration of Black culture, resilience and possibility. Join the celebration as Souley Vegan reopens its doors in Jack London Square on July 25.

Artificial intelligence isn’t just changing how we work—it is reshaping how we’re watched. In this analysis, Leah Harmony examines the rise of the modern surveillance state, from AI-powered school buses and predictive policing to data architecture and “smart city” technology. As governments and tech companies build increasingly interconnected systems, she asks a fundamental question: Who controls the tools that increasingly control us—and what happens to freedom when every movement becomes data?

Acclaimed filmmaker Raoul Peck says authoritarianism did not suddenly arrive with Donald Trump — it has been decades in the making. In this exclusive conversation with the SF Bay View, the director of Orwell 2+2=5 explains why George Orwell remains essential reading, how propaganda and historical amnesia fuel modern power, and why neutrality is itself a political choice. Peck argues that democracy demands more than voting; it demands action.

by Tabari Morris Proposed city policy would gut privacy protections and open the door to federal data sharing San Francisco’s controversial citywide employee drone policy is...

As Cuba faces an eighth month of a U.S.-imposed oil blockade on top of a 67-year economic embargo, Second Secretary of the Cuban Embassy Gabriela Castillo speaks with SF Bay View Editor-in-Chief JR Valrey about the humanitarian impact, Cuba’s sweeping new economic reforms, U.S.-Cuba relations, and why Havana says diplomacy—not sanctions—is the only path toward peace and stability.

Kotelemela Bolingo brings together revolutionary artists from around the world to honor Assata Shakur and Pauline Lumumba while amplifying struggles from Cuba to the Congo. In this exclusive interview, Obi Egbuna Jr. explains why music is cultural warfare—and why artists still have a critical role to play in movements for liberation.

In a moving international tribute, Obi Egbuna Jr. of the Zimbabwe Cuba Friendship Association honors the life and revolutionary legacy of Assata Olugbala Shakur. Framing her as a symbol of African resistance, liberation and international solidarity, the statement calls on future generations to carry forward her commitment to justice, while celebrating the enduring bonds between Africa, Cuba and freedom movements around the world.

Before his passing on June 18, 2026, Sol Charge sat down with Ref Jamal to reflect on the journey that shaped his life—from a strict Christian upbringing and a lifelong search for spiritual truth to creating a healing practice centered on music, movement, nature, and human connection. In this posthumous interview, Sol shares, in his own words, the philosophy that guided his work and the legacy of healing he leaves behind.

I am pleading a California Racial Justice Act violation against court-appointed counsel Beth Lee, who accused me of committing the crimes I was being prosecuted for. As I made the attempt to set the record straight and assert my innocence, she interrupted me and blurted out, "Stupid Black son-of-a-bitch prick motherfucker!" 

From Haiti to Cuba, U.S. intervention is reshaping the Caribbean. As Haiti descends further into crisis, activists argue the struggle for sovereignty and self-determination has never been more urgent.

Venues and Schedule  Sat., July 4th  (Hybrid: In-person and Virtual) 9:00-11:00 AM EDT – Interfaith Event, Atlanta Mennonite Church, 1088 Bouldercrest Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 12 noon...