Wanda's Picks Radio Special: Jewelle Gomez's "Alberta Hunter: Leaving the Blues

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay! 1. Today is blues singer, Alberta Hunter's birthday (April 1, 1895 – October 17, 1984) and closing weekend for Jewelle Gomez's Leaving the Blues at New Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, Saturday, April 1, 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 2, 2 p.m. We rebroadcast two shows featuring an interview with Jewelle (3/29) and actors: Desiree Rogers and Leontyne Mbong-Mbele, from Leaving the Blues and Jitney (3/22). August Wilson's Jitney also opens this weekend at African American Shakespeare Company at the Marine's Memorial theatre.  Playwright, Kheven LaGrone's The Legend of Pink, directed by Darryl Jones, is being read Monday, April 3 at the GLBT Museum in San Francisco.  Music: Alberta Hunter (3), Alice Coltrane, Barbara Bolton, and Ben Vereen