Wanda's Picks

Daniel Biram, director/producer speaks about his film: "Me Facing Life: Cyntoia's Story," which will have an ITVS Community Screening, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, 5:45 PM at the San Francisco Library on Larkin Street. In 2004, Cyntoia Brown was arrested for murder and sentenced to 51 years. The camera follows her from age 16 to 22. Visit http://www.itvs.org/screenings Our next guests are artists: Nancy Cato and Refa One, who have exhibits up currently in Oakland, CA. Nancy is a part of "Oakland Local" at Gallery 416, 416 26th Street. The closing reception is Feb. 23, 2011 at 5 PM to 9 PM. Refa One's "AeroSoul 2" at Joyce Gordon Gallery has a program tonight, Friday, Feb. 18, 6 PM. Educators will speak about how they use hip hop visual art in the classroom. Visit www.catocreations.com and http://www.aerosoulart.com/YOUTH_EXHIBIT.html to find out about the companion youth exhibit and reception Feb. 25, 6 PM at "Posh Pieces Studio" in Oakland. S. Pearl Sharp drops by for a quick interview about her classic film, "Th

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. Periodically, we will rebroadcast shows, what we call, "From the Archives."

Archival listen to an Aug. 4, 2009, interview with director Simone Britton about her film, "Rachel," shown at the SFJFF 2009, and an earlier film on Egyptian sensation, Umm Kulthum; we spend an hour speaking to founders and presenters of Black Choreographers Festival: Here & Now 2011 opening this weekend, Friday, Feb. 11-Sunday, Feb. 13, at Laney College Theatre, 900 Fallon Street, Oakland, CA. There is also a free film series each week associated with the themes of the festival. Visit www.bcfhereandnow.com We close with an extended conversation with actress Omoze Idehenre, "Francine/Lena," in the West Coast Premiere of Bruce Norris's "Clybourne Park," at the American Conservatory Theatre's Geary Theatre, through February 20. Tickets start from $10. Visit www.act-sf.org or call (415) 749-2228. Music played on this show: Toshi Reagon's "She Brings Me" and Sistas in the Pit's "Roller Coaster."

1st broadcast Nov. 16, 2010: Today we feature actors, Traci Allen (Nettie) & Edward C. Smith (Mister) from The Color Purple: A Musical opening in San Jose at the end of the month, Nov. 23-28, www.broadwaysanjose.com, (415) 792-4111. November kicks off a 16 day campaign to address violence against women in "Recognition of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Towards Women," 12 Noon on the Steps of San Francisco, City Hall. We are joined by two of the organizers: Nina Serrano and MamaCoAtl. We close with an interview with choreographer Adia Whitaker, whose Apey! is on stage at CounterPulse in San Francisco. Ampey! is a look at migration of an African woman from the Diaspora back home.

We open with an interview with Farryn Johnson, Princess Tiana (The Frog Princess) in Disney on Ice's "Let's Celebrate! February 23-27, in San Jose, CA and March 2-6 in Oakland, CA. Our next guests, Civil Rights Movement Veterans: Chude Allen, Carol Ruth Silver, and Jean Wiley are participating in the Museum of the African Diaspora's "One Vision, One Struggle, Many Battlefields," Sat., Feb. 5, 2-5 PM. MoAD is located on Mission at Third Street in San Francisco. Zahra Noorbakhsh's "All Atheists Are Muslim," which opened Feb. 3, 2011, and continues, 8 PM, Thursdays: Feb. 10, 17, and 24, at the Stagewerx Theater, 533 Sutter Street, in San Francisco. Visit www.stagewerx.org We close with a freewheeling conversation with artist/educator, Andrée Singer Thompson who has an Eco Art Matters Class at Laney College. She says there is still space in the three unit class which meets Wednesdays, 9 AM to 3 PM in the new Art Bldg., Rm. 130, Sculpture Studio. The class exhibit from Fall 2010: "Save Our Earth Ship," has a clos

Rebroadcast: Cindy Blackman was in town Wednesday, October 28, 2009 for an SFJAZZ Tribute to Tony Williams, great drummer and composer (Dec. 12, 1945-Feb. 23, 1997). Blackman speaks about her friendship with the great musician, how he influenced her musical style and that of others to date, musicians who are not even aware of how much of his legacy lives on. She is returning to Oakland at Yoshi's Jack London Square: February 2-5, 2011, 8 & 10 PM nightly with Jack Bruce - bass and vocals, Vernon Reid - guitar, John Medeski - organ, Cindy Blackman - drums and vocals. Visit http://www.myspace.com/cindyblackmanmusic We close with a live interview with Sistahs in the Pit, a Bay Area power trio featuring ieela Grant on drums, Kofy Brown on bass and new guitar player Shelley Doty. They open the 2nd Annual San Francisco Music Festival, February 3-17, at CELLSPACE, 2050 Bryant @ 18th in San Francisco. Visit sfindie.com We have tickets to give away for the Blackman show, Thursday, February 3, 2011, 10:00 PM Two set

We speak to Sausan, Artistic Director/Chreographer & Owner of the Sausan Academy of Egyptian Dance. She speaks about her upcoming show, the first ever event of traditional cabaret and folkloric performances of classical Egyptian style dance. The event is at the International House @ UC Berkeley. Visit www.sausanacademy.com Barrie McClune, California Newsreel, joins us to talk about the African Film Festival at UC Berkeley's PFA, Jan. 27-Feb. 17, 2011. Call (510-642-1412). We close with an interview with photographer James Knox, whose exhibit, "JAZZ MOMENTS," goes up at the Berkeley Public Library, Main Branch Feb. 14-Apr. 30, 2011. The artist reception is Sat., Feb. 26, 2 PM. We open with the directors of the film JAZZ MAMA.

We open with a rebroadcast of an interview with Tom Burrell, advertising executive and a member of the Black Think Tank for "A New Way Forward: Healing What's Hurting Black America." Visit stopthebrainwash.com Gerald Lenoir is the director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) founded in the Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area in 2006 to support fair and just immigration reform and to bring African Americans together with immigrant communities to fight for social and economic justice. He is also a board member of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. He will be speaking to us about a teleconference series beginning January 27, 2011, 12 noon, PST. The first conversation is with Rhonda McGee, Professor, University of San Francisco School of Law. Call 1-866-931-7845. The code is 90147. Visit BAJI's Facebook page for international call-in information and for a list of the complete four part series final Thursdays, January-April.

Today's show is dedicated to my nephew Obataiya Tamirr Lewis, who was killed by Oakland police just a month ago, December 20, 2010. He was 19 years old. I rebroadcast a special show following the Oscar Grant verdictlast year. We open with Thalaza, a song from Ladysmith Black Mambazo's latest CD: "Songs fro a Zulu Farm." The ensemble is in California for the weekend, tonight in Sacramento at the Crest Theatre, Saturday at Poly Tech and Sunday in Campbell at the Heritage Theatre before heading for Hawaii and then to New Orleans. Visit www.mambazo.com

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is in town this week. We will have Albert Mazibuko on the air this morning to talk about the current USA Tour with two stops in Oakland, California. We'll also talk about African Renaissance and the third Pan African World Festival of Black Arts and Culture in Dakar, Senegal, December 9-31, 2010, where Ladysmith performed. For more than three decades, the story of Ladysmith Black Mambazo has been just as much about physicality and choreography as it has been about brilliant vocal harmonies. After a series of records throughout the '70s and '80s, the group rocketed to international fame in 1986 with their appearance on Paul Simon's landmark recording, Graceland. For this Grammy-winning a cappella group that merges South African music and dance traditions with Christian messages of compassion, love and global harmony, the music alone is only half the story. Simply put, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has to be seen to be understood. Currently the all male ensemble is performing work from their l

Original Air Date: December 08, 2010: Tom Burrell, Marketing communications pioneer and Advertising Hall of Fame inductee Burrell revolutionized the image of African Americans in television and changing the face of American advertising. During his tenure as a top advertising executive, he coined the now-famous phrase, “Black people are not dark-skinned white people.” His award-winning work promoted positive and realistic images of blacks and acknowledged the purchasing power of the African American community. In 2007 Burrell founded the Resolution Project, theresolutionproject.us, a nonprofit organization that promotes intra-racial dialogue and community-based new media “stop the brainwash” campaigns. “Our task is to use propaganda to eradiate negative images and replace them with a bombardment of positive words and images.” He also plans to launch the New B’s, a catalyst for stimulating thought and more dialogue. He lives in Chicago’s South Loop area. BRAINWASHED: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority is

Tom Burrell, Marketing communications pioneer and Advertising Hall of Fame inductee Burrell revolutionized the image of African Americans in television and changing the face of American advertising. During his tenure as a top advertising executive, he coined the now-famous phrase, “Black people are not dark-skinned white people.” His award-winning work promoted positive and realistic images of blacks and acknowledged the purchasing power of the African American community. In 2007 Burrell founded the Resolution Project, theresolutionproject.us, a nonprofit organization that promotes intra-racial dialogue and community-based new media “stop the brainwash” campaigns. “Our task is to use propaganda to eradiate negative images and replace them with a bombardment of positive words and images.” He also plans to launch the New B’s, a catalyst for stimulating thought and more dialogue. He lives in Chicago’s South Loop area. BRAINWASHED: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority is his first book. Velina Brown, direct

Today we'll speak to, Alan Mingo, Jr., "Donkey," and Carrie Compere "Dragon, Mama Ogre, Tweedledum," two members of the cast for Shrek: The Musical, at the Orpheum in San Francisco through January 3, 2011. Visit www.shnsf.com or (888)SHN-1799.

John Iverson is, as far as he knows the only English first language North American singing tango in Buenos Aires. Formerly a rock musician, this first CD project drops this weekend,12/4/2010, in BA, then next 2/26/2011 in Berkeley, CA @ Studio 12, 2525 Eighth @ Dwight Way. John was in BA Dec. 11, 2004, the National Day of the Tango and birthday of the King of Tango, Carlos Gardel, and it was then he was bit by the tango bug. John is a frequent guest on the show speaking about many topics: AIDS Awareness and activism & Fred Hampton/Mark Clark's murder. He was a member of the Fred Hampton Defense Committee in Chicago founded when the two men were killed. John has received over 20 community awards including East Bay Express Activist of the year, Bay Guardian Local Hero-1993, first Olympic torch relay carrier with AIDS, social worker of the year , Boston 1979, and he is the only person to receive a lifetime achievement award for AIDS work from Alameda County. He is a Wounded Knee veteran 1973 (inside for 7 we

World AIDS Day 2010.

Today in a San Francisco Superior Court, Francisco Torres, is still being charged for events connected to the killing of a San Francisco police officer, despite the overturning to the case and dismissal of charges for the other former Black Panther Party members collectively known at the SF8: Richard Brown, Richard Bowman, Harold Taylor, Hank Jones, & Ray Boudreaux. We will also speak to Richard Brown and William Crossman about their recent trip to Geneva to bring the U.S. government to task for its police terrorism record at the United Nations. Today is also the decisive battle that cemented Haiti's independence from France: the Battle of Vertières. Today we feature actors, Traci Allen (Nettie) & Edward C. Smith (Mister) from The Color Purple: A Musical opening in San Jose at the end of the month, Nov. 23-28, www.broadwaysanjose.com, (415) 792-4111. November kicks off a 16 day campaign to address violence against women in "Recognition of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Towards

Mutual Aid Project: Marshall Trammell, Nick Obando, and Tracy Hui. The group is playing several benefits: Nov. 27: Benefit for Rosa, a Guatemalan immigrant who was injured on the job and needs a critical surgery she can't get in the US, because her immigration has expired. The benefit is at East Side Cultural Center, 2277 International Blvd., in Oakland. Visit http://www.mujeresunidas.net/english/program.htlm. They also perform Dec. 18 at a "Giving the Best of Our Love: A House Party for Haiti Emergency Relief Fund," 2618 Ninth Street in Oakland; Ravi Coltrane, in town Dec. 3-5, 2010. I have a pair of tickets to give away for the Sunday, Dec. 5, 7 PM show at Yoshi's in Oakland; Dr. Shawn Ginwright, a national expert on African American youth, youth activism and youth development, Associate Professor at SFSU, founder of Leadership Excellence Academy, speaks about the new initial and campaign to train adults as mentors for black youth called: "A New Way Forward: Healing What's Hurting Black America, Dec. 3-5, 2

I am rebroadcasting clips from the archives. Featured: Drs. Dick Gregory and Jynona Norwood on the Jonestown Memorial Service (www.jones-town.org), and Amiri Baraka re: Abbey Lincoln & Max Roach: "We Insist: Freedom Now Suite," Four Artists: Ted Pontiflet, Jimi Evins, James Reid, and Ronnie Prosser. Ted is moving away, so this salute is to let folks know about his Art Sale Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, 1-6 PM (sale), 6-9 PM potluck party, at 408 14th Street, Oakland. We close with Ntozake Shange speaking about "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf." She is in conversation with Cassandra Henderson, co-director of the Black Rep production, Feb. 2009.

SF8 Update. Today in a San Francisco Superior Court, Francisco Torres, is still being charged for events connected to the killing of a San Francisco police officer, despite the overturning to the case and dismissal of charges for the other former Black Panther Party members collectively known at the SF8: Richard Brown, Richard Bowman, Harold Taylor, Hank Jones, & Ray Boudreaux. We will also speak to Richard Brown and William Crossman about their recent trip to Geneva to bring the U.S. government to task for its police terrorism record at the United Nations. Today is also the decisive battle that cemented Haiti's independence from France: the Battle of Vertières.

Thursday, November 18, 2010 is the 32 anniversary of the murder at Jonestown, Guyana, where almost 1000 people were murdered. Join Dr. Jynona Norwood and Dr. Richard Claxton "Dick" Gregory, in conversation about the Memorial, Tribute and Prayer taking place at the mass grave at Evergreen Cemetary, Thursday, Nov. 18, 11 AM, 450 Camden Street, Oakland, CA. Survivors and representatives from congresswoman Barbara Lee's office will also be present. Rebekah Meredith, director of Fresh Peas, the story of Mr. Pete Oliver, a struggling Black Farmer in Fresno, CA, and co-director, with Kevin Gordon, of Dreams Awake, talks about her work as a cinematographer. She received a student Oscar for her film: Dreams Awake. She is currently in the MFA program at Stanford University. We opened with music from Brother Chaz Walker's latest CD: Wisdom and Knowledge on Inersa Records. He talks about his work as a musician, poet, conscious rapper, producer and educator. He has been called the High Priest of Hip Hop.