Wanda's Picks

Michael Morgan, current Music Director of the Oakland East Bay Symphony and the Sacramento Philharmonic, joins us to talk about OEBS's latest world-wandering chapter in their innovative and popular series exploring symphonic music from various world cultures with Notes from India 3/28, at 8 pm at the Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA, which includes the world premiere of Where Shadow Chases Light, a new work by young Indian composer Juhi Bansal in her OEBS debut.Rev. Edward Pinkney from Benton Harbor, Michigan, founder of the Black Autonomy Network Community Outreach (BANCO), joins us to talk about his work to defend the poor against corporate power, and to reform the court system in Benton Harbor, a town with 70% unemployment and more people in prison per capita than anywhere in the world. He returns to CA for two events, in Los Angeles, Mar. 15, 5-8 p.m. on "Confronting corporate power and the police state." at the Southern California Public Library, 6120 Vermont, with Laura Garcia, editor of the Tribuno Del Pueblo; Sunday, Mar. 16, he will be at the African American Center, 5 p.m., at Sixth & Julian St. in San Jose. Visit http://www.peoplestribune.org/bh/bh.shtml. Aisha Brown, Chair of the 16th Annual Madame CJ Walker Awards Luncheon, Friday, March 14 closes the show. Visit http://www.eventbrite.com/e/16th-annual-madam-cj-walker-business-community-awards-luncheon-tickets-9754256243   Music: From Fela, the Musical, "Water, No Get Enemy" and Gina Breedlove's "The Language of Light."

Michael Morgan, current Music Director of the Oakland East Bay Symphony and the Sacramento Philharmonic, joins us to talk about OEBS's latest world-wandering chapter in their innovative and popular series exploring symphonic music from various world cultures with Notes from India 3/28, at 8 pm at the Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA, which includes the world premiere of Where Shadow Chases Light, a new work by young Indian composer Juhi Bansal in her OEBS debut.Rev. Edward Pinkney from Benton Harbor, Michigan, founder of the Black Autonomy Network Community Outreach (BANCO), joins us to talk about his work to defend the poor against corporate power, and to reform the court system in Benton Harbor, a town with 70% unemployment and more people in prison per capita than anywhere in the world. He returns to CA for two events, in Los Angeles, Mar. 15, 5-8 p.m. on "Confronting corporate power and the police state." at the Southern California Public Library, 6120 Vermont, with Laura Garcia, editor of the Tribuno Del Pueblo; Sunday, Mar. 16, he will be at the African American Center, 5 p.m., at Sixth & Julian St. in San Jose. Visit http://www.peoplestribune.org/bh/bh.shtml. Aisha Brown, Chair of the 16th Annual Madame CJ Walker Awards Luncheon, Friday, March 14 closes the show. Visit http://www.eventbrite.com/e/16th-annual-madam-cj-walker-business-community-awards-luncheon-tickets-9754256243   Music: From Fela, the Musical, "Water, No Get Enemy" and Gina Breedlove's "The Language of Light."

Colette Winlock, Lola Hanif and Lady Sunrise join us this morning to talk about hydraulic fracturing, the process of breaking up shale underneath the Earth's surface to extract natural gas supplies where a series of holes are drilled into the ground which are then pumped with a water/chemical mix which then forces the natural gas out through the fissures in the shale into previously-built wells for extraction. A.k.a. FRACKING, the impact on human beings, let alone the planet is not known, However, there are recorded medical instances of illness associated with fracking and numerous earthquakes (109) in places like Youngtown, Ohio which sits on the Marcelles Shale where there is no record of such since 1776.  Saturday, March 15, 2014 there is a huge demonstration in Sacramento against “fracking”. Health and Human Resource Education Center and Sacred Space Spiritual Support Group have organized a bus for Black folks in Oakland to show their outrage at the total disregard for humanity, Mother Earth, and life itself!  This is an opportunity to come together and take a stand. “GET ON THE BUS” this Saturday. The drill sites are being placed in black neighborhoods. There are only 55 seats available on the bus. Please bring family and friends. Don't forget the children. The cost is only a donation ($1 or more). The bus leaves from Acorn Shopping Center (7th and Market in West Oakland) at 9:30 am and returns from Sacramento at 7:30 pm.  Please RSVP (510) 834-5990 or [email protected] Watch: http://youtu.be/omPIWpAwNag  Music: Sweet Honey in the Rock: Battered Earth, Greed; WolfHawkJacquer's Every Breath of Life; Babatunde Lea's African Tapestry (Prayer for a Continent). We close with an archival interview with Aisha Brown re: African Americans Making Connections II.

Colette Winlock, Lola Hanif and Lady Sunrise join us this morning to talk about hydraulic fracturing, the process of breaking up shale underneath the Earth's surface to extract natural gas supplies where a series of holes are drilled into the ground which are then pumped with a water/chemical mix which then forces the natural gas out through the fissures in the shale into previously-built wells for extraction. A.k.a. FRACKING, the impact on human beings, let alone the planet is not known, However, there are recorded medical instances of illness associated with fracking and numerous earthquakes (109) in places like Youngtown, Ohio which sits on the Marcelles Shale where there is no record of such since 1776.  Saturday, March 15, 2014 there is a huge demonstration in Sacramento against “fracking”. Health and Human Resource Education Center and Sacred Space Spiritual Support Group have organized a bus for Black folks in Oakland to show their outrage at the total disregard for humanity, Mother Earth, and life itself!  This is an opportunity to come together and take a stand. “GET ON THE BUS” this Saturday. The drill sites are being placed in black neighborhoods. There are only 55 seats available on the bus. Please bring family and friends. Don't forget the children. The cost is only a donation ($1 or more). The bus leaves from Acorn Shopping Center (7th and Market in West Oakland) at 9:30 am and returns from Sacramento at 7:30 pm.  Please RSVP (510) 834-5990 or [email protected] Watch: http://youtu.be/omPIWpAwNag  Music: Sweet Honey in the Rock: Battered Earth, Greed; WolfHawkJacquer's Every Breath of Life; Babatunde Lea's African Tapestry (Prayer for a Continent). We close with an archival interview with Aisha Brown re: African Americans Making Connections II.

Diamano Courais in its 19th year presenting Collage des Cultures Africaines Dance and Drum Concert, March 5-9 in Oakland.Dr. Zakarya S. Diouf the company's Founder and Directorand Naomi Gedo Diouf,Artistic Director, with Dr. Esalima Diouf, doc. filmmaker, and Nimely Napla, guest choreographer join us to talk about this 4-day cultural tour of the Pan African Disapora in Oakland at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts (all classes) with the performance March 8, 2014 (6 doors for African Marketplace; 8 show) at Oakland Tehnical High School. http://www.diamanocoura.org/upcoming-events.htmlJulia Jackson (actor/writer) joins us to talk about her latest show, "Children are Forever (All Sales are Final!)”, at Stage Werx Theatre, 446 Valencia, in San Francisco, Friday-Sat., 8 p.m. Directed by Coke Nakamoto now, the play was developed with original direction in W. Kamau Bell's solo performance workshop a number of years ago. The professional comedian has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was a semi-finalist at the San Francisco International Comedy Competition in 2007. www.juliajackson.comLeontyne Mbele-Mbong (Medea) and Dawn Monique Williams (Director) join us to talk about African-American Shakespeare Company's presentation ofMEDEA, Euripides’ tragic tale of Love, Betrayal, and Vengeance, March 8-30, 2014. For tickets visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/531366

Diamano Courais in its 19th year presenting Collage des Cultures Africaines Dance and Drum Concert, March 5-9 in Oakland.Dr. Zakarya S. Diouf the company's Founder and Directorand Naomi Gedo Diouf,Artistic Director, with Dr. Esalima Diouf, doc. filmmaker, and Nimely Napla, guest choreographer join us to talk about this 4-day cultural tour of the Pan African Disapora in Oakland at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts (all classes) with the performance March 8, 2014 (6 doors for African Marketplace; 8 show) at Oakland Tehnical High School. http://www.diamanocoura.org/upcoming-events.htmlJulia Jackson (actor/writer) joins us to talk about her latest show, "Children are Forever (All Sales are Final!)”, at Stage Werx Theatre, 446 Valencia, in San Francisco, Friday-Sat., 8 p.m. Directed by Coke Nakamoto now, the play was developed with original direction in W. Kamau Bell's solo performance workshop a number of years ago. The professional comedian has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was a semi-finalist at the San Francisco International Comedy Competition in 2007. www.juliajackson.comLeontyne Mbele-Mbong (Medea) and Dawn Monique Williams (Director) join us to talk about African-American Shakespeare Company's presentation ofMEDEA, Euripides’ tragic tale of Love, Betrayal, and Vengeance, March 8-30, 2014. For tickets visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/531366

Today we look at the US Prison Industrial Complex and its use of solitary confinement. We focus in the first hour on the case of the Angola 3 and Robert H. King, celebrated Humanitarian, Author, Activist and Doctor of Letters, who is the only free member of A3 with the death of Herman Wallace late last year, freed after 42 years in solitary confinement. Albert Woodfox remains inside and Tuesday, March 3, was the launch of Amnesty International's Campaign to free him http://blog.amnestyusa.org/tag/angola-3/  Dr. Angela A. Allen-Bell, Assistant Professor of Legal Analysis & Writing at Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, joins us to speak about her paper: Reassessing Solitary Confinement II: The Human Rights, Fiscal, and Public Safety Consequences, Hearing Before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights -Written Testimony (Feb. 25, 2014). Esther A. Vicente joins us to talk about Caribbean Basin Institute for Education and Culture which is hosting a fundraiser March 6. We close with a prerecorded interview with actresses: Lizan Mitchell, Petronia Paley and Harriett D. Foy about their roles in Marcus Gardley's "The House that Will Not Stand," at Berkeley Rep through March 23, 2014. www.berkeleyrep.org   Music: Kim Nalley, "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free," "Mira Como Te Qui," Avery Sharpe, "Son of Mine (from Ain't I a Woman).

Today we look at the US Prison Industrial Complex and its use of solitary confinement. We focus in the first hour on the case of the Angola 3 and Robert H. King, celebrated Humanitarian, Author, Activist and Doctor of Letters, who is the only free member of A3 with the death of Herman Wallace late last year, freed after 42 years in solitary confinement. Albert Woodfox remains inside and Tuesday, March 3, was the launch of Amnesty International's Campaign to free him http://blog.amnestyusa.org/tag/angola-3/  Dr. Angela A. Allen-Bell, Assistant Professor of Legal Analysis & Writing at Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, joins us to speak about her paper: Reassessing Solitary Confinement II: The Human Rights, Fiscal, and Public Safety Consequences, Hearing Before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights -Written Testimony (Feb. 25, 2014). Esther A. Vicente joins us to talk about Caribbean Basin Institute for Education and Culture which is hosting a fundraiser March 6. We close with a prerecorded interview with actresses: Lizan Mitchell, Petronia Paley and Harriett D. Foy about their roles in Marcus Gardley's "The House that Will Not Stand," at Berkeley Rep through March 23, 2014. www.berkeleyrep.org   Music: Kim Nalley, "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free," "Mira Como Te Qui," Avery Sharpe, "Son of Mine (from Ain't I a Woman).

Guests: Robert Moses,Choreographer And Founder/artistic Director, Robert Moses’ Kin  speaks about his collaboration with Black Choreographers Festival Here and Now, Mar. 6-8, Draft/By Series; Auntie Frances Moore speaks about her third annual program at the 61st & Adeline--Triangular Park in Oakland, March 23, 1-5 p.m.; Emily Pilloton, Designer, Activist, Founder of Proj. H Design; subject in, If You Build It, dir. Patrick Credon; Dr. John Silvanus Wilson Jr., President of Morehouse College speaks about interrupting or dismantaling the Cradle to Prison Pipeline for African American Men: As an advocate for the intrinsic value of education for all, Dr. Wilson Jr. has dedicated more than 25 years to the advancement of socially conscious and purposeful education; student success; and the good that comes from a college education. As a scholar, an educator, a consultant, a strategist and a fundraiser, he has moved universities and organizations forward with his efforts and vision.  In January 2013, Dr. Wilson took office as the 11th president of Morehouse College, the nations’ only private, liberal arts institution dedicated to the education of African American males. Prior to that position, Dr. Wilson was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as the executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), a position he held since 2009. He attended Morehouse College, the alma mater of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1979. Dr. Wilson continued his education at Harvard University, where he earned two master’s degrees in theological studies and education, as well as a doctorate in education, with a focus on administration, planning and social policy.

Guests: Robert Moses,Choreographer And Founder/artistic Director, Robert Moses’ Kin  speaks about his collaboration with Black Choreographers Festival Here and Now, Mar. 6-8, Draft/By Series; Auntie Frances Moore speaks about her third annual program at the 61st & Adeline--Triangular Park in Oakland, March 23, 1-5 p.m.; Emily Pilloton, Designer, Activist, Founder of Proj. H Design; subject in, If You Build It, dir. Patrick Credon; Dr. John Silvanus Wilson Jr., President of Morehouse College speaks about interrupting or dismantaling the Cradle to Prison Pipeline for African American Men: As an advocate for the intrinsic value of education for all, Dr. Wilson Jr. has dedicated more than 25 years to the advancement of socially conscious and purposeful education; student success; and the good that comes from a college education. As a scholar, an educator, a consultant, a strategist and a fundraiser, he has moved universities and organizations forward with his efforts and vision.  In January 2013, Dr. Wilson took office as the 11th president of Morehouse College, the nations’ only private, liberal arts institution dedicated to the education of African American males. Prior to that position, Dr. Wilson was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as the executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), a position he held since 2009. He attended Morehouse College, the alma mater of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1979. Dr. Wilson continued his education at Harvard University, where he earned two master’s degrees in theological studies and education, as well as a doctorate in education, with a focus on administration, planning and social policy.