Oakland’s own “White Boy” Roger Rodd is one of six contestants in the Bay Area Black Comedy Competition Finals taking place this weekend at the Paramount Theater. And he isn’t even black. But he is hella funny! His comedy challenges racial stereotypes and asks his audience to suspend their disbelief for a few moments. Watch this and try not to laugh!

Our representative in the US Congress, Representative Barbara Lee, was the sole congressional voice against the Afghan War in 2001. Now, following the assassination of Osama bin Laden, she calls for an end to the war in Afghanistan.

Our partners at The Bay Citizen took note of the long-awaited demolition of the former Oak Knoll Naval Medical Center in the East Oakland Hills. Built in 1942, it was once a center for the health care and treatment of active duty military and veterans alike. The hospital was closed in 1996 and the property purchased by a developer for conversion into homes, shops and condominiums. On Friday, April 8, TBC reporter Adithya Sambamurthy captured its implosion, created by 800 pounds of dynamite.

Here’s the newest, hours-old dance video from Oakland’s own TURF FEINZ and YAK Films (an original project of YouthUprising in East Oakland). This group pioneered the “turf dance” style that is now sweeping the entire planet. In this video, dancer Dreal (star of the famous RIP memorial “Dancin’ in the Rain” video dedicated to his brother Rich, who had been killed in a car accident on that same corner– just the night before) expresses himself with his body.

Living as we do, directly atop the Hayward Fault, this week’s events underscored for us the fragility of life, the blessing of being alive, and the awe-inspiring power of nature. Mark Demma aimed his video camera at the Bayside, catching the approach of a tsunami wave as it headed towards the Emeryville shore.

Here’s the latest from Oakland’s own TurF FeinZ street dance crew: “Tripod” featuring Chonkie and Eninja of the TurF FeinZ’s 2 on 2 turf team.

On this anniversary of the tragic shooting of Oscar Grant at the Fruitvale BART station on New Years Eve, and the continued incarceration and sentencing of his killer, BART policeman Johannes Mehserle, TURF FEINZ presents this fresh tribute, dedicated to the memory of Oscar Grant.

As the city prepares for the second anniversary of the BART police shooting of Oscar Grant on New Years Eve, OaklandSeen would like to share this rarely-seen 1974 television documentary, in the interest of educating our community and contributing to the ongoing dialogue about the role of police in Oakland.

Contributor Pablo Paredes submitted a video in which Oakland poet and activist Paul Flores, of “Def Jam Poetry,” recites a poem, “Brown DREAMs.”

The Turf Feinz, YAK Films and Youth Uprising appeared on the ABC News program “Nightline” tonight in a packaged report lasting six-and-a-half minutes. Thus begins the mainstream commercialization of another of Oakland’s indigenous art forms.