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Wanda’s Picks for April 2012
April 4, 2012
The Oakland International Film Festival is Friday-Sunday, April 6-8, at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Street, Oakland. Visit http://www.oiff.org/2012schedule.pdf. This year’s headliner is one of the most controversial independent films ever made, “The Spook Who Sat by the Door.” Watch it again here.
Two reviews: Sieh Samura’s ‘Block Reportin’ 101’ will be featured at the 10th Oakland International Film Festival, on Saturday, April 7, at 3 p.m.
March 27, 2012
Reminiscent of Tupac in his heyday, Valrey speaks expressively, exercising his freedom of speech and bringing prominence to real Black issues that we face on a day-to-day basis. When he speaks, people listen. He educates the masses on police terrorism, a cause that he is well informed and passionate about.
Ten days in LA
March 16, 2012
In a Hollywood Reporter article, Spike Lee is quoted: “In 1989, ‘Do the Right Thing’ was not even nominated [for best picture],” said Lee, with some mock outrage. “What film won best picture in 1989? ‘Driving Miss Mother F-ing Daisy!’ That’s why [Oscars] don’t matter,” said Lee. “Because 20 years later, who’s watching ‘Driving Miss Daisy?’”
The rich heritage of Africa in the West
March 12, 2012
“The ever-present propaganda campaign of white superiority and Black inferiority, since slavery, has succeeded in rewriting history without its African roots and has continued to downplay Africa’s contribution to civilization and to the world as we know it. If Africa were more effectively promoted as the birthplace of civilization and the beginning source of all sophisticated culture, the myth of Black inferiority would be forced out of society because it would then be evident that we are all connected and, ultimately, all African.” – DeBray Carpenter, aka Fly Benzo
Oaktowne: an interview wit’ creator and writer Lela Nicole
March 9, 2012
Lela Nicole is one of the new talented voices beginning to make a name in media on the West Coast. She recently created and wrote a television series called Oaktowne about life in Oakland. She just wrapped up shooting the pilot to her series, and Oaktowne was recently accepted into the 10th Annual Oakland International Film Festival, which will be held at the Oakland Museum April 6-8.
Wanda’s Picks for March 2012
March 7, 2012
When the Occupy San Quentin rally ended, San Rafael police followed us to the Richmond Bridge. I don’t know if it was Jabari Shaw’s orange CDCR jumpsuit that kept them wondering – Is he an escapee, one of ours? – or if it was the sheer magnitude of fearlessness represented by women like Kelly, a former prisoner who would not let her traumatic experience silence her. One brother got so full looking at the guards on the other side of the gate watching that he looked like he was going to leap the gate and hurt someone as he recalled the violations of his person over and over again. Members of All of Us or None dropped everything to embrace him when he left the stage.
Radio Africa & Kitchen opening in BVHP March 7
March 6, 2012
On March 7, Chef Eskender Aseged will open the doors to Radio Africa & Kitchen. The community-oriented restaurant, located in San Francisco’s Bayview District, will feature a sustainable, seasonable menu with dishes that reflect Aseged’s Ethiopian roots. There will be an opening night party at the restaurant on March 7 at 5 p.m. with food, drinks and live music.
Guest Amoeblogger JR Valrey presents ‘The Black Experience Study Guide: My top 7 books, movies and albums for Black History Month’
February 29, 2012
Amoeblog invited author, journalist, broadcaster and activist JR Valrey, aka the People’s Minister of Information, to be a guest contributor. The Oakland-based Valrey, who was interviewed and profiled on the Amoeblog last month, is known for his work on KPFA radio, the San Francisco Bay View newspaper, and his book “Block Reportin’.” The book will soon be available for sale in Amoeba Hollywood’s book section.
Meeting Johnny Otis
February 21, 2012
Johnny decided to teach a class on the history of Black Music in America. His concept for the class was revolutionary and drew large enrollments. It holds the record for the most popular class ever in the history of the Peralta Community College system.
Malcolm X (5/19/25-2/21/65): Eulogy by Ossie Davis
February 21, 2012
Malcolm was our manhood, our living, Black manhood! This was his meaning to his people. Consigning these mortal remains to earth, the common mother of all, secure in the knowledge that what we place in the ground is no more now a man but a seed which, after the winter of our discontent, will come forth again to meet us. And we will know him then for what he was and is. A prince. Our own Black shining prince who didn’t hesitate to die because he loved us so.
Buy Black Wednesdays 11: Afromantic History Month
February 19, 2012
Welcome to the great month of February, my favorite month of the year! And I’m not just saying that because on Feb. 18 my starship landed here. And on the day before that, the 17th, the voice and moxy of the Black Panthers, Huey P. Newton, was born. And on the 14th of this guilded, star-studded month the furious freedom fighter Frederick Douglass hit the earth like a comet!
The Grio’s incendiary Chaka Khan ‘memory of Whitney Houston’ headline
February 16, 2012
Rhyanne Green and the Grio owe Chaka Khan and their readers an apology for the intentionally misleading headline on their Feb. 14 article, entitled, “Chaka Khan’s favorite memory of Whitney Houston: ‘Getting high together’.” This is what we get from having “our own” spaces fronted by white mainstream media on the web.
‘Slavery by Another Name’ premieres tonight on PBS
February 13, 2012
“Slavery by Another Name” tells how even as chattel slavery came to an end in the South in 1865, thousands of African Americans were pulled back into forced labor with shocking force and brutality. An official selection of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, it premieres on PBS Monday, Feb. 13, at 10 p.m. PT on KQED Channel 9
To honor Whitney, how about we end addictions?
February 12, 2012
In honoring Ms. Houston, will we talk about it or remain addicted to painting rosy pictures and acting like we aren’t touched by the scourge of addictions that’s systemic in our society? If we wanna honor Whitney, , how about helping put an end to the demons that plagued her and so many others? How about us having a honest, impactful and earnest discussion about addictions and mental health so we can spare future generations this pain.
Red tails in the sunset
February 8, 2012
“Red Tails,” the new George Lucas film depicting the exploits of the Tuskegee Airmen, is to the history of Black fighter pilots during WWII what a sunset is to a day: It’s pretty to watch but no illumination is forthcoming. However, “Red Tails” is surely a must see.
Our next guest is the legendary African researcher Runoko Rashidi, from the United States
February 8, 2012
“We need a knowledge of self in order to counter the negative imagery and influences … People who know their history are in a better position to defend themselves and advance their own interests than people who do not,” says historian Runoko Rashidi, who discusses the strong Black influence on Europe.
Wanda’s Picks for February 2012
February 4, 2012
This is the month we wear our Blackness with pride – so walk on, walk on. I want to thank Rhodessa Jones, Shaka Jamal, Pat Jamison, Elaine Lee, Walter Turner, Vera Nobles and Elouise Burrell for your leads and references for South Africa.
Etta James: Two tributes
January 27, 2012
Beyonce performed Etta’s signature song, “At Last” at President Obama’s inauguration in 2009, laying claim to the tune James relied on to make a living. James told an audience shortly after that that Obama “is not my president” and “that woman he had singing for him, singing my song … she’s going to get her ass whipped.”
Revolutionary stories: The POOR Press 2012 collection
January 23, 2012
To write with laughter, heart, fire and humility – to get those words down and draw the reader in – to make the reader warm with the fire of poetry, wet with the tears of memory, full with the soup of experience – leaving the reader satisfied and inspired to change the world – that is what the writer does.
A sourcebook for the media revolution
January 22, 2012
According to Mickey Huff, the corporate media are serving up a diet of “junk-food news to avoid telling the public what is really going on at home and abroad”; for example, Ann Garrison discloses that pilotless drones are fast becoming the dominant means of delivering explosives from the air.
