Black Panther Events: Los Angeles & Oakland...

I haven't gotten a chance to see this movie yet but I am glad it is getting more exposure. If you're in the Los Angeles area be sure to check this out...



41st & Central: The Untold Story of the LA Black Panthers will open Friday, March 26 for a limited, one-week engagement at the Culver Plaza Theatre in Culver City, across from Sony Studios. Tickets are $10.

This dynamic film won the Audience Favorite Award at this year's Pan African Film Festival. Originally scheduled for only one screening as the centerpiece of the festival ($30 per ticket), two additional screenings had to be added to accomodate the long line of folks who showed up. If you missed it, now is your opportunity to see this amazing historical documentary by filmmaker Gregory Everett whose father was a member of the LA Black Panther Party.

Come see former Panthers, Councilman Bernard Parks, Geronimo Pratt, Kathleen Cleaver, Elaine Brown, Erika Huggins and others talk about the rise and fall of the Southern California chapter of the Party, the killings of Bunchy Carter and John Huggins at UCLA, and the early morning shootout between the LAPD and the Black Panthers in December 1969 and so much more.

Tickets: $10 per person with 3 hours free validated parking
Show times: Fri-Sun 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm
Mon-Thurs 12pm, 2:45pm, 5:45pm, 8pm
Group sales: check www.paff.org or www.41central.com
Culver Plaza Theater
9917 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA
310.836.5516
www.culverplazatheatres.com

Another Black Panther Event In Oakland, The Origin Of The Legendary Group...


Lil' Bobby Hutton Day

Come celebrate our 12th annual honor of the life and legacy of Lil' Bobby Hutton and the Black Panther Party, who defended our community from senseless police murders and poverty

Saturday April 10, 2010
2-5pm @West Oakland Library
1805 Adeline Street
Oakland, Ca

Potluck
Speakers
Students & Tutors (speed matching)
Lil Bobby Statue
$50 Poetry Contest
More Info Call: (510) 705-8810

Kobe Adds To His Season Of Buzzer Beaters...

He Misssed In Orlando Sunday. Did You Really Think He'd Miss Again??

Reflections?

Reflections?
By The Literary MasturbatorÔ

I truly do believe God is everything to all people…

My cynicism tells me that God does not care who wins American Idol, the Super Bowl, or Miss America…

My personal bias tells me God is a Lakers fan, because I’m a Lakers fan…

Maybe…that’s confirmation that whatever we are, God Is…

We are, all of us, reflections of an infinite Creator

Even those things we have labeled bad are merely the experiences of God, the expressions of God so we can better know and understand who God is…

www.myspace.com/theliterarymasturbator
theliterarymasturbator@gmail.com
http://theliterarymasturbator.blogspot.com
Copyright©2010 Jair

Oakland GLBT Roundtable Meeting...

This is a reminder that there will be an Oakland LGBT Roundtable meeting next Monday, March 8, 2010 at Oakland City Hall , 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Hearing Room 4 (2nd floor), at 5:30pm. Below is this meeting's agenda topics:



Needs Assessment Survey – The Survey Committee will give an update about the status of the needs assessment survey

Oakland Pride – East Bay Pride committee will give an update on the developments of East Bay Pride 2010

Immoral Dress Code – There will be a presentation about the historical context behind the 1879 passage of Oakland’s Immoral Dress Code. In addition, there will be an update on where we are in the legislative process of getting this “cross dressing” law amended in 2010.

The DC Community Center – Councilmember Kaplan Intern, Stephanie McLeod, will give a presentation about her trip to Washington DC’s LGBT Community Center.



As always please contact Ada Chan at 510-238-7083, or Achan1@oaklandnet.com, if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Death Sentence...

Death Sentence
by The Literary Masturbator™

What if never write another poem?

Would my words constipate in the bowels of expression?

A writer writes...

But am I a writer...a poet if I no longer put pen to paper? If I never use a word program on my laptop?

There are times when I feel like if you were to cut me, poetry would ooze from my veins like blood draining into a coagulated puddle of nouns and verbs

Adjectives would no longer be cells in my body bringing much needed oxygen to my brain

I'd be insane

Screaming similes, like obscenities in a straight jacket—locked in an asylum-curled up in the fetal position

Call 911!! Call 911!!

“911-What's your emergency?”

I CAN'T FEEL MY METAPHORS!!

EMT's would have to try and resuscitate me ...pressing those paddles to my chest

When you define yourself by an art form like poetry, when it's who you are

What would happen if that were taken away?

I'd feel confined like one of the Africans on a ship during the middle passage
My drums, history, and everything I knew...ripped from me, shackled-loaded on in the belly of a boat, surrounded by people I couldn't communicate with because we didn't speak the same language-because we're not from the same tribe...sort of like someone who can't pay their mortgage, talking to an investment banker...

I'd be like a slave...singing schoolhouse rock songs as if they were negro spirituals...coded messages to help me plan escape or rise up in revolt...

I'd paraphrase Patrick Henry--”Give Me Poetry Or Give Me Death!!”


You see poetry is love and life...

Compassion and hope...
Poetry is what I use to cope
I couldn't survive without it...nope

I couldn't be...me

It must be what it feels like to be sentenced to death...

www.myspace.com/theliterarymasturbator
theliterarymasturbator@gmail.com
http://theliterarymasturbator.blogspot.com
Copyright©2010 Jair

And... Ancestors Have Welcomed A New Angel...

A few years ago I walked into a place that would totally change my life. It was/is called "PoetsJazzHouse". When I went that first night I didn't expect to meet people who would become my friends and inspiration.

Even though she wasn't there on that night Nikki Dillard but she was at the time with Derek Shaun the co-host of the show.

We all became family. If we were to assign roles "Nikki 1" as she was called would have been the sassy sister. She could do poetry, sing, act, and many other things. She had the habit of finding a popular song and changing the lyrics to introduce the regulars. She came up with a Jill Scot joint for me without knowing that at the time Jill Scott was my favorite artist. She just had an innate sense of what worked. She even composed a song to warn guests about noise from cell phones. It was to the tune of Kate Vigo's, "The Way I Are/The Doo Doo Song"

I am standing on the stage
And I need your full attention
No more talking paper rattling
Other things I need to mention
And if your cell phone happens to ring, don't say hello!
There's some refreshments in the back, and leave some money at the do!

Nikki also set the tone for, "After 10" poetry. We used to have students who were younger than 18 come from JobCorps and because we didn't want to influence them any erotic poetry was done after 10pm--after intermission when the students had left for the evening. One of her classics was about eating a "Frosty" ice cream. It was Hot! It was because of Nikki I was liberated to write my signature piece, "Literary Masturbator"

Nikki was a warm and loving woman who I will never forget. Her legacy will definitely live on...

Los Angeles & San Francisco Events For National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day...

REGISTRATION FOR THE LOS ANGELES EVENT ENDS TODAY!!!

Los Angeles

Please join us the morning of Saturday February 6th for an innovative look at issues facing the Black community living with HIV/AIDS.

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Symposium at Charles Drew University in South L.A.: "Addressing Evolving Needs of the Black Community"
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Pharmacists, Dentists, Social Workers, Case Managers, Treatment Advocates, Mental Health Professionals, Substance Abuse Professionals and Public Health Professionals

There is no fee for this program.

Register online at: http://nmaetc.virtualforum.com/pif.asp?action=enterpif&Prog_ID=10020601



Saturday, February 6, 2010
8:00am – 1:15pm
(Continental Breakfast & Registration start at 7:30am)

Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science
1731 East 120th Street, Montague Cobb Lounge
Los Angeles, CA 90059

Continuing Education Credits offered:

CME Accreditation - PENDING
Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians.
Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science designates this educational activity for a maximum of 4.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only those credits that he/she actually spent in the activity.

Physician Assistant Continuing Medical Education Credit
This course is approved for Category 1 of 4.50 hours of continuing medical education.

Continuing Nursing Education Credit
This course is approved for 4.50 Contact Hours by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CEP 15355

Continuing LCSW and MFT Education Credit
This course is approved for 4.50 Continuing Education Units by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Provider #PCE 372

Presented by National Minority AIDS Education Training Center & Pacific AIDS Education Training Center

For more information, please contact: Clarenda Stephens at (323) 563-5932 or contact Elissa Bradley by replying to this email.

San Francisco

Join us as we pay tribute to National BLACK HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. We will meet at the steps of City Hall (@ Polk Street) at 5:00 pm, and MARCH to the CASTRO.

A wonderful program will commence at the Harvey Milk Academy at 6:30 pm. Lastly, we will put on our dancing shoes at 10pm at BLACKOUT!!