Ishmael Reed & Richard Nagler: Oakland Rhapsody

KRON-TV footage from May 4th 1995 featuring Belva Davis walking around downtown Oakland and interviewing photographer Richard Nagler and poet and publisher Ishmael Reed at a cafe, who talk about their new publication 'Oakland Rhapsody: the secret soul of an American downtown'. Davis acknowledges that she is known for frequently reporting on the urban rebirth of Oakland and Naglar reflects that: "It's a city with enormous potential and which direction it's going to go, no one seems to know." Reed, who moved to Oakland from El Cerrito in 1979, discusses Oakland's image and reputation and claims that Nagler's book of photography has: "Caught the city at a crossroads ... Whether it's gonna be one of these cities you see all over the country where lots of money is poured into development and neighborhoods are neglected or whether it's going to be a human city, with people being the first priority." Nagler also points out that Reed's title for the book's introduction is: "The city that refuses to die." Includes views of Davis, Nagler and Reed walking on Broadway and around downtown Oakland, looking at traditional and modern architecture. Opening graphic designed by Carrie Hawks.