An inmate at CSP-Solano, Charles Platt (J-72525), is suffering from a degenerative disease that affects him cognitively and physically. Because it takes two men holding him steady so that he can comfortably and safely move, he often skips meals because he can't get out of his bunk. A mutual friend says he is "skin and bones." CSP-Solano is not wheelchair accessible.

I don't know what changed the doctor's tune, but he had nothing but apologies for the stress the prison administrators had subjected her to. Any change in Platt's favor was a welcome song for his mother and sister Charlesetta Platt, whom I met with earlier this week.

This story is a great Black August story because it shows what we can do when we care about all of us. It really is all of us or none of us. Nat Turner thought this when he began his rebellion Aug. 21, 1831. Jonathan Jackson was of like mind when he seized control of the Marin County courthouse Aug. 7, 1970 determined to free his comrades. Then when his brother George was shot dead a year later Aug. 21, 1971, it was for precisely his politics that, again, were for all of us, those shackled and those emancipated.

Harriet Tubman began her Underground Railroad in August. August is a month that closes the season where the sun burns hottest. It is a time of purification and reflection as the fruits prepare for harvest.

When blood congeals, it takes on a black hue. It's not red, white and blue, rather black and blue. I'm with Dessalines: Rip out the French tricolor flag's white center and sew the black and blue sides together. This is a month that our sister Kiilu Nyasha, resident scholar on Black August origins, says the concept "grew out of the need to expose to the light of day the glorious and heroic deeds of those Afrikan women and men who recognized and struggled against the injustices heaped upon people of color on a daily basis in America - especially those behind bars, 21st century slaves."

I want to thank all my friends and their friends who responded expeditiously when the call went out a week ago to save this brother, Charles Platt, from further trauma, be that emotional or physical. We have a pending victory; I say pending because Charles isn't in CMF-Vacaville yet. We hope the move is within the month so that he can receive the type of medical services he needs.

Tribute to Lil' Bobby Hutton Day

On Saturday, July 7, at the West Oakland Branch Library, people gathered to pay tribute to the legacy of Lil' Bobby Hutton by supporting the Lil' Bobby Hutton Literacy Campaign started by Melvin Dixon at the Commemorator newspaper, where he is the editor. Bobby was 14 when he taught himself to read, his cousin Joyce Hutton said.
Emory Douglas, author of "Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas" (in paperback now), spoke at this event, which was well-attended. This Saturday, Aug. 4, 6-8 p.m., across the street from the library at deFremery Park, 18th and Adeline Streets, Oakland, Melvin Dixon will be the featured speaker. I remember when I met Melvin about 20 years ago through Edy Boone, visual artist - you can see her work on the Women's Building in San Francisco. She was also my younger daughter's preschool teacher.

Melvin liked my poetry and gave me my first gig. I had the great opportunity to share my poem about Huey P. Newton, "Heroes," at the program the Commemorator hosted at this same deFremery Park to honor his legacy and work shortly after he was murdered. My poem asks the question, "If heroes, if our heroes are wanted dead, are honored dead, not alive, what does that say about us?"

Joyce Hutton, Lil' Bobby's cousin, wants to honor her cousin and those living with a 7-foot statue in deFremery Park, the park where the Black Panther Party did a lot of organizing work, the park where her cousin was murdered by Oakland police April 6, 1968, after he surrendered. The Friends and Family of Lil' Bobby Hutton need $2,500 more to complete the project. This dinner and the previous program are to raise funds for this project. For information, call (510) 704-0565.

Silence the Violence

Silence the Violence, an Ella Baker Center campaign, Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, and the Oakland A's are proud to announce Aug. 15 has officially been declared "Silence the Violence Day" at the Oakland Coliseum. The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with a press conference. Scheduled to appear are Mayor Dellums, spokespeople from the Oakland Athletics organization and Van Jones, president and co-founder of the Ella Baker Center. Local celebrity Mistah F.A.B. will kick off the special Silence the Violence pre-game program with a moment of silence before the start of the evening's game between the A's and the Chicago White Sox. Pre-game activities begin at 6:45 p.m.; the game starts at 7:05 p.m.

Art of the Griot, with Ousseynou Kouyate

I certainly believe we should be telling our own stories, which is what the National Public Radio's Story Project is all about. It's in Oakland now. For information, visit www.storycorps.net/griot. It reminds me of WPA revisited.

During World War II, the government employed artists to do field work and gather the stories of formerly enslaved African Americans and their children, as well as record the blues and other African folk music. These recordings ended up archived in the Smithsonian, and it is great this history wasn't lost. What's unfortunate is that most of the field workers were white so what they often heard was what the Africans thought they wanted to hear, which was often a cleaned up version of the truth about what they'd experienced during slavery, which includes Jim Crow.
Ousseynou Kouyate, one of the Djialy Kunda Kouyate ensemble with his twin brother, will talk about his family and the role of griot or storyteller, the historian in African culture. He and I had a great conversation about a month ago at a new Senegalese Restaurant on Telegraph and about 23rd Street in Oakland. Look for it online at www.wandaspicks.com.

The program includes conversation, food and dancing afterwards with African DJs at East Side Arts Alliance, 2217 International Blvd., Oakland. For information, call (510) 533-6629. The marketplace begins at 6 p.m., the talk and performance at 7, and dancing at 9. Visit www.africaspeaksmusic.com.

Saturday at EastSide Cultural Center

The one thing I did Saturday was go to see the Rudi Wongozi Trio featuring his son Issa on drums and Eric Hunt on bass. They were so good, especially 13-year-old protégé Issa. But then it's in the genes. His mom Rashidah is the first Black woman I knew who could play country music. She is a guitarist and extremely talented, and his dad, Mr. Wongozi Sr., is legendary as a musician and composer.

It was Eric Hunt's "Katrina Broke My Heart," a solo piece during the second half of the program, that broke mine too. It was so beautiful. One felt the waves, saw the dead bodies piled on the side of roads, in the middle of the street, flies buzzing around - his bow slicing the thick mud, peering into muddy windows and behind furniture hoping to find loved ones still alive.

It was masterful, and I hope it's recorded somewhere so I can buy a copy. The trio has a new release out, "Keys to the Treasures of Heaven and Earth," with all original compositions by Wongozi Sr. Call (510) 451-0687 to get your copy.

Ailey Camp Final Performance

The students of the 2007 Berkeley-Oakland Ailey Camp at Cal Performances exhibit their work in "Once More, For the First Time" in Zellerbach Hall. Admission is free. Advance admission tickets are subject to availability and can be obtained at the Cal Performances Ticket Office at Zellerbach Hall, limit four per person. Call (510) 642-9988 for ticket information.

Hugh Masekela and Goapele

Hugh Masekela and Goapele headline at Stern Grove on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2 p.m. Baba Hugh will be giving a pre-performance talk in the Trocadero Clubhouse. Plan to be early. This summer, the grounds have filled long before 2:00, and unlucky latecomers had to pull out their blankets and listen on the outer grounds.

Such was the case with Anoushka Shankar and Karsh Kale. Their show was the first time Indian music was featured in the Grove, but South Africa has been here before. Remember Mama Miriam Makeba and Ladysmith Black Mambazo? OK, now remember Oliver Mtukudzi from Zimbabwe? Remember the huge turn out?

Now you don't need to camp out, but if you are taking public transportation, which I recommend, take BART to any downtown station from the East Bay, then take a L, K or M streetcar from the station to 19th and Sloat and you're there. Traffic was horrible last week when I left the Grove headed home. For information, visit www.sterngrove.org or call (415) 252-6252.

Legacy of Torture Shown

This is a documentary made about members of the San Francisco 8 shortly before their re-arrest in 2007. Learn about and support the brothers in this 36-year-old struggle, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2-5 p.m. at School of Unity and Liberation, or SOUL, 287 17th St., Suite 225, Oakland. The event is hosted by Malcolm X Grassroots Movement. For information, call (404) 849-1485.

First Fridays at the Oakland Museum of California

First Fridays at the Oakland Museum of California from 5-9 p.m., features live music, free films, book signings, yoga, Yosemite Night and much more. On Friday, Aug. 3, 5-9 p.m., the Bay Area Blues Society Caravan of All-Stars will be playing in the café. All activities are included with admission. Visit www.museumca.org.

If you missed the great events at AAMLO and Alexander Books, don't miss the opportunity at 5:30 p.m. to meet Jerry Thompson and Duane Deterville, authors of "Images of America: Black Artists in Oakland," as they sign and discuss their new book about the contributions of Black Oakland artists to music, dance, literature and the visual arts in America. More than 200 photographs celebrate such local luminaries as Ruth Beckford, Arthur Monroe, Raymond Saunders, E.W. Wainwright and Alice Walker.

ToiZounZ' & RiddimZ' Multimedia Performance and Reading by William Poy Lee is at 7:30 p.m. His memoir, "The Eighth Promise," about growing up in San Francisco during the ‘60s, is fascinating, especially the chapters that speak about his friendship with a kid from Bayview Hunters Point when they were both hospitalized and quarantined for TB. The performance includes "Goo Leng Ding Guia," with percussionist Layton Doung and author William Poy Lee reading from his new book.

KQED's series "Truly California" comes to the Oakland Museum with "Gumby Dharma," which will be shown from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Robina Marchesi's "Gumby Dharma" is the story of Art Clokey, who in 1954 took a slab of clay and molded it into the cartoon legend Gumby. The film takes the viewer on a spirited journey through the life and career of the gifted grandfather of stop-motion animation. Bring a picnic and blanket and enjoy the film and complimentary beverages, dessert and one glass of wine with ID. Q&A after the film. Admission is free.

Lee Scratch Perry: Reggae, Roots Music, Ska

I was speaking to my friend Safi wa Nairobi about weekend plans and she told me about Lee Scratch Perry, a brother from Jamaica she described as the SunRa of reggae. She said the last time she saw him he'd covered his shoes in single bills and had on really colorful accessories. He'll be in San Francisco at The Independent, 628 Divisadero, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 4-5. Visit www.myspace.com/officialleescratchperry and www.theindependentsf.com/august2007.htm for the details.

Did anyone get over to the closing jam session at the North Beach Jazz Festival? I really wanted to go on my way home from Stern Grove, where Andy Palacio and The Garifuna Collective, plus Emeline Michel from Haiti, were awesome! We didn't want to leave the park long after the concert ended. So, by the time I left, the Christian McBride Experience had ended and I headed home.

It's hard being sick in the summer when there is so much to do. I had to miss Avotcja's birthday party Thursday, which she said was really wonderful. I missed Emmanuel deejaying at the AfroFunk Experience. Now he's on his way to France for a few weeks. And at the North Beach Jazz Festival, I missed this hot veteran drummer from New Orleans whom I'd never heard before.

Now I'm trying to gear up for the San Francisco 8 bail hearings next week beginning Wednesday, Aug. 7. I'm still recovering from Charles Platt's victory. Victories are easier to handle than defeat any day.

Midnite from St. Croix

At Shattuck Downlow, 2284 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, Friday night, Aug. 3, Midnite plays roots reggae from St. Croix. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Visit ticketweb.com and www.shattuckdownlow.com.

Joyce Gordon Gallery

 "Glimpses in Time, a Juried Photography Exhibition in Honor of Gordon Parks" is on exhibit at the Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th St. (12th Street BART access), Oakland. The opening reception is Friday, Aug. 3, 4-8:30 p.m. For information, call (510) 465-8928 or visit www.joycegordongallery.com.

Emory Douglas' ‘The Art of War'

"The Art of War: Emory Douglas Classic Cuts and Remixes" opens at Cornelia Bell's Black Bottom Gallery, 1018 Pine St., Oakland. The reception is Friday, Aug. 3, from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibit continues through Sept. 14.

Turn Up the Heat: Say No to War and Racism Party

A fun fundraiser party at the El Rio Bar, 3158 Mission St., just south of Caesar Chavez, San Francisco, benefits the Idriss Stelley Foundation, And Castro for All and the ANSWER Coalition. Hear soul sounds by DJ Big Red, live performances by Colored Ink and Garrin Benfield and poetry by Fernando Marqueda. Master of ceremonies is Calvin Gipson. It's Saturday, Aug. 4, 4-8pm. Requested donation is $10-$20. Call (415) 595-8251 or (415) 821-6545 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bay View Arts Editor Wanda Sabir can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Visit her website, www.wandaspicks.com, for an expanded version of Wanda's Picks and for exciting "web exclusives."

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