Wanda's Picks

Happy New Year everyone, and welcome to Wanda’s Picks, the bi-weekly black arts and culture program, where art meets politics. We’re a proud member of the African Sisters Media network. Today I have a great show planned for you.

Wednesday, December 31, I arrived in New Orleans just in time to attend Kuumba at Ashe Community Center in New Orleans’ 2nd or 3rd Ward depending on one’s politics. Saddi Khali was emcee and featured were poets and singers and other artists in honor of the 6th principle of the Nguzo Saba, Kuumba or Creativity. I invited poets on the air, the following day, January 1, 2009, to talk about Imani or Faith, the last principle and their thoughts on 2009, the year of Obama and the state of crisis the Gulf is still in, even though no one is talking about it anymore. Peaches spoke of how her poetry inventory, records and other writing, were lost in the storm, but she has another collection coming out this year. Her latest poem, which she said was becoming her favorite, is called: Life. I met Peaches at a poetry salon at Club Envy, another poet,Hollywood hosted two years ago. Mama Cherise Harrison Nelson, whom I didn’t get on the show this time, had to temper her remarks for the younger audience, and Valentine Pierce, whom I haven’t seen in years just shook her head in disgust when I mentioned New Orleans post-Katina, post-man-made disaster. Ani Mwalimu known as “Be Well,” from Boston, was in town visiting friends. One of his poems spoke of “slave grades.” His poem, about a child named “Anthony,” can’t read. Michaela A. Harrison, another artist I met that evening, but didn’t get for the show, sang a song about “The Healing Room.” Yes, I know…maybe next time.

Enjoy and tune in Wednesday, Jan. 7, 6-7 AM, PST, for another addition of Wanda’s Picks.

1. Saddi Khali emcee

2. Valentine Pierce poet

3. Ani Mwalimu “Be Well”

4. Keisha “Peaches” Caldwell

Habari Gani? What's the news? Kuumba! Creativity.

Today, I am at the airport on my way to New Orleans. The regularly scheduled show is cancedled. Please stay tuned for the first show of the New Year. Until then have a safe and wondeful New Year Celebration!

Our discussion during the first half hour will be about Kwanzaa 12/16-1/1/2009: 8 AM Invited guests include, Dr. Oba T'Shaka, Ms. Pam Hurley, Destiny, Harpist from the Hood and others. 8:30 AM We speak with Darryl Obama Prevost about the Cheikh Anta Diop Golden Awards Charity Gala 12/30 at AAMLO with Eddie Hart and translator for Cheikh Diops’ work Darryl Obama Prevost, and Danny Glover who is presenter and recipient of an award. At 9 AM We talk about the American Book Awards 12/28, 4-6:30 PM at Anna's Jazz Island with honorees: Douglas A. Blackmon, author of "Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to WW II, and Frank B. Wilderson, III, author of Incognegro.  At 9:30 AM we speak with Richard Brown, SF8, Claude Marks, Freedom Archives, Sean Vaughn Scott, Black Rep's Music in the Community and Paul Mooney, comedian Dec. 28, 6 & 8 PM about the annual holiday show and the upcoming fundraiser for the SF8 at BRG

We're trying to get Claridee who is having her annual Christmas show this evening to come on the air, along with perhaps a capella ensemble, SoVoSo to give us a preview of their Singing for Our Lives concert, Dec. 31, 2008-Jan. 1, 2009. Check back for confirmation. Well, we didn't get Claridee of SoVoSo, but we do have Jonathan Smothers, director of the African American Shakespeare Company season favorite, "Cinderella." It is quite marvelous and continues through Dec. 28 at Zeum Theatre in San Francisco. Visit www.african-americanshakes.org

This morning's show concludes with a conversation with Dr. Runoko Rashidi, African scholar who is visiting family in Southern California and sending out dispatches from his extensive archive. Two things that struck me were his references to the history of Christmas, pagan history, and the many African scholars like Chancellor Williams whose birthdays are towards the end of the year. Mr. Williams, whose seminal work includes: The Destruction of Black Civilization--Great Issues of a Race from 4500 B.C. to 2000 A.D., born Dec. 22, 1898. He passed in 1992. Dr. Rashidi is just a phone call away from many of our great thinkers and by extension, so are we when he touches us with his wisdom. So tune in for a rare treat. We might go over. The show will conclude, time permitting with a commercial for Black Rep's season finale with Paul Mooney, "Black President." The show opens Friday, Dec. 26 and its a fundraiser for the Black Rep's Music in the Community program. Sunday, Dec. 28, 6 and 8 p.m., is a fundraiser for the San Francisco 8 and Freedom Archives.

The line-up for Friday, Dec. 19 is as follows:

8:00-8:25 AM: Ayanna Mashama, Chinese Medicine doctor, herbalist, community healer and activist, mother and grandmother, and Mestre Temba Mashama, Capoiera N'Gola, licensed family therapist, re: Winter Solstice

8:30-8:55 AM: Sistas Wit Style, A Caribbean Folk Performing Dance Company, Dance That Moves The World which is having its Seventh Annual Cultural and Holiday Show: “Back In De Dey”, a Caribbean Holiday Celebration featuring a Holiday Banquet & Cultural Show, Sunday, Dec. 21, the Lakeside Gardens, 666 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland, CA, off Grand Avenue (across the street from Children’s Fairyland). The dinner is free for children 17 and under, and $20 donation for everyone else. Doors open at 3 p.m., the dinner starts at 4 p.m. Call (510) 952 –6287/ (510) 387-7771 or [email protected]/ www.sistas-wit-style.com

9:00-9:25 AM: Stanley E. Williams, co-founder and Artistic Director of the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, which is celebrating its 28th consecutive season as a leading center of African American theatre and Arvis Strickling-Jones, Musical Director and Principal Artist, of Black Nativity: A Gospel Celebration of Christmas is currently on stage through Dec. 28, at PG&E Auditorium, 77 Beale Street@ Market in San Francisco. Visit www.lhtsf.org or call (415) 474-8800. Sunday, Dec. 28, 2 p.m. all seats are $18 and there is a free reception with food after the show at 4 p.m. Shows are Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m. with a 2 p.m. performance on Saturdays and Sundays.

9:30-9:55ish AM: Dr. Mable John, former Raelet and Motown's First Lady. She is visiting Northern California for a special concert Saturday, Dec. 20 @ 8 p.m. at the Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley. The concert takes place at 142 Throckmorton Theater. Opening the show will be the Sweet Nectars, the back-up trio for blues legend Jimmy McCracklin. Contact (415) 383-9600 or www.142throckmortontheatre.com. Tickets are $30-$40.

Mama Charlotte O'Neal is visiting her native Kansas City presently after living in Tanzania with her husband Pete O'Neal since 1970. She is author of the collection, "Warrior Woman of Peace." Prior to our conversation we'll be talking about Angola 3 and other political prisoners with Michael Mable, Albert Woodfox's brother, Gail Shaw, MD, Marina Drummer, LEF Foundation and Community Futures Collective, and Robert H. King, political activist and exonerated member of Angola 3 who are Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox, still behind bars at Angola State Prison in Louisiana. King is also author of "From the Bottom of the Heap: The Autobiography of Black Panther, Robert Hillary King."

This morning we feature Sarah Crowell, Program Development Director and Artistic Director, for Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company and a youth company member, MC “Vee”, who is completing his final credits at Emilano Zapata Street Academy. Visit www.myspace.com/vturf and www.destinyarts.org. Destiny is 20 years old this year and they are celebrating with a concert performance, 12/13, 7 PM at McClymonds High School in West Oakland. The program is called: Love in Action. In the 8:30-9 AM segment we have cast from Thick Description's revival of their 1994 hit, "The American Play," by Suzan Lori-Parks, directed by Tony Kelly. This is part of a celebration of the theatre's 20th Anniversary season. The play is up 12/12-12/14 8 p.m. Visit www.thickhouse.org Michael Morgan, artistic director and conductor of the Oakland East Bay Symphony and Cortez Mitchell, member of the 12-male voice, voice orchestra, The Chanticleers, which has performances throughout the San Francisco Bay Area beginning tonight in Berkeley, at the First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way, and continuing 12/15, 12/19 and 12/20. "Let Us Break Bread," the OEBS favorite celebration of choral music is 12/14, 4 PM at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Oakland. Visit www.oebs.org and www.chanticleer.org. Perhaps I'll be able to play something from their repertoire next week on my show. We closed the show with a conversation with the director of the film, "Pray the Devil Back to Hell", Gini Reticker, who will be joined by Abigal E. Disney at the screenings tonight, 7:15 PM at the Red Vic Movie House in San Francisco on Haight Street, and tomorrow at the Shattuck Cinemas in downtown Berkeley. Visit www.praythedevilbacktohell.com. For all the news visit www.wandaspicks.com

Today we have on the air poet and writer, Charles Curtis Blackwell, Marilyn Washington Harris, President, Khadafy Foundation for Non-Violence, Inc., and Christian Scott, musician and band leader. Christian's latest CD is Live at Newport. He's opening this weekend, at Catalina's in LA. Visit ChristianScott.net and www.myspace/christianscott

Today we started out with guests, devorah major, former poet laureate for San Francisco, and Kim McMillon, publicist for the Josephine Miles, Pen Oakland Awards, Dec. 6, 1-5, at the Rockridge Branch of the Oakland Public Library. Other guests included John Handy, musician, scholar, and composer, Peter Fitzsimmons, Executive Director, Jazz Heritage Center, Raja Rahim, jazz vocalist, Lewis Watts, photographer and historian. They spoke about the opening of the Harlem West exhibit at the Heritage Center and the accompanying exhibit next door on the Plush Room Gallery, Dec. 6, 1-6 p.m. They were followed on the air by Professor Manu Ampim, who will deliver the keynote address at the Western Regional Conference for the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations. The theme this year is: "Fearlessly Forward As We Build for Eternity." An interview with Boots Riley of the Coup, closed out this mornings show. Like all great conversations, it got good after we went off the air and stopped streaming. The show actually went to 10:30 AM. Boots and the Coup, a double bill with bassist, Meshell Ndegeocello Band out of DC, the GoGo musicians—are at the Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd. @ Fillmore, in San Francisco, 12/7, doors at 7, show 8, (415) 346-6000. The conversation came full circle we began with writing and the craft of poetry and prose and the importance of the writer's voice in society. This discussion segued into the topic of place and practice, public spaces and where one is allowed or one takes the space necessary to tell stories, the stories often edited out of the history books. John Handy, in answering the question of why jazz is important spoke about the great gift to the world jazz is--it's the story of black people, but it is also the story of a nation. Professor Ampim acknowledged this contribution, when he spoke of the reluctance of Western European descents here and elsewhere, to accept a black god, a black origin, thus the destruction of artifacts.

Today, if the Wu Tang interview doesn't happen, we might actually pull something from the archives, maybe my interview with Dr. Lonnie Smith or Donald Harrison. It didn't happen. Instead we spoke to Robert H. King, former political prisoner, Angola 3, and author of the new autobiography, "From the Bottom of the Heap" (PM Press). We also spoke to Gail Shaw, MD, co-founder of itsabouttimebpp.com, an archive and educational organization dedicated to the preservation of Black Pather Party history. They updated us on Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox's cases. Plus Herman's health. I was to speak to Christian Scott, musician currently in town at Yoshi's Jack London Square, and we'll have to reschedule during his California Tour. The New Orleans native, is on tour with a new CD/DVD "Live at Newport," wonderful product! We closed the show with a track dedicated to Scott's dear friend, who was killed on his wedding day, "Died in Love." Friday, Dec. 5 is still up in the air. What I know for sure is we'll be speaking to someone from ASCAC regarding the conference, maybe Cecil Brown about his Pen Oakland Award. Tune in, it's always fun. I would love to have Sister Souljah on the air. She's here this weekend. We'll also be speaking with honorees and devorah major, who will deliver the key note address at Pen Oakland Awards; other guests include Peter Fitzsimon, who is curator of the Jazz Heritage Center, and the Lush Life Gallery in San Francisco, along with John Handy, muscian and scholar, Lewis Watts, photographer and professor, and Raja Rahim, vocalist. The morning show concludes with a conversation with Boots of the Coup.