""One of the biggest events was the Berkeley High reunion. It was a huge Black cultural event, very well attended," Combash said."
""There is a specific energy that is created when Black folks are allowed to be their authentic selves by sharing their ancestral legacies," Johnson said."
"Cake walks began before the Civil War, when enslaved people used dance as a form of satire, mimicking the mannerisms of white slaveholders, with the best performers awarded cake."
"Black performers and communities reshaped the cake walk tradition, reclaiming it from its distorted history in minstrel shows and racist caricature."
The Berkeley Cake Walk, taking place on May 2 at the Frances Albrier Community Center, is a free event celebrating Black cultural traditions in the Bay Area. It emphasizes food, music, and storytelling, aiming to preserve Southern-rooted practices. Co-organizers Porsche Combash and Artlyn Johnson were inspired by past community events and the cake walk tradition from Florida. The event received a civic arts grant in 2025, allowing collaboration with local churches and artists to enhance programming and foster authentic cultural expression.
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