Pendarvis Harshaw

“Give all my (Emmys) and shit to Oakland.”- Tupac Shakur Thanks to my homies who pulled up and everyone who sent a message or left a comment. Big love to the team that worked on the project that earned this award. And to my family, I love you all. This Northern California Emmy was for my role in the “Dear Beloved” production, which you can find on YouTube by searching “Dear Beloved KQED”. We won this award a few months ago, but I finally picked it up yesterday— my first day back in the office since March 2020. Feels good. I posted a photo of the award in my story and the homies organized a kickback in record time. Real love on the table. Ok, now yall know the drill: 🗣🎙 BACK TO WORK! #EmmyAwardWinner. #HomiesAreBetterThanTrophies. #CommunityIsCurrency. #FamilyIsEverything. #ThankYou. #DearBeloved. #Oakland. #MoreToCome… 💪🏾😤🏁

Hyphy Kids Got Trauma, Pt. 2 “We Dance Different” On this episode we talk about how my 2006 video of the Oakland A’s mascot, Stomper, going dumb to an E-40 song provided a window into a world where dancing and celebrating, meets mourning and sadness. We also discuss the origins of the term “turf dancing,” how @youthuprising provided a platform for the culture (and simultaneously benefited from the culture), and how a group of dancers honored their friend’s life while dancing in the “Tell Me When To Go” video. Legendary turf dance choreographer and event organizer Jeriel Bey (@turfinentertainment ), founding Youth Uprising staff member Jacky Johnson (@jackyj510 ) and my best friend/ well-known acrodunker and turf dancer Jesus El (@zeusdadunka ) explain why we dance a lil different. Episode two is currently on all podcast platforms, just search for “Rightnowish” or click the link in my bio. Hosted by me, Pendarvis Harshaw Produced by @maya.cueva_ . Edited by @blkrbt . Sound designed and mixed by @trackademicks . Published by @kqed / @kqedarts . Slide 1: Carlos Avila/ San Francisco Chronicle/ Getty Images. Slide 2: me Slides 3, 4 & 5 : @jackyj510 . Slides 5,7,8,9,10: @isawdray (#DRayClassic). #HyphyKidsGotTrauma. #Hyphy. #HipHop. #History. #Turfin. #TurfDance. #ShakeYoDreads. #DeeperThanJustShakingYourDreads. #StorytellingThroughDance. #PhysicalTherapy. #HealingWhileGigging. #StomperGoDumb. #TellMeWhenToGo. #Rightnowish.

Facing Life is a multimedia documentary project about 8 people who were serving life sentences, but after California changed a handful of laws in effort to decrease the state’s overcrowded prison population, these 8 people (and thousands of others) were released. After decades behind bars, as they reintegrate into a drastically changed society, how are they getting their lives in order? Who’s helping? What hurdles do they face and how are they overcoming them? For three+ years we’ve worked on this project and it debuts today! By @be_dizzle & myself. Backed by the @pulitzercenter . Featured in today’s @latimes . #California. #Prisons. #MassIncarceration. #Prop57. #AB260. #AB261. #Reentry. #BanTheBox. #CommunityHealth. #ThisImpactsAllOfUs. #FacingLife. #LinkInBio or check the website “Facing.Life” for the full project.

Bigger than boxing, deeper than fighting. ‘Sons of the Sweet Science,’ a four-part documentary series by @renee_electronika centers her son, Thomas McElroy Jr. and his circle of friends— all of ‘em young talented boxers. Beyond the boxing ring, the series shows community support and highlights the legacy of boxing in Oakland. It also explores how families, specifically fathers, advocate for these young fighters. Thomas McElroy Jr.’s father, half of the production team Foster & McElroy— who worked with En Vogue, Tony! Toni! Toné! and more, is a skilled Muay Thai kickboxer. Thomas McElroy Jr.’s mother is a seasoned filmmaker, having worked on the reality show ‘Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce,’ the documentary ‘Too Short, Life Is: The Life and Times of Todd Shaw,’ and more. With family support and a circle of fellow fighters, Thomas McElroy Jr. says his goal is to be the “cherry on top” of the rich history of fighters from Oakland. This article is today’s top story on @kqed , you can read it by visiting the link in my bio. Happy Mother’s Day to @renee_electronika and all of the mothers who fight for their children 🥊💨🏆✌🏾

Cultural reset ✅ … Now summer can start. Big love to @tidathaitea and the @jijisjazzclub . One time for @aft.fng , @topchefsband and @familynotagroup__ . And, as always, salute to all the regulars— @regulars.only . Pizza from @fattynattysf , pole dancing by @lane.nite.sessions and plenty of talented people. Mannnnnn… Last night was one for the books. ✌🏾🏁

Seeds from cottonwood trees fluttered to the ground as @woman.be.raw and I walked through a small woodland area in West Sacramento. On her side, a huge Gim (or Jian) sword. A lyricist, educator and community organizer, @woman.be.raw is also a student of multiple forms of martial arts. I got a few glimpses of her routine as the sunlight broke through the trees. Between snapshots we discussed her studies in self-defense, her forthcoming musical projects and a big move she’s looking to make this summer. I’m excited for it all. This was a new exercise for me, something I’d like to do more of: joining an artist in their element. Not for an article or “work,” but to just chop it up and take some pics. That said, follow @woman.be.raw for upcoming shows and new music. And stay tuned, I’m sure I’ll do some more of these shoots in the coming months. ✌🏾🗡️💪🏾🏁🖤

Thank you @ogpenn for this beautiful reflection of not only “Art & Everyday People: The Story of the Betti Ono Foundation”, but also the work we have done for well over a decade here in Oakland! It fills us up so much to be seen and recognized in this thoughtful way 💕 This moment is decades in the making, & we can’t wait for you to see more of our story at our premiere tomorrow night! We hope you got your tickets because we are officially SOLD OUT! You can read this full article and join the waitlist for the premiere at the link in our bio! See you all tomorrow! ✨

Thank you @ogpenn and @kqedarts for this incredible feature on Enraizando dance production by @bombaaguacero this weekend at @bvoperahouse . There’s still time to grab your ticket to Enraizando Friday & Saturday, April 17th and 18th at CUBACARIBE.ORG/2026. Doors at 7PM and the show includes a stunning photo exhibit by @fistuptv . Link in Bio for Full Article. 🗞️ #CubaCaribe #Aguacero #KQEDarts

I love baseball, and hate that the A’s left Oakland. I went to my first A’s game in West Sacramento last night. Here’s my attempt to grapple with it all. For the full story check the link in my bio.

San Jose’s @naomi_girma is one of most accomplished professional athletes to come out of the Bay Area in the past decade. After earning numerous awards and winning a national championship at Stanford (@stanfordwsoc ), Girma was drafted #1 overall by San Diego’s Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc ) in 2022. While there she won Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year. She was an anchor during Team USA’s gold medal run at the 2024 Olympics. And last year Girma was traded to England’s Chelsea FC for a record-setting amount of money— reportedly over 1 million dollars U.S. All of that, and her career started right here in the Bay, as she spent childhood Saturdays playing soccer at fields around San Jose. This Saturday April 11, Girma and the U.S. Women’s National Team return to San Jose for a friendly match against Japan. Ahead of the exhibition, I talked to Girma about soccer, family, culture and more. To read the full story click the link in my bio.

The Culture Keepers: A Bay Area Storytelling Project. Artists and activists. Creatives and community members. Videos, photos, audio interviews and long-form print pieces. Online now at TheCultureKeepers.Org. I contributed four pieces to the launch of the @bayareaculturekeepers , highlighting the stories of @jackiecomedy , @wolfhawkjaguar , @chiller_iaml.e.o.777 and @rydaray_dmb . I appreciate them for sharing their stories with me, and I’m honored to be part of this culture keeper dream team. This project was years in the making, glad to finally share it with you all. Again, you can enjoy the stories now by checking TheCultureKeepers.org or by clicking the link in my bio.