Wanda's Picks Radio Nov. 26 and 28, 2008

Today's show was pretty phenomenal, the themes crisscrossing throughout as one guest touched on a theme resonating with previous guests such as place and home, what it means to be indigenous and why black people have to hold up their traditions and honor their heroes and each other via our culture: words, music, art and activism.

In the studio we spoke to Joyce Hutton, niece of the late Bobby Hutton, the third person to join the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, and its youngest member at that time, Emory Douglas, former Min. of Culture for the BPP, Alan Laird and Terry Cotton, both members of the BPP and friends of Lil' Bobby Hutton, murdered by Oakland police just two days after the murder of Martin King, April 4, 1968 (Hutton shot and killed 4/6/1968).

Also joining them is Damon Eaves, blackpantherblvd.com which has organized the Bobby Hutton Memorial Benefit, opening Nov. 29, 7-10 PM at the Luggage Store Gallery, 1007 Market Street, in San Francisco, (415) 255-5971. Next we spoke to Afro-Polynesian singer, choreographer Mahealani Uchiyama, who will appear, Sunday, Nov. 30, 8 PM, $10, at Ashkenaz Music and Dance Center, 1317 San Pablo Ave., in Berkeley. Visit www.mahea.com.

Barry Shabaka Henley "Seth Holly," and Brent Jennings "Bynum Walker," cast in Berkeley Rep's staging of August Wilson's "Joe Turner Come and Gone," through Dec. 14, were up next. Visit www.berkeleyrep.org.

We closed the show with a conversation with lyricist Jahi, who is opening for Wu Tang Clan, Dec. 3, 8 PM (doors open/show at 9 PM) at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco on Van Ness Ave. The show is all ages, as are all the events listed here this week. Jahi will also perform at the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations Conference Friday, Dec. 5, 2008, 7-10 PM at ASA Academy in Oakland and 12/6. Visit www.myspace.com/hotbutteredflows. And for all the happenings in town: http://wandaspicks.com. Tune in Wednesday, Dec. 3, for Wanda's Picks Radio, 6-7 AM, PST. We are trying to get Wu Tang on the air. We shall see.

On 11/26, we had Karla Brundage, Rafael Jesus Gonzalez and Robert Hillary King, in the studio.

The day before what some call Thanksgiving and others call "a Great Day of Mourning and Commemoration," we had as guests: Rafael Jesus Gonzalez and Karla Brundage, sharing poetry of the indigenous community in the Americas. Rafael, scholar and visual artist began the show with reflections on what it means to grow up in a society where one's cultural heritage: language, music, art, dress, are systematically erased.

Joined later on by Karla, high school teacher, world traveler and phenomenal writer in her own right, she shares work of 4 Native American poets, among them Joy Harjo.

We end the program early to speak to Robert H. King, activist and author, who has good news regarding Albert Woodfox's case. Federal Court Judge Brady has ruled in favor of Woodfox, granting him bail provided housing is approved, this despite the prosecution's deliberate attempts to poison the publics' perceptions of Woodfox and slander his good name with false accusations, accusations without evidence or proof, evidence found unsuitable or recanted by state's witnesses in the prior 2 trials for the same murder convictions friends and supporters are trying to get the federal court to overturn. Woodfox and Wallace were in solitary confinement for 36 consecutive years up to March 26, 2008, when after a visit by Congressman John Conyers, the men were finally moved to a hastily built dorm for 20 men. Since the trial the men are once again separated and in the dungeon. King is the only free member of A3 and after Woodfox is released, Herman Wallace remains the only member left behind bars, his case currently under review.

Visit angola3.org, A3grassroots.org, kingsfreelines.com, and itsabouttimebpp.com

Photos are from a recent poetry reading at Rebecca's Books in Berkeley hosted by Avotcja and Eric, Sunday, Nov. 23 and Robert King at Babylon Falling Bookstore in San Francisco, Friday, Nov. 21. Copyright Wanda Sabir, All rights reserved.