Commonwealth Club of California Podcast ‘Epicenter: The Struggle for Black Studies in the Bay Area’: Screening and Discussion
Feb 5, 2026
Guest
Jimmy (Frisky) Garrett
Guest
Ramona Tasco (Dr. Ramona Tascow / Ramona Tasco)
Guest
Leo Bazile
Guest
Amos Brown
Reverend Amos Brown, civil rights and religious leader who recalls the movement’s roots. Leo Bazile, longtime Bay Area activist sharing on-the-ground memories. Ramona Tasco, academic and organizer who shaped student training and program building. Jimmy Garrett, veteran educator recounting strikes and protests. They discuss campus strikes, organizing and training, cultural life on campus, political backlash and Black Studies’ lasting legacy.
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Episode notes
Bay Area As Birthplace Of Black Studies
- The Bay Area was the origin point where Black Studies coalesced across high school and colleges and then spread nationally.
- Doug Harris argues that Berkeley High, Merritt, SFSU and UC Berkeley were deeply intertwined in that emergence.
Student Demand Drove Curriculum Change
- Students demanded curricula that reflected their communities, creating a cultural revolution on campuses.
- That demand led to the founding of early Black Studies programs at Merritt, San Francisco State, and Berkeley.
Modern Erasure Mirrors Past Suppression
- Erasing Black history from curricula or museums is an ongoing threat that repeats past attempts to suppress the movement.
- The panel frames current political attacks as a continuation of historical efforts to remove Black contributions.
