Since its founding, the guiding philosophy for Oakland Roots SC has been a simple one.

Know Your Roots.

For club co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer Edreece Arghandiwal, an Oakland native himself, that extends far beyond the soccer field.

“When you talk about Oakland and its history, it truly is Black History, and it is about changing the way the world works for the better,” said Arghandiwal recently. “We’ve been at the forefront of a lot of political activism. We’ve been at the forefront of movements that have inspired the world, whether it’s culture, art, music, and activism, and the Black Panther Party has played a very, very vital role in the fabric and identity of Oakland, California.

“What that group of individuals were able to accomplish and what kind of impact that has now had – even in today’s world – has been something we have always recognized and paid homage and paid respect. We’ve also created the relationships to support and amplify the message and preservation of the Black Panther Party through our history.”

The relationship between Oakland Roots SC – and its new USL W League club Oakland Soul SC, which kicks off this season – and the Huey P. Newton Foundation was established three years ago when the Bay area’s sporting organizations came together to support the foundation’s work. The groups collaborated again during the creation of a bust of Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton, unveiled in 2021 that now stands in West Oakland at the intersection of Mandela Parkway and Huey P. Newton Way.

The efforts of the Roots organization were striking to Fredrika Newton, widow of Huey and President of the Foundation which now upholds the Black Panther Party’s legacy.

“It was almost like David and Goliath. The smallest team was the most generous,” said Newton. “I just love the spirit, and their roots in the community. I love the diversity of their fan base. And I was really struck by their generosity and their support during this time when we were creating the bust for Huey.”

As Roots and Soul SC moved apparel providers to Meyba during the offseason, it opened the door to a new opportunity. When Arghandiwal and his group approached Newton’s team about creating a custom jersey that would pay tribute to the Black Panther Party, its work and its legacy, Newton eagerly jumped on board.

“When they came to Rachel and I, to me it was a natural fit,” said Newton. “We’re really, really careful about who we partner with. This is not just a fashion statement, you know, this is a legacy that we hold dear. We wanted to make sure that who we partnered with was in alignment with the principles and ideals of the Black Panther Party, and it was, so it was a perfect partnership. We were ecstatic.”

According to Arghandiwal, the four-month process of creating the kits was a collaborative process. In addition to the club’s designers providing initial designs, OwlNWood’s Rachel Konte provided feedback throughout. The club also sought input from other community leaders, an indicator of the spirit Arghandiwal believes epitomizes the city.  

“I think that is the magic of Oakland,” said Arghandiwal. “That is what inspires me every day in my work when I get up is going for an idea that truly has not existed in its form. I think this jersey commemorates the first time a professional soccer team has embellished Black Panther and Black Power marks inside their jerseys in a way that was done tastefully and respectfully alongside the co-signing of the people that have made the efforts so impactful and important.

“It was awe-inspiring. I’m humbled because we literally try to take abstract ideas that don’t exist in the world, and we try to put them in motion in ways that connect with people. And I think that’s been part of our success in the past three, four years as we've existed.”

For Newton’s part, the ease of the process from initial concept to completion showed Roots and Soul SC to be one of the easiest collaborators the Foundation has worked with.

And when it came to an official unveiling, both groups pulled out all the stops, to brilliant effect.

The launch event held on December 3 at the Oakland Museum of California was not only a celebration but also a night that provided important food for thought via a panel made up of Newton and fellow social activists Dr. Nas Mohamed, Abbas Muntaqim, Delency Parham, and Dania Cabello.

“It was what makes me most proud to be from Oakland,” said Newton, who celebrated her birthday the same day. “I questioned Edreece, ‘you know, this is supposed to be a celebration,’ because it was a very serious discussion, very serious topics that night from the panel. And you know, Edreece held firm, telling me, ‘these things need to be spoken about.’ And so, it was an impactful night. My kids were in the front row, my grandkids were in the front row, and they were impacted by the discussion.”

Roots SC’s Rooted In Power jerseys will get an official public airing on Saturday night as the side heads to face fellow USL Championship club Monterey Bay F.C. in a preseason exhibition at Cardinale Stadium. With the club unveiling its official 2023 uniforms early in March, it’s likely to be the lone time the jerseys will be seen in action. The club will auction the game-worn jerseys online beginning on Monday and proceeds will go to the United Black Players of the United Soccer League.

Then, it’s onto the next project for a club that is always looking to find bigger and better ways to express itself and the Oakland community.

“The staff jokes with me all the time, about how every day I’m always like, ‘this moment is the biggest moment in our club history,’” said Arghandiwal. “But the reality of it is that’s how we operate. Once we hit a level of amazingness, we’re thinking, ‘how can we be better than that? How can we do more than that?’ Because we want to really leave a lasting impact on the community that we operate in.

“In our marketing decisions, we’re asking ourselves, are we zagging while everyone else is zigging? Are we challenging ourselves? Are we pushing the boundary for sport? Are we pushing the envelope for design? And furthermore, are we doing everything in our power to ensure that our club front office technical staff, and all our output in the real world is matching the fabric of the community? Because if it doesn't, Oakland will absolutely hold you accountable, unlike any other place in the world.”

It’s that attitude that has made Roots SC – and now Soul SC – a living embodiment of the community it represents regardless of wins, losses or draws on the field.

“They're more of a movement than a team,” said Newton. “Where else could this happen? And where else could you have an organization, a sports organization, embrace this Black Panther legacy and put it on their jerseys and make their whole commitment to the community base?

“I don't know where.”