Hello
deep roots
Poem by ayodele nzinga - Oakland's Poet Laureate and Deeply Rooted Collaborative member - Black Arts Movement Business District, CDC​
‘deep roots’ is a poem illustrating the connection within Oakland, the power of centering community, and value of being deeply rooted. The Deeply Rooted Collaborative, made up of organizations that have served Oakland for decades, is working to ensure that the Oakland General Plan 2045 integrates the deep roots of residents in Oakland.
Photo Credit: Beth LaBerge/KQED
deeply rooted in the soil
deeply rooted in the town
deeply rooted in oakland
deeply rooted
layers of a story
gathered here
from there
to root here
in remembrance of
places
we intersected
& rose higher
than
“small talk” about us
#wearehere
#writingourstories
honoring
tales of tulle reeds
water intersections
dislocated discourses
#sittingtogether
intersected by
exclusion redlines
layers of a story
steeped & brewed
over time
#westillhere
deeply rooted in the soil
deeply rooted in the town
deeply rooted in oakland
deeply rooted
a symphony of
collard greens red beans
bus & train rides
railroad ties
intersections
& iron will
spirit
refuses to drown
dances forward
lionhearted
to the sound of drums
as we write
#everybodybreathing
here
#weallbuilding
here
#westillhere
together
#wearethesoil
the story of
the path
to here
together dreaming
whole tomorrows
for all of us
#everybodybreathing
here
#weallbuilding
here
#westillhere
intersecting
layers of a story
blended & brewed over time
deeply rooted in the soil
deeply rooted in the town
deeply rooted in oakland
deeply rooted