What to know about National Black Brewer’s Day and this weekend’s Peoples Beer Fest
Updated: 4:43 PM PDT Oct 10, 2023
RANDY, GOOD INFORMATION. BRIAN. THANKS SO MUCH. WELL, NEW THIS MORNING. TODAY IS THE INAUGURAL NATIONAL BLACK BREWERS DAY. IT’S A DAY DEDICATED TO RECOGNIZING THE HERITAGE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK BEER GROWERS THROUGH AMERICAN HISTORY AND TODAY, WE WELCOME RODG LITTLE. HE IS THE CO-FOUNDER OF OAK PARK BREWERY AND AN ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL BLACK BREWERS ASSOCIATION. ROSS, GOOD MORNING. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US. HOW ARE YOU DOING? THANKS FOR HAVING ME. EXPLAIN HOW THIS DAY CAME ABOUT AND THE CELEBRATION ITSELF. IT CAME ABOUT THROUGH JUST HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER BLACK BREWERS IN THE INDUSTRY. AND, YOU KNOW, LO AND BEHOLD, SOMEBODY PUT IT ON THE TABLE AND SET UP A PLATFORM TO WHERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS AND MOVE FORWARD WITH HAVING HAVE A BOARD SET UP TO HANDLE THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE. WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE AND MARK THIS DAY? SO ON THIS DAY, WE GET TO CELEBRATE THE PIONEERS OF THE PAST, LIKE TED MACK, SENIOR PATSY YOUNG, FREDERICK MCKINLEY. THERE’S NOT A LOT OF PLATFORMS THAT TALK ABOUT THESE INDIVIDUALS. YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES. WHAT ARE THEY BUSINESS OWNERSHIP. YOU KNOW, AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE AND OTHER MINORITY CITIES MAKE UP LESS THAN 1% OF THE CRAFT BEER INDUSTRY. SO DEFINITELY BUSINESS OWNERSHIP. YEAH. AND I GUESS I’M SURE TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT AS WELL TO EVEN GET THE SUPPORT FOR FOR YOUR BUSINESS. TALK MORE ABOUT HOW YOU’RE WORKING TO CHANGE THAT AT YOUR BREWERY, OUR BREWERY, OAK PARK BREWING COMPANY IS A SAFE SPACE, SO WE DON’T CARE WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE. YOUR FAITH, BELIEF, WHO YOU SLEEP WITH, YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANT YOU TO COME IN AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. MEET YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, HAVE SOME GOOD BEER, OF COURSE. AND EAT SOME GOOD FOOD. YEAH. THIS IS SOME VIDEO HERE. I WANT TO SAY THIS MAY HAVE BEEN FROM EVEN BLACK HISTORY MONTH WHEN WE DID A FEATURE WITH YOU GUYS SHOWING SOME VIDEO OF YOUR PROCESS. TALK ABOUT HOW THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO ACTUALLY WORKED TO HELP CELEBRATE THE OCCASION, TO HELP US CELEBRATE IT JUST SUPPORT LOCAL, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN’T NECESSARILY NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A BLACK OWNED BREWERY. JUST WE WANT TO REPRESENT EVERYBODY AS WELL. WE ARE BLACK FOR FIRST, BUT WE ARE INCLUSIVE OF AND TALK ABOUT THE EVENT. THERE’S AN EVENT COMING UP THIS WEEKEND, TOO. YEAH, WE HAVE THE PEOPLE’S BEER FESTIVAL, FORMERLY THE PEOPLE’S HARVEST TIME JUBILEE. IT’S GOING TO BE A DAY OF CELEBRATION. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE MISTER TED MACK JUNIOR. HE’S GOING TO BE ON SITE. HE’S GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT HIS FATHER’S JOURNEY AND OPENING UP HIS BREWERY. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE ENTERTAINMENT. WE HAVE THE DIGITAL UNDERGROUND, OUR FIRST NATIONAL ACT THIS YEAR. THEY’RE GOING TO BE PERFORMING. AND WE HAVE OTHER ENTERTAINERS. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE LIVE ART EXHIBITS. SO IT’S GOING TO BE A FUN DAY. WE HAVE A KIDS ZONE THIS YEAR. IT’S GOING TO BE GREAT. WHAT TIME DO PEOPLE NEED TO GET OUT THERE? IT STARTS AT TWO AND IT GOES TO 7 P.M. OKAY
Advertisement
What to know about National Black Brewer’s Day and this weekend’s Peoples Beer Fest
Updated: 4:43 PM PDT Oct 10, 2023
Tuesday is the inaugural National Black Brewer’s Day. It’s a day dedicated to recognizing the heritage and contributions of Black beer growers throughout history. Rodg Little, the co-founder of Oak Park Brewery and an advisory board member of the National Black Brewers Association, said the day came about through having conversations with other Black brewers in the industry. “On this day, we get to celebrate the pioneers of the past,” Little said. Challenges include business ownership in an industry where African American people and other minorities make up less than 1% of the craft beer industry, he said. Little encouraged people to attend this weekend the Peoples Beer Fest at 3rd Avenue and 34th Street. Digital Underground is performing and there will also be a kid’s zone, he said.
Tuesday is the inaugural National Black Brewer’s Day. It’s a day dedicated to recognizing the heritage and contributions of Black beer growers throughout history.
Rodg Little, the co-founder of Oak Park Brewery and an advisory board member of the National Black Brewers Association, said the day came about through having conversations with other Black brewers in the industry.
Advertisement
“On this day, we get to celebrate the pioneers of the past,” Little said.
Challenges include business ownership in an industry where African American people and other minorities make up less than 1% of the craft beer industry, he said.
Little encouraged people to attend this weekend the Peoples Beer Fest at 3rd Avenue and 34th Street.
Digital Underground is performing and there will also be a kid’s zone, he said.