Black Media Appreciation Night was a dream come true – thank you all!

by Mary Ratcliff

We got to Yoshi’s early Monday night, Nov. 26, to set up for Black Media Appreciation Night, and there on the stage for the sound check was a magnificent African band. I’d expected a great show from Phavia Kujichagulia alone, but, dancing through the audience as they entered to perform, eight incredible musicians came with her – playing drums of all kinds, guitars, sax and flute, with a dancer enhancing the sweet, strong sound of Phavia’s trumpet – to fill the stage. That big club resounded with Black power. All volunteered their time and talent, as did every one of the magnificent performers – Ms. Be, Mac Mall, Ray Luv and Do D.A.T. – and we are so very grateful.

Black-Media-Appreciation-Night-Kevin-Weston-big-smile-Yoshis-112612-by-TaSin-Sabir3, Black Media Appreciation Night was a dream come true – thank you all!, Local News & Views

Phavia set the stage for a night no one of the hundreds present will ever forget. Every soul must have been as full to bursting as mine with revolutionary, life-changing love engendered by the music and the extraordinary life stories inspiring us to go forth and win the world for justice. It was church to the nth degree.

Minister of Information JR’s idea (most all of this great event was his idea and his work) of the host introducing the presenters, who in turn introduced the award winners allowed us to meet the mostly young activist and artist presenters, who not only extolled the achievements of the awardees but told of the impact they’d had on their lives. Then all who were presented with the beautiful, unique awards – works of art hand crafted by the great Malik Seneferu – described lives of dedication, great sacrifice and overcoming impossible odds using media to amplify the power of the people.

Willie summed it up when we got home: “They EARNED their awards.” And I can testify that he, Bay View publisher Dr. Willie Ratcliff, has certainly earned his.

Black-Media-Appreciation-Night-Malik-Karen-Seneferu-Yoshis-112612-by-TaSin-Sabir2, Black Media Appreciation Night was a dream come true – thank you all!, Local News & Views

Named Champion of Young Journalists, Kevin Weston held every heart in the palm of his hand as he told of the prayers of thousands steering him clear of death’s door just a couple of months ago as well as how he came to the Bay View as a very young writer. Elbert “Big Man” Howard, first editor of The Black Panther newspaper, accepting the Black Resistance Media Legacy Award with Emory Douglas and Billy X Jennings, had gotten up from his sickbed to come last night and remind us that we can all find ways to make revolutionary change no matter our circumstances. Mumia’s voice introducing the event (his statement is transcribed below), accepting his own award as Champion of Human Rights and presenting JR Valrey’s award, set the standard for a life of selfless devotion to the people and advocacy for the oppressed no matter what.

Filmmaker Kevin Epps telling of rising from the meanest streets – where his very first job was delivering the Bay View newspaper door to door – to seeing youngsters in China identify with his work, Walter Turner of Africa Today on KPFA on how his love affair with the African diaspora began with his first trip to Africa as a young man, Donald Lacy on his 30-plus years of community organizing through Black-owned KPOO and his dedication to youth since the tragic loss of his daughter, Eric B. of The Sideshow on KPFA on growing up watching Rock – James Earl-Rockefeller III – on Soul Beat, Phavia challenging today’s youth when she revealed that “we didn’t allow the cops up in Hunters Point” back when she grew up there: Last night brought the generations together, joining forces for the greater good of the community.

Black-Media-Appreciation-Night-Donald-Lacy-Willie-Ratcliff-Yoshis-112612-by-TaSin-Sabir1, Black Media Appreciation Night was a dream come true – thank you all!, Local News & Views

And never was there a warmer host than Greg Bridges, making every individual feel special and all of us more effective through coming together in solidarity. I could go on and on – but the intimate knowledge we gained of the lives of people we already admire and the bond of mutual respect that grew unbreakable last night among us all will be yours, whether or not you were there. KPOO’s Will Hammond recorded it all on video, and I expect a documentary of Black Media Appreciation Night is forthcoming.

Safi wa Nairobi, who’d made a beautiful audio recording, played the first two hours of the three-hour event on Terry Collins’ Tuesday 10 p.m. to midnight show, The Spirit of Joe Rudolph, on KPOO 89.5FM and kpoo.com the very next night. Donald Lacy plans to play some of the audio on Saturday, Dec. 1, on his 7 a.m. to noon show, Wake Up, Everybody! And Minister of Information JR plans to do the same on his Block Report show on KPFA 94.1FM and kpfa.org on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 8-9 a.m.

Black-Media-Appreciation-Night-Wanda-Sabir-Yoshis-112612-by-TaSin-Sabir2, Black Media Appreciation Night was a dream come true – thank you all!, Local News & Views

Thank you to all who had a hand in making Black Media Appreciation Night truly revolutionary. At the risk of omitting someone – please forgive me and tell me if I do – I’ll list the awards and awardees, the presenters and a few of the many, many others who helped make last night magic:

  • Champion of Black Radio: KPOO – presented by JR Valrey and accepted by KPOO News Director Harrison Chastang
  • Champion of Human Rights: Mumia Abu Jamal – presented by Poor News Network
  • Champion of Young Journalists: Kevin Weston – presented by Kevin Epps
  • Champion of Black Arts and Culture: Wanda Sabir – presented by DeBray “Fly Benzo” Carpenter
  • Champion of Black Editorial Writing: Phavia Kujichagulia – presented by Donald Lacy
  • Champions of Black Film: Kali O’Ray and David Roach – presented by Ms. Be with the Block Report crew
  • Champion of Black Storytelling: Kevin Epps – presented by Leroy Moore
  • Champion of Pan African Radio: Walter Turner – presented by Ayana Labossiere
  • Black Resistance Media Legacy Award: The Black Panther Newspaper – presented by DeBray “Fly Benzo” Carpenter and accepted by Elbert “Big Man” Howard, Emory Douglas and Billy X Jennings
  • Champion of Jazz Radio: Greg Bridges – presented by China Ellis
  • Champion of Liberation Radio: JR Valrey – presented by Mumia Abu Jamal
  • Champion of Community Radio: Donald Lacy – presented by Phavia Kujichagulia
  • Champion of Political Radio: Davey D – presented by Mikela with the Block Report crew
  • Champion of Hip Hop Radio: DJ X1 – presented by Sauce the Boss of the Block Report crew
  • Champion of Community Television: James Earl-Rockefeller III – presented by Eric B. with the Sideshow crew
  • Champion of Black Media Ownership: Willie Ratcliff – presented by Donald Lacy

The performers were presented by the Block Report crew – Ms. Be, Mikela, Sauce the Boss and Big Mo – and Phavia and Yemanya Napue led us all in singing Stevie Wonder’s Birthday Song to Donald Lacy, whose birthday was yesterday, and Willie Ratcliff, who recently entered the 80th year of his incredible life. The members of Phavia’s band, Phavia Kujichagulia and Ma’at, are Val Serrant, djembe and talking drum; Josh “Six” Awoyefa, djembe and djundjun drums; Sosu Ayansolo, conga drums and shakaree; Ron Williams, guitar and djembe drums; Zwadie Romaine, bass; Adrian Justice, alto sax and flute; Yemanya Napue, dance; and Phavia Kujichagulia, poetry, trumpet, djembe drum and shakaree.

Black-Media-Appreciation-Night-Do-D.A.T.-Yoshis-112612-by-TaSin-Sabir2, Black Media Appreciation Night was a dream come true – thank you all!, Local News & Views

Our heartfelt thanks

  • to Yoshi’s, where the staff treated everyone who attended like celebrities
  • to those who donated tickets so others might attend – Imelda DeVoine on behalf of Ronald DeVoyce Blackburn’s Talented 10th Awards and Endowments; Terry Collins of KPOO; Adam David Miller; and Ellen Zuckman, the wonderful volunteer who’s been posting stories to sfbayview.com for the past six months
  • to the Black publicists, organized by Michael D – Jackie Wright, Stephanie Fanner, Deanna Roberts, Daryle Whyte, Y’Anad Burrell, Jacquie Taliaferro, LaNiece Jones, Toni Beckham, Shelly Tatum and the Bay Area Black Journalists Association, headed by Terry Collins – and to Codi Smith for designing the flier they used to draw the crowd
  • to photographers Malaika Kambon, TaSin Sabir, Scott Braley and others who may come forward for catching the spirit of the event for posterity
  • and to every single one of you who came and nearly filled the hall for our first annual Black Media Appreciation Night. Bless your hearts! We’ll see you again next year.

Bay View editor Mary Ratcliff can be reached at editor@sfbayviewnews.wpenginepowered.com and (415) 671-0789.

Black-Media-Appreciation-Night-Willie-Ratcliff-JR-Valrey-smiles-Yoshis-112612-by-TaSin-Sabir, Black Media Appreciation Night was a dream come true – thank you all!, Local News & Views

Support truly Black media, support freedom

Opening statement by Mumia Abu Jamal, recorded in a Pennsylvania prison and played to kick off Black Media Appreciation Night

Friends, comrades, brothers and sisters, ona Move! When we think of Black media, we have to think twice, for we know what the media is, but Black media? We must search our minds and memory to locate them, analyze them and yes, grade them, for you may be media, but are you Black? That’s what each media actor must ask him or herself and first must define the terms.

In essence, Black media is resistance media – or it’s not. If it doesn’t challenge, oppose, resist the major media of white supremacy, imperialism or the unbridled rule of capital, it may be a colored media but never a truly Black media.

It must be a media that, in the words of that great Black journalist Frederick Douglass, proceeds from the principle that without struggle there is no progress. Struggle for what? Struggle for an end to imperial war, an end to torture, an end to poverty, an end to police repression and an end to the prison industrial complex, the mass incarceration that remains the shame of the nation.

When next you read, hear or view Black media, ask yourself: “What side are they on? Are they on the side of the poor, the oppressed, the tortured or the caged, or are they on the side of power?” If they are on the side of the powerful, the rich or the empire, they are not Black media. Shun it, for they are on the brink of betrayal.

Preserve and support Black media, for then you are supporting freedom! Thank you, San Francisco Bay View for doing what you do. From the prison nation, this is Mumia Abu Jamal.

© Copyright 2012 Mumia Abu-Jamal. Read Mumia’s latest book, “The Classroom and the Cell: Conversations on Black Life in America,” co-authored by Columbia University professor Marc Lamont Hill, available from Third World Press, TWPBooks.com. Keep updated at www.freemumia.com. For Mumia’s commentaries, visit www.prisonradio.org. For recent interviews with Mumia, visit www.blockreportradio.com. Encourage the media to publish and broadcast Mumia’s commentaries and interviews. Send our brotha some love and light: Mumia Abu-Jamal, AM 8335, SCI-Mahanoy, 301 Morea Road, Frackville, PA 17932.