California Highway 17, completed in 1940, carved through Oakland's African American neighborhoods, severing connections to the downtown area and sparking social unrest. This destruction was exacerbated by discriminatory policies like redlining, which prohibited Black homeownership, further isolating these communities. In response, Oakland became a hub for protests and demonstrations from the mid-1940s onward. The Oakland Police Department's excessive force contributed to rising tensions, leading to the formation of local organizations, including the Black Panther Party in 1966, which aimed to protect Black citizens and provide essential services while raising awareness about civil rights issues.
Acclaimed photojournalist Stephen Shames had a front row seat to the party's rise.
One of these damaging policies took the form of the Federal Housing Administration's systematic program of discriminating against people of color.
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