The West Coast Blues Society is grappling with the theft of about 40 commemorative plaques from the Oakland Walk of Fame, dedicated to musical legends who once graced the streets of Oakland, a history-rich corridor once dubbed “the Harlem of the West Coast.” Ronnie Stewart, the foundation director, expressed profound dismay to KRON4, saying, “The emptiness inside was just unbearable. How could anyone do this? How could anyone be so unaware of the level of hurt that it was bringing to the community?”
These plaques, representing figures like BB King and Aretha Franklin, chart a history of music and collective memory that blossomed in blues and jazz. The cost to replace them is $150,000; each plaque's price tag strikes a hard note at $1,120. Stewart explained the financial burden and emotional weight carried, which can't simply be quantified, as he informs the community through a Facebook post while also detailing his findings that the plaques were likely removed to be sold for their metal. However, amidst the loss, there was a small victory as Fillmore Slim's plaque was spotted and purchased back by a friend of the artist.
In response to the thefts, a GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to recover the losses and reinstall the plaques. The fundraising aims to gather the necessary $150,000 to honor the legacy of the Walk of Fame, whose lineage of music and merriment once filled 7th Street, setting it aglow with the essence of blues, R&B, gospel, jazz, and supper club melodies that defined an era now vanished under the heavy machinery of urban renewal.
