The Rainbow Sign facts for kids

The Rainbow Sign was a special place for African-American culture in Berkeley, California. It was open from 1971 to 1977. Kamala Harris, who later became the Vice President of the United States, often visited the center when she was a child. She has said that it was very important to her growing up.

People described Rainbow Sign as a place that offered many things to the Black community. It gave children discounted meals. It also hosted concerts for famous singers like Nina Simone. Well-known authors such as Maya Angelou and Alice Walker held book signings there.

What Was The Rainbow Sign?

Rainbow Sign was seen as a very important cultural hub in the East Bay area. It was located in an old funeral home. The building had a beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival style. It featured chandeliers, arched windows, and high ceilings with painted designs. An organ loft hung above what became the main stage.

The center was always busy and exciting. Its restaurant served delicious soul food every day of the week. The walls of its main hall always displayed new art shows. Meeting rooms in the back were used by many different community groups. Almost every night, there was a cultural event happening. These included concerts, film showings, dance performances, or book parties. Famous writers like Rosa Guy and Maya Angelou visited.

Rainbow Sign was also a place for learning. It had a library filled with the latest Black Arts journals. A studio offered workshops on art, music, and dance. It was also a place for fun and celebrations. Sometimes, it stayed open all night for jazz festival after-parties or long poetry readings.

How Rainbow Sign Started

The idea for Rainbow Sign came from Mary Ann Pollar. She wanted to create an art gallery, a cultural center, a meeting place, and a restaurant. Pollar searched for the perfect spot in Oakland and Berkeley. She finally chose an old funeral home on Grove Street in Berkeley. This street is now called Martin Luther King, Jr. Way.

Mary Ann Pollar named the center "Rainbow Sign" after a line from a spiritual song. The song says, "God gave Noah the rainbow sign, no more water the fire next time!" This line was also mentioned by James Baldwin in his book The Fire Next Time.

Rainbow Sign was also important for starting the Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA). In April 1971, a group called Women Organized for Political Action (WOPA) invited women interested in politics to a meeting. Over 350 women gathered at Rainbow Sign. This meeting led to the creation of BWOPA.

Inspiring Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris, who became the Vice President of the United States in 2020, has often spoken about how Rainbow Sign influenced her. When she announced her campaign for president in 2019, she talked about her childhood. She mentioned that Rainbow Sign was only a few miles from her home. She went there as a young girl to cook, dance, and listen to important Black leaders.

The Associated Press reported that Harris's mother, Shyamala Gopalan, made sure her daughters were surrounded by Black role models. She also made sure they experienced Black culture. This included their frequent visits to Rainbow Sign.

In her book, The Truths We Hold, Kamala Harris wrote about her visits to Rainbow Sign. She said that she, her mother, and her sister went there often. Everyone in the neighborhood knew them as "Shyamala and the girls." They were always welcomed with big smiles and warm hugs. Rainbow Sign had a friendly and welcoming feeling. It was designed to share knowledge, awareness, and power. Its unofficial motto was "For the love of people." Families with children were especially welcome. This showed the values of the women who ran the center.