Turfing is a social critique and recognition of lost African American lives, police brutality, and race relations in Oakland.
[6] This form of expression uniquely addresses African American deaths, while using art to create a politicized awareness of brutality against people of color.
[9] Apart from being a unique hood dance form, turfing represents a collective movement, and is part of the street culture in the East Bay.
Some of these foundation dances are "two step," "brookfield," "auntie," "shaking," "the busta," "cliffhangers," "tsunamis" and "traces".
"Going dumb," or completely letting one's emotions loose on the dance floor, is also a distinctive part of the tradition.