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2013 June
Monthly Archives: June 2013
‘Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp’ documentary at SFBFF
The literary work of Robert Beck, aka Iceberg Slim, has captivated the imaginations of ghetto-dwellers for decades. Much different from the writings of Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison and Richard Wright, who all hold up a piece of the American pantheon of legendary Black writers, the work of Iceberg Slim was a chronicle into what was going on in the underbelly of capitalism, America’s ghettos.
Save the Arboretum in Golden Gate Park
Ask any San Franciscans of a certain age about Golden Gate Park, and they will wax on about the days when every museum in the park was free and they could spend a day visiting all of them. Over the years, while still receiving public subsidies, every institution has been privatized and the entry fees raised to ludicrous levels. The latest being the semi-privatized Conservatory of Flowers.
Sleep deprivation intensifies torture conditions for prisoners in advance of hunger strikes and work...
“Sleep deprivation has many significant psychological consequences, including irritability and impairment of the ability to make rational decisions,” says Dr. Terry Kupers, a clinical psychiatrist and an expert on forensic mental health. “Because of the harm it causes, sleep deprivation has been described as torture by organizations such as Amnesty International.”
Trayvon Martin killer George Zimmerman’s attorneys fabricate evidence
The trial of George Zimmerman begins today with jury selection. Zimmerman, former neighborhood watch captain, has been free on $1 million bail after being charged with the killing of Trayvon Martin on Feb. 26, 2012. During that time Zimmerman’s attorneys have launched an all-out war on Trayvon Martin’s credibility as if the deceased teenager were on trial.
From ‘Mississippi Goddam’ to ‘Jackson Hell Yes’: Chokwe Lumumba is the new mayor of...
In a stunning turn of events, Chokwe defeated Jackson’s three-term incumbent and first African American mayor, Harvey Johnson, the white Republican-financed young Black businessman Jonathan Lee, and others to win leadership of the city with the second highest percentage of Black people in the United States.
Demands from the San Quentin State Prison Adjustment Center
After years of the abuse of authority by Adjustment Center (A/C) committee members and unit staff, a collective group of Death Row prisoners in the A/C will be joining in the statewide non-violent, peaceful hunger strike in July 2013 to demand that the warden of San Quentin use his power of authority to bring about positive change to prisoners housed in the A/C SHU.
California anti-tobacco advocates urge FDA to ban menthol in cigarettes as part of World...
In observance of World No Tobacco Day, African American anti-tobacco advocates in California and across the country are calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban menthol in cigarettes and other tobacco products. Advocates also are urging concerned groups and individuals to sign on to a historic citizen’s petition filed with the FDA in support of this national effort.
‘C.O.P. Crimes of Police’ coming to SF Black Film Festival
On April 4, 2013, the Oakland Film Festival premiered the long anticipated documentary “Crimes of Police,” directed by Ansar El Muhammad and produced by Derrick Bowman. Now the documentary has been chosen for the San Francisco Black Film Festival as well, screening Saturday, June 15, 5:45 p.m., at the Jazz Heritage Center, 1320 Fillmore St., San Francisco.
‘Afro-Futurism: Envisioning the Year 2070 and Beyond’
“Afro-Futurism: Envisioning the Year 2070 and Beyond” reflects and builds upon African American history. The art exhibit challenges us to cherish and critique the moment. By placing African Americanism into the year 2070, the artwork and statements visualize a future to look forward to. So how will African Americans/Negroes/Blacks define the world in 2070?
ICY 2013 yellow bus tour to Clearlake
Inner City Youth’s Yellow Bus musical convoy left San Francisco’s youth center, traveling through Napa and the Wine Country scenic route to beautiful Clearlake on May 17-19. Twenty-two young people, eight adults and four little folks actively participated; Keith Perry videotaped. On Saturday, May 18, at 9 p.m., ICY performers made their debut at Andre Williams’ Silk’s Bar and Grill.
They tried to kill Malcolm again the other day
The first time it was in an auditorium - This time they threw him off the top of a building - They are trying to break our spirits - But the truth is you can’t get near it - We don’t die, we multiply - We reload and come back stronger - While you embrace your sickness - And it makes you weaker and weaker -
Haven’t you noticed the Mighty Ms, the Messiahs - The Malcolms, the Martins, the Muhammads, the Moors
Pamoja tutashinda: Together we will win!
Here is the lesson I’m learning from the name, He Who Walks the Earth: A family united walks the earth together. Couples walk the earth together. We come from tribes who used to walk the earth together. Why? Because there is power in numbers. Yes, you know where I am going with this. Walking the earth together and power in numbers ... this is the purpose of Buy Black Wednesdays.
Harriet Tubman and the Combahee River Raid
One hundred and fifty years ago, on June 2, 1863, Union forces led by Harriet Tubman and Col. James Montgomery engaged in a daring and wildly successful raid up the Combahee River in South Carolina. The Combahee River Raid crippled local Confederate infrastructure, liberated 756 enslaved blacks, and earned Tubman well-deserved accolades as the first woman in U.S. history to plan and lead a military raid.
March Against Monsanto: Take back America’s dream
A highlight of the March Against Monsanto in San Francisco was political rapper Khafre Jay, performing before a crowd of about 2,000. The latest headliner in a pioneer Bayview Hunters Point family, Khafre has picked up the torch as a new generation of activists applies their skills and courage to solve the overwhelming problems they are inheriting.
The poor people’s plate: Poverty, race, GMOs and our food
As the corporate domination of our food, land, air and water continues and the resistance heats up to the monster known as Monsanto, it must be said that in the U.S. it’s us po’ folks of all cultures and ages that are getting the worst of it. Some obvious, most not. And no one is really speaking for us. “The poor people’s plate is rooted in capitalist hate for the three job working mamaz caught in the welfare state.”
Prison visits: They still actin’ like Hoover
California Code of Regulations Title 15, as well as the Departmental Operations Manual, CDCR’s rules – or self-governing laws – states: “These regulations are made in recognition and consideration of the value of inmate visitation as a means of increasing safety in prisons, maintaining family and community connections, and preparing inmates for successful release and rehabilitation (Section 3170(a)).”
It’s not over until Black business owners in Bayview sing!
The Southeast Food Access Food Guardians, through the Healthy Eating Active Living Zone initiative funded by Kaiser Permanente, work with small businesses to increase access to fresh produce and healthy food for the Bayview community in an attempt to level the playing field for all Bayview residents. The Food Guardians hope to work with Bob’s or other small stores in the near future, if funding allows.
Prop 36: Post Release Community Supervision?
In short, Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) is county probation. Ironically, after nearly 16 years of being “incapacitated,” PRCS has turned out to be an unforeseeable blessing for this author! While utilizing the services and benefits available under PRCS (AB 109), my transition back into society has been virtually seamless.
July 8, 2013: United KAGE Brothers’ demands
We, the United KAGE (Kings Against Genocidal Environments) Brothers, welcome you to our communion. We aim to unite and unionize the movement from within the belly of the beast to without. We wish to unite all people, regardless of color, race, creed, gender or sexuality. We all have much in common when dealing with prejudices and classism.
Let them eat … nothing at all
Give us your tired, your poor, your hungry, huddled masses ... and we’ll make sure they stay that way. That’s the message that members of Congress – Republicans and Democrats alike – are sending with their proposals to cut funding and add new restrictions for the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP – better known as the food stamp program.