African arts showcase at UC Berkeley

The spirit of Africa was alive at the African Arts Society's "Showcase" on November 20 at UC Berkeley.

Ready to Learn Fun Fair

Children enjoyed face painting, legos and storytelling at the Ready to Learn Fun Fair at Peralta Elementary School in Oakland.

Occupy Oakland calls for West Coast Port Shutdown

Organizers say Port owners are "1%." Port begs to keep the Ports Open for 99% workers.

Oakland Labor Day BBQ hosts good time for 'fam bam'

The "I am Oakland" collective hosted the Labor Day Fam Bam BBQ at Mosswood Park on September 6.

Protest against censorship of Palestinian Children's Art

In response to censorship of Palestinian children's art by an Oakland art museum, dozens came out to protest in Oakland.

RIP Peabo Wellington

College of Alameda student Jepeabo Wellington was murdered days before the school year began.

Students gain college acceptance at Black College Fair

Hundreds of young people attended the third annual Black College Fair at Laney College, the second year the Oakland community college has hosted the event.

Boondocks Season II - Review

Boondocks Season 2
What began as a cartoon strip in a student newspaper is now the most controversial cartoon on TV. Aaron McGruder’s The Boondocks is somewhere beyond South Park and Family Guy on steroids, viagra and a sack of purple.

The show consistently exposes the truth that “most Black people don’t talk about when they think white people are listening,” as Huey Freeman (voiced by Regina King) said in season one.

In the first season, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King–who was actually just in a coma, not assassinated–came back and in order to get the attention of his people he said, “The N-word.”

After being kicked off with a satirical spoof of a fictional Soul Plane 2: The Black Jacking, showing the difficulty would-be terrorists would have hijacking the Black NWA airlines, season two presses the limits of dark comedy and even has an episode where a teacher calls Riley the N-word, based on a true story.

While seemingly out of touch with reality at times (for a cartoon), season two never strays far from the series greatest strength: truth.

Season two was also marred with controversy, but ironically not because of what was aired, but what wasn’t.

Two episodes were banned from TV in the U.S. but aired in Canada. Clips were constantly being uploaded to, and removed from, online video sites like youtube.com and dailymotion.com.

The first banned episode, Hunger Strike, Huey vows to go on a hunger strike until BET is taken off the air and all it’s top executives commit Japanese ritual suicide.” Mocking BET (which now stands for Black EVIL Television) top execs are depicted in an Austin Powers Dr. Evil fashion. Huey meets a Al Sharptonesque Reverend (Rollo Goodlove) who is more concerned with “shining”than Huey’s actual cause: Not far from the actual experience of many aspiring revolutionaries. The second banned episode shows Uncle Ruckus (that Black guy that hates Black folks) and his own reality TV show.

The show also pokes fun at the image of so-called gangsta rappers, with the return of Gangstalicious (Mos Def), who is on the down low. (Not the R. Kelly type either–as far as we know). Riley’s grandfather gets worried when he sees Riley wearing Gangstalicious’ new fashions (i.e. pink, sandles, capris and halter tops).

Not mention ‘licious’ new song, “Homies ova Hoes.” Complete with a DL4 snap beat and all. The Boondocks will make you laugh and think. The $40 price tag might make you think twice, but think of it as an investment for your critical thinking skills.
This article originally appeared in the August 2008 issue of the Harambee Newspaper.

9th Floor Radio re-opened

9th Floor Radio re-opens this coming Monday.

Unfortunately, it won't be in time for our show to air this month. Nonetheless, we'll be back at you on the third Friday in September.

You can stil check out our past episodes online.

-TBH Staff

9th Floor Radio, The Black Hour in danger

The Black Hour may be no more.

According to Melissa Neal, Station Manager for 9th Floor Radio, the delay in the passage of the California State Budget is forcing the station to close.

"Due to budgetary issues 9th Floor Radio will be shutting down August 4th," wrote Neal in an email to program DJ's.

"I am hopeful that the State of California will renew our funding sometime in August," continued Neal. Until then, you can listen to our past programs."

If you want The Black Hour, and other 9th Floor Radio supported programs to continue, please contact your state representative.

Thank you.

-TBH Staff

TBH @ Ise Lyfe Record Release

Drea Mos (right) and her sister Alex at Ise Lyfe's Record Release Party at Rasputin'sIse Lyfe launched his second LP, "Prince Cometh" at Rasputins last week. Ise had just appeared on The Black Hour on July 18.
He delivered a live performance, followed by an autograph signing session.

The Globe Newspaper's Aquelia Lewis quoted Drea Mos:

“I remember when I first heard that Ise Lyfe was getting into spoken word,” said Andrea Spearman, co-host of Laney College’s “The Black Hour” Internet radio show. “It was inspirational — he is definitely the voice of the youth of Oakland.”
Read the article on The Globe.

Check out Ise Lyfe's "Bad Word Bounce" video on The Black Hour TV (TBH-TV).

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More