Wanda's Picks

Today's show is dedicated to my nephew Obataiya Tamirr Lewis, who was killed by Oakland police just a month ago, December 20, 2010. He was 19 years old. I rebroadcast a special show following the Oscar Grant verdictlast year. We open with Thalaza, a song from Ladysmith Black Mambazo's latest CD: "Songs fro a Zulu Farm." The ensemble is in California for the weekend, tonight in Sacramento at the Crest Theatre, Saturday at Poly Tech and Sunday in Campbell at the Heritage Theatre before heading for Hawaii and then to New Orleans. Visit www.mambazo.com

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is in town this week. We will have Albert Mazibuko on the air this morning to talk about the current USA Tour with two stops in Oakland, California. We'll also talk about African Renaissance and the third Pan African World Festival of Black Arts and Culture in Dakar, Senegal, December 9-31, 2010, where Ladysmith performed. For more than three decades, the story of Ladysmith Black Mambazo has been just as much about physicality and choreography as it has been about brilliant vocal harmonies. After a series of records throughout the '70s and '80s, the group rocketed to international fame in 1986 with their appearance on Paul Simon's landmark recording, Graceland. For this Grammy-winning a cappella group that merges South African music and dance traditions with Christian messages of compassion, love and global harmony, the music alone is only half the story. Simply put, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has to be seen to be understood. Currently the all male ensemble is performing work from their latest CD, "Songs From A Zulu Farm," set for release in January, 2011, celebrating songs from their childhood. Ladysmith says: "We hope that these songs sung to children in South Africa can be shared with and enjoyed by families in other places in the world." Visit http://www.mambazo.com/tourdates.php

Original Air Date: December 08, 2010: Tom Burrell, Marketing communications pioneer and Advertising Hall of Fame inductee Burrell revolutionized the image of African Americans in television and changing the face of American advertising. During his tenure as a top advertising executive, he coined the now-famous phrase, “Black people are not dark-skinned white people.” His award-winning work promoted positive and realistic images of blacks and acknowledged the purchasing power of the African American community. In 2007 Burrell founded the Resolution Project, theresolutionproject.us, a nonprofit organization that promotes intra-racial dialogue and community-based new media “stop the brainwash” campaigns. “Our task is to use propaganda to eradiate negative images and replace them with a bombardment of positive words and images.” He also plans to launch the New B’s, a catalyst for stimulating thought and more dialogue. He lives in Chicago’s South Loop area. BRAINWASHED: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority is his first book. Velina Brown, director, African American Shakespeare Company & Khamara Pettus, Cinderella up at the African American Art & Culture Complex, 762 Fulton Street, SF, December 3-19, 2010. Visit (415) 762-2071, http://www.african-americanshakes.org Also at the AACC is Nannette Y. Harris, artist, "Rhapsody in Blues" at the Sargent Johnson Gallery through January 2, 2011. There are 31 paintings from President Barack Obama to James Brown. We close with curator Malik Seneferu, whose "ZOMBIE: The Resurrection of Fela Kuti" is up through January 2, 2011, in the Hall of Culture; Gallery Hours: Tues - Sat; 12 Noon - 5 p.m. This exhibition is resurrect and celebrate the spirit of a composer, activist, pioneer, revolutionary...Fela Kuti.Born Olu-Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Oct. 15, 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Artist talk Dec. 9, 2011, 6 PM to 9 PM. http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/malik-seneferu.html?viewcomplete=true Music: We Insist:

Freedom Now Suite

Tom Burrell, Marketing communications pioneer and Advertising Hall of Fame inductee Burrell revolutionized the image of African Americans in television and changing the face of American advertising. During his tenure as a top advertising executive, he coined the now-famous phrase, “Black people are not dark-skinned white people.” His award-winning work promoted positive and realistic images of blacks and acknowledged the purchasing power of the African American community. In 2007 Burrell founded the Resolution Project, theresolutionproject.us, a nonprofit organization that promotes intra-racial dialogue and community-based new media “stop the brainwash” campaigns. “Our task is to use propaganda to eradiate negative images and replace them with a bombardment of positive words and images.” He also plans to launch the New B’s, a catalyst for stimulating thought and more dialogue. He lives in Chicago’s South Loop area. BRAINWASHED: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority is his first book. Velina Brown, director, African American Shakespeare Company & Khamara Pettus, Cinderella up at the African American Art & Culture Complex, 762 Fulton Street, SF, December 3-19, 2010. Visit (415) 762-2071, http://www.african-americanshakes.org

Also at the AACC is Nannette Y. Harris, artist, "Rhapsody in Blues" at the Sargent Johnson Gallery through January 2, 2011. There are 31 paintings from President Barack Obama to James Brown. We close with curator Malik Seneferu, whose "ZOMBIE: The Resurrection of Fela Kuti" is up through January 2, 2011, in the Hall of Culture; Gallery Hours: Tues - Sat; 12 Noon - 5 p.m. This exhibition is resurrect and celebrate the spirit of a composer, activist, pioneer, revolutionary...Fela Kuti.Born Olu-Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Oct. 15, 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Artist talk Dec. 9, 2011, 6 PM to 9 PM. http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/malik-seneferu.html?viewcomplete=true Music: We Insist: Freedom Now Suite, Triptych: Prayer/Protest/Peace

Today we'll speak to, Alan Mingo, Jr., "Donkey," and Carrie Compere "Dragon, Mama Ogre, Tweedledum," two members of the cast for Shrek: The Musical, at the Orpheum in San Francisco through January 3, 2011. Visit www.shnsf.com or (888)SHN-1799.

John Iverson is, as far as he knows the only English first language North American singing tango in Buenos Aires. Formerly a rock musician, this first CD project drops this weekend,12/4/2010, in BA, then next 2/26/2011 in Berkeley, CA @ Studio 12, 2525 Eighth @ Dwight Way. John was in BA Dec. 11, 2004, the National Day of the Tango and birthday of the King of Tango, Carlos Gardel, and it was then he was bit by the tango bug. John is a frequent guest on the show speaking about many topics: AIDS Awareness and activism & Fred Hampton/Mark Clark's murder. He was a member of the Fred Hampton Defense Committee in Chicago founded when the two men were killed. John has received over 20 community awards including East Bay Express Activist of the year, Bay Guardian Local Hero-1993, first Olympic torch relay carrier with AIDS, social worker of the year , Boston 1979, and he is the only person to receive a lifetime achievement award for AIDS work from Alameda County. He is a Wounded Knee veteran 1973 (inside for 7 weeks)& co-founder Berkeley Needle Exchange, ACT UP East Bay, HealthNet AIDS patients union. Othwer guests are: Helen Stoltzfus, "ALICE presents: Burning Libraries: Stories from the new Ellis Island," Dec. 3-4 (8 PM), Dec. 5, (3&7 PM) at Laney College Theater, 900 Fallon St., Oakland. There is a panel on immigration hosted by Gerald Lenoir following the Sunday matinee. The play is 1 hour without intermission. Visit www.alicepresents.org &(800) 838-3006 for tickets. Velma Landers's Vlema's Home of the Sunday Blue's 'N Jazz Club, (415) 824-7646 or [email protected]. "Blues & Gospel Christmas Show features The Neal Family Band from New Orleans, plus a documentary film, CD relase and Louisiana Cuisine, Sat., Dec. 4, 8 PM, Sun., Dec. 5, 6 PM, Tia Carroll and Hard Work Band; Howard Wiley & Daniel Atkinson on "Howard Wiley and the Angola Project," featuring Faye Carol: 12 Gates to the City. Visit www.howardwiley.com

World AIDS Day 2010.

Today in a San Francisco Superior Court, Francisco Torres, is still being charged for events connected to the killing of a San Francisco police officer, despite the overturning to the case and dismissal of charges for the other former Black Panther Party members collectively known at the SF8: Richard Brown, Richard Bowman, Harold Taylor, Hank Jones, & Ray Boudreaux.

We will also speak to Richard Brown and William Crossman about their recent trip to Geneva to bring the U.S. government to task for its police terrorism record at the United Nations. Today is also the decisive battle that cemented Haiti's independence from France: the Battle of Vertières.

Today we feature actors, Traci Allen (Nettie) & Edward C. Smith (Mister) from The Color Purple: A Musical opening in San Jose at the end of the month, Nov. 23-28, www.broadwaysanjose.com, (415) 792-4111.

November kicks off a 16 day campaign to address violence against women in "Recognition of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Towards Women," 12 Noon on the Steps of San Francisco, City Hall. We are joined by two of the organizers: Nina Serrano and MamaCoAtl.

We close with an interview with choreographer Adia Whitaker, whose Apey! is on stage at CounterPulse in San Francisco. Ampey! is a look at migration of an African woman from the Diaspora back home.

Mutual Aid Project: Marshall Trammell, Nick Obando, and Tracy Hui. The group is playing several benefits: Nov. 27: Benefit for Rosa, a Guatemalan immigrant who was injured on the job and needs a critical surgery she can't get in the US, because her immigration has expired. The benefit is at East Side Cultural Center, 2277 International Blvd., in Oakland. Visit http://www.mujeresunidas.net/english/program.htlm. They also perform Dec. 18 at a "Giving the Best of Our Love: A House Party for Haiti Emergency Relief Fund," 2618 Ninth Street in Oakland; Ravi Coltrane, in town Dec. 3-5, 2010. I have a pair of tickets to give away for the Sunday, Dec. 5, 7 PM show at Yoshi's in Oakland; Dr. Shawn Ginwright, a national expert on African American youth, youth activism and youth development, Associate Professor at SFSU, founder of Leadership Excellence Academy, speaks about the new initial and campaign to train adults as mentors for black youth called: "A New Way Forward: Healing What's Hurting Black America, Dec. 3-5, 2010. The kickoff is Friday, Dec. 3, 6-9 PM at the Marriott Convention Center, 12th and Broadway, Downtown Oakland (new location, larger venue, so come). It is a free event. Register at www.anwflaunch.eventbrite.com and www.shawnginwright.com We close with AIDS activists: Gloria Crowell, chair, Allen Temple Baptist Church AIDS Ministry, Commissioner with the Alameda County Public Health Commission & writer, Jesse Brooks, journalist, certified paralegal, filmmaker, motivational speaker, peer advocate, and a long time survivor of HIV disease.

I am rebroadcasting clips from the archives. Featured: Drs. Dick Gregory and Jynona Norwood on the Jonestown Memorial Service (www.jones-town.org), and Amiri Baraka re: Abbey Lincoln & Max Roach: "We Insist: Freedom Now Suite," Four Artists: Ted Pontiflet, Jimi Evins, James Reid, and Ronnie Prosser. Ted is moving away, so this salute is to let folks know about his Art Sale Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, 1-6 PM (sale), 6-9 PM potluck party, at 408 14th Street, Oakland. We close with Ntozake Shange speaking about "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf." She is in conversation with Cassandra Henderson, co-director of the Black Rep production, Feb. 2009.