Ishmael Reed was born on February 22, 1938 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Reed is a poet, musician, novelist, playwright, and more. Reed is an accomplished artist and writer with over thirty published books and several awards.

Before Reed moved to Oakland, he had lived in Berkeley a few years prior. Although Reed admits to having doubts about Oakland before moving there, his art is largely considered to be associated with Oakland. He initially moved to Oakland with his wife to purchase a house. His love for the city is apparent in his poems and novels about Oakland. His work is featured at the Richmond BART Station as well as in a mural in North Oakland.

Reed is also an activist and is very knowledgeable about Oakland’s history. He even wrote a guide on Oakland called Blues City: A Walk in Oakland. In the book description for Blues City: A Walk in Oakland, Oakland is described as an “American wonder.” Blues City: A Walk in Oakland is a tour of Oakland from his eyes.

Reed grew up in Buffalo, NY, where he completed public school and attended the University at Buffalo. He then received an honorary doctorate from Johnson C. Smith University and proceeded to become an English professor at the University of California at Berkeley. He has taught at other universities as well, including the California College of the Arts.

After moving to New York in 1962, Reed founded two newspapers and focused on developing his writing skills at the Umbra Workshop. The Free-Lance Pallbearers was Reed’s first novel in 1967. He also is a jazz pianist, and his lyrics have been recorded in several blues and jazz songs. His poem “When I Die I Will Go to Jazz” is featured on the SFJAZZ Center’s north gate. He has been a consistent writer throughout his career and continues to produce work even after retiring from his position at UC Berkeley as a professor. He has supported other writers and artists and is widely considered an uplifting member of and advocate for the community.

According to an article in The Mercury News, Reed wakes up every day at 4:30 to work on his writing at his home. Seeing as he does work at home, I imagine that he spends a lot of time there. He is now retired from his position at Berkeley, where he worked for over thirty years. Reed has traveled around the world with his wife but chose to settle in Oakland.

His love for the city is evident in his works, including poems, novels, and lyrics. He has an appreciation for the city as well as concern. When asked in an interview if Oakland is a city that fosters creativity, he replied, “I wouldn’t go as far as to say that, but I will say that it has very nice weather, and it is very comfortable here. An ongoing concern in Oakland is that the crime situation has gotten out of hand, especially the murder rate, and the city doesn’t respond to crises very well.”

Haunts:

  • California College of the Arts, 5212 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94618.
  • A mural on the side of General Liquors of a line from a poem by Reed, 4301 Market Street, Oakland, CA 94608.

~ by Eileen Conley ~

External Links:

Reed, Ishmael. “Ishmael Reed, author of Blues City: A Walk in Oakland.” Jerry Jazz Musician, 28 Feb. 2004, https://jerryjazzmusician.com/2004/02/ishmael-reed-author-of-blues-city-a-walk-in-oakland/.

https://ishmaelreed.org/drupal/

https://poets.org/poet/ishmael-reed

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/ishmael-reed

https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/08/04/oakland-literary-icon-ishmael-reed-still-fighting-the-good-fight/

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