Wanda's Picks

Black Art and Culture. The 51st Annual Monterey Jazz Festival kicks off this weekend: Sept.19-21; perhaps we can speak to a few artists making their debut this year and a veteran or two or at least feature a song. I'm not going this year, so folks will have to blog their reports, so I can share them on the air. From the archives debuts Wednesday, Sept. 17, 6 AM. I am featuring the interview with Patrice Rushen we weren't able to do justice Sept. 12. Tune in. If you miss a segment 'cause you're sleeping or otherwise occupied, listen later at the archives. Friday, we'll speak to actors from the play currently on stage, Yellow Jackets at Berkeley Rep. We'll also speak to Khalil Jacobs-Fantauzzi, candidate for Berkeley City Mayor, about Independence Day celebrations in Puerto Rico, Sept. 23. The first leader of an independent African nation, post-colonialism, Kwame Nkrumah's birthday is Sept. 20; we're going to try to connect with a couple of folks from Ghana to talk about his legacy then and now. Finally, if there is time, we'll talk to someone on the bill for the "Rise Up for Obama Fundraiser," 9/20 at Uptown Body, 401 26th Street, in Oakland, 6-10 PM. We also want to talk to someone from "Take a Stand: Sit for Change," 9/21, 12 noon to 5 PM at MLK Civic Center Park, 2151 MLK Jr. Way, in Berkeley. I'm going to try to get a poet on the air, Aya de Leon and Drew Dillinger are feature, along with Center for Urban Peace Spiritual Director, Rev. Angel Kyodo Williams. Mikey Ellinger and Scott Braley, (photographer/writer team) along with Eddie Abrams spoke about Allensworth on the eve of its 100 Anniversary. Allensworth is Baba Abrams' centerpiece for his annual "Peace Festival" is Allensworth, held in Oakland at Eastmont Town Center in Oakland, this year. It's going to be a busy morning. Of course we'll feature a few selections to get the thoughts and energy rolling in the right direction--center.