Wanda's Picks

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the writing, visual and performing arts of African people in the Diaspora. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work filled with raw unfettered passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay! Remember to tune in on Wednesdays from 6 AM PST to 7 or 8 AM and on Fridays from 8 AM to 10 AM. We also host special broadcasts from time to time.

Slavery by Another Name, a 90-minute documentary produced and directed by Sam Pollard, who is our guest this morning, premiered at the Sundance Festival January 23, 2012, and the screening resulted in tremendous applause post screening with award-winning director Sam Pollard appearing at the podium for the Q&A. The film will make its U.S. national television debut Monday, February 13, 2012 at 9:00 PM ET on PBS, 10 PM PT.

Slavery by Another Name challenges one of Americans’ most cherished assumptions: the belief that slavery in this country ended with the Emancipation Proclamation. The film 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. It was a system in which men, often guilty of no crime at all, were arrested, compelled to work without pay, repeatedly bought and sold, and coerced to do the bidding of masters. Tolerated by both the North and South, forced labor lasted well into the 20th century. The film is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Wall Street Journal senior writer Douglas A. Blackmon. Award-winning actor Laurence Fishburne, star of eclectic film, television and stage productions, is the narrator of this film.

We close with an interview with Martin Luther who appears at MoAD, Feb. 14, 2012, 7-10 p.m. in an intimate conversation with acoustic guitar.

The San Francisco Arts Commission in conjunction with the Museum of the African Diaspora are hosting an ART IMPACT speaker series event featuring renowned, musician Martin Luther. In keeping with ART IMPACT’s mission of providing a platform to explore and discuss the impact of arts education through the lens of high profile individuals, the evening will include an intimate look at how arts education has impacted Luther’s musical journey by hearing intimate stories of the singer’s life and listening to selections from previous and forthcoming releases. Martin Luther’s music encompasses a universal appeal and the rudiments of rock and roll and classic soul music, unique to many legendary San Francisco musicians.

The event is Tuesday, February 14, 2012|7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), 685 Mission Street @3rd Street, Couple General Admission: $35.00. General Admission: $20.00. For tickets visit: http://MLmoadvalentines.eventbrite.com/

We replay a clip from an earlier interview with singer, pastor and actress, Della Reese at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco, Feb. 16-18. We then featured interviews with the founder of SF Indie Festival, Feb. 9-23, Jeff Ross and directors: Damon Russell, whose Snow on Tha Bluff screens Saturday, Feb. 11, 9:30 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 16.  Visit www.sfindie.com We conclude with a conversation with Maria Breaux about her narrative feature Mother Country, which also screens Feb. 11, 12:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoon, Feb. 12, 5 p.m. Music: Abraham Burton's "Aminah," Paula West's "Rolling Stone," concluding with Meklit Hadero's "Abbay Mado."

On his 11th Anniversary of freedom, Robert Hillary King joins us to talk about the case of the Angola 3: himself, Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace. April marks the 40th Anniversary of their incarceration, King is the only one of the three currently released. King was released after 29 years in solitary confinement, 31 years total only when against his initial response agreed to plead guilty to a lesser conspiracy to commit murder charge. Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox are still prisoners in Angola prison and are working to get released. In March 2008 they were moved, after 36 years, from solitary confinement to a maximum security dormitory. Their cases have gained increased interest over the last few years. Since his release, Robert Hillary King has worked to build international recognition for the Angola 3. He has spoken before the parliaments in the Netherlands, France, Portugal, Indonesia, Brazil and Britain and about the case, and political prisoners in the U.S.. King was received as a guest and dignitary by the African National Congress in South Africa, and has spoken with Desmond Tutu. Amnesty International has added them to their 'watch list' of "political prisoners" / "prisoners of conscience." They have a pending civil suit 'Wilkerson, Wallace and Woodfox' vs. the State of Louisiana which the United States Supreme Court ruled has merit to proceed to trial based on the fact that their 30+ years in solitary confinement is "inhumane and unconstitutional". The outcome of this landmark civil case could eliminate long term solitary confinement in U.S. prisons. They are the subject of 2010 documentary In the Land of the Free, directed by Vadim Jean and narrated by Samuel L. Jackson. Visit http://www.angola3.org and http://3blackpanthers.org/ We close with an interview with Ms. Della Reese who is opening in San Francisco Feb. 16-18 at the Rrazz Room.

We close with an archived broadcast: 02/06/2012

We are joined by founders of Black Choreographers Festival: Here and Now: Laura Elaine Ellis and Kendra Kimbrough and choreographers, Reginald Ray Savage and Latanya Tigner to talk about this 2012 Season beginning Friday, Feb. 10, 2012 at Laney College. Visit http://www.bcfhereandnow.com/  Paul West joins us to talk about her concert and latest CD about to be released, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, 8 p.m., at the Herbst Theatre, Van Ness & MacAllister in San Francisco. From the Archives: Interview with director Dee Rees re: Pariah. Music: Paula West: Live at the Jazz Standard--"Baltimore Oriole" & "Rolling Stone." For tickets visit: www.cityboxoffice.com

Today we are joined by author and journalist Joanne Griffith who will is on tour with her book: Redefining Black Power: Reflections on the State of Black America with foreward by Pacifica Radio Archives director Brian DeShazor. Feb. 8, 7 p.m., she will be at MoAD, 685 Mission Street (at Third), San Francisco. There is a cost for adults. Feb. 9, 6:30-8 p.m. she will be at Marcus Books in Oakland, 40th & MLK Jr. Way. This event is free. Join the conversation. Visit http://redefiningblackpower.com/?page_id=14 Our next guest is African American Quilt Designer Helen Anderson, whose work as a part of the ACTA Apprenticeship program debuts Feb. 4, 1-3 p.m. at East Bay Church of Religious Science in Oakland. The program is free. Marc Bamuthi Joseph's "When Words Become Flesh" opens Black Choreographers Here and Now at Laney College in Oakland, Feb. 11. We are joined by Bamuthi and two members of the cast: Khalil Anthony & Daveed Diggs. Visit http://www.bcfhereandnow.com/Oaklandinfo12.html We close with Mahen Sophia Bonetti, founder and director of African Film Festival, Inc. Each year http://www.africanfilmny.org/ collaborates with UC Berkeley Pacific Film Archive to host the African Film Festival on tour Jan. 26 and continues through Feb. 29. Visit http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/filmseries/african_2012

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the writing, visual and performing arts of African people in the Diaspora. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work filled with raw unfettered passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay! Remember to tune in on Wednesdays from 6 AM PST to 7 or 8 AM and on Fridays from 8 AM to 10 AM. We also host special broadcasts from time to time.

Sharon La Cruise (Producer/Director) has worked in television and film for twenty years, both in the corporate and production aspects of the business. She began her television career with ABC Primetime sales, working closely with the account executives and advertising agencies. She has worked for Blackside Inc., Firelight Media, Roja Productions, The Faith Project, The Coca-Cola Company, the 1996 Summer Olympic Games and CNN. She has worked on "Shut up & Sing;" "Going Up River: The Long War of John Kerry;" "Beyond Brown: Pursing the Promise;" "Citizen King;" "Matters of Race;" "This Far By Faith: African-American Spiritual Journeys;" "Zora Neale Hurston’s Jump at the Sun;" CNN’s Through the Lens, The Road to the White House, and The Planetary Police. She currently works as an associate for the Ford Foundation in the JustFilms unit, and is a member of the International Documentary Association. She holds an M.A. degree in television journalism from New York University, and a B.A. in history from Adelphi University. "Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock" premieres Thursday, Feb. 2, 10 PM locally on Independent Lens. Anne Makepeace has been a writer, producer, and director of award-winning independent films for more than 20 years. Her films include "We Still Live Here - Âs Nutayuneân" winner of the Full Frame Inspiration Award &the Moving Mountains Prize at Telluride MountainFilm. Visit: www.makepeaceproductions.com & ourmothertongues.org & http://video.pbs.org/video/2149660933/ Makepeace is at Stanford University, Tues., Feb. 7, 2012, at free screening at the Black Community Services Center. Two forums: 12:30-2 PM (Ishi, the Last Yahi) and 7-9 PM (We Still Live Here).

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the writing, visual and performing arts of African people in the Diaspora. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work filled with raw unfettered passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay! Remember to tune in on Wednesdays from 6 AM PST to 7 or 8 AM and on Fridays from 8 AM to 10 AM. We also host special broadcasts from time to time.