Wanda's Picks

Guests today are: 10-Time Emmy-Winning Filmmaker Marlon Johnson and Award-Winning San Francisco Filmmaker Anne Flatté and Albert Shumake protégé and new director, River City Drum Corps. The film, River City Drumbeat, captures the story of Edward “Nardie” White’s thirty year run as leader of the dynamic Louisville, Kentucky River City Drum Corps and chronicles his passing of the baton to former student Albert Shumake. The film shows the love Mr. White has for his drum corps members and their families, his belief in African values and Black children. Seldom are success stories shown to a large national audience only the tragedies. This story is one that will make audiences move with delight and hope-- Roses do grow in the most difficult enviornments if they get enough sunlight and water and love.

The film OPENS AUGUST 7-21, 2020 for a Two Week Virtual Engagement at Roxie Virtual Cinema:bit.ly/rcdatroxie

We close with an interview with Tamar Manasseh, African American resident in Chicago's south side and founder, MASK (Mothers/Men Against Senseless Killing). The mother of two adults is also a rabbinical student and the subject of "They Ain't Ready for Me," directed by Brad Rothschild, USA, 2020.  The film is a part of Cinegogue Summer Days, SF Jewish Film Festival's 40th Anniversary program, Sat., July 18, 12 p.m. in an Online Screening with a Q&A. For tickets: https://jfi.org/summer-days/day-3

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay! 

This morning we speak to Oromo activists, scholars, and clergy about what is happening currently in Ethiopia in the youth movement since the assasination of one of its beloved leaders: Haacaaluu Hundessa.

Guests:

Pastor Temesgen Mengesha, Grace Lutheran Church in El Cerrito, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Berkeley, and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Afaan Oromo in Hayward. http://grace-lutheran.church/our-people

Ms. Najat Hamza, Minnesota based Human Rights Activist 

Tisho Tefera, Ph. D

Chair Emeritus Northern California Oromo Community, and currently working as Oromo Community Youth Liaison; Materials and Biomaterials Science and Engineering at UC Merced 

For more information visit:ollaa.org #oromoprotest  

Music: Howard Wiley's "Amazing Grace" and Haacaaluu Hundessa.selections

This morning we talk about the SF Jewish Film Festival. 

1. Lexi Leban joined the Jewish Film Institute as Executive Director in 2011. A longtime member of the Bay Area film community, Leban has over 20 years experience in all aspects of film, from production to distribution to exhibition. Prior to her appointment, she served as the Academic Director of the Digital Filmmaking & Video Production at the Art Institute of California and creator of their Bachelor's degree program. As a documentary filmmaker, Leban has directed award-winning films that focus on women's rights, criminal justice and LGBT issues. Her films have screened widely at festivals in the U.S. and abroad. Her most recent film, Girl Trouble aired nationally on the acclaimed PBS series Independent Lens and an interactive game based on the film debuted at Sundance. She served for 8 years in the marketing and web operation department at New Day Films, a 40 year old filmmaker-run educational distribution company with over 230 award-winning titles. She earned a BA degree in Political Science from Barnard College of Columbia University and an MFA in Cinema from San Francisco State University. 

2. Abby Ginzberg, director, producer & Shola Lynch, consulting producer re: Truth to Power: Barbara Lee Speaks for Me  https://jfi.org/summer-days/day-1 (7/16, 8:30 PM PT at West Wind Drive-in, Concord)

3. Brad Rothschild, "They Ain't Ready for Us" http://theyaintreadyforme.com/the-team/ (online 7/18, 12 noon PT)

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay! 

 

1.  Regina Louise’s memoir, “Someone Has Led This Child to Believe” is a testament to how all of the aforementioned points contributed to a childhood of having no adult support or a loving family to guide her through the harrowing experiences of feeling unwanted by her family and being denied a loving home and adoption by the ONE person who showed her love because of race, and having to navigate the isolating and dehumanizing effects of that separation.

 

We close with a conversation with Donte Clark, poet, actor, playwright, educator, activist. He joins us to talk about his new book, "Know Freedom". First aired Feb. 5, 2019.

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay! 

1. Dawn Porter, director, John Lewis, "Good Trouble" (2020), which opens July 3, 2020. 

2. Eugene B. Redmond, Ph.D., East St. Louis University Emeritus, scholar, publisher, Drum Voices Review in conversation with Kathryn Waddell Takara, Ph.D., poet, scholar, publisher. 

We close with Billy Harper's "Knowledge of Self" featuring Amiri Baraka.

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

                                      

We speak about "Race" this morning, "Race" as in David Mamet's play, "Race" produced by SF Recovery Theatre. 

1. Susan Heywood, ACT-SF's joins us to talk about Race @ ACT-SF, Nov. 4, 2011. 

2. Geoffrey Grier, Director, Executive Director, SF Recovery Theatre, which produced Mamet's "Race," June 19-21 with PianoFight.

 

3. The cast of SFRT's Race joins us to talk about the work and their roles: Phoenyx – NRaca Rakshami (Susan); Richard Darnell May (Henry Brown); Robert Geshlider (Charles Strickland); Richard Wenzel (Jack Lawson).  

 

Jack Lawson (white, mid-40s) and Henry Brown (black, mid-40s) are attorneys at a burgeoning law firm. Charles Strickland (white, mid-40s), a prominent businessman, has been charged with rape.  

Phoenyx's Stop Killing Us video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXdS3xcZqvY

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

1. William C. Rhodes, III, Art in a time of Covid-19.  Rhodes is a sculptural furniture designer who studied at the Baltimore School for the Arts. He then earned a BA in Furniture Building and Design from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and a Master's of Fine Arts from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.  http://williamrhodesart.com

His work Threaded Souls of San Francisco features quilts and stories from residents at Dr. George W. Davis Bayview Senior Center.

2. Ava Square LeVias, HHREC, Gay Pride in Alameda County https://www.hhrec.org/

3. From the Archives: Thomas Allen Harris Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers @ Frameline 38 June 21, 2014 (for Jonathan Eubanks)Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukOBFD

Juneteenth 2020

http://wandaspicks.com/wandas-picks-june-2020/

Poor People's Virtual Weekend, 6/20-21, 2020

1. Nell Myhand is an Oakland based organizer, author and speaker whose work brings people together across age, race, class and other differences forming alliances to create powerful, effective solutions to common problems that leave no one out and no one behind. She is a member of the Bay Area Poor People’s Campaign Steering Committee working locally and nationally to amplify the voices of low/no wealth people and our demands for resources to meet our basic needs for housing, education, healthcare, and a livable climate. She also organizes with Women of Color in the Global Women’s Strike, an international organization calling on all governments for a Care Income Now that would recognize unwaged caregiving as work deserving of a wage.

https://www.june2020.org/

2. Vincent Terrell Durham, joins us to talk about theatre, writing, walking while Black and his Polar Bears. Black Boys & Prairie Fringed Orchids and Juneteenth Theatre Justice Project https://www.vtdisme.com/                      

3. From the Archives: Bryan Keith Thomas@Joyce Gordon Gallery

1. Aldo Billingslea, Ph.D., director, Juneteenth Theatre Justice Project, joins us to talk about Vincent Terrell Durham’s thrilling and timely play, Polar Bears, Black Boys & Prairie Fringed Orchids, Friday, June 19, 7 p.m.  It is a free event. Tickets are required: https://tickets.playground-sf.org/TheatreManager/1/online?performance=931

From the Arrchives:

--Interview with Susan Heyward, a principle in ACT production of David Mamet's Race (2011)

--Rebroadcast of interview with two members of the cast in Berkeley Rep's production of Lynn Nottage's "Ruined" (2013). 

4. Geoffrey Grier, director, joins us to talk about SF Recovery Theatre's production of David Mamet's "Race," Friday June 19, Juneteenth weekend, in collaboration with PianoFight, 7:30 pm PT in Zoom. Subsequent shows will be re-broadcast Saturday and Sunday, June 20-21: 

https://www.pianofight.com/virtual-venue/

Suggested $20 Donation PayPal.me/sfrecoverytheatre