Wanda's Picks

Pnina Bechor was only 14 when she disappeared from her home in Yavniel. Almost seventy years later, her great niece, filmmaker Noa Ben Hagai, discovered traces of Bechor's life and members of her family in a Palestinian refugee camp near Nablus. We interview director Noa Ben Hagai about her film: Blood Relations screening at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Jul 30 & Aug 3; We rebroadcast the Wed., July 27 show with: Karin Kariner, director, "Skate of Mind," joins us to talk about her film screening twice in the SFJFF, Sun., July 31 & Thurs., Aug. 4. Visit www.sfjff.org Robert Hillary King, Angola 3 & Malik Rahim, BPP Veteran, co-founder, Common Ground Collective. The Dislocation Express: AXIS Dance Company, Judith Smith & Dandelion Dance Theatre, Eric Kupers. The Traveling performance continues Wed., July 27-Sat., July 30, 2011. Visit hhp://axisdance.org/TDE.php

Karin Kariner, director, "Skate of Mind," joins us to talk about her film screening twice in the SFJFF, Sun., July 31 & Thurs., Aug. 4. Visit www.sfjff.org Robert Hillary King, Angola 3 & Malik Rahim, BPP Veteran, co-founder, Common Ground Collective. The Dislocation Express: AXIS Dance Company, Judith Smith & Dandelion Dance Theatre, Eric Kupers. The Traveling performance continues Wed., July 27-Sat., July 30, 2011. Visit hhp://axisdance.org/TDE.php  

8:00 AM: Update on the Hunger Strike at Pelican Bay with Deirdre Wilson Project Coordinator for CCWP and Free Battered Women,  and a supporter of the Fast for Justice started by inmates at Pelican Bay, July 1, 2011, and Linda Evans, a former anti-imperialist political prisoner, released in 2001 via a pardon by president Bill Clinton, along with Susan Rosenberg, another political prisoner. 8:30 AM: Maria Acuna, English professor, musician, composer, and Avotcja, Poet/Playwright/Multi-Percussionist/Photographer/Teacher join us to talk about a celebration of Pablo Neruda, Nobel Laureate Chilean poet, 7 PM, Wed., July 27, 2011 @ Cafe Leila, 1724 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley, CA. Avotcja is also celebrating her 70th birthday at La Pena Cultural Center, Sunday, July 24, 7 PM. Visit avotcja.org and quijerema.com 9 AM: Dr. Beheroze Shroff teaches in the Department of Asian American Studies at UC Irvin. She is a documentary film maker whose research for the past 15 years has been on the Siddi or African Indian community

Maurice Carney, Executive Director. Maurice Carney is a co-founder and Executive Director of the Friends of the Congo. He is an independent entrepreneur and human rights activist who has fought with Congolese for fifteen years in their struggle for human dignity and control of their country. He has worked as a research analyst at the nation's leading Black think tank the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. While at the Joint Center, Mr. Carney worked with civic associations in West Africa providing training on research methodology and survey. He served as the interim Africa working group coordinator for Reverend Jesse Jackson while he was Special Envoy to Africa. Mr. Carney also worked as a research consultant to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation addressing issues such as the socio-politcal condition of African American communities.  Crisis in the Congo screens July 20, 2011,  6 PM, at the African American Art and Culture Complex, 762 Fulton Street, San  Francisco, CA. Call (510) 663-2255

Bay Area Playwrights Festival, July 22-31 at Thick House in San Francisco: http://playwrightsfoundation.org/ features the work of guests: Jackie Sibblies Drury, "We Are Proud to Present a Presentation..." & Chinaka Hodge, "700th & Int'l." Amy Mueller, Festival Artistic Director and Edris Cooper Anifowoshe, director of Hodge's work,join us. Next, Douglas Milton and Pat Baxter announce the National Black Cyclists Cycling Conference, AUG 4-7, 2011 in Oakland, CA. We close with a look at the hunger strike July 1-now @Pelican Bay and the Bring the Noise Protest this afternoon in San Francisco. Guests are: Dorsey Nunn, ED, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, Dolores Canales, parent of a prisoner in the SHU, Deirdre Wilson & Manuel Manuel La Fontaine, All of Us or None, both fasting, as a part of "Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition," determined to amplify the voices of those on hunger strike, put and end to torture inside the Security Housing Units in Pelican Bay, & Corcoran, and win their 5

Today we will celebrate the life of Geronimo ji jaga, decorated US veteran, Black Panther, father, husband, sibling, friend, humanitarian, former Political Prisoner and POW, and founder of Kuji Foundation. Guests include: Kathleen Neal Cleaver, JD, former Communications Secretary, BPP, writer, professor, activist; Emory Douglas, author, artist, former Minister of Culture BPP; Robert King, author, prison abolitionist, Angola 3; Mujah Shakir, Ph.D., Detroit native & former member of the Nation of Islam, is a founding member of the International Campaign to Free Geronimo ji Jaga (Pratt) in 1987 and served as its Chair for 8 yrs. She is also a founding member of the national Jericho 98 Campaign to Free U.S. Political Prisoners and the local bay area Jericho Amnesty Campaign; Tiyesha Meroe, activist, member of Oscar Grant Committee Against Police Brutality and State Repression. She worked with the ICFGjj for 7 yrs. She will co-host the memorial and tribute to Geronimo with Emory Douglas at East Side Arts Allia

Maryam Farnaz Rostami, She will join us to talk about her show this weekend at CounterPULSE: Persepolis, Texas: FOBspring to Drag Queen in One Generation! Friday July 15th, Saturday July 16th, Sunday July 17th, at CounterPULSE 1310 Mission Street @ 9th, San Francisco, Counterpulse.org or 1-800-838-3006, www.maryamrostami.com  The San Francisco based drag queen and contemporary performance artist from Texas. Her work deals with the complexities of the modern condition through the lens of an overachieving child of model minorities. Trained as an architect, Maryam exacerbates and collides her many hats when making performance, and engages audiences on a visual, intellectual and emotional level. She is dedicated to artistic engagement as an invitation for thinking about, looking at and talking to one another differently. Her drag persona, Mona G. Hawd, uses lipsync, movement, narrative and dance and an exaggerated high femme medium to question ownership of images in our culture.  While in architecture school at t

Willie Thompson, 76 year old African North American Community Organizer, Writer and Free-Lance Journalist, Education, MSW, U.C. Berkley, 1967, E.D.D., Community  College Administration, U.C. Berkeley, 1973. Founder and Director of The Organization of African North Americans, Member,  Yoruba Cultural Association of Cuba, Foreign Affiliate of the Ile Osha  Ade Yeri of Regla, Cuba. Playwright Michael Gene Sullivan joined the San Francisco Mime Troupe in 1988. In 1992, he became a Contributing Writer, and Resident Playwright in 2000. His scripts include Red State (2008 nominee, Best Original Script, San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critic's Circle), and Too Big To Fail (2009 nominee, Best Original Script, San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critic's Circle.) Sullivan is also a blogger for the political website The Huffington Post. Lynne Morrowcurrently serves as the Music Director of two renowned choruses in the San Fransico/East Bay area. Under her direction, the Pacific Mozart Ensemble received a Grammy nomination in

Kim Nalley Sings Nina Simone at the Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco tonight. We broadcast an interview recorded Friday, July 1, 2011. She speaks about Nina Simone and the artist's impact on her life and music. We close with another prerecored interview, this one with activists: Intisar Ibrahim. Mrs. Ibrahim, RN, speaks about her clinic in Somalia, which she will return to when she retires later this year. We'll find out information on how we can support her work and that of our other guest, Ebony Iman Dallas, who is now in Somaliland for the next three months. Her organization is Africanation.com. Announcements: Al Hajjah Karimah Ali's janaza is at Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward this morning, 11 AM. The repast is at the Elijah Mohammed Cultural Center in Oakland.

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the writing, visual and performing arts of African people in the Diaspora. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work filled with raw unfettered passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay! Remember to tune in on Wednesdays from 6 AM PST to 7 or 8 AM and on Fridays from 8 AM to 10 AM. We also host special broadcasts from time to time.

René Marie, the award winning singer whose style incorporates elements of jazz, soul, blues and gospel, has quickly become a heroine to many; a woman of great strength exuding stamina and compassion; often explaining how finding her voice and self through singing gave her the courage to leave an abusive marriage. But since the release of her recording debut, Renaissance, this Colorado based heroine has also evolved into one of the greatest and most sensuous vocalists of our time. Unmistakably honest and unpretentious while transforming audiences worldwide with her powerful interpretations, electrifying deliveries and impassioned vocals — René Marie has drawn a legion of fans and music critics who find themselves not only entertained, but encouraged and even changed by her performances.With her latest release Voice of My Beautiful Country (Motema Music), listeners will hear her trademark vocals but will also be struck by the wide variety of songs that she interprets. During the course of the album, Marie bring

Ebony Iman Dallas, Painter, Founder/Executive Director of Afrikanation Artists Organization which is having a fundraiser party Saturday, June 25, 2011, 6:30 PM tp 10:30 PM at Full Circle: An InterCultural Celebration of Art and Fundraiser @ Addis Habana Dance Studio, 366 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA 94610. Other guests are: Mark LeGrande Trotter, Painter, Art Therapist- (participant in the "Afrikanation InterCultural Art Exchange" with an artist in Somaliland/Somalia.) Linda Pomerantz, Dancer, Founder of Intercultural Dance Alliance- (participant in the "Afrikanation InterCultural Art Exchange" with an artist in Somaliland/Somalia) & Laurel Lee, Painter- (donated a painting to auction): afrikanationartists.org VIVARIVA! is the feature film debut of writer-director-producer Djo Tunda Wa Munga, the first film made in the Democratic Republic of Congo in over two decades, the first Congolese feature film in the Lingala language,  and the first Congolese feature distributed in the U.S. Munga's film opens today in

This morning we rebroadcast from June 21, 2011, the interviews with directors of two films, Peter Sorcher, director, Eat the Sun &Katie Wolfe, director, Kawa. Kawa is screening at Frameline 35, this evening, June 23, 2011, 9:30 PM, at the Elmwood Theatre in Berkeley, CA. The director, producer and Moari writer of international note, Witi Ihimara, will be there. Witi's novel Nights in the Gardens of Spain forms the basis of the film about a Maori man, Kawa, who outs himself after a life of untruth. Kawa is also Witi's story too; it is the story of a very patriarchial family (and society) which Kawa is an intergral part of coming to grips with Kawa's life. Will initial shame, hurt and anger give way to love? Can Kawa's father whose views on masculinity certainly don't include a gay son, respect this man of integrity? Can a woman whose friendship with Kawa preceded their marriage trust him again? The film Kawa looks at how closely connected one's identity is tied to family, to the point that one will let fam

Rebroadcast of Summer Special, aired June 21, 2011.

Eat the Sun screens on the Documentary Channel on the Summer Solstice, June 21, 8 PM ET/PT. Peter Sorcher, director, spent 11 years in New York City honing his storytelling and branding skills as a commercial and documentary film editor with Red Car.  He has worked on commercials for Nike, Coke, Reebok, IBM, and The North Face, among others as well editing documentary films that have garnered theatrical and televised release. He'll talk about how he met a young former Olympian hopeful, Mason Dwinell, who set out on an incredible cross-country journey to uncover the truth behind the ancient art of Sungazing, where people stare at the sun, the sun's energy literally acting as food for some of the subjects interviewed for this film. For others the sun is a source of spiritual enlightenment.  I wonder what happens when the sun is not visible--storms, inclement weather or in places on the planet where daylight is limited?Our next guests flew in from New Zealand for the American premiere of Kawa, based on Witi Ihi

Friends of the Negro Spirituals presents: There’s a Bright Side Some Where - A Juneteeth Community Sing featuring guests: Wendell Brooks, who will lead the sing-a-long, is a song leader; vocal music and history instructor at Berkeley High School, professional Baritone soloist; slave documents scholar, and a Negro Spirituals expert; Dr. Martin C. Jones, tenor saxophonist and reentry program specialist for incarcerated persons, will give demonstrations of a form of the oral tradition, the musical cries of street peddlers selling their products in post slavery years heard the street of his native New Orleans; Sam Edwards, therapist and co-founder of FNS; Harold Jackson III, director of “BURN: The Evolution Of An American City,” about a little known but worse recorded race riot in American History: Tulsa Oklahoma Race Riot of 1921 premiering on the Documentary Channel, June 28, 2011, 8 PM (PT/ET), salt2light.com; Risk This at Cutting Ball present: TENDERLOIN by Annie Elias, June 24-25, cast and theatre co-founder

Dinizulu Gene Tinnie joins us this morning to speak about the 17th Annual Sunrise Ancestral Remembrance of the Middle Passage Ceremony, beginning at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 19, 2011, at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, 4020 Virginia Beach Drive, off Rickenbacker Causeway on Virginia Key. The date this year coincides, appropriately, with Fathers Day, and with Juneteenth,  the growing commemoration of June 19, 1865. The Ancestral Remembrance also takes on special significance this year because 2011 has been declared by the United Nations General Assembly to be the International Year for People of African Descent. For further information, please call 305-904-7620. Both Dinizulu Gene Tinnie and Runoko Rashidi speak about our fallen heroes this morning. Runoko Rashidi is a historian, research specialist, writer, world traveler, and public lecturer focusing on the African presence globally and the African foundations of world civilizations. Rashidi's list includes: Abdias Nascimento, Ms. Sisulu, Asa Hilliard, Iv

Rebroadcast of June 9, 2011 show featuring: Pee Wee Ellis's STILL BLACK, STILL PROUD - An African Tribute to James Brown at Yoshi's in Oakland. Eurydice Ross and Tanya Marie's Grown Women Dance Collective's "Fallen Heroes, Rising Stars: A Juneteenth Celebration through Dance," June 18th, 2011, 8:00pm at Diablo Valley College Theater in Pleasant Hill. Call (925) 680-4400. Brother Osei Terry Chandler and Deborah Wright, join us to talk about the 14th Annual Libations for the Ancestors this weekend, June 11, 2011, 9 AM PT, at FortMoultrie, Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. The ritual there is 9 AM-1 PM. We close with a conversation with two programmers and directors from the Queer Women of Color Film Festival, June 10-12 at Brava Theater in San Francisco, Kebo Drew - QWOCMAP's Managing Director and Filmmaker for this year,"Ain't I A Woman" (2011) and Meja Tyehimba – Filmmaker “Cantelop” (2009). Visit http://www.qwocmap.org/festival.html It is a free event.  We close with music from Rupa and the April Fishes's E

Today we will feature guests who illuminate African Culture at its highest: Pee Wee Ellis who is in town this weekend, Friday-Saturday, June 9-10 for STILL BLACK, STILL PROUD - An African Tribute to James Brown Feat. Pee Wee Ellis, Vusi Mahlasela & Meklit Hadero at Yoshi's in Oakland. Visit yoshis.org Eurydice Ross, Tanya Marie Amos and Michelle Ned speak about Grown Women Dance Collective's "Fallen Heroes, Rising Stars: A Juneteenth Celebration through Dance," June 18th, 2011, 8:00 p.m. at Diablo Valley College Theater in Pleasant Hill. Call (925) 680-4400. Brother Osei Terry Chandler joins us to talk about "Libations for the Ancestors" this weekend, June 11, 2011. This event collectively honors the millions of enslaved Africans who perished during the Middle Passage, the Transatlantic "slave trade" route from Africa to the Americas. This commemoration held annual on the second Saturday in June. The SC memorial is in its fourteenth year, at Fort Moultrie, Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, 9 AM-1 PM. For

Qasim “Q” Basir, director of Mooz-lum, starring Evan Ross, Nia Long, Danny Glover, Roger Guenveur Smith, Summer Bishil & Dorian Missick. The director received the “Inspirational Filmmaker of the Year” award from the Memphis Black Writers Film Festival for “The Inspiration of Barack: Yes We Can” series, a compilation of seven short films all dealing with different people who become inspired by Obama to take essential steps forward in their lives, can now be found in Blockbuster video & iTunes.com. We then play a short excerpt from an interview with Mooz-lum co-star, Roger Guenveur Smith. Paula Claudine Hobson-Coard, artist, composer, singer, photographer, joins us to talk about her Summer Love project, a one day exposition of new paintings Saturday, June 11, 2011, 12 noon to 7 PM at Empty Space, 644 Laguna Street, in San Francisco. Visit globalcreativityforyou.com We close with two playwrights and directors: Keith Josef Adkins and Dominic Taylor to talk about The American Slavery Project. Visit thenewb