Wanda's Picks

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

"Marcus Garvey was a proponent of the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements, inspiring the Nation of Islam and the Rastafarian movement. Social activist Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr. was born on August 17, 1887, in St. Ann's Bay, Jamica. Self-educated, Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association, dedicated to promoting African-Americans and resettlement in Africa. In the United States he launched several businesses to promote a separate black nation. After he was convicted of mail fraud and deported back to Jamaica, he continued his work for black repatriation to Africa. Marcus Mosiah Garvey was the last of 11 children born to Marcus Garvey, Sr. and Sarah Jane Richards. His father was a stone mason, and his mother a domestic worker and farmer. Garvey, Sr. was a great influence on Marcus, who once described him as "severe, firm, determined, bold, and strong, refusing to yield even to superior forces if he believed he was right." His father was known to have a large library, where young Garv

This morning we speak to organizers of the Global Simultaneous Libation for the Ancestors Saturday, June 14, 2014, 9 AM Pacific Time, 12 noon Eastern Time. Osei Terry R. Chandler, native NYer, arts activist, former radio host, father, and social worker, with Deborah Wright, founded the Charleston Remembrance Committee in 1998 for the purpose of honoring our ancestors who perished DURING the Middle Passage; Helen Phillips or “Salako” is the libation pourer at the Charleston Ritual. Chadra Pittman Walke, Hampton, Virginia, Mother, Anthropologist, Writer, Advocate is the Founder & Director of 4 E.V.E.R and The Sankofa Projects. Jerrie Spruce, Hampton, Virginia is also Kemetic Priestess Auset AkuRa; this is Brother Osakumi Jackson, Ayida Wedo Drummers Society, Inc., in Georgetown, South Carolina. For a listing of the 2014 ceremonies: http://maafasfbayarea.com Michael Gene Sullivan, playwright, actor, director, joins us to talk about his new work, fugitive/slave/act, a historical drama based on a true story f

This morning we feature interviews with directors featured in the 13th Annual SF Doc Fest June 5-19, 2014, www.sfindie.com or (415) 552-5580 adv. tickets: N'Jeri Eaton, producer and Mario Furloni, director's "First Friday," Ryan Murdock's "Bronx Obama," and Kevin Gordon's "True Son." We close with a prerecorded interview with director, Chris Mason Johnson, "Test." Test opens theatrically in the Bay Area June 6, 2014. Music: Amikaeyla's Hambone and Dreamer; Meklit Hadero's "Call" and Meklit and Quinn's "This Must Be the Place."

Our first guest is Joy Elan, poet, writer, activist, from Oakland and Berkeley, CA. She received her undergraduate degree in African American Studies at UC Berkeley and her graduate degree in Education at Stanford University. She has taught at a community college and is currently working with urban youth in the San Francisco Bay Area.  http://joyelan.webs.com/ Next we speak to Nicholas Bearde, singer, and Perry L. Lang, Executive Director of Black Coalition on AIDS and Rafiki Wellness about their collaboration this Sunday, June 1, in a new concert series at Rafiki Wellness Center, 601 Cesar Chavez Street, San Francisco, 415-615-9945, http://www.bcoa.org/ and http://www.nicolasbearde.com/  Julia Chigamba and DeLisa Branch-Nealy join us for an encore conversation about Chinyakare's recent performance in Washington DC and the company's upcoming show next week, June, 7, 2014, 9 p.m., at Ashkanaz Music and Dance Center in Berkeley. http://www.chinyakare.com/ We close with First Edition lead musician Damu Sudii Ali

About the Author and Playwright: Beresford McLean was born in western St. Mary, Jamaica. He attended and taught high school in Kingston. In 1970 McLean emigrated to the United States where he studied physics and subsequently worked in engineering. His current focus is writing. Broken Gourds, his first inspirational folklore, was published to great acclaim in 2003. His second novel, Providence Pond, came three years later. McLean’s third novel, Fish Hook River will be published in the spring of 2015. Beresford McLean’s foray into playwriting is his short play, First Snow. His first full length play The Good Villain will be released in fall 2014. His other unpublished works include Ode to Mali,Walking with Anancy - Book 1 (Jamaica), and Walking with Anancy Book - 2 (New York).

Guests: Jubilith Moore, Director & Eugenie Chan, Dramaturg, about Chiori Miyagawa's world premiere, This Lingering Life at Theatre of Yugen in San Francisco at Z Space, 450 Florida Street, June 5-14, 2014. www.theatreofyugen.org  Dana Ben-Ari, dir., speaks about Breastmilk, opening at The Roxie 5/23 & The New Parkway in Oakland, breastmilkthemovie.comLaurinda D. Brown, playwright and author's Walk Like a Man, dir, by John Fisher,opens at Theatre Rhinoceros May 28-June 15, 2014,at The Costume Shop in SF., www.therhino.org. We close with a conversation with Queen Regina Califa-Calloway about the 36th Annual SF Carnaval Celebration: May 23rd -25th, www.carnavalsf.com, with free events beginning this evening (5/23) at the DeYoung Museum. Brazilian Nights with SambaDA, 3 p.m. (5/24) on the Carnaval Stage (Harrison at 17th); Oakland Carnival (5/26): Memorial Day-Mosswood Park, MacArthur and Broadway, 10:30a-6:00p.     Call Send SMS Add to Skype You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

Michael Lange (director and actor, role: Hon. Elijah Muhammad) and Kreshenda Jenkins (Sister Betty X) join us to talk about Larry "Americ" Allen's The Expulsion of Malcolm X, opening March 23 at Laney College in Oakland. Michael Lange, actor, director and filmmaker, is best known for his portrayal as a Malcolm X delineator, having performed the fiery freedom fighter and orator’s speeches nationally on stage since early 1990. He has directed two award-winning plays, ‘Ceremonies in Dark Old Men’ (Best Play Award) and ‘The Old Settler’ (Best Director). As a playwright, he wrote the play ‘Prophet Nat’, a musical docudrama based on the life of slave-prophet Nat turner. Currently, he is on the faculty at San Jose State University, where he has taught since 1998. Lange continues to write and perform for stage and film, and lives in Oakland, California. Kreshenda Jenkins (Sister Betty X), a thespian at heart, has always had a passion for performing arts.  She started acting on stage at the age of 15 and although she

We open the show with an interview with artist, scholar, Jeramy DeCristo whose Document/in the hold opens this evening, May 2, the exhibit up through May 30, with an artist talk Friday, May 16, 2014, at Siete Potencias Africanas Gallery, 777 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco. (415) 323-9 We shift next into a true freedom story as told by Zenobia Powell Perry, in the African America folk opera Tawawa House at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, CA May 2 and May 4, 2014: http://townsendopera.com We close with an interview with Michael Asberry, understudy for the role of Gabriel in Marin Theatre Company's production of August Wilson's Fences. CallSend SMSAdd to SkypeYou'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype

We open the show with an interview with artist, scholar, Jeramy DeCristo whose Document/in the hold opens this evening, May 2, the exhibit up through May 30, with an artist talk Friday, May 16, 2014, at Siete Potencias Africanas Gallery, 777 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco (415) 323-940415-323-9406. We shift next into a true freedom story as told by Zenobia Powell Perry, in the African America folk opera Tawawa House at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, CA May 2 and May 4, 2014: http://townsendopera.com We close with an interview with Michael Asberry, understudy for the role of Gabriel in Marin Theatre Company's production of August Wilson's Fences.

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!  

This morning we speak to Ramona Africa, Spokeperson for MOVE about her recent visit to San Francisco Bay Area as a part of the Welcome Home Lynne Stewart, the People's Attorney, May 2-4, 2014. She speaks about the MOVE 9 and the anniversary of the MOVE residence, May 13, 1985 where everyone was killed except Ramona and a child, the late Birdie Africa. On Saturday, May 10, 2014, there will be a Screening of “Let the Fire Burn” at the Rotunda at 40th & Walnut, Philadelphia. Visit http://onamove.com/   On May 13, 1985, by order of local Philadelphia authorities, police dropped military-grade explosives onto a MOVE-occupied rowhouse killing 11 people (including five babies). Watch a new documentary about the event and the struggles to bring Philadelphia officials to justice and free the adult survivors–who are still in jail after 36 years, while their attempted murderers walk free!  We close with an interview from the archives with Ericka Huggins about The Black Power Mixtape film.

We have a really full program; make certain to listen to the archived program which features a special interview and update with spokesperson for MOVE, Ramona Africa. I speak to Ms. Africa the evening before she and Pam Africa get on the plane to visit the Bay Area for the Celebration of Life & Struggle and Welcome Home for Lynn Stewart this weekend in the San Francisco Bay Area, May 2-4, 2014: http://www.worldcantwait.net/index.php/calls-to-action/8513-lynne-stewart-people-s-attorney-speaking-events-in-bay-area  We open the show with an interview with artist, scholar, Jeramy DeCristo whose Document/in the hold opens this evening, May 2, the exhibit up through May 30, with an artist talk next week, May 16, 2014, at Siete Potencias Africanas Gallery, 777 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco (415) 323-9406. We shift next into a true freedom story as told by Zenobia Powell Perry, in the opera Tawawa House. We happily welcome into the studio members of the cast: Shawnette Sulker (soprano, as Fanny) & Barry L.

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

1. David Minkus, Ph.D., Graduate Fellows Training Program Coordinator, has been a Research Associate and Coordinator of the Graduate Fellows training program at the Institute for the Study of Social Change, now now the Institute for the Study of Societal Issues) for more than three decades. He joins us with Teresa Córdova, Ph.D., now Director of Great Cities Institute and Professor of Urban Planning and Policy at University of Illinois at Chicago to talk about Breaking Barriers, Building Community: 35 Years of Training Social Change Scholars, Friday, May 2nd, 8:30am-4:30pm. at the Alumnae Hall, 2537 Haste St. (between Telegraph Ave. and Bowditch St.). They speak about the relevance of the academy to achieving social justice then and now. The conference is free. Register by April 27, 2014, and get a free lunch: http://crsc.berkeley.edu/conference  2. Joyce Jenkins is editor of Poetry Flash, Literary Review & Calendar for the West (Poetryflash.org), presenter of the Poetry Flash reading series at Moe’s Book

We open with a conversation with Jasmine Heiss, Senior Campaigner with Amnesty International USA's Individuals and Communities at Risk program. She advocates on behalf of the prisoners of conscience, human rights defenders, communities and other individuals who are at the heart of Amnesty International's work. She is lead on AIUSA's work on behalf of the Angola 3: http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=6oJCLQPAJiJUG&b=6645049&aid=520358 We then shift to a matter dear to all our hearts, food, healthy food choices this Vegetraian Week in Alameda County. We speak to Veg Week and Meatless Monday Founder, Kristie Middleton, food policy manager for The Humane Society of the United States and the founder of Oakland Veg. She has successfully worked with dozens of corporations, hospitals, and other institutions to improve the plight of farm animals through humane-minded purchasing programs, and has worked with some of the nation’s largest school districts, including Los Angeles Un

Dan Hoyle joins us to talk about his new play, written in collaboration with Tony Taccone, Game On, directed by Rick Lombardo, at San Jose Rep through April 19, 2014. https://www.sjrep.com/ Bonnie Boswell joins us via the archives (2012) to talk about The Power Broker: Whitney Young's Fight for Civil Rightshttp://www.pbs.org/independentlens/powerbroker/Carl Lumbly joins us to talk about August Wilson's Fences, directed by Derrick Sanders which opens at Marin Theatre Company April 10, tonight and continues through May 11 (after multiple extensions). www.marintheatre.org 415-388-5208. We close with a conversation about opera and musical theatre with Dr. Lynne Morrow, Musical Director, Oakland Symphony Chorus, conducting Handel's Messiah, this weekend, April 13, 2014, 5:30 p.m.at Cathedral of Christ The Light, Oakland oaklandsymphonychorus.org; joining her are Kelly Gregg (producer) and Sammi Cannold (director) of the Immersive Production of Les Miserables at Stanford University, April 11-12; 17-19 8 p.m. in the

Dan Hoyle joins us to talk about his new play, written in collabiration with Tony Taccone, Game On, directed by Rick Lombardo, at San Jose Rep through April 19, 2014. https://www.sjrep.com/  Bonnie Boswell joins us via the archives (2012) to talk about The Power Broker: Whitney Young's Fight for Civil Rightshttp://www.pbs.org/independentlens/powerbroker/ Carl Lumbly joins us to talk about August Wilson's Fences, directed by Derrick Sanders which opens at Marin Theatre Company April 10, tonight and continues through May 11 (after multiple extensions). www.marintheatre.org 415-388-5208. We close with a conversation about opera and musical theatre with Dr. Lynne Morrow, Musical Director, Oakland Symphony Chorus, conducting Handel's Messiah, this weekend, April 13, 2014, 5:30 p.m.at Cathedral of Christ The Light, Oakland oaklandsymphonychorus.org; joining her are Kelly Gregg (producer) and Sammi Cannold (director) of the Immersive Production of Les Miserables at Stanford University, April 11-12; 17-19 8 p.m. in t

Today we honor the lives of the 1 million Rwanda's killed 20 years ago with a rebroadcast of director, Alrick Brown's Kinyarwanda (recorded April 2012). We conclude with an interview with the wonderful artist and humanitarian, Della Reese of Touched by an Angel fame (recorded February 2012). Music: Meklit & Quinn "Tunnels," Thao & the Get Down Stay Down "Human Heart," The Pyramids "They Came from Chicago," Nawal "Hima," Dwight Trible "Little Africa," Donald "Duck" Bailey "Gone Now."