Shifting the Narrative: James Baldwin, Exile, and the Launch of "Scribe"

This past month, Kingmakers of Oakland had the distinct honor of hosting a legendary gathering in our West Oakland space. We celebrated the book launch of James Baldwin’s World, written by acclaimed author and retired UC Berkeley professor Cecil Brown. Surrounded by our community mural, Cecil was joined by an incredible panel of local icons, including Grammy-winning musician Roger Glenn and retired professor Cecil Giscomb, for a deep, soul-stirring conversation on Black artistry, lineage, and the power of language.

The panel explored Baldwin’s life in exile, his complicated relationships with contemporary white writers, and how he used the profound weight of homesickness to fuel masterworks like If Beale Street Could Talk . A beautiful highlight of the evening was tracing the rhythmic, oral traditions of Black speech from enslaved poet George Moses Horton straight through to the revolutionary lyricism of Tupac Shakur .

This unforgettable night officially marked the debut of Scribe, our brand-new video podcast series dedicated to highlighting the brilliance of Black authors, writers, and filmmakers. At Kingmakers, we believe our oral history is an unmatched superpower . Scribe is our safe space to ensure the next generation picks up the baton, masters their language, and controls their own master narratives .

If you missed this powerful inaugural broadcast, the full episode is now live. Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and join the village at the welcoming table.

[The full First Episode of Scribe will be available on Friday July 10th on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify!]