Searching history for survival strategies

Even if the past can’t predict the future, it still offers tools for navigating the present

I’ll admit it: I’m confused. Separating reality from propaganda and delusion feels increasingly difficult. Is our country really experiencing a billionaire-led authoritarian takeover or will the MAGA revolution fail miserably, sparking a backlash that will restore things to “normal” in four years?

In the past, I’ve turned to history to gain a sense of perspective on current events. Even during the head-spinning tumult of 2020, I could look back at eras like the Civil War or the Great Depression and take some comfort in the knowledge that we, as a nation, survived those bleak and brutal challenges. After the first time Trump was elected, I studied the Ku Klux Klan’s takeover of Oakland’s City Hall in the 1920’s for clues about what to expect when white supremacists seize political power. In that case, the local KKK’s dominance didn’t last long. They were quickly undone by their own corruption, ineptitude, and arrogance. I expected the same fate to befall Trumpworld, and after January 6, I thought it was a done deal… and yet, here we are.

Is this the greatest con in history or the dawn of a new era? Are we on the brink of a crypto-crash depression, a war, or perhaps AI-driven singularity? In a world where the former owner of the Miss Teen USA pageant claims ownership of Gaza and announces plans to redevelop the bloodsoaked ruins into “the Riviera of the Middle East” anything, even the most far-fetched scenarios, seem possible.

In this unprecedented political environment, it might be assumed that history could offer little guidance – and I would agree that sifting through the past to make predictions about the future would be a fool’s game right now. Instead, what history has to offer is a rich array of survival tools. We don’t know what’s going to happen next, but we do know how people have dealt with problems similar to the ones we’re currently facing.

When I started East Bay Yesterday in 2016, part of my mission was fueled by the belief that familiarizing ourselves with history might help us avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Maybe that belief was too hopeful, too broad, too naive. I’m still wrestling with it. Looking back through my catalogue, however, there are a few episodes that feel particularly relevant, especially for those facing persecution by this vengeful new administration. For those of you grappling with fear and unfocused rage, I hope that in some small way, these stories can provide a bit of inspiration…

Abortion, poetry, and stink-bombs: A different kind of “self-help” movement [Episode 107] – This episode features an interview with Angela Hume, author of “Deep Care: The radical activists who provided abortions, defied the law, and fought to keep clinics open.” As the title suggests, this story covers topics that range from underground gynecological “self-help” groups to terrifying battles with swarms of anti-choice militants attempting to violently shut down abortion providers. Amidst an ongoing rollback of reproductive rights, where women are being jailed for accessing abortion pills once again, this book shares battle-tested strategies for providing reproductive healthcare outside of traditional medical channels. (Listen here)

“They knew it was a lie”: Exposing the cover-up behind Japanese-American mass incarceration [Episode 18] – There is much to be learned from the saga of Fred Korematsu, one of the few Japanese-Americans to resist detainment in an “internment camp” during World War II. Although Korematsu initially faced condemnation from his community, which was eager to demonstrate “loyalty” by acquiescing to President Roosevelt’s notorious Executive Order 9066, he is now honored as a civil rights icon. One of the key lessons is that justice often doesn’t come quickly. Korematsu lost his Supreme Court case challenging the constitutionality of collective punishment for an entire ethnic group, but decades later documents suppressed by the Justice Department during this trial were exposed by researchers seeking reparations for formerly incarcerated Japanese-Americans. These long-hidden files were crucial in securing a long-delayed apology from the U.S. government and financial compensation for the victims of an executive order driven by racial hysteria rather than legitimate national security concerns. The importance of transparency and documentation in holding the government accountable is clearly the main reason why Musk is doing so much to obfuscate DOGE’s current blitzkrieg against numerous federal agencies. (Listen here)

America’s first sanctuary city: The missing chapter in a story of resistance [Episode 15] – Years before the concept of “sanctuary” was used to defend immigrants, the strategy was utilized by a progressive Berkeley church to shield members of the military who objected to the Vietnam War. Religious activists were frustrated that the media portrayed the anti-war movement as a countercultural mob, so they devised the idea of offering sanctuary in churches in order to change the narrative that protesting the war was somehow immoral or un-American. At a time when Trump claims to be the champion of Christian values, it will be crucial for opposition groups to choose the right messengers to challenge this claim. For example, Anti-immigrant Trump supporters who might support mass deportation in theory could be shaken by the sight of ICE raids targeting churches and imprisoning clergy. Or maybe I’m being naive, again. (Listen here)

Poster supporting anti-war sailors created during the original sanctuary campaign.

There are plenty of other episodes I could mention, but these are the most obvious examples that come to mind. Besides the shock of watching grifters attempt to dismantle whatever was left of American democracy, the other impulse that sparked this post was a sense that history is being lost, even stolen.

At the national level, data is being purged and websites containing everything from census figures to medical research are disappearing as Trump pursues the totalitarian goal of controlling the past. Meanwhile, the California Historical Society announced that it’s folding after 153 years and its vast archives will be transferred to Stanford, where the future accessibility of these materials remains unclear. Finally, right here in Oakland, 40 bronze plaques honoring local music legends have been ripped out of the sidewalk, leaving only an unsightly mess along the stretch of 7th Street that celebrated the neighborhood’s history as a blues mecca. This final example might not be as dire as medical research data being zapped into nonexistence by an unelected oligarch, but watching the footage of elderly bluesman Ronnie Stewart describe the theft of the beloved plaques that he raised $150,000 to install as a gift to the community is still heartbreaking. "You stole history,” he said.

From the streets of Oakland to the servers of D.C., our collective history will continue to disappear unless people come together to defend it. We’re living in unprecedented times, but there are still plenty of clues from the past that might help us survive this agonizing era. We should study and utilize them, while there’s still time.

More East Bay Yesterday news
My latest episode is all about the Bay Area’s legendary punk scene of the 80s and 90s, as seen through the lens of Murray Bowles. Back when this aggressively self-marginalized genre was relegated to sweaty basements, decrepit warehouses, and outdoor wastelands, Murray could consistently be found in the mosh pit, snapping photos of the glorious chaos erupting around him. Check out the podcast to hear my interview with Anna Brown, a lifelong friend of Murray who compiled a gorgeous celebration of his work titled “Hail Murray!” (And if you want to hear even more punk rock memories, dig back in the archives to hear my 2017 interview with Lookout Records co-founder Larry Livermore.)

Code of Honor playing Berkeley’s Aquatic Park, 1983 [Murray Bowles]

Only a few weeks until my historic boat tours of the Bay resume! If you want to attend, there are still tickets left for March 22, April 12 and April 25. For more details about what to expect, check out this FAQ.

Anyone who has ever driven 880 and noticed the graffiti-covered brick walls closing in on you as you pass through Jingletown has probably wondered about the history of this post-industrial landscape. The California Cotton Mill was founded in 1883 and employed more than 1500 workers at its peak. Many of the workers were Portuguese immigrants who created a tight-knit, working class community in Jingletown, which eventually dwindled down after the Mill closed and the Nimitz Freeway tore the neighborhood in half. On February 13, I’ll be co-hosting an event (at a very special location) with the creative team behind Co-Founders (an upcoming “hip hop musical”). First, I’ll be discussing the history of the Cotton Mill and Jingletown with Mario Hernandez. Then I’ll be interviewing RyanNicole Austin and Adesha Adefela of Co-Founders about how the themes of their musical, such as gentrification and the rise of the tech industry, connect with Oakland history, as well as their deep family roots here in The Town. Click here to RSVP. You won’t wanna miss this one, here’s a hint about the location…

More Local History News
Closing out this month’s newsletter, here are a few local history-related article that I’ve enjoyed recently…

-Historic East Bay transit landmark gains national recognition [SF Gate]
-Insurrection City: the radical beginnings of Ohlone Park [Street Spirit]
-The Emeryville Historical Society Launches Greenway Walking Tour [The Eville Eye]
-Parks that might have been [Footnotes]
-Movie theaters we have lost [KQED]

Thanks for reading!
Liam