Crosscurrents

Today, we speak with one of the lawyers that exposed a culture of corruption and racism in Oakland's Police department. Then, for the past year, our Audio Academy fellows have been working hard to report sound rich stories from all over the bay area. Today, we pay them a tribute of thanks. 

Oakland's Police Department has been under federal oversight since 2003. The oversight began after a civil rights lawsuit was filed on behalf of 119 residents, most of them Black men, who alleged that multiple Oakland police officers had beaten and planted evidence on them.Yesterday we heard from Darwin BondGraham, news editor at The Oaklandside and co-author of the book, "The Riders Come Out At Night," an exhaustive history of decades of corruption inside the OPD.Today, we hear from John Burris, one of the civil rights attorneys who represented those residents and spearheaded the legal fight to reform the Oakland Police Department. Burris says the department has been reformed. 

Every September, KALW welcomes a new cohort of eight fellows to our Audio Academy training program that's now in its thirteenth year. Over a span of 9 months the current cohort has been hard at work learning what it takes to report and produce sound rich audio features. Stories that allowed them to follow their curiosity, go deeper on urgent issues or celebrate the communities holding people together. Tonight we have the bittersweet honor of graduating this year's cohort, so today we're bringing you a special tribute. It's a collection of clips from their best work. ‘Finding faith in the fight against artificial super intelligence' by Arlen Levy 'The show must go on: Tito Soto and SF's iconic Oasis drag club' by Stafford Hemmer ‘In Oakland, the musical legacy of Japanese American incarceration still resonates' by Cara Nguyen ‘Goalball emboldens blind athletes on the court and in their lives' by Rachel Longan ‘Women, non-binary players tackle America's Game' by Jordan Karnes ‘How queer communities are seeing themselves reflected in tide pools' by Anna Casalme ‘Berkeley's Warming Hut offers a safe space' by Viviana Vivas ‘Who put up all those gates in the Sunset?‘ by Rae Kim 

After more than two decades, Oakland's Police Department is on track to be released from federal oversight. Today, the future of Oakland's PD. Then, the Flor Y Canto literary festival returns to San Francisco's Mission District.

Oakland's Police Department has been under federal oversight since 2003, but this year that will be coming to an end. The oversight began after a civil rights lawsuit filed on behalf of 119 residents, most of them Black men, who alleged that multiple Oakland police officers had beaten and planted evidence on them. To understand what this moment means, KALW's Sunni Khalid spoke with Darwin BondGraham, the news editor at The Oaklandside. He is also the author, along with Ali Winston, of the book, "The Riders Come Out At Night," an exhaustive look at the scandal that shook the city of Oakland, as well as a history of decades of corruption inside the OPD.

Flor Y Canto, translates to “flower and song.” This weekend San Francisco's Mission District will be home again to the weekend-long literary festival known as Flor Y Canto. The streets of the City's Latino Cultural District will be filled with vibrant events, decorations, and music. All centered around the works by Latine writers, with readings happening all throughout the neighborhood. KALW's Jenee Darden spoke with two organizers of the festival for “The Sights + Sounds Show," poets Lourdes Figueroa and Josiah Luis Alderete, host of KALW's “Bay Poets.” Here's an excerpt of their interview.

Today, an East Bay author channels the monsters of injustice into a new horror novel. Then, one bookstore owner is helping people connect and envision brighter futures.

In the novel, “The Curse of Hester Gardens” a Black mother lives in a Michigan housing project with her teen sons. She's raising them alone while her husband serves time in prison. Hester Gardens is haunted and cursed.. But not just by ghosts. Injustices like systemic oppression, poverty, and gun violence have also become monsters in the residents' lives. Tamika Thompson is the author of  “The Curse of Hester Gardens.” She is from Detroit and now lives in the East Bay. She talked with KALW's Jeneé Darden, host of the Sights and Sounds show. In this excerpt from their conversations, she reflects on how her personal experience witnessing gun violence growing up in Detroit inspired her book.

Black horror can be informed by past trauma and that sometimes gives us glimpses of the future. In Octavia Butler's classic 1993 book “Parable of the Sower,” natural disasters are on the rise, people are vanishing, and America just became “Great Again.” Today, some people are looking to genres like Black horror and Afro-Futurism as a guide for the times. In this story from 2025, Reporter Kristal Raheem went to meet Isis Asare owner of Sistah Sci-Fi bookstore, who's helping people navigate our present day reality with speculative fiction. Note: Sistah SciFi has a LOT going on, including another event honoring Octavia Butler's legacy at the San Francisco Library's main branch this Sunday at 2pm. 

The Bay Area Video Coalition has had a big impact on local media for half a century. Now it looks to the future. Then, the story of a Liberian immigrant's first encounters with American life. From Liberia, to a pioneering Oakland dance company.

If you've made media art in the Bay Area sometime in the last fifty years… you probably know the Bay Area Video Coalition: BAVC. Around 2,500 students and media makers of various ages take classes at BAVC every year. And BAVC artists have received Oscar nominations, and won Emmys!One of their students was KALW's Jeneé Darden, who is now the host of the Sights and Sounds show. To mark their 50th anniversary, she recently spoke to BAVC executive director, Paula Smith Arrigoni, and Caron Creighton, an instructor at BAVC. In this excerpt from their conversation they talk about how quickly the media landscape is changing, and what media training and education look like today, looking to the future.

June is National Immigrant Heritage Month. And that brings us to another legacy Bay Area arts institution was founded by immigrants from west Africa: Diamano Coura West African Dance Company in Oakland. Founded by award winning artistic directors,  Zakarya and Naomi Diouf,  They've been performing and teaching dance from Western and Central Africa since 1975. Over the decades, Diamano Coura dancers have hailed from countries like Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo… Next we'll share one of our favorite stories, from my first years at KALW - about one of their dancers who immigrated from Liberia.Karsumo Massaquoi loved, and lived, to dance. But, he almost didn't survive to do either. 

Immigrant artists have a big impact on their adopted countries, but many also leave a legacy in their countries of origin. Daisy Zamora has been a foundational force of poetry here in San Francisco… but before she left her home of Nicaragua she was an active combatant in the movement to topple the Somoza dictatorship in the early 70's.Today she is a professor of Latina/Latino Studies at San Francisco State. Here, Bay Poets host Josiah Luis Alderete reads her poem 'Another Time,' that was published in 1992.

Today, we explore a series that captures San Francisco at the height of the AIDS epidemic. It's a conversation with the host of “When We All Get To Heaven.” Then, we visit the Bay Area's first women's sports bar- Rikki's. Plus, a poem about found family. 

Pride Month is a time to celebrate accomplishments of LGBTQ+ individuals, and commemorate the ongoing fight for the whole community to gain equality and justice. It's also a time to remember and honor those we've lost. That includes the millions of people that have died of AIDS-related illness.That's the aim of the Peabody award winning documentary project, ‘When We All Get To Heaven.' With archival tape it tells the story of one of the first gay-positive churches, the Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco during the height of the AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s. The 10 episode series brings to life a community facing personal, social, and political trials, including the deaths of hundreds of its members. It premiered in October 2025. And KALWs Crosscurrents host Hana Baba spoke with the host and co-creator of the series Lynne Gerber. 

In June 2025, San Francisco welcomed its first women's sports bar: Rikki's! In honor of Rikki's first anniversary, here's the story of how it came to be, from the host of Bounce, KALW's Erin Lim. 

Now, a poem about becoming ourselves, with the help of our chosen family. This is San Jose Poet, Lorenz Mazon Dumuk reading his poem, “Everyday I become an Egg.”

Today, we take dancing to a deeper level with Afro-Cuban folklore. Experiencing dance as spiritual practice. And, we head over to Oakland's first Haitian restaurant for some hearty, braised goodness.

June is Caribbean Heritage Month. And The Bay Area is home to a vibrant Caribbean American community, including thousands of Haitians. Crosscurrents host, Hana Baba wanted to visit one Haitian American that's been in the culinary news over the last few years - his restaurant was named one of the tastiest restaurants in the Bay Area by the SF Chronicle, among other accolades. He's Chef Frantz Felix - the owner of Oakland's first Haitian restaurant, T'Chaka.

You can experience Caribbean culture in the Bay Area though delicious food. And also through rhythm and dance. Next a dance form that's deeply connected to the history and faith systems of one Caribbean culture - Afro-Cuban folkloric dance. Reporter Leila Day experienced this dance form on a visit to the Dance Mission Theater in San Francisco. And brings us this story

Here's Nia Pearl reading her poem ‘Bones talk out of the side of their neck. You can hear more from local poets here. 

It's California's primary election day. Today, we hear how first time voting can be daunting... and depending on where you are, a potentially baffling experience. Plus, we paddle out with the Queer Surf Collective.

Figuring out where and how to cast a ballot can be difficult to navigate, especially when we are leading busier lives and also investing time to make informed voting decisions. It gets even trickier when it is your very first time casting a vote, like many California teenagers that have just turned 18. So our first story today is from TBH, our podcast, by, about and for teenagers. But before we get to that we are excited to announce that after two years of being dormant, we have put together a new cohort to work on a brand new season. Stay tuned for that, but for the California Primaries we bring you a story from the last season, about how some teenagers feel underqualified or not educated enough to cast their first ballot.It was reported by TBH producer Charlotte King during the 2024 presidential election, she shares how she and her friends were thinking about voting for the first time, while they also go ready to leave for college.

Two Bay Area surfers are opening up the possibilities at the shoreline. Kyla Langen and Nic Brisebois are the founders of the Queer Surf Collective. They invite all bodies, all and boards to surf differently, and more inclusively. In 2024, Reporter Leenah Bassouni learned how they are pushing queer culture from the bars to the beach.

Today, one school program in San Francisco is connecting ethnic studies and environmental science, to nurturing belonging. Then, an immersive play that brings audiences to an important moment in local trans history. And, we hear about a little piece of fabric that represents the living history of San Francisco, and LGBTQ+ pride.

The Bay Area is known for its beautiful natural places and for being the birthplace of many social movements. One school program has found common ground between the two. For over 25 years, two high schools in the city have combined ethnic studies with environmental studies.Reporters Paula Sibulo and Olivia Mendez are recent graduates of San Francisco State. In this story, they wanted to explore how this helps young people feel a stronger sense of connection and responsibility to the land and themselves.

Late on a summer night in 1966, a cop put his hands on a customer at a popular gathering space for trans women and drag queens. Coffee was thrown in his face, and a riot erupted right there at Compton's Cafeteria in the Tenderloin. This moment was one of the first documented acts of LGBTQ+ resistance in the country. For the past year, an immersive play called The Compton's Cafeteria Riot has been bringing audiences into the historic event as diners inside the cafeteria. The play is produced by the Tenderloin Museum. One of its co-writers, Donna Persona, is a trans rights activist, and Mary Vice is an actor turned drag queen in the play. They spoke to KALW's Jeneé Darden, host of the Sights and Sounds show. Here's an excerpt from their conversation. 

San Francisco laid many of the bricks that built the road to LGBTQ+ liberation, equality, and Pride. One of them takes the shape of a piece of fabric, that's also a piece of living history. In this story from 2023, by reporters Sandra Halladey and Alastair Boone, we hear about how the first Pride Flag came to be. And how the bit of cloth, the iconic rainbow, and the pride movement, live on. On the corner of 18th and Castro Street, images of the rainbow flag are ubiquitous. They're hanging in store windows, they stud the escalators in Harvey Milk plaza, and even make up the stripes in the crosswalk. But as we'll learn, the rainbow flag has only been a symbol for the Queer community for less than 50 years. 

Today, we'll hear how Bay Area listening bars have their roots in World War II Japanese culture. Finding a space just for music. Then, we'll unpack the throughline that connects the different Chinatowns around the world. Plus, a poetic ode to the Mission.

A different kind of bar scene has grown across the Bay Area since the pandemic: listening bars. Derived from a tradition that took off in 1930s Tokyo, they're businesses that play high-fidelity music from vintage speakers. Reporter Nava Rawls went to find out if these special places made for listening are one-hit wonders… or here to stay.  

This is our last episode airing during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, so today we bring you a conversation from our friends at the podcast “Worst Quality Crab.” Their show is a conversational version of an Asian American cookbook. It's hosted by Freesia and Samson Lee, and they talk to guests about food that is meaningful to them, family history, and the people that make their shared meals so memorable. Last week, they hosted a live taping of their podcast at KALW's event space in downtown San Francisco. And they invited Bonnie Tsui, the bestselling author of “American Chinatown,” which won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. Bonnie had a lot to say about growing up with fortune cookies, but we want to start this excerpt from their conversation with her childhood memories of the different Chinatowns that became the inspiration for her book.

San Francisco's first Latino poet laureate, Alejandro Murguia published his poem ‘Mission Vision,' in 2013. Here is Bay Poets host Josiah Luis Alderete reciting it.

Today, we hear advocates defend their cases for San Francisco's competing tax propositions. We're getting into San Francisco props C and D. Then, we hear from a young South Bay organizer on how youth are feeling about voting this year. Then, how James Baldwin inspired this year's theme for the Bay Area Book Festival.

Next Tuesday, June 2nd, is California's 2026 primary election. And there's a lot for voters to decide on. In San Francisco, two competing propositions have become a high-stakes referendum on how the city taxes its largest employers: Prop C and Prop D.KALW recently hosted a live conversation between proponents of both Props C and D. It was co-presented with the San Francisco Public Press, and moderated by their Executive Director, Lila LaHood. The YES on C side was represented by David Harrison, director of policy at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. And on the YES on D side was represented by Kim Tabelloni, executive director at the San Francisco Labor Council.In this excerpt we'll hear them explain what they think big business owes to San Francisco, and the people who live here. We start by hearing Kim Tabelloni. 

As we wrap up Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, many in the diaspora will also be getting ready to vote, some for the first time. Next we'll hear from the younger generation. Ralph Leaño Atanacio works with AAPI Youth. They are a queer Filipinx immigrant, and the Co-Director of the South Bay Youth Changemakers. It's an organization that builds up Asian American youth voices by fostering leadership and increasing their civic participation.With so much happening in the Bay Area and the world, we wanted to know: what do the younger generations from this diaspora care about? And do they still see elections as the only medium for change? Crosscurrents host Hana Baba spoke with Atanacio and they begin by describing the issues that have become central to their conversations about the future.

The Bay Area Book Festival returns to Downtown Berkeley this weekend. There will be many things to learn and experience for book literature lovers of all ages. J.K. Fowler is the executive director of the Festival. He sat down with KALW's Jenee Darden for “The Sights + Sounds Show.” They spoke about why Fowler sees this year's theme of “Writing the Future” to be important for these times.

Thirty-four Black women from the Bay Area are addressing issues facing their community with a mix of theater, dance and ritual. It's the final chapter of a House/Full Of Black Women, a special episode from the Kitchen Sisters. Plus, a poem about self-forgiveness.

It's the final chapter of a House/Full Of Black Women, a special episode from the Kitchen Sisters. It explores the question: how can black people dream, if they cannot sleep?

Danni Blackman is a multi-disciplined artist who's visual artist name is Decomposing Mystic. Here, she reads her poem by the same name.

From 2015 to 2023, 34 Black women from the Bay Area — gathered monthly around a big dining room table in Oakland. They were artists, scholars, midwives, nurses, an architect, an ice cream maker, a theater director, a choreographer, musicians, a donut maker, educators, sex trafficking abolitionists and survivors. Together, they used theater, dance, and ritual to address issues plaguing their community. Today, we take a seat at their table in part one of this special two part story from our friends at the Kitchen Sisters.

Today, we hear about a sport for blind athletes that relies on only hearing and touch to play. Emboldening athletes on and off the court with goalball. Then, a local playwright questions if Shakespeare actually wrote the literature credited to him. Plus, a Bay Area Author reads from his new YA novel. 

Every Wednesday night in Berkeley a group of athletes gets ready to practice their sport. The first thing they have to do is line the court with a tactile marker––string taped to the floor around the perimeter––because this game relies on just two senses, hearing and feeling. This is goalball, a sport invented for blind and low vision people which involves hurling a heavy ball filled with bells at each other. It is sort of the opposite of dodge ball because players are trying to block the ball with their bodies. It might sound painful! So KALW's Rachel Longan visited a goalball tournament and later even padded up to play to find out if it is worth the risk.