Wanda's Picks

Juanita Brown, Trace of The Trade; Professor Griff, Public Enemy & Hussain Bey,  "Neccessary Tour: Black History 101 Mobile Museum Tour with A Taste of Freedom, Saturday, June 4, 2011, 11 AM to 3 PM at the Linen Life Gallery in San Leandro; Berkeley's 8th Annual World Music Festival featuring among others: Rafael Mauriquez.

Today we honor Gil Scott-Heron, poet, writer, musician, scholar who made his transition Friday, May 27, 2011. He was 62 years old. We are joined by Umar Bin Hassan, Last Poets, CEO Bebop or Be Dead.  In the early '70s,  Hassan was a member of the street-poet godfathers of rap, The Last Poets. He joined the group in 1969 after seeing them perform in his native Ohio. With Hassan, The Poets released The Last Poets, This Is Madness, Holy Terror, and Last Poets at Last. In mid-1993, he released his first solo album, Be Bop or Be Dead. Charles Curtis Blackwell, jazz poet and a playwright, performance and visual artist. His published plays and poetry include Is, the Color of Mississippi Mud and The Fiery Response to Love’s Callings among other works. He has also produced three spoken-word CDs in collaboration with jazz drummer Billy Toliver, and Raymond Nat Turner, poet, teacher, founder of UpSurge: Jazz Poetry Ensemble. Gerald Lenoir, Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), joins us to close the show and talk a

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.

Brian Palmer, an independent reporter, photographer, and filmmaker's "Full Disclosure," airs on the Doc Channel Tuesday, May 31, at 8 PM (ET/PT). Full Disclosure is based on three embeds in Iraq with the same U.S. Marine infantry battalion. His photographs have appeared recently in The New York Times, Politiken, ColorLines, and other publications. From 2000 to 2002, Palmer was a CNN correspondent. He was the Beijing Bureau Chief for US News & World Report from 1996 to 1998.  Next we have in the studio Director/Producer Kim A. Snyder to talk about her latest film: Welcome to Shelbyville," which has a free community screening in Oakland, CA, this evening, May 25, 2011, at 6 PM at Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 2nd floor of the Pacific Renaissance Plaza in Oakland's Chinatown, 388 Ninth Street, Suite 290. Kim Synder is an award-winning filmmaker with more than a dozen shorts and two feature documentaries, including I Remember Me. She co-founded the BeCause Foundation to produce socially conscious documentari

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.

Today in honor of El Hajj Malik El Shabazz's birthday today, May 19, 2011, we want to pause and reflect on his legacy with those inspired by his tireless zeal and push for justice. Confirmed guests are: Grace C. Stanislaus, Executive Director, Museum of the African Diaspora; author, Sharon G. Flake whose latest book is, You Don't Even Know Me: Stories and Poems about Boys; Adwoa Kudoto, a drummer & teacher from Cape Coast, Ghana (West Africa), joins Emani Dawson Bey, "Liberation Theatre." Both women have shows at La Pena Cultural Center in Berkeley, May 20 & May 25. Visit www.lapena.org We close with a conversation with musician/scholars: Anthony Brown, Jon Jang, and Marcus Shelby to talk about a Soundtrack for a Revolutioninspired by Bother Malcolm. All the excerpts from speeches are available on line at: http://www.archive.org/details/Malcolm_X (great website),http://www.brothermalcolm.net/mxwords/whathesaidarchive.html We also play part of Leon Thomas's "Malcolm's Gone."

Today we are celebrating the life of El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, a man who epitomizes transformation and revolutionary thought born May 19, 2011, (1925-1965). We are joined by friends and family who knew and admired him. Confirmed are: A. Peter Bailey, author, journalist, friend of Brother Malcolm, and Yusufu Mosley, activist, and practitioner of African-Centered Restorative Justice. We are also joined by scholar, artist, writer, teacher, Amiri Baraka. We close with an interview with Abraham Burton, who is headlining the Tenth Annual Malcolm X Jazz Arts Festival, Saturday, May 21, 2011 at San Antonio Park. The Abraham Burton Trio performs at Eastside Cultural Center 2277 International Blvd., Oakland, CA   94606, Sunday: May 22, 2011, 6PM-two sets. Admission is $15. For more information: 510/533-6629  www.eastsideartsalliance.org   .

LaKeisha Burton, born and raised in Compton,  lives in Sothern California still after spending 18 years in California Institute for Women (CIW) when at 15 she was arrested and tried as an adult and sentenced to life plus 9 years consecutively, which meant she had to serve 9 years first and then life—she was first at youth authority at Camillo in Southern California, for 90 observation where they recommended she stay in the juvenile facility. The sentencing judge said no, send her to prison. In CIW—she was the youngest person there, so she was in a segregated housing unit or in solitary confinement until she turned 18.  She served 18 years before release in 2006. No one died. Ironically, she met her victim in CIW, asked for and received her forgiveness. The victim, who killed someone, was released from CIW after 9 years. The film "Juvies," screening this evening, May 13, at EastSide Cultural Center, 2277 International Blvd., Oakland, CA, 7-9 PM, looks at the criminalization of children in the CA judicial syste

Naomie Harris (Jane), as well as working on big budget Hollywood Movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, continues to choose challenging and exciting roles in smaller and more diverse films such as THE FIRST GRADER. She and I had a great interview last week when her tour brought her to the San Francisco Bay Area for a preview screeening of her latest film at Landmark Embarcadero Center in San Francisco. London-born Naomie graduated with honours from Cambridge University in 1998 with a degree in social and political science. She went on to train at the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and had her first major acting breakthrough in 2002 with Danny Boyle’s zombie horror film 28 Days Later. She went on to receive further international recognition and critical acclaim in her role as Tia Dalma in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End. Other major feature film credits include Michael Mann’s Miami Vice, Michael Winterbottom’s A Cock and Bull Story, and Street Kings

Kimberly Jeffery, visual artist, advocate for women and girls, and victims of spousal abuse, will speak about the loss of three children, two to adoption; Pricilla Ocen, JD.,Critical Race Studies Law Fellow at UCLA, will speak about the historic & present legacy criminalization of black women and girls; Diane Hafsah Al-Amin, Member of the S.F. Muslim Community Center on Divisadero St., Community Activist - supporting programs and services which address issues of oppression particularly those affecting black women and other women of color will speak about her work as Program Coordinator for CA Coalition for Women Prisoners. Visit womenprisoners.org Lisa Marie Rollins is a writer, performance artist and playwright, currently developing her solo show, “Ungrateful Daughter: One Black Girl’s Story of Being Adopted into a White Family. . . that aren’t Celebrities.” She is joined by Martha is also a writer/performer whose work explores the intersections of family, race and all things 'woman'. Her current project

Arlick Brown, director, Kinyarwanda, which screens Thursday, May 5, 2011, 6 PM at SFIFF 54, in San Francisco at Sundance Kabuki (prerecorded). Fely Tchaco, singer, songwriter, drops by the studio to talk about her lastest release "Maturite" and her Concert for Peace, Saturday, May 7, 8 PM, as a part of AfroSolo presents at the AAACC, 762 Fulton in San Francisco. Originally from Côte d'Ivoire, Fely now calls San Francisco Bayview home. We'll be playing selections all moring from her latest work which is a very personal album, drawing from the artist's childhood and exxperiences home in Africa as well as a woman of the Diaspora. Visit www.felymusic.com Jean Kwok joins us to talk about her national best seller, Girl in Translation. The author will be at Book Passage in San Francisco's Embarcadero tonight at 6 PM and at Capitola Book Cafe tomorrow, May 5, at 7:30 PM. We close with a conversation with artist Rodney Ewing, whose show, Unwashed Saints, opens at Dogpatch Cafe & Art Gallery, 2295 Third Street, Sat

We celebrate with Vukani Mawethu Choir its 25th Anniversary Celebration, Sunday, May 1, 2011 at the Freight & Savage Coffeehouse in Berkeley, 4-7 PM, with members and filmmaker: Andréa joyce, Kaidi Depelchin, & Jon Fromer. We will talk about the 25 years, continued activism, and of course the Emmy Awards Winning film chronically the choir's journey to SA: Sizongena--Coming Home: Vukani Mawethu in South Africa. Visit www.vukani.com (510) 444-5009. Hosted by Fania Davis, invited guests include: hosts Awele Makeba & Jim McWilliams, Fania Davis, Ph.D., JD, presenter of the Ubuntu Awards that evening, Hon. Gwen Mahlangu-Nkainde, Hon. Jeanette Ndhlovu, Hon. Kgopotso, Boatamo Yvonne "Ati" Mosupyoe, Ph.D., Palm Wine Boys, UpSurge! Jazz & Poetry, African Roots of Jazz, Avotcja. We close with a conversation Pastor Michael McBride, founding pastor at The Way Christian Center in West Berkeley, about Faith in Action this Saturday, April 30, 9 AM to 4 PM at St. Paul AME Church, 2024 Ashby Ave., in Berkeley,

We open with an interview with Marissa Gonzalez, CA Habeas Project, LSPC, featured in Yoav Potash's film Crime After Crime @SFIFF. Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story w/Daniel Birman rebroadcast.We close with a special segment with director, actress, poet and playwright: Frances Driscoll & Tom Juarez, Cheryl Smith & Kathryn Wood re: Lucky Girl, the true story of a woman piecing together the shards of a life shattered by rape. In 1987 Frances Driscoll was raped in Atlantic Beach, Florida. In 1995 her poem, "Island of the Raped Women" won the Pushcart Prize after appearing in Volt. In 1997 "The Rape Poems," a collection of 43 poems about the rape and the aftermath was published. This new adaptation is inspired by the phrase, "you are so lucky," one of the first things everyone says to rape survivors. "Some Lucky Girls", one of Driscoll's poems is included in this solo show performed by Cheryl Smith. The Rape Poems was dedicated to ten women in three generations of Ms. Driscoll's family. Two of the four of t

Rebroadcast of Wanda's Picks Special aired Thursday afternoon, April 21, 2011 featuring Oleta Adams and husband, John Cushon appearing at the Rrazz Room next week, April 28-30; Rev. Debbie Lee, narrator of the film, Living Along the Fenceline screening in a free program at Mills College in Oakland, April 27; Deputy Chief Velda Dobson-Davis and Michelle Sabin, Valley State Women's Prison, address Domestic Violence; Pam Africa, Robert King and Chris Stephen Kinder, and Deirdre Wilson speak about Mumia Abu Jamal's case specifically, and within the context of policial prisoners in US prisons, his birthday April 24, and a screening of the film: Justice on Trial also on Sunday, April 24. We also announce a special symposium organized by ANC veteran Frank Wilderson and his colleagues at UT, Austin, Sat., April 23, 2011, 9 AM to 5:30 PM (Central Time). Join on skype: costavargas or 512-471-4362. Political prisoners are a part of all the roundtables: Exiting the Museum of Political Incarceration at 10 AM with Sundiata

Oleta Adams appears at Thursday-Friday, Apr. 28 to 29, 8PM and Saturday, April 30, 7 & 9:30 PM at The Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco in "Get Here" For An Evening Of Musical Brilliance, Thursday through Friday, Apr 28-29, 8pm, Sat, Apr 30, 7 & 9:30 PM, $49.50.  This afternoon she is joined in the studio by husband, musician, drummer John Cushon. Visit www.oletaadams.com Rev.Debbie Lee is the narrator and one of the producers of the Linda Hishino's new film: Living Along the Fenceline which tells the stories of 7 remarkable women who live alongside U.S. military bases. They are teachers, organizers,& healers, moved by love & respect for the land, & hope for the next generation. From San Antonio (Texas) to Vieques (Puerto Rico), Hawai’i, Guam, Okinawa, South Korea, & the Philippines, this film inspires hope and action. Free screening 4/27/11 at Mills College, 7 PM. Visit www.alongthefenceline.com I met Chief Deputy Warden Velda Dobson-Davis at Valley State Prison for Women's 5

Director, Mai Islander's "GARBAGE DREAMS," streaming free on Facebook in honor of Earth Day, 4/21/2011, follows three teenage boys born into the trash trade and growing up in the world’s largest garbage village, on the outskirts of Cairo. It is home to 60,000 Zaballeen (or Zabbaleen), Arabic for “garbage people.” Far ahead of any modern “Green” initiatives, the Zaballeen survive by recycling 80% of the garbage they collect.  Face to face with the globalization of their trade, each of the teenage boys is forced to make choices that will impact his future and the survival of his community. UCLA professor, attorney and activist,Priscilla Ocen, discusses race, gender and mass incarceration as affects black women and girls; Chef Billy of Divine Raw Foods discusses his paradigm shift to a healthier lifestyle with "living foods." He will tell us about his cooking demonstration April 21, 4:00-5:30 PM @ Mandela Foods Co-op 1430 7th St., West Oakland. It is free  & open to everyone. We close with director,Phil Bert

Director, write, scholar, poet, Saul Landau, internationally-known scholar, author, commentator, and filmmaker on foreign and domestic policy issues and  joins us to talk about his latest film: "Will the Real Terrorists Please Stand Up!" at Brava Theatre, Saturday, April 16, 2011, 7 PM. brava.org and http://realterrorist.wordpress.com/ Landau is joined in the studio with Alicia Jrapko, US National Coordinator of the International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5. http://www.freethefive.org/  We then play a prerecorded interview with  Kirvan James Boyd, Boston, Mass., Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater highlighting the debut on the DOC channel film airing April 16, 2011, 8 PM, PT/ET of Phil Bertelsen's "Alvin Ailey, American Dance Theater: Beyond the Steps." If isteners would like a copy of the DVD while supplies last send me a message here on the show page or wanda@wandaspicks.com We play a teaser segment of an interview with Joanna Haigood & Charles Trapolin's performance installation: "The Monke

The 9th Annual Oakland International Film Festival, directors of shorts screening Thursday, April 14 & 15, 2011: Howard Egger-Bovet, dir. Nobody Knows Where the Bullet Goes (5:09 min.) screens, 4/14 6-8:15 PM slot; Sean Morris, Native Time, (9:30 mins.) screens at the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland, CA, 4/14 6-8:15 PM, and Zondre Smith, Fuss and Fight (4 mins.) screening at Art Deco Auditorium in Alameda, CA, Friday, April 15, 6-8:15 PM slot.  Visit www.oiff.org We close with a conversation with cast members: Charles Branklyn (Feste) and Renee Wilson (Viola) in The African American Shakespeare Company's production of Twelfth Night or What You Will up Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM through May 1.   Visit www.african-americanshakes.org   Music: We open with music from Rupa and the April Fishes's "Este Mundo" and close with a Renee Wilson number, "Crepe Covered Sidewalks."

Rebroadcast of interview with Joanna Haigood & Charles Trapolin Friday, April 15-17, 2011 at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Visit http://www.zaccho.org/projects.html. We close with interviews with directors and producers of films: Africa Rise (32 min.), director, Michael Lange, producer, Dapo Agoro, which screened at the 9th Annual Oakland International Film Festival (4/12/2011) at Art Deco Auditorium. We close with a conversation with Valerie Goodloe and producer, L. Goodloe, who will speak about the film, Girl Gang: A Mother's Journey to Save Her Daughter (86 min.). Goodloe's film screens Wednesday, April 13, 2011, 6-8:15 PM block.  Visit www.oiff.org Directed by LA-based photographer Valerie Goodloe ‘Gang Girl‘ takes a look at a mother’s attempt to save her daughter from street life every way she knows how. Valerie’s camera penetrates the parties, the meetings, the drug induced states and reaches the heart of the hood lifestyle. This was crucial for her to do in order to understand

Sunday, April 10, is the 30th Annual Northern CA Book Awards, 1-4 PM @ the SF Main Library, where Camille T. Dungy's collection of poetry, Suck on the Marrow (Red Hen Press, 2010), is a nominee. Joyce Jenkins, editor of Poetry Flash & chair of the NCBA's also joins us.  Next Reverend Harry Williams, II, Allen Temple Baptist Church Streets Disciples & Melissa Farley, Ph.D., Executive Director, Prostitution Research & Education speak about,The First East Oakland Summit on Human Trafficking, April 9, 2011, 9am to 12 noon, at Allen Temple Baptist Church, 8501 International Blvd, Oakland. Confirmed speakers include Nola Brantley, executive director of MISSSEY (Motivating, Inspiring, Serving and Supporting, Sexually Exploited Youth,  www.misssey.org), a person the two called, the Harriet Tubman of sexual exploitation of youth. Visit prostitutionresearch.com & revharrywilliams.com  Tess Thacker joins us to talk about: Mine:The Story of A Sacred Mountain, one of the indigenious tribes Suvival Internat