The union's West Coast headquarters were established at Fifth and Wood Streets in West Oakland.

C.L. Dellums, the uncle of Ron Dellums was an early leader of the union. A statue of him stands at the Oakland Jack London Square Amtrak station.

The Pullman Porters, exclusively Black until the 1960’s, working on the railroad traveled around the country bringing hopes of job opportunities to the Black communities. They also brought news, specifically, The Chicago Defender, the nation's most influential black weekly newspaper. It was banned in many places in the south and had to be smuggled in at some great risk. Their efforts helped fuel the Great Migration of Blacks to the North and West.  By having steady work, albeit low pay and long hours, Pullman porters helped form the foundation for the black middle class and became instrumental in the civil rights movement.

To learn more about the history of African Americans in Oakland, The African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Address: 659 14th St. is definitely worth a visit.

The AAMLO is located at the Charles S. Greene building which previously was the Carnegie library. The building served as the Oakland Main Library from 1902 to 1951. 

In addition, follow this link to learn more about African American music history: https://oaklandlibrary.org/blogs/post/african-americans-music-history/