Wanda's Picks

Dr. Butler is a master at inviting people to see themselves as indelibly connected to each other and the world we live in. She brings great compassion and humility to her work, breaking new ground in ameliorating the history of distrust and misunderstanding related to racial oppression.

Dr. Shakti Butler is a multiracial African-American woman (African, Arawak Indian, and Russian-Jewish). Her work as a creative and visionary bridge builder has challenged and inspired learning for over twenty-five years. Dr. Butler is also the producer and director of the groundbreaking documentaries, The Way Home and Light in the Shadows, Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible, and her latest “Cracking the Codes”: Race and Relationships in the 21st Century illuminates the personal, institutional and structural aspects of racial inequity. Join Dr. Butler at World Trust's Annual Fundraising event, Sunday, June 27, 2010 in Oakland. On Sunday, June 27th, 2010, 3-5 PM,

in the Fontaine Auditorium at Samuel Merritt University, 400 Hawthorne Avenue, Oakland, California. World Trust will hold the benefit event "Cracking the Codes: A 21st Century Conversation about Race." Using preview clips of the World Trust’s latest film in production as a catalyst, Shakti Butler, PhD will facilitate a conversation about the internal and external components of racism. Confused or frustrated by racial divide? Come find out how Oakland nonprofit World Trust is working to re-frame the national conversation — and participate in it yourself. It will be an afternoon of dialogue, community building, and insight for positive change.

Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door

Parking: Garage at 3089 Summit, or free street parking. For information visit http://world-trust.org/dr-shakti-butler/calendar/

John Hollway, co-author of "Killing Time: An 18-Year Odyssey from Death Row to Freedom," Ron Gauthier, is our first guest. Hollway is an attorney and a writer who has worked both in a federal prosecutor’s office and as a defense attorney in state and federal courts. Killing Time follows John Thompson from death row to exoneration and freedom. Hollway has multiple book events coming up. Visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Killing-Time-by-John-Hollway-and-Ronald-M-Gauthier/253711767734

Our next guest is Directed by Connie Field, director of HAVE YOU HEARD FROM JOHANNESBURG (8.5 hours total)

Which opens June 25 at the Smith Rafael in San Rafael and June 27 at the Roxie in SF

HAVE YOU HEARD FROM JOHANNESBURG is the cinematic history of the worldwide effort to destroy South African apartheid, a story that has never been told before in any medium. Working over 10 years, filming throughout the world, interviewing dozens of the major players — Connie Field constructs an epic 7-film history (divided here into 3 parts) that will stand as the final word on how a violent, racist, intractable government was destroyed by the concerted efforts of men and women working on multiple fronts inside and outside South Africa for more than three decades. We close with another director, Kareem Mortimer, whose film, a first feature, "Children of God," screens at Frameline 34, at the Castro Theatre, at 9:30 PM this evening. Visit http://www.childrenofgodthemovie.com/www.childrenofgodthemovie.com/Welcome.html or www.frameline.org

Briget Boyle, "Kitka" Vocalist, Ensemble Manager, speaks about Kitka’s “Singing through Darkness: Voices of Wartime,” Thursday, June 24-27, at Satya Yuga 954 60th Street, Oakland, CA www.kitka.org 800 838-3006. "Sarazino" is the brainchild of Lamine Fellah, our next guest, a musician, songwriter and producer whose nomadic life is reflected in the multicultural influences in his songs. Fellah is a true child of a globalized world and Sarazino’s music draws on reggae, Latin and African grooves, Arabic music and catchy, international pop. This summer, Sarazino tours North America for the first time, performing at celebrated venues including San Francisco’s Stern Grove Festival, with Angélique Kidjo, Sunday, June 20, 2010, 2 PM.

Michael Wanguhu – Producer / Director , whose latest film, "Ni Wakati" or "It's Time," screens June 19, 2010, 9:20 PM at the San Francisco Black Film Festival, at Opera Plaza Cinema, 601 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102 www.niwakatthemovie.com & http://www.sfbff.org/

We close with a conversation with, Julia Tsitsi Chigamba, founding director of The Chinyakare Ensemble and two company members. Under the direction of Julia Tsitsi Chigamba, Master Dancer, singer, and instrumentalist from Zimbabwe, the ensemble performs closing weekend, June 26-27, 2010, (2/8 PM Sat., 2 PM Sun.), at the Ethnic Dance Festival at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. The Chinyakare Ensemble is recognized for its authentic presentation of Zimbabwean music and dance. Julia founded Tawanda MuChinyakare (“we are in the deep traditions of our ancestors”) in 2000. Visit www.chinyakare.com, http://www.worldartswest.org/ We want to congratulate Julia on the reunification with her three children later today, June 18, 2010. We feature music from Kitka's The Rusalka Cycle: "Awakening" & from The Vine "Zaplakala E. Gorata"; from Sarazino's Yo Foy: "No Soy Mandela;" and Chinakare Ensemble's music for the Mhande dance, performed usually during the first rains.

San Francisco Black Film Festival is back: June 17-20, 2010 at a variety of venues. Opening night is at Sundance Kabuki Theatre in San Francisco. Visit www.sfbff.org

We open the show with Billy Harper's "Africa Revisited," followed by the trailer for opening night film: "MOUNTAINS THAT TAKE WING - ANGELA DAVIS & YURI KOCHIYAMA:A CONVERSATION ON LIFE, STRUGGLES & LIBERATION" by C.A. (Crystal) Griffith, Co-Director, Co-Producer, Co-Editor with H.L.T Quan.

Kali O’Ray is a second-generation artist and graphic designer who has been based in Atlanta, GA, who now resides in San Francisco. After his attendance of Junipero Serra in San Mateo, CA, he left to Atlanta to attend college. While being the child of two artists he searched for his medium. Working with woods, metals, ceramics, oils, pastels, Kali decided graphic design was his medium where he has used it in his work with organizations like Friends of Faith, San Francisco Black Film Festival & Urban Kidz Film Festival, Gibney’s Pub, Zucca Bar and Pizzeria, and many other smaller independent companies & free-lance projects where his jobs have included graphic design, Senior Art Director, teacher, tutor, and web site maintenance. Currently Kali has found himself in the roll of producer and program director of The San Francisco Black Film Festival (SFBFF), taking over a position left vacant by the untimely death of his mother, Ave Marie Montague. Kali now lives in the Historic Fillmore district where many films are screening. Later on in the show Kali is joined by his partner and co-producer Katera Crossley [email protected]

Dinizulu Gene Tinnie, Co-Director, The Dos Amigos/Fair Rosamond Slave Ship Replica Project which is hosting the Annual Ancestor Tribute of the Middle Passage, Sunday, June 20, 2010, 5:30 AM, in Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, 4020 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL. For information call: (305) 904-7620 or (786) 260-1246 and [email protected], [email protected]. We close with an interview with author, journalist, activist, Jordan Flaherty, about a recent article he wrote about the BP oil disasters affect on the Gulf region's historic Indigenous and African communities entitled: "Cultural Extinction" Louisiana’s coastal communities fear they may never recover from BP’s drilling disaster in the

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jordan-flaherty/fears-of-cultural-extinct_b_612626.html Featured artist: Michelle Jacques www.chellemusic.com

Begun 21 years ago as a response to a challenge issued by the late writer, Toni Cade Babara, faculty at Medger Evers College in Brooklyn began a commemoration where libations were poured specifically for African ancestors who died along the triangular slave route 500+ years ago. Since then the commemoration has grown and expanded to other regions as the ritual on Coney Island has maintained its central theme while expanding to include ancestors who survived the journey, the cotton fields, forced free labor, segregation, Jim Crow, and even structural racism so that we could have a grounding and firm footing on this land/these lands. We speak to a member of the People of the Sun Middle Passage Collective, Hapte Selassie, educator and WBAI radio DJ, about the ritual: its history and the program this year on Coney Island, West 16th Street," Ancestor Circle," from 12 noon to dusk. Don't forget the spirit of unity--pour at 9 AM PT, 11 AM CT, and 12 noon ET. If you can't pour physical water, hold the ancestors in your heart for a moment of silence. For an article about the 18th Annual visit: http://www.blackstarnews.com/?c=124&a=3371

We open with Meklit Hadero's "Walk Up" from her "On a Day Like This ...".

8:00 AM: MOUNTAINS THAT TAKE WING. C.A. (Crystal) Griffith & H.L.T.Quan QUAD Productions. Their film opens at the San Francisco Black Film Festival, Thursday, June 17, 2010. Visit www.quadproductions.org

8:30 AM: Sia Amma and Mia Pascal: The Marsh presents New Solo Theatre Pieces by Up-and-Coming Artists: A Festival of New Voices through June 13, 2010

9:00 AM: Coloring Outside the Lines artists and curator, Kheven Lee LaGrone, Makeda Rashidi, Nate Creekmore, Barbara Brandon-Croft and Jerry Craft.There is an artist panel Sunday afternoon, June 13, 2010 at the San Francisco Main Library.

9:30 AM: Ethnic Dance Festival weekends, June 12-13 and June 19-20 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco: Rara Tou Limen - Portsha Jefferson & Christina Navarro – AFOUTAYI DANCE COMPANY (The last interview canceled.)

Nana Sekyiaabea, founder, www.mothersforafrica.org, with Dr. Fredo Ignace, www.lightpath4haiti.org speak about their work in and the trip July 25-August 1. The Mayor and Police Commissioner from Petit Goave (epic center of the earthquake) stated that they had not seen anyone come into their jurisdiction (3hrs away from Port au Prince) and accomplished what we did, considering all the money that has been donated to Haiti, pockets of Haiti have not receive any relief. Dr. Ignace, President of Light Path for Haiti has purchased land in Haiti for the construction of an orphanage, clinic, trade school and church. Mothers for Africa will be supporting this project. Volunteers interested in going are asked to commit by Wednesday, June 15, 2010; David A. Moss, actor, whose current play, "Cracked Clown," is a part of "A Festival of New Voices," at the Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia Street, June 9, 7:30 PM and June 12, 8:30 PM. We close with an interview with Brian Concannon, Jr., Director, "Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti," which is having a meet-up on Wednesday, June 9, 5:30-7:30 PM at Soluna Cafe & Lounge in San Francisco. You Can PERSONALLY Help! Please consider contributing your legal expertise through the Lawyers’ Earthquake Response Network (sign up at www.HaitiJustice.org), or support our legal team by contributing financially, online at www.HaitiJustice.org, or by checks sent to P.O. Box 745, Joseph, OR, 97846.

What makes a revolutionary: Rebroadcast of an interview with Ramona Africa about the MOVE 9, 2009. The show went on the air earlier than usual; I went with California Coalition for Women Prisoners for a Sister-to-Sister advocacy visit in Chowchilla, CA, this morning. It is three hours away from the SF Bay, so I had to be out before 7 AM. Revolution means being ready and willing to sacrifice for the greater good.

Mark Hopkins, director, "Living in Emergency," which opens at the Opera Plaza in San Francisco, June 4 and in New York at Sunshine is about the humanitarian organization: Doctors without Borders. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans

Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971. Living in Emergency follows these doctors, two on first year missions, the others veterans. It is a window into emergency medicine from the perspective of the international healers and those already on the ground and the synergy that develops when the strength of community via professional and paraprofessional relationships are developed and utilized. Hopkins's film is a study in human capital and development. One sees volunteers change for the better as the volatile terrain places immediate demands on skill sets medical school and subsequent practices, ill prepared them for--but succeed they must; Timothy Suttle, Haiti Soleil board member, and IT specialist, speaks about a fundraiser for the organization, Wednesday, June 2, 2010, 7 -9:30 PM, at Levende East, 827 Washington Street, Oakland, CA, 94607. Visit http://haitisoleil.org We close with an interview with Michelle Jacques, artistic director and founder of Chelle and Friends. She is the producer of the Queens of New Orleans Music Festival, founding member of the Street Sounds a capella quintet, and participant in the Yerba Buena Gardens Performing Arts series in San Francisco (6/5/2010 at 11 AM and 8/13/2010). She is appearing in the 30th Anniversary of the Oakland Youth Chorus, Saturday, June 5, 12-5 PM. Her ensemble goes on at 3:30-4 PM. She is also performing at the Ethnic Dance Festival, June 19-20, with Afoutayi Dance Company (Haiti). Visit www.chellemusic.com