Legendary Bay Area activist Richard Aoki, was the most prominent non-Black member of the Black Panther Party! Since we’re in fund drive, were happy to offer Professor Fujino’s recently released book, Samurai Among Panthers AND AOKI: A Documentary Film by Ben Wang and Mike Cheng as special premiums for donating to KPFA tonight.
Community Calendar
Aching to hear some amazing drumming? This Saturday, May 19th at 8 pm hit up International Hotel Manilatown Center at 868 Kearny Street for innovative Taiko drummer Kenny Endo’s benefit concert, commemorating the 35th anniversary of the I-Hotel’s eviction. $10.
Asian and Pacific Islanders are making a big impact on the Jazz world these days. Check out what happens when composer and saxophonist Francis Wong shares the stage with Wayne Wallace, one of the best African-American Latin musicians in the scene. That’s on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 8 pm. African American Arts and Culture Complex, 762 Fulton Street. $20 at the door
Finally, because we here at APEX are huge fans of Kearny Street Workshop, the oldest Asian Pacific American multidisciplinary arts organization, we want to celebrate them turning 40! They are bringing together three generations of exceptional artists. Hand-Me-Down features solo theater, music, storytelling, movietelling, dance, and more exploring the past and imagining the future of APAs in the arts. Tuesday, May 22 7 pm Bindlestiff Studio 185 Sixth St. Admission: $10-20 sliding scale
Reflection on the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami with updates on the floods in Thailand and the typhoon in the Philippines
Ellen Choy talking about the OccupyMovement, with a focus on the Bay Area
Alex Tom of the Chinese Progressive Association, taking about Occupy, what Ed Lee’s mayoral win means to the Chinese community, and the unrest seen in Wukan, China
Continued discrimination against the Muslim American community in New York and on the media
An update with Anh Pham, her grand jury trial, and her response to the NDAA of 2012
Lisa Chen of Asian Law Caucus talking about the California Dream Act and what campaigns they’ll work on in 2012
Bernadette Ellorin of BAYAN USA looks at the issuance of the arrest warrant for former General Jovito Palparan and the calling of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to trial for human rights abuses
Matthew Ledesma‘s commentary which challenges Manny Pacquiao‘s masculinity
National Film Society, a new media studio co-founded by filmmakers Patrick Epino and Stephen Dypiangco in Los Angeles
And Irene Kao, executive director of Hyphen, talks about independent media and its important role in challenging what the mainstream has put forth including Tiger Mom and Wesley Yang’s interpretation of Asian male-ness
Ellen Choy brings us her exclusive interview with Elmer Labog, prominent labor leader from the Philippines. Then, we have highlights from the discussion about a proposal to change the name of Occupy Oakland to Decolonize Oakland produced by Karl Jagbandhansingh. And finally, we are joined live in the studio by Nomi, who is part of the hip hop group Power Struggle and an organizer with the Filipino Community Center. He’ll be talking with Marie Choi about his music and his organizing, and the upcoming Beatrock Anniversary Party.
Songs and video featured in tonight’s show include:
Highlights from the Decolonize Oakland discussion at the General Assembly
We also have some concert tickets which we’ll be giving away later in tonight’s show, thanks to the San Francisco Arts Commission. We’ll be giving away two pairs of tickets to next week’s Colors of Christmas Concert featuring Filipina Broadway musical legend Lea Salonga.
This week on Apex Express, we reflect back on 9/11. As the nation remembers the victims in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on board the airplanes, Apex explores the aftermath and how OUR communities have been affected.
We’ll hear a personal documentary by Robynn Takayama on how several Asian Pacific communities responded immediately after 9/11 to address racist scapegoating, hate crimes, and the build up to the War on Terrorism.
We also talk with Co-founder of the Sikh Coalition, Amardeep Singh, about the recent Islamaphobia conference and the accompanying website, “Unheard Voices of 9/11.”
On September 8 through 11, you can catch Lenora Lee Dance perform Reflections at Counterpulse in San Francsico. This interdisciplinary performance explores the unraveling stories of three succeeding generations of Chinese men as they redefine themselves in the American context.
Today through September 17th, you can catch the regional premier of Unveiled, a one-woman show by Rohina Malik exploring stories of stories of love, Islam, culture, language, racism and life. Catch this at Brava! for Women in the Arts in San Francisco.
On September 10, get your ono grinds on at the 10th Annual Poke Festival at San Francisco’s Hukilau! This free, outdoor block party features celebrity chefs, a spam musubi eating contest, and the Bay Area’s aloha spirit.
Come celebrate and honor 25 years of grassroots work by Trikone, an organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered South Asians. This gala features food, dancing, and great performers at St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco.
Also on the 10th, The Power of Two, premieres at the Castro Theatre for $20. The documentary tells how twins Anabel Mariko Stenzel and Isabel Yuriko Stenzel Byrnes, both born with Cystic Fibrosis, overcome their affliction with double lung transplants.
On Sunday, September 11, celebrate 30 years of Asian American Jazz with a newly commissioned work by Anthony Brown and Mark Izu at Yoshi’s San Francisco Jazz Club.
Next Thursday, September 15, you can join Bindlestiff Studio in celebrating the return to their home on 6th Street with the opening of Stories High! This annual showcase of original works for the stage written, acted, and directed by Pilipino/Filipino American artists runs Thursday through Saturday at 8 pm. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
Also, live in the studio, we have special guest, Tony Nguyen who will talk about his recent film “Enforcing The Silence” which investigates the story of Lam Truong Duong, a 27 year-old Vietnamese journalist and activist who was murdered in 1981. It premieres in San Francisco on Thursday, July 21. Half of the proceeds from the evening’s screening will go towards the VYDC, Vietnamese Youth Development Center founded by Lam Duong. The benefit screening will be at the Roxie Theater, 3117 16th Street, San Francisco.
Lastly, we bring you a talk by writer, intellectual, and activist, Vijay Prashad. He spoke at Riverside Church in New York this past May as part of a fundraiser for Critical Resistance and the Brecht Forum called “The World We Want Is The World We Need.” Special thanks to Isaac Ontiveros of Critical Resistance.
We’re your hosts, Ellen Choy, Karl Jagbandhansingh, and Marie Choi.
Thanks to Making Contact, Guest Producer Pauline Bartolone and Correspondent Momo Chang take us into the toxic truth about nail salons, they talk to nail salon workers, medical experts, and policymakers on the move to safeguard workers’ health, and help salons go green.
APEX Producer Robynn Takayama explores the details and issues regarding the unique, yet universal, deportation case of Cambodian American Andrew Thi.
APEX host, R.J. Lozada brings in Hip-Hop artist, RJ Sin (pictured above), who’ll be sharing his music and information about the benefit party for Cambodian Community Development, Inc.
Community Calendar:
Youth Music Benefit for the Japan Multicultural Relief Fund
Sunday at the Starry Plough Pub in Berkeley.The Japan Multicultural Relief Fund assists underrepresented groups effected by Japan’s earthquake and tsunami. The project was conceived and organized by the Bay Area youth music duo, Bayonettes and other youth musicians! From the ages of 13-25, these young musicians are a diverse lot. Indie Rock, Jazz/Psychedelic Rock, and Folk, their cover tunes and originals will inspire you. Come support the efforts of these giving young, budding musicians while helping those in need! For more information visit their facebook event page
Laced with Tradition with Tattoo Artist Melissa Manuel
Opening Reception: Friday, June 17, 2011
(Exhibit runs June 17-August 20)
6:30-10:30pm
Join Manliatown for an evening of music, food, and body art! San Jose/Bay Area native Melissa Manuel will be present to dialogue about and share the body art which she has masterfully created. This event features live music from Dj Krucial.
Show up and show off your tattoo(s)! Find out more about Melissa Manuel at melchon.blogspot.com, and Manilatown.org
Rizal150: Bay Area Artists and Institutions Commemorate
150th Birthday of Philippine National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal
The American Center of Philippine Arts (ACPA) and a collective of Bay Area Filipino American artists today announced a collaboration and exhibit to celebrate the life and legacy of Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal who was born 150 years ago this June 19, 2011. The exhibit will be held at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center from June 20 to August 31 kicking off with a dinner celebration and fundraiser for the ACPA and the Filipino American Coalition for Environmental Solidarity (FACES) on Saturday, June 18. For more information to buy tickets to the dinner or to make a contribution, please go to philippinearts.org/rizal150.htm or http://rizal150.eventbrite.com/
The “spirit of Wisconsin” – working people standing up for their unions, their rights and their fair share of society’s benefits – is coming to the Bay Area on Saturday, June 18th at the 3rd Bay Area Troublemakers School at Laney College in Oakland. This School, sponsored by Labor Notes, brings together a collection of vibrant, engaged, curious and activist members of unions, worker centers, and community-based pro-labor organizations to share struggles, learn together about economic forces shaping our world, and kindle inspiration and solidarity. Workers from the Chinese Progressive Association and Filipino Community Center will be presenting workshops on the Campaign to End Wage Theft. Don’t miss it! For more information on workshops, schedules, and registration for the Troublemakers School, please go to www.labornotes.org/bayarea, call (510) 542-9436 or email schools@labornotes.org.
Tonight, we replay a program produced by Making Contact, “Presumed Guilty: American Muslims and Arabs” produced by Andrew Stelzer. Marie B. Choi kills it with an amazing interview with Anh Pham, an anti-war and solidarity activist whose home was raided in September 2010 because of her political activity. And we bring you a commentary from Veena Dubal, staff attorney at the Asian Law Caucus.
Community Calendar:
Cesar Chavez Day
Today we honor Cesar Chavez day and we remind our listeners that the 1965 Delano Strike, which gave birth to the United Farm Workers, was started by Pilipinos. According to John Delloro, executive director of the Dolores Huerta Labor Institute, as the summer heat of 1965 ripened the grapes of the Delano fields, Pilipino farm workers walked off the job and struck for dignity and better working conditions. Earlier, Cesar Chavez of the mostly Mexican National Farm Workers Association had refused the request of Larry Itliong of the predominantly Pilipino Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee to join the strike. A week after the strike began, Larry approached Cesar again and this time Cesar agreed. We tip our hats to the manongs of Delano and their courage to fight for the rights of agricultural workers.
Kōkua Japan San Francisco fundraising concert
A group of concerned citizens from the Bay Area’s Hawaiian and Asian American communities have organized Kōkua Japan San Francisco, a fundraising concert in Japantown’s Peace Plaza from 10am – 6pm Saturday, April 2nd. Emceed by NBC Bay Area newsman and stand-up comedian Mike Inouye, the lineup includes Hawaiian music groups, Polynesian dance troupes, and diverse musical acts.
Rhymes and Rhythms poetry reading
On Saturday, April 2nd at 5 pm, catch the Rhymes and Rhythms multicultural poetry reading hosted by Nancy Hom and Avotcja at the I-hotel Manilatown Center at 868 Kearny Street in San Francisco. This quarterly series features some of the most dynamic poets, storytellers, singers and performers in the Bay Area. This month’s performers include Pete Yamamoto, Oscar Bermeo, Naomi Quiñonez, and others.
Bhopaili the Movie
Next Thursday, April 7th, from 6pm – 9pm, Bhopaili the Movie will be playing in Berkeley followed by a Q&A with Sanjay Verma, a Bhopal survivor who lost seven family members in the 1984 Bhopal Gas Disaster. Sanjay Verma is touring the U.S. to testify against the production of methyl isocyanate in West Virginia. MIC is the gas that leaked in Bhopal, India killing thousands instantly. The event is located at UC Berkeley School of Law, Room 105.
Join Apex Express
Apex is calling on you! Do you want to be part of a dynamic team of reporters, activists, and DJs? Join our crew. We’re also looking for independent Asian American musicians to share your tunes with us. Give us your beats, your demos, your experimentations. Email us at apexexpress@kpfa.org
Join DJ LN and Selekta Lapu~Lapu as they interview Rachel Jackson about Oakland Gang Injunctions and Sri Lankan American reggae and hip hop artist Ras Ceylon with pre-release versions of his new music. And finally, we take you to the Free Rapa Nui Day of Action on March 16.
We will also have a ticket give-away (one pair) to Katchafire, a popular reggae band from Aotearoa, at the Independent on Tuesday, March 29. Tune in!
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
The Fukushima-based film, HULA GIRLS, will be shown on Saturday, March 26th @ 2:00, 4:30, 7:00 at VIZ Cinema in San Francisco’s Japantown. The admission is free with suggested donations of $10 that will be contributed to the JCCCNC’s Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. Based on a true story, HULA GIRLS is a heartwarming comedy about coal miners’ daughters who take on hula dancing to save their small mining village, helping the formation of Joban Hawaiian Center, which was later to become one of Japan’s most popular theme parks.
People who would like to contribute towards the relief effort in Japan may want to consider visiting kokuajapan.org. Funds donated through this site will go to the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund set up by the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California which goes directly to community organizations on the ground in Japan, AND if you donate through the site kokuajapan.org, an additional 50 percent of your donation will be matched.
