This week's Music Monday is from Oakland-based poet and artist Khari Toure. The song is called, "Sweet Tooth."
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.
Chauncey Bailey murder trial begins, four Blacks removed from jury
By Reginald JamesBlack Chauncey Bailey Project
A jury was selected Monday morning in the murder trial of Oakland journalist Chauncey Bailey.
Former leader of Your Black Muslim Bakery, Yusef Bey IV, and Antoine Mackey are standing trial for Bailey's murder. Bey alleged ordered the killing, while Mackey allegedly drove the getaway vehicle.
A former bakery worker DeVaugndre Broussard confessed to the shooting after an Oakland Police raid the day after Bailey's assassination. He later recanted, only to confess again and testify before a grand jury. He is expected to testify as a part of a plea deal.
Of over 100 potential jurors, there were seven women and five men selected for the jury, including two older African Americans. Five alternates were chosen too, including one younger Black man and an older Black woman.
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One woman was "extremely religious" while another had a son who felt her son was "treated unjustly" by the criminal justice system. One man was formerly employed by "Spectator" magazine, and having someone on the jury who worked for a "counter culture" publication was "not in the interest of the people," Krum said. The man also had a positive attitude towards Black Muslims, and Black Muslim organizations.
The last juror dismissed, a young Black man, was dismissed before he could even be seated. Krum said he was removed because he of his "cynicism" and "mistrust" of the criminal justice system. Krum also said she did not believe that the young man, who lived in the community where Your Black Muslim Bakery operated and had patronized the establishment, had not heard about the murder trial.
Judge Thomas Reardon denied the motion. Opening statements in the murder trial may begin this afternoon.
"Lovelle Mixon" by Sleepy-D - Music Monday
Two years ago, young, Black Oakland resident Lovelle Mixon got into a shootout with Oakland Police that ended in the death of four Oakland Police officers, including two SWAT members, before Mixon was murdered himself.
This week's Music Monday features Oakland artists Sleepy-D and G-Wett with a dedication to the "Knock Down King," entitled, "Lovelle Mixon."
The shooting got national attention, a state's funeral for the officers (and four City Council room's named after them), and the demonization of Mixon, his family, friends, and supporters. Is Lovelle Mixon a murderer or a martyr?
Regardless, many young Black men in Oakland, with the murder of Oscar Grant fresh on their minds, victimized by generations of police terrorism, have saluted Mixon's resistance.
This week's Music Monday features Oakland artists Sleepy-D and G-Wett with a dedication to the "Knock Down King," entitled, "Lovelle Mixon."
The shooting got national attention, a state's funeral for the officers (and four City Council room's named after them), and the demonization of Mixon, his family, friends, and supporters. Is Lovelle Mixon a murderer or a martyr?
Regardless, many young Black men in Oakland, with the murder of Oscar Grant fresh on their minds, victimized by generations of police terrorism, have saluted Mixon's resistance.
Omali Yeshitela to speak in Oakland at Humanist Hall
Omali Yeshitela, leader of the Uhuru movement, returns to Oakland to promote his latest book, "One People! One Party! One Destiny!" He speaks at the Humanist Hall on Tuesday, March 22.
Chairman Yeshitela is a veteran of the 1960s Black Power Movement, author, political theorist and a lifelong activist. He currently Chairs the African Socialist International and the Black is Back Coalition.
His newest book "reveals the causes behind the crisis in the world today and shows the way forward for African people and our allies." As the Chairman of the African Socialist International, Yeshitela is on the forefront of the demand for one united Africa, following in the footsteps of Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X before him.
Chairman Yeshitela was last in Oakland speaking on the one-year anniversary of the shootout between Oakland Police and 26 year old resident Lovelle Mixon. Many Hip-Hop fans will remember him from the intro song, "Wolves" on dead prez's "Let's Get Free."
After speaking on Monday at Modern Times Bookstore in San Francisco, he will speak at the Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street (between Broadway and Telegraph) on Tuesday, March 22 at 7 p.m.
"Throw the Rope" by WolfHawkJaguar - Music Monday
Oakland-based activist, actor, writer and filmmaker Adimu Madyum's new song, "Throw the Rope" is this week's Music Monday. The video, under his Hairdoo performing name, WolfHawkJaguar invokes the Orishas present in West Oakland.
Madyum recently directed the controverial documentary, "Operation Small Axe." And when he's not documenting the community -- like his recent work through Oakland Voices -- you will likely catch him onstage at the Sister Thea Bowman Theater in the Lower Bottoms.
Update: Adimu is raising money for a full-length film, "Hunter Poetry" and "Throw the Rope" is a part of that project. Help him raise money to complete the film via Kickstarter.com.
Madyum recently directed the controverial documentary, "Operation Small Axe." And when he's not documenting the community -- like his recent work through Oakland Voices -- you will likely catch him onstage at the Sister Thea Bowman Theater in the Lower Bottoms.
Update: Adimu is raising money for a full-length film, "Hunter Poetry" and "Throw the Rope" is a part of that project. Help him raise money to complete the film via Kickstarter.com.
Transformative Visions – Oakland Arts Event Promoting Peace, Justice and Possibility
"An explosion of love, set to jazz!"
That’s the way one person described this dynamic event. For the fourth year, Oakland-based nonprofit, OneLife Institute, will present Transformative Visions, a multimedia art show and spoken word/jazz concert with a message of peace, justice, and possibility. The event takes place from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 12, 2011, at Studio One Art Center, 365 - 45th St., in Oakland. Admission is free and open to the public.
Scheduled to coincide with the annual observance of A Season for Nonviolence, “Transformative Visions” is intended to both challenge and inspire by offering a spiritually-rooted response to the critical concerns of the present day.
The event uses the arts to address issues like violence, poverty, racism, and the environment, but instead of simply describing the problems, seeks to provide a vision of hope beyond the current conditions.
The concert will feature jazz legends the Richard Howell Quintet, with Destiny the “Harpist from the Hood.” Spoken word artists will perform original works that carry a message of positive social change. This year’s line-up includes Aimee Suzara, Chas Jackson, Tha Ghetto Prophet, Queen Jahneen, Lex, and Richard Moore a.k.a. Paradise. More than 20 Bay Area visual artists will present works affirming values such as dignity, freedom, compassion, interdependence, peacemaking, justice, and healing. The art exhibit will be on display through March 26th.
“Transformative Visions centers on the power of the arts to heal, activate, and build community,” says Rev. Liza Rankow, founder and director of OneLife Institute. “In these times of local and global violence and upheaval, economic crisis, and social division, it’s important to come together and affirm that each of us carries a creative vision. Within each of us is the power to transform ourselves and our world.”
Image: "The Shaman's Heart" by Abba Yahudah (c) 2008. For more information, visit the One Life Institute.
"Gang Injunction" Brwn Bflo - Music Monday
This week's Music Monday track, "Gang Injunction" comes from Oakland Hip-Hop group, The Brown Buffalo Project.
A classic protest song from the New American mixtape, hosted by journalist and radio host Davey D, the artists flip Akon's "Locked Up." A wise choice as jail bars close throughout the composition, emphasizing that gang injunctions are a tool of the prison industrial complex and that many activists continue to oppose gang injunctions and racial profiling in Oakland.
Special shout out to Brwn Bflo for coming out in 2007 for Black and Brown Get Down at Eastside Arts Alliance in East Oakland.
A classic protest song from the New American mixtape, hosted by journalist and radio host Davey D, the artists flip Akon's "Locked Up." A wise choice as jail bars close throughout the composition, emphasizing that gang injunctions are a tool of the prison industrial complex and that many activists continue to oppose gang injunctions and racial profiling in Oakland.
Special shout out to Brwn Bflo for coming out in 2007 for Black and Brown Get Down at Eastside Arts Alliance in East Oakland.
The Art of Living Black Exhibit
 More info: The Art of Living Black The Art of Living Black at Mills College |
The only annual show in the Bay Area to exhibit artists of African descent, TAOLB features regional artists and works in ceramics, crafts, fine arts, paintings, photography, sculpture and textile arts.
the Campanil reports, "This year artists and founders of The Art of Living Black, Rae Louise Hayward and Jan Hart Schuyers were honored. In 1997, Rae Louise Hayward and Jan Hart Schuyers founded The Art of Living Black. Sadly, these two passionate leaders passed away -- Hart Schuyers in 1998 and Hayward in 2008."
There was also a satellite show at Mills College on February 26 and 27.
Photo: Jan Hart-Schuyers In her Image,Richmond Art Center. Video: The Campanil
Bay Area students prepare for protests to defend higher education
Nearly one year ago, students from throughout the country held sit-ins, protests and occupations as a part of the March 4, 2010 Day of Action to Defend Public Education.
On Wednesday, March 2, Bay Area students will again demonstrate their opposition to fee increases and budget cuts.
In San Francisco, students at SF State and City College plan to rally at Malcolm X plaza from 11-noon, followed by a picket at 12 on 19th street and a march to City College's Ocean Street campus. City College, which will have a Teach-In from 10am-2pm on March 1, will have a 2pm rally. The Mission campus of City College will rally at noon.
In the East Bay, students in the Peralta Community College District are convening at Laney College at noon for a rally. Laney College student body president Dawna Williams said, "It's time for students to wise up and rise up."
"This event is not about shouting at buildings and placing blame but about being in the know," said student body vice-president Brian Nelson.
After the noontime rally, students plan to march over to the Peralta District's offices. On October 7, 2010, after a Laney rally, about three dozen students spontaneously marched over to the District offices and briefly occupied the Chancellor's office, demanding to see trustees. Some Peralta College students are planning to march to UC Berkeley afterwards.
Cal students plan on having a noontime potluck, followed by a mass rally at 5pm at Memorial Glade at UC Berkeley. There are plans for a tent city and organizers said, "We're staying until our demands are met!" There have been mass arrests are UC Berkeley in recent years after the occupation of Wheeler Hall and of the UC Chancellor's office -- both incidents drastically exaggerated by mainstream media.
While there was a mass walkout -- not to mention the over 160 students arrested after walking onto an Oakland freeway while protesting -- on March 4, this year's rally does not have as much anticipation as last year. Some organizers believe that because there is a new Governor--Democrat Jerry Brown replaced the "Terminator," Arnold Schwarzenegger--more "moderate" students are not active.
"Jerry Brown is planning draconian budget cuts to education in California to resolve the state's budget crisis, writes NorCalSocialism.org. "We have a different solution: Chop from the Top, and Tax the Rich!"
Others hope that students will be emboldened by recent protests in Tunisia, Egypt and Wisconsin, and demonstrate in solidarity with labor.
