| Wanda’s Picks |
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| by Wanda Sabir | |
| Tuesday, 08 January 2008 | |
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 Wanda with her Auntie Teenie and Uncle Arthur in Westwego in 2005, when Auntie Teenie lived alone. Uncle Arthur, a Katrina survivor, died last Feb. 18. Photo: Wanda Sabir I also want to remember the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the only Black man with a national holiday! His birthday is next Tuesday, Jan. 15. Do something for world peace that day, starting where you live. I lost two aunts: Aunt Bea, my dad's aunt, and Auntie Teenie, my mother's big sister. Even though they were both in their 80s, I wasn't ready to let them go. I'm sure the trauma of Hurricane Katrina and their inability to live on their own after that contributed to their deaths. I lost three relatives last year, now two in the first week of 2008. Rae Louise Hayward: The Art of Living Black I also lost a dear sister-friend this past week, Rae Louise Hayward, co-founder of The Art of Living Black in 1997, an annual art exhibit held at the Richmond Art Center. The Art of Living Black - just the phrase denotes a certain aesthetic, that there is a certain beauty inherent in Black life and by extension Black souls. It's not recognized enough, the loveliness of Black life, especially by other African people. I loved the annual exhibit at the Richmond Art Center, which over the years expanded to several other sites. The most fun was the open studios where one could visit African Diaspora artists. Before TAOLB I hadn't realized there were so many Black artists in the San Francisco Bay Area. Rae Louise Hayward created a community where none existed. TAOLB was like a social club similar to the ones I read about in Harlem, during the time when Blackness was celebrated in all its forms, textures and colors. And to have such a wonderful gathering in Richmond, a place where libations to Black gods is not a daily ritual, this event was one the community could look forward to. Unlike most African Diaspora events, TAOLB was not limited to February; rather TAOLB was 360, in that events and programs spanned multiple months, January through March. Rae Louise Hayward had a quiet, warm energy, sort of like her art work - flowers and fruit. A still life. Mrs. Obama I got an email from Michelle Obama this morning. She was excited about the momentum carrying her husband's campaign into New Hampshire where lines snake around the block in the snow. I was so excited to hear from her, I actually sent Obama a modest check. His speech last week was so inspiring. I feel such a part of this - it's as if, if he wins so do I. Obama's ability to inspire and move others is not something the couple take for granted. "You can feel it in our campaign offices and at rallies all across the state," she says. "Thousands of people are realizing that fundamental change is within reach. The improbable is now possible." This passionate embrace of America is bigger than one person - this is why he spoke of umoja or unity as the key to change last week in Utah. Obama could be called "the great Black hope." I can't recall such excitement around a presidential campaign in a long time. We have a lot to cheer over with the end of the reign of King George within view - eight long years! Yet, Bush replicas are elsewhere stirring and stirring the waters of dissension like Bush clone Mwai Kibaki in Kenya. Both Bush elections were stolen with little or no protest. There was no massive outrage - if anyone took anything to the streets, I think the hubbub died down once people exhausted their sick and vacation leave. Now, here we are again, about to vote in the California primaries and the Diebold machines are still in use. In Africa, democracy is something people are still willing to die for. This is evident in the unrelenting protests and the Kibaki government's violent response to the enraged Kenyan response to the irregularities in the vote count Dec. 27. Obama's father is Raila Odinga's maternal uncle, the presidential contender said in a BBC radio interview, Monday, Jan. 6. The cousins share similar qualities. Both are able to inspire and encourage people to take their power away from governments who abuse it.
 Aaron with Andy Bey at Jazz at Pearl’s. Photo: Wanda Sabir Kibaki and Odinga once served in the same government - in 2002 Kenyans were optimistic after the ouster of Daniel Toroitich arap Moi. Kibaki survived the Moi regime, while Odinga spent years in prison and was tortured for his resistance to Moi's corrupt government. Kibaki's rise from the vice president to power as Kenya's third president was met with support and optimism by all, especially Odinga, who returned to public office. But then Kibaki's government began to succumb to neocolonial mind syndrome and now it's time for him to go. Odinga has a majority in the Parliament, so Kibaki, who appointed his cronies in key cabinet positions on Tuesday, Jan. 8, will not be able to get much done. In chess, we'd call this "check." Visit www.nytimes.com/2008/01/07/world/africa/07kenya.html?scp=3&sq= and http://www.worldsecuritynetwork.com/topic_view3.cfm?TOPICID=67. WISR Seminar The Obama-Clinton Presidential Campaigns and the Black Seminar is the topic of the Western Institute for Social Research January seminar series, Thursday, Jan. 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Baba Zak Kondo, Cynthia Lawrence and John Bilorusky are facilitators. WISR is located at 3220 Sacramento St., Berkeley. Visit www.wisr.edu or call (510) 655-2830.
Educate to Liberate: From Freedom Schools to the Oakland Learning Center
Like so many other BPP survival programs, the school, free clinic, free breakfast and senior transport became the model for current programs across the nation. It is on this model that Common Ground Collective was founded, a model based on love. You can also visit www.itsabouttimebpp.com. At Big Man's birthday party this weekend in Sacramento, BJ was telling us about the exhibit. He said Kiilu called him excitedly when she saw her son's picture in the class photo. The cute kids have on Black berets, Black socks or pants and powder blue short-sleeved shirts. 18th Annual African American Celebration through Poetry Call for Featured Presenters It's that time of year again, folks. We're looking for African Diaspora poets to participate in this event Feb. 2, 1-4 p.m., at the West Oakland Branch Library, 1801 Adeline St., Oakland. Although we welcome all themes, this year we encourage writers and artists to consider an overall theme related to the life of writer Richard Wright, who would have been 100 on Sept. 4, 2008. He was a fiction and nonfiction writer, as well as a poet, his form Haiku. Poets are not confined to the themes Wright addresses in his more well known works "Black Boy" and "Native Son," but you are certainly encouraged to try. Those interested in being featured in the program need to let us know by Friday, Jan. 25, and participate in a rehearsal on Saturday, Jan. 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the West Oakland Branch Library, 1801 Adeline St., across from DeFremery Park. The library is near AC Transit bus lines, which stop at the corner of 18th and Adeline Street and 15 blocks from City Center BART station. Call (510) 238-7352 for more information. Free Oaktown Jazz Workshops Yoshi's Jazz House Oakland presents award-winning trumpet player and bandleader Roy Hargrove conducting a free jazz workshop for young musicians. Bring your instruments Friday, Jan.11, 4-5:30 p.m., at Yoshi's, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. For more information call Khalil Shaheed at (510) 206-4509 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Andy Bey Vocalist Andy Bey is having a CD release party at Yoshi's Jack London Square, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, Wednesday, Jan. 9. Shows are 8 and 10 p.m. Visit www.yoshis.com or call (510) 238-9200. Howard Wiley and The Angola Project Monday, Jan.14, 8 and 10 p.m., at Yoshi's Jack London Square, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, Howard Wiley and The Angola Project present music from the infamous Louisiana State Prison, a former slave plantation where descendents of enslaved Africans and descendents of former slave owners reenact the historic drama on a daily basis.
 Black Panther leader Big Man talks on the phone with Albert Woodfox of the Angola 3 during his gala 70th birthday party. Photo: Wanda Sabir Campaign 2008: A Presidential Debate That Matters Hosted by Cindy Sheehan and well-known Bay Area Greens, these candidates - Cynthia McKinney, Ralph Nadar, Jared Ball and Kent Mesplay - will discuss their candidacy for president of the United States of America. The debate will take place at the Herbst Theater Veteran's Memorial Bldg., 401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, three blocks from Civic Center BART. A $10-$25 donation is requested, sliding scale.
For more information, visit www.acgreens.org/debate or call (510) 644-2293. |
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