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The Laney College Dance Department hosted its annual student showcase May 16, 2008 in the Laney Theater. This year's theme was "The Rhythm Within."
Video by Joe Sullivan for P-Span. Courtesy of Peralta TV
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Back to Laney Defender's Spring 2008 issue.
In honor of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X), the East Side Arts Alliance (ESAA) held the eighth Annual Malcolm X Jazz Arts Festival Saturday May 17 at San Antonio Park in East Oakland. Fusing music, arts and crafts, and dance there was something for all.
Oakland Nation of Islam Minister Keith Muhammad, journalist Davey D, and POCC Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr.
BCC BSU Advisor Karen Senefru and BSU President Sunnye B.
There were three stages for performers. On the main stage, Howard Wiley & the Freedom Now! Band, The John Santos Quintet, The Ambrose Akinmusire Project with Goapele, Muziki Roberson Quintet with Dwight Trible and Soul Nubian performed. Nearby on the second stage on top of a large flatbed truck, the organic sounds of Hairdoo could be heard.
Laney BSU Treasurer Ariana Mitchell
Blu Pride of Club Knowledge
For the youth and young at heart, "The Courts" transformed the park's tennis courts into a family fairground. The upper court showcased live graffitti murals from artists from the Bay to LA. The second level showcased local HipHop artists Nu Dekades, Lady Blue and Queen Deelah, Ray Ridah from DIRTY MACKIN', and the Trunk Boiz. DJ Treat U Nice, DJ Wazir, DJ Fuze kept the music pumping on the wheels of steel. Infamous Oakland turf dancers like the "Fresh Kids" were "doing it moving" on the floor.
The food court on the lower level featured soul food and a plantains, jerk chicken, and a "Taste of Africa."
Saleem Shakir of Leadership Excellence, Black Caucus of CalSACC Treasurer Charles Perkins, and Defender Editor Brother Reggie
Nu Dekades: K.E.V., Ryan Nicole, and Midhnight Sunshine.
ESAA is a collective of artists and activist of color who live in the San Antonio neighborhood. The festival is one of the last free festivals in Oakiand where people, young and old, can have a good time.
African American Studies Professor Nehanda Imara
BSU Historian Lamar Caldwell and Minister of Culture President L. Davis.
8th Annual Malcolm X Jazz Arts Festival May 17 at San Antonio Park in East
Oakland. For more info, visit East Side Arts Alliance
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On May 7, the Associated Students of Laney College (ASLC) hosted the Soul & Unity Festival on the quad. The event featured an amazing performance by students in the Laney College Dance Department. Laney BSU member Sade Adona demonstrates Congolese dancing during a performance by the Laney Dance Department at the “Soul & Unity Festival” May 7 on the quad.
The Congolese dance was a preview of the upcoming third annual Congolese Dance Festival in June.
Laney College Dance Dept. Chair Linda Johnson gets Laney students into the groove.
A graceful Laney College dancer takes a bow.
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Back to Laney Defender's Spring 2008 issue.
By Marlene C. Hurd
Defender News Editor
When one thinks of African American men associated with the Civil Right Movement many remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Huey P Newton, Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael.
Surprising enough many students do not remember Paul Robeson.
Born on April 9, 1898 in Princeton New Jersey, he was a man ahead of his time.
During the 1920's Robeson was known as the Renaissance man and a world famous icon.
Robeson was a great athlete, singer, actor, author, political activist, and scholar. He spoke and sang in 25 languages. Robeson won a four year scholarship to Rutgers University in 1915. In spite of the racism Robeson encountered while playing sports, he won 15 varsity letters in baseball, basketball and track.
Robeson lived in a time when segregation was legal in America. He still survived while African Americans were being lynched by angry white mobs in the South. Robeson fought for the civil rights of all people around the world. In 1950, the U.S. government revoked Robeson's passport--due to his international activism. It took him eight years before it was restored.
To honor his 110th anniversary, the City of Oakland is displaying artifacts and memorabilia of his many accomplishments called, "A Hero For All Time." The exhibit is located at Oakland's City Hall housed in the Rotunda. You can view the exhibit from April 9 through April 30.
The Robeson exhibit was put together by the Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee. The accomplishments of Robeson come to life though his photographs, books written, letters, speeches, album covers, facsimiles and his many theater plays.
On February 18, 2004 Merritt College co-sponsored the unveiling of the Paul Roberson Commemorative Stamp with the Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee and the United States Postal Service.
Robeson was known for his On stage performance in London, playing the lead role in Othello. He also performed in Eugene O'Neil's Emperor Jones, All God's Chillun Got Wings and the musical Show Boat.
Robeson also played a major role in the labor movement. During the 1920's, Robeson became an activist in the African-American freedom movement and the world labor movement. Robeson would use his concerts to raise money for social causes.
Karin Hart, Laney College Labor Studies Department Chair and instructor stated, "Thinking about Paul Robeson reminds me that it is both song and hard work that helps any meaningful movement to endure. He used his rich baritone voice to benefit the social movements of his time. Robeson fought racism in America, sang for peace and justice in 25 languages throughout the world, and used his talents to benefit other causes, like when he donated the proceeds of one of his musical hits to help Jewish refugees fleeing Hitler's Germany."
According to Douglas Banks, Laney College Library Tech, "Robeson advocated using art to forward political agendas". Robeson sacrificed his career and life.
He often quoted, "The artist must take sides. He must elect to fight for freedom or slavery. I have made my choice. I had no alternative."
This is one of the reasons Robeson was so loved. They saw him as a forerunner in the struggle for human rights.
One of the artifacts shows Robeson transitioning from entertainer, artist, scholar and activist. As you turn the corner of the display next to his Labor achievements and Political accomplishments located in the middle is the display titled, "We Charge Genocide."
This important piece of Robeson's work could almost be missed if not carefully looked at. Robeson and William L Patterson with the Civil Rights of Congress presented this petition to the United Nations in 1951. The document charged, "The U.S. federal government, by its failure to act against lynching in the United States, was guilty of genocide under Article II of the UN Genocide Convention."
On the opposite side of this display lays the 1949 concerts in Peekskill New York. Angry white mobs attacked attendees who attended the concert. State police turned their heads and did nothing about it.
Pat Wynne with the Laney College Labor Heritage "Rockin Solidarity Chorus" instructor remembers this day well. In 1949, she was eight years old living in Golden Bridge Colony, 40 miles north of New York City. Wynne saw the windows broken out of the buses and cars. People were bleeding. After seeing the people returning home bruised, she did not know what had happen.
Later Wynne learned that people from her colony had traveled to Peekskill to hear Paul Robeson sing. When they arrived at the concert they were attacked. Because of the colony Wynne lived in, she was exposed to Robeson's music and thought he was an icon.
Robeson died on January 23, 1976 at the age of 77 in Philadelphia. The Paul Robeson exhibit will be on display through April 30 in the Oakland City Hall Rotunda.
BSU members form radio show to air issues
Beautiful young models from Youth Uprising pose for a group photo during the 4th Annual ‘Say it Loud’ 70s Fashion Show held Feb. 2 in the Laney Theater. ‘Say it Loud’ was produced by New Breed Entertainment and Mario B. Productions.
Photos Courtesy of Mario B. Productions
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Laney fine arts graduate Milton Bowens multi-media exhibit “Eye Gotcha Covered” examines contemporary and historical views of African Americans in the media.
The exhibit is sponsored by the June Steingart Art Gallery in the Tower building. The gallery is open Monday–Thursday from 11 A.M.–5 P.M. A reception will take place Feb. 5 from 4:30 P.M.–7:30 P.M.
The Laney Black Student Union (Laney BSU) is co–sponsoring this exhibit.
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Back to Laney Defender's February 2008 issue.
Have you ever seen an Afro so big its owner couldn’t walk through the door? Or how about a dashiki so colorfully loud and proud that you thought you were back in the motherland?‘Say it Loud!’ takes you on a hip-trip back to the 70’s, where the look, sound, and attitude was colorful, loud and proud.
Mark Elliott, producer
This show is designed to bridge the generation gap between young and old, mixing hip hop with old school as a new breed of fashionable entertainment.There will be really big Afros too.
Mario Benton, director
Benton and Elliott capture the vibe using fly fashion, cool skits and classic soul music from the likes of James Brown, Curtis Mayfield and Aretha Franklin. The combination of funky grooves and hip threads creates a show hipper than any other 70’s show around.“We want to bring back a sense of unity and pride in our community,” Benton added.
We are all about bridging gaps and connecting peoples.This year’s production is being co-sponsored by Destiny Arts and the Laney Black Student Union (BSU).
Laney BSU VP Andrea Spearman
Adam David Miller, poet, writer, editor/publisher, and former laney College English instructor will read from his recently published and highly acclaimed memoir, "Ticket to Exile," 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wed. Feb. 3 in Tower 450. This coming of age story explores a life dominated by legal racism and governed by a strict code of race relations, little more than half a century after the emancipation of blacks from slavery.
Miller's reading celebrates Black History Month at Laney College. Refreshments will be served. "Ticket to Exile" chronicles African American family life and culture of the segregated South during the 1920s and 1930s in Orangeburg, South Carolina. This coming of age story explores a life dominated by legal racism and governed by a strict code of race relations, little more than half a century after the emancipation of blacks from slavery.
Miller, a smart, intuitive and sensitive adolescent, violates the code and pays for this life-threatening breach with exile.
Miller's reading is sponsored by the Laney College Library, the Laney Black Student Union and the Peralta Association of African American Affairs.
For more information, contact Margaret Traylor at 464-3502.
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Back to Laney Defender's February 2008 issue.
The Laney Black Student Union (Laney BSU) screened the film "Tales from the Hood" October 31, 2007. 
As a part of the Soul Cinemas Film Series, the movie was selected because of the number of underlying social issues highlighted in the film (i.e. police brutality, domestic violence, "Black on Black Crime" or horizontal oppression, etc). Following the film, many students shared their own experiences with violence in the community.
Urban Romeo and Juliet adaptation explores violence, classism and relationships
Put in a little Shakespeare, plus some Bay Area slang, and critical sociological analysis of Oakland’s Black community, and what do you get?
“Ebony & Johnny: A Hood Tale” is just that; a hood tale. Now, don’t let your stereotypes of the hood cloud your thinking and assume that this is some low-budget “I’m ‘Bout it” or something like that.
Ebony & Johnny explores a variety of issues affecting the Oakland through the experiences of two hood-crossed lovers. Creatively engaging both Shakesperean English with Oakland Ebonics, the plays language forces the audience to broaden its understanding of human dynamics and relationships amongst people.
Ebony moved to the hills while Johnny lives in the flatlands. Their families don’t get along for a variety of reasons.
There is an underriding theme of classism amongst the Black community in the play which makes one question, “What is Black?” Do you have to be in poverty to be Black? Do you have to act ignorant to keep it real?
The urban adaption of Romeo and Juliet featured a few faces familiar around Laney
BSU Member Ernie Rocker, aka DJ Ego, starred as Paris while President Davis played Benvolio. Tybalt was played by Antonio "Dalaylo" Butler while the Tatiana Monet was featured as Ebony. Former Laney student Siraj Fowler plays opposite Tatiana as Johnny.
The Lower Bottoms Playas performance was under the direction of Ayodele “Wordslanger” Nzinga, MA, MFA. Wordslanger is a renounced writer and spoken word artist, and also wrote “Mack” a “gangster tale.”
Wordslanger told the tale of so many people’s odyssey from the hood to the hills and the challenge to “keep it real.”
Wordslanger’s cast gives a heartwrenching performance showing the futility of urban violence. Black-on-Black violence reveals its hateful face and the audience is moved to reach out to prevent the senseless murder of human beings. We can stop our community from losing more Ebony’s and Johnnys to violence on the streets of Oakland.
Laney Black Student Union
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Laney BSU rallies to save Ethnic Studies at Laney College.