Berkeley South Asian Radical History Walking Tour

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Berkeley South Asian Radical History Walking Tour

Discover 100 years of local South Asian American activist history on the streets of Berkeley! Immigrant feminists, freedom fighters and more

By Anirvan Chatterjee & Barnali Ghosh

Location

Downtown Berkeley, California (just a block away from BART)

Downtown Berkeley Berkeley, CA 94704

Refund Policy

Contact the organizer to request a refund.

About this event

Join us for an exciting exploration of 100 years of South Asian American activist history on the streets of Berkeley, California!

Community historians Barnali Ghosh and Anirvan Chatterjee bring South Asian American history to life on an engaging 2-mile walking tour (wheelchair/stroller accessible).

You'll visit original sites, hear stories, and come away inspired by the secret history of four generations of immigrant freedom fighters, feminists, and more.

Join us if you're interested in activism, want to go explore hidden Bay Area histories, or have roots in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, or other parts of South Asia or the diaspora.

The tour starts and ends in Downtown Berkeley, right next to BART, a safe parking garage, and lots of restaurants. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have logistical or content questions before you buy tickets.

Learn much more about the tour and the research behind it at www.BerkeleySouthAsian.org. We've been featured in National Geographic and Atlas Obscura, selected as "Best of the East Bay," and awarded the national APIA Preservation Award.

Comments from recent participants:

  • “a fantastic, interactive, inspiring, and provocative tour”
  • “I wish we had the opportunity to learn this when in school”
  • “one of the most amazing experiences ever”
  • “your research, words, heart, and labor of love is such a gift”
  • “thank you for showing me that I have a history in the country…in these times, it’s hard to remember that we belong”
  • “I cried, felt my heart break, felt scared, and uplifted…this was an incredible experience”
  • “I found it really moving…there are roots within our community that connect to our current activism”
  • “I loved it, and will continue bringing people”

P.S. We expect anyone attending to have a COVID-19 vaccination, and may require masking if COVID numbers are increasing.

Frequently asked questions

How much walking is it?

The tour is under 2 miles of walking over the course of about 3 hours. It's wheelchair and stroller-accessible, and is mostly flat. We have had attendees who are over 80 years old, and 8 months pregnant, but every body is different, and you may want to reach out to us if you're not sure of the walk.

How do I get there?

The tour starts and ends in Downtown Berkeley, California. It's very easy to get to the tour via BART or AC Transit, or if you're driving, you can use a safe city-owned parking garage.

Are there any COVID-19 precautions?

All attendees must have a COVID-19 vaccination, and masks may be required if COVID-19 numbers are rising.

Is there a restroom break?

Yes, we'll stop at a restroom during the tour.

Is the tour OK for children?

We've had kids of all ages on the tour, but it's most interesting to those 13+. Kids ages 0-9 are free if accompanied by an equal number of adults. Our stories touch on themes like racism, and we're always happy to provide extra content warnings for parents/guardians on request.

Is the tour OK for large and diverse family groups?

We often have multi-generational families come on the tour. We've found that the stories we share can sometimes spark respectful conversations and reflections about moments of social change. Our stories are diverse enough that attendees will almost always find at least one story they connect with.

Is the tour appropriate for people with hearing impairments?

Because it's an urban walking tour, there may be brief moments when there's background noise and it may be more difficult to hear. Please contact us before the tour if you would like to request that we use amplification.

Do you offer discounts for youth or low-income people?

Yes, we offer discounted tickets for youth or low-income people at checkout. Unfortunately, we can't offer discounts after purchase.

$12.50 – $20