Comments on: The Last First Friday? Reflections on Oakland’s Battle with Violence

By: Organizers aim for a shorter, smaller First Friday with a new focus | Oakland North

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:12:22 +0000

[...] response to Oakland resident Lukas Brekke-Miefner’s blog post on 38th Notes, where he wrote that T-shirts should be used to help promote peace in the city, Oakland-based [...]

By: reblog from the Grist on the fallacy of the Creative Class | Lauren Builds

reblog from the Grist on the fallacy of the Creative Class | Lauren Builds — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 07:18:42 +0000

[...] you want to live in this city, then you have to help us deal with this dilemma,” writes local blogger Lukas Brekke-Miesner of Oakland’s safety problems. “You can’t ignore this away. You can’t gentrify it [...]

By: Anna

Anna — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:32:15 +0000

You saw this infographic, on gun deaths in 2010, from Periscopic?
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-02/us-gun-murders-2010-infographic
If not: watch it.

By: Anna

Anna — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:23:06 +0000

If the shirts get made, will folks wear them?
(If so, how about collecting on Kickstarter? I’d contribute.)

By: First Friday Blues: How Will Oakland Respond to Violence at Art Murmur? | EquityCrossroads

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 21:23:46 +0000

[...] website 38th Notes posted a very insightful analysis of the situation, writing about the event’s evolution since its beginnings, from an underground artist gallery [...]

By: First Friday Art Murmur: A Challenge In Front Of The City of Oakland – Sam Molloy

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 07:35:26 +0000

[...] post, and someone has posted a link to an incredible article written at 4am after the shootings by CoolHand Luke on an Oakland hip-hop and culture website called 38th Notes. A young, 18 year old, male named Kiante Campbell was fatally hit The article title, “The [...]

By: After shooting, First Friday organizers discuss how to keep future events safe | Oakland North

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 01:15:48 +0000

[...] a matter time before folks find out about it,” said Oakland resident Lukas Brekke-Miefner, who responded to the shooting with a blog post on 38th Notes that received over 80,000 hits. He has attended the event for nearly three [...]

By: Jonatton Yeah?

Jonatton Yeah? — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:40:19 +0000

Those who think whiteness equates gentrification are beyond obtuse. What, because I have light skin and you don’t means we want different things? Don’t be daft.

“The white people may not be killing each other but they certainly aren’t doing anything other than bleaching an otherwise amazing city.”

“Amazing” according to whom? You and your precious “black” values? I had no idea this was a Black City, built by Blacks, and for Blacks only. And let’s take a look at one area that hasn’t been bleached: East Oakland. Looking dandy, eh?

“Pretty soon, all of Oakland will look like College Ave., Montclair, Rockridge, etc. If this happens, the actual community vibe and richness of culture synonymous to Oakland will be screwed.”

I guess black people also have a monopoly on “community” and “rich culture” in Oakland. You obviously live in a very small bubble. And that bubble, currently, is murder, The Track, and urban decay. That’s what we should be trying to preserve, right?

When white people move into these mostly African-American areas, they’re evil and gentrifying. When they don’t, they’re ignoring the problem. When they don’t and voice concern, they’re just suffering from so imagined form of “liberal guilt” or something. White people and gentrificaiton are not the biggest problems in Oakland. They’re just not. And if white people moving in causes rents to go up and pushes the criminal element elsewhere, I certainly won’t be shedding any tears.

And FYI, it’s “deep-seeded” not “deep seated.” You ignorant buffoon.

By: February Art Murmur

February Art Murmur — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:38:59 +0000

[...] are still unclear, there are larger issues at hand, eloquently stated by local newspapers and writers. The newly-formed First Friday and traditional Art Murmur events have always aimed to exemplify the [...]

By: CC

CC — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:40:01 +0000

As a black woman who has lived here her entire life, I need everyone spewing the racial intolerance from both ends to take a seat and take a hard look in the mirror. As a black woman, I am not going to sit here and act like white people are to blame for everything. Our community issues might be rooted in slavery but making excuse for our children’s poor behavior and lack of resources is definitely not something our ancestors turned a blind eye to. They fought in the face of real adversity and triumphed, not saying we no longer face any, but we need to look within ourselves for healing. No one understands our community better than us so how can we expect someone from the outside to make it better? Our priorities are fucked up. As far as the caucasian individuals wanting to blame everything on the black youth and community, get out of here. The majority of the black people, even if they don’t live in the swankiest of areas aren’t, into gang violence and activity. It is a small population of people that are causing the violence. Half the time people that are being shot aren’t even the intended victims.