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Black sounds silenced at KPFA?
March 29, 2012
Just when I thought I could almost start to trust KPFA, I hear that the Morning Mix may be snatched off the airwaves. I gave my first donation to KPFA ever because of the Morning Mix. To be real – I gave to the Morning Mix because of Block Report Radio on Wednesday mornings, 8-9 a.m.
Right outside this stadium, police are killing our children
February 8, 2012
“We’re having a big benefit concert for my son on Feb. 10 at 330 Ritch in San Francisco. And I’ll just list a few of the artists who will be there: The Jacka, J-Diggs, Mac Mall, Turf Talk, Beeda Weeda, Cellski, Matt Blaque, Laroo, plus The Doe Gang, Undagod and Fly Benzo. It’s hosted by Chuy Gomez, music by DJ JR, The Minister of Information,” says Denika Chatman, mother of Kenneth Harding, murdered by SFPD. Come celebrate Kenny’s life. For tickets and more information, go to http://justice4kennethhardingjr.eventbrite.com/.
Prof. Johanna Fernandez on the Supreme Court ruling on Mumia
November 7, 2011
Prof. Johanna Fernandez’ acclaimed film, “Justice on Trial: The case of Mumia Abu-Jamal,” will be screened Thursday, Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m., at Twinspace, 2111 Mission St., Third Floor, San Francisco. “Mumia,” she says, “is a world famous African-American journalist, a humanist and one of the most important revolutionary voices of our time.”
The People’s Lawyer: an interview wit’ Lynne Stewart
August 16, 2011
Lynne Stewart is one of the legendary activist lawyers of our time and also one of the many political prisoners of our time, who was incarcerated because her style of lawyering was called aiding and abetting a terrorist organization, by one of the biggest terrorist organizations ever known to humanity: the United States government.
War on Libya is war on Africa
June 4, 2011
Gerald Perreira has lived and worked in Libya as an organizer and journalist and has been giving regular reports to Block Report Radio and the San Francisco Bay View newspaper. It is important to develop our own media and experts who can speak from an African perspective.
‘Block Reportin’’: Storytelling the African way
April 15, 2011
‘Block Reportin’ is a collection of captured conversations, continuing the rich African oral tradition, passing on stories and information to us in the format of an interactive dialogue. The next book signings are April 16, 4 p.m., at Marcus Books and April 22, 12:30 p.m., at Alexander Books, both in San Francisco.
Cynthia McKinney on President Obama and Libya, Japan and 9/11 truth
April 1, 2011
I am pleased to stand with my colleagues today who are outraged at Nobel Peace Laureate President Obama’s decision to wage war on Africa in Libya. At the outset, let me state that Libya is home to tens of thousands of foreign students and guest workers. The students come from Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia. The messages I have received from concerned Africans state that these young, innocent people, inaccurately labeled by the U.S. press as “Black mercenaries,” have been trapped in hostile territory and are hated by the U.S.-allied Al Qaeda insurgents.
A conversation with the MOI JR, author of ‘Block Reportin’’
March 13, 2011
Bay Area journalist JR Valrey, the voice behind Block Report Radio on KPFA and associate editor of SF Bay View, known as the Minister of Information, reports vital news about the struggle against oppression. In the 31 interviews in his new book, “Block Reportin’,” he shows what he calls the “big gap between what is going on in the world and what is being reported. I want to inspire people to become their own media and to truly speak on behalf of the people.” Meet JR at his first book signing Saturday, March 19, 6:30 p.m., at Marcus Books, 3900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland.
Notes from the West Bank: an interview with M1 of dead prez
February 25, 2011
M1 of dead prez on his second visit to occupied Palestine, this time to the West Bank, observes: “People live in constant fear of being raided by the Jewish military settlers, yet the brothers and sisters I was able to greet on the street had nothing but love in their hearts. You could literally see the wounds on the young men.”
Internet politics: an interview with hip hop journalist and internet guru Davey D
February 18, 2011
Davey D from Hard Knock Radio, Breakdown FM and daveyd.com breaks down WikiLeaks, net neutrality and what is happening to this democratic library called the internet, formed by the U.S. government.
Two messages from Mumia – from a week ago and from 1981
November 9, 2010
No matter how much you know about Mumia, you’re sure to find something new and exciting here – beginning with an introduction that sets the scene, then Mumia’s latest essay, “The dirty game (POLITICS),” an open letter he wrote in 1981 called “The sting of betrayal,” followed by some “Blackground info” and concluding with “Mumia Abu Jamal Radio Teach-In” featuring the voices of M1 of dead prez and Minister of Information JR, Ramona and Pam Africa and more.
Pam Africa: 100% death penalty abolition must include Mumia
October 10, 2010
Minister of Information JR speaks with Pam Africa about a secret memo signed by the U.S. members of the Steering Committee of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty that can be summed up as “throwing Mumia under the bus.”
Transitions on Traditions and Black programming under fire at KPFA: An interview with KPFA programmer Greg Bridges
August 10, 2010
Monday nights, 7-10 p.m., on KPFA are a treat for Black listeners and people who like Black programming, but now Walter Turner’s Africa Today and Greg Bridges’ Transitions on Traditions are on the chopping block. Join other defenders of Black radio for the screening of ‘Disappearing Voices: The Decline of Black Voices on the Radio’ on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 6:30 p.m., at the Black Dot Cafe, 1195 Pine St., West Oakland.
Cynthia McKinney on the oil volcano, Big Oil and Bike4Peace
July 18, 2010
Cynthia McKinney is kicking off her Bike4Peace cross country campaign with special events July 22 at Twinspace in San Francisco with Malcolm Shabazz, Minister of Info JR and Davey D and a potluck July 23 at the Black Dot Cafe in West Oakland. Enjoy the events and join the ride!
Johannes Mehserle pulverized on the witness stand
June 26, 2010
On Friday, the BART cop who pulled the trigger unjustifiably killing Oscar Grant on a BART station platform in East Oakland, Johannes Mehserle, wrapped up his testimony in one of the most important murder trials of the last 20 years. The courtroom was filled to capacity with reporters, Grant’s family and friends, and concerned community members. Six out of the seven Black males under 40 and three Black journalists were excluded that day from the Los Angeles Jim Crow courtroom of Judge Robert Perry.
KPFA apologizes to Sasha Lilley but not to Nadra Foster
June 17, 2010
The job of the media is to hold the powerful accountable. To avoid hypocrisy, the media itself must be held accountable as well. In the past few days, KPFA has broadcast at least twice a brief announcement recorded by the interim general manager scolding Bay View associate editor JR Valrey for a passing mention in one of his Block Reports of KPFA’s former interim program manager, Sasha Lilley. The Bay View respectfully questions its timing and refutes its contentions.
‘Operation Small Axe’ screenings: Bronx & Santa Cruz 5/26, Sacramento 5/28
May 22, 2010
“People leave feeling alive when they see the film. The brutal police murders that are shown in the film, the drive and motivation of the people of Oakland who organized against all odds to chop down the big trees of terrorism and oppression leave audiences stunned,” says Adimu Madyun, director of “Operation Small Axe,” winner of the Rise Up Award for Most Motivational Film at the New Orleans Film Festival. Email blockreportradio@gmail.com to arrange a screening.
Digital colonization: a challenge for change
May 14, 2010
When the gentrifiers come into our streets and neighborhoods and speculate on our real estate, we can see our demise coming and we just might have a chance to stop it. But when the e-colonizers come into our digital communities or e-estate, we can’t see them. E-gentrifying is much more subtle, insidious, less clear.
Gentrification journalism
May 11, 2010
In this manifesto that shows why JR Valrey is rightly called the Minister of Information, he exposes “gentrification journalism” as “the public relations team that is put in place to make gentrifiers feel safe,” the media’s twisting of the murders of Chauncey Bailey and Oscar Grant to demonize Blacks and the hyper-funding of “hyper-local media” as an effort to drown out community media. Everyone who wants to stop the exodus of Blacks from the Bay must read this.
Freedom Birthday Celebration for Mumia Abu-Jamal: Block Report Radio special on KPFA, appeals from Yuri Kochiyama and the International Action Center
April 23, 2010
Celebrate Mumia’s 56th birthday on Saturday, April 24, 4-6 p.m., on KPFA 94.1 FM and KPFA.org. Mumia is the award-winning journalist who has spent the last 28 years on death row. And come to Washington, D.C., on April 26 to call for a Justice Department investigation of his case.
