Alice Walker Speaks on the Cuban Five

Alice Walker speaks on the Cuban Five, at La Peña Cultural Center, Berkeley, CA on August 6, 2009.

D'Angelo - Voodoo

Can't believe it has been 10 years since his sophomore album, Voodoo. He was fearless on all 13 songs exploring new sonic possibilities. Supposedly he will be returing soon with his 3rd, James River...

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An ode to Richard Pryor

Paul Mooney - Black is the New White
7 show times at Black Repertory Theater, Berkeley, CA 2/26-28/2010 7/9pm

Also his new book Black is the New White

BLACKsummers' night

After a few listens it grew on me more and more. Maxwell's first album since his 8-year hiatus. Yes, he is back. Comes classy and stays true to his sound, unlike many R&B singers nowadays. iTunes

Howard Zinn, RIP (1922-2010)

The Peoples' History of the United States regards the entire history of America as a Marxist style class struggle between the oppressors and the oppressed. These conflicts include White European settlers against Native Americans, blacks against slavers, labor unionists against capitalists, and women against the patriarchy. Among the villains in his narrative are Christopher Columbus, the founding fathers, most if not all of the presidents of the United States, and anyone who ever started a large business, including John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie.

Thank you for your great work. May he rest in peace.

Haiti Earthquake Humanitarian Emergency

The people of Haiti need food assistance as quickly as possible to prevent hunger worsening the misery already caused by the disaster.

There is more info on how to donate at the Center for International Disaster Information.

Click here to see the guidelines for tax deductions.

New Years Resolution

Happy new year!! Here's to a prosperous and productive year. My new year's resolution is to stay healthier and make better (hopefully more) music. What's yours?

-Cosiner

Sirone (1940-2009)

This year we lost another great musician, bassist and composer Norris Jones, better known as Sirone. He co-founded the Revolutionary Ensemble with Leroy Jenkins and Frank Clayton in 1971 (Jerome Cooper later replaced Clayton in the ensemble), one of the most innovative groups of its time. Here's Sirone's bass solo from "La Sorrella."

Aoki - A Documentary Film

This documentary features extensive footage of Richard Aoki (1938-2009), a third-generation Japanese American who became one of the founding members of the Black Panther Party, and exclusive interviews with his comrades, friends, and former students. Viewers will learn about Richard’s childhood in a WWII Japanese American concentration camp, growing up in West Oakland, and serving eight years in the U.S. military. The film explores previously unknown facts about the formation of the Black Panther Party such as how Richard became intimately involved in its founding and contributed the first two firearms to the Party. AOKI highlights how Richard’s leadership also made a significant impact on individuals and groups in the contemporary Asian American Movement. Richard’s contributions to the groundbreaking organization Asian American Political Alliance (AAPA) and its involvement in the Third World Liberation Front (TWLF) student strike led to the formation of ethnic studies at U.C. Berkeley. Above all else, AOKI is a film that demonstrates the incredible dedication to justice that one man’s life has had and how the lessons of solidarity, commitment, and discipline can carry on from one generation to the next.

For more info:
www.aokifilm.com
www.twitter.com/AokiFilm

One Step Beyond

Jackie McLean had such a signature sound, you can recognize him in two notes. Sharp and bittersweet yet with so much intensity. This album says it all.