During the course of the Occupy Oakland movement’s development, local rapper-activist Boots Riley has emerged as one of its most visible faces.

This past Friday was a good example of why Oakland has become a cultural mecca.

A few years ago, that statement would have invited ridicule. But these days, Oakland’s renaissance is in full swing, to the extent where East Bay culturati often have to choose between two (or more) equally-compelling events going on at the same time.