Our story
The Gold Trail
A cultural route connecting two of the Bay Area's most historic Black institutions — one block at a time.
Why the trail exists
The Gold Trail is a cultural corridor linking Marcus Books in Oakland and Black Repertory Group in Berkeley — two institutions that have anchored Black intellectual and artistic life in the East Bay for generations.
The trail is not just a route. It is a declaration that these spaces matter, that the communities they serve deserve to be celebrated, and that the connection between them is worth walking.
Founded 1960
Marcus Books
Oakland, CA
The oldest continuously operating Black-owned bookstore in the United States. Founded by Julian and Raye Richardson, Marcus Books has been a gathering place for Black thought, literature, and community organizing for over six decades.
Home to readings, lectures, and conversations that have shaped the intellectual life of the Bay Area's Black community.
Founded 1964
Black Repertory Group
Berkeley, CA
One of the oldest Black theater companies in the United States. BRG has produced hundreds of plays, musicals, and cultural programs that center Black stories, voices, and experiences on stage.
A stage where Black artists have trained, performed, and told stories that the mainstream theater world too often ignored.
What we stand for
Literature
Black books, Black authors, Black ideas — in print and in conversation.
Theater
Stories performed live, by and for the community they reflect.
Community
Two institutions, one corridor, one movement.
Walk the trail
Whether you're visiting for the first time or returning for the hundredth, the trail is open. Come for a book. Stay for a show.
Plan your visit