Oakland Roots and Soul Release ‘Rooted In Power’ Jerseys In Collaboration with the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation and All Power To The People Project LLC
On Saturday December 3rd, Oakland Roots and Oakland Soul unveiled the new ‘Rooted in Power’ jerseys in collaboration with the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation, the All Power to the People Project LLC, and MEYBA. The limited edition jerseys are now available to the general public online, and at Oaklandish Downtown and Dimond retail locations.
“Our foundation has long known and explored the different ways in which we can share the rich history of the Black Panther Party through art, education and activism,” said Fredrika Newton, president and co-founder of the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation. “Our collaboration with the Oakland Roots and Oakland Soul has been both unforeseen and extraordinary. From enriching programs like ‘Rooted in Power’ to the incredible jerseys that were created with the All Power to the People Project LLC, we applaud these organizations and have immense gratitude for our collective work.”
The release of the jersey includes a short film titled ‘Rooted in Power’ by Calvin Gaskin, a world-traveling filmmaker with deep roots in Oakland which include his great-grandmother winning the very first Oakland’s Mother of The Year award, his grandfather starting the Black Firefighting Association and his mother being active in the social justice movement in the 1960s. “The film is a cinematic poem about transcending truth to power as past, present, and future merge through the eyes of a young boy growing up in Oakland and exploring his roots,” he said.
“When we say ‘Know Your Roots,’ we mean knowing where you come from,” said Edreece Arghandiwal, Roots and Soul Chief Marketing Officer. “This collaboration taps into our roots and pays homage to an important part of The Town’s history and culture. It’s an honor to have been able to collaborate with Fredrika Newton, the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation and the All Power to the People Project LLC.”
A portion of all proceeds will go to the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation to support their mission to honor the legacy and history of the Black Panther Party and their roots in Oakland.