F.A.C.T. is a collection of lessons that were written and compiled to transform the social, political, and economic condition of African descended people. It presents a perspective that is seldom represented in the dialogue about people of African heritage. It tackles many different topics that offer insight into Pan-Africanism, Black Nationalism, self-sufficiency, language, and much more.
F.A.C.T. covers a lot of ground and is very multifaceted. It is organized into ten sections, and perfectly captures the importance of doing-for-self and group solidarity. All sections give the lesson and the solution rolled into one, and the main concepts of each section are reviewed at the end of each lesson. The authors light touch with weighty subjects results in an easy to read set of lessons. If nothing else, F.A.C.T. reveals the extensive role our thinking plays in our everyday life and touches on the importance of embracing an African identity.
Akai Gurley's family needs for all Anti-Police Terror advocate organizations and individuals to support and join
them in packing the courthouse in order make sure that the jury is not intimidated by the dozens of expected
supporters from
Pat Lynch led PBA police union who will try to fill up all of the court room seats.
WHY:
To demand Justice for Akai Gurley - UNARMED, shot and murdered by NYPD Officer's Peter
Liang & Shaun Landau on November 20, 2014. The Brooklyn District
Attorney has indicted Officer Liang, and over a year after Akai's death Peter Liang will FINALLY face a jury trial in Brooklyn.
HOW:
Take the A, C, F,R, G,2, 3,4, 5 trains to the Jay Street/Metro Tech Station Stops
1. Trial info -
As many of you know, it is *very* rare that an NYPD officer is
indicted/charged for killing a civilian. It's even more rare that this
results in a conviction, and there are too many instances where officers
remain on the force w/no meaningful disciplinary consequences.
The trial of officer Peter Liang started 2 weeks ago on January 25th. Closing arguments are expected early next week - possibly as early as Mon/Tues. Members
of the Akai Gurley organizing committee (which includes CAAAV
Organizing Asian Communities & the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement)
have been monitoring the trial on a daily basis. In addition to CAAAV
& MXGM, other CPR members have also been to court to support Akai's
family by packing the court w/Akai supporters and/or to monitor court
proceedings, incl NAACP LDF, Picture the Homeless, Justice Committee and
others. (You can see updates about the trial from a community perspective here: justice4akaigurley.tumblr.com)
2. Mon 2/8, 1pm presser -- The trial is winding down next week, with the possibility of closing arguments predicted for as early as Mon 2/8 or Tuesday 2/9.
CAAAV and others are organizing a press conference of Akai's family for Mon 2/8 -- This is the day that Officer Peter Liang is expected to testify.
Please consider turning out on Mon 2/8, 1pm to support Akai's family at their presser:
Akai Gurley family press conference
Mon 2/8, 1pm, BK Supreme Court, 320 Jay Street, BK
(This
is the day that Officer Peter Liang is expected to testify. Closing
arguments for the trial are currently expected to take place on Tues
2/9)
3. Other ways to support
Help pack court w/supporters of Akai's family in final days of trial - Best
to arrive by 8:30am/9am if you'd like to be in the courtroom.
Courtroom has been packed everyday, with many supporters unable to
enter. Let the organizers know if you're bringing a group: bit.ly/packthecourt4akai
Help uplift the #Justice4AkaiGurley effort on social media. Graphics/memes that you can used are attached (Thanks to CAAAV!)
Main hashtags being used by the #Justice4AkaiGurley committee: #AkaiGurley #Justice4AkaiGurley #holdALLcopsaccountable
Read and share this moving OpEd by Akai's stepfather, which ran in the Daily News yesterday: http://nydn.us/1QGd07G
12-inch white label DJ single available now. "O.B.E." taken from Invite the Light, b/w new track "Special Friends." 33 RPM. Packaged in white sleeve with insert. Both tracks written, produced and Modern Funked by Dam-Funk.
DAM-FUNK IN AUS & NZ, 2016
SOLO LIVE PERFORMANCES
Jan 14: Sydney @ Sydney Festival
Jan 15: Sydney @ Sydney Festival
Jan 16: Perth @ Ezra Pound Block Party
Jan 21: Brisbane @ Wooly Mammoth
Jan 22: Melbourne @ Howler
Jan 23: Melbourne @ Sugar Mountain Festival
Jan 24: Auckland @ Auckland Art Gallery
7-inch single with 14 x 21-inch newsprint poster. Instant digital download. Released by Akashik Records.
Side A is "Akasha," produced by Mndsgn with vocals by Nanna B. and Mndsgn. The flip side is a piano rendition of "Akasha" performed by Kiefer Shackelford. Artwork by Darryl Lopez, Ringgo Ancheta. Photos and video by Alima Jennings.
From the label:
Explore Akasha. Imagine, lying dormant within the depths of our consciousness, a place; a library of sorts - an archive where it's made possible to recall past lives, loves and experience.
Does the fabric of creation reveal its mysteries within the very essence of experience? Who would've thought these things were being recorded? Perhaps we can consciously access the Akashik Records from wherever we are to navigate where we're going.
Noted African centered psychiatrist Dr. Frances Cress- Welsing is perhaps best known for her monumental book entitled The Isis Papers: Keys To The Colors. For the duration of her life she committed herself to combating racism and white supremacy. She has done countless lectures, radio interviews and television appearances.
One of her most noteworthy television appearances was a 1974 filming of Tony Browns' Journal. In this edition of Tony Browns' Journal she is debating the racist views of William Shockley another psychiatrist and obvious white supremacist. He promoted the idea that African people were genetically predisposed to intellectual inferiority based on genetics. He also advocated that black people be voluntarily sterilized. Needless to say, Dr Welsing ran circles around him. Subsequent to the filming of this television program Dr. Shockley was not seen again publicly, and was said to have been put into retirement by Dr. Welsing.
In our ongoing tribute to Dr. Welsing, who has recently made her transition and joined the ancestors, we are posting this video to show her brilliance.
In 1969, noted African centred psychiatrist Dr Frances Cress- Welsing wrote an essay called The Cress Theory Of Color Confrontation And Racism in an attempt to understand the behaviour of Europeans and their racist attitudes towards people of color. She went on to write her monumental book entitled The IsisPapers The Keys To The Colors. She has made countless appearances on numerous talk shows for over forty years. Her appearance on the Phil Donahue Show is the stuff of legends. She received a lifetime achievement award at last years Power Talk 2 conference in Washington D.C.
Dr. Welsing spoke at length about racism and white supremacy. In the 72Concepts To Liberate The African Mind by Dr. Uhuru Hotep and Talibah Baker Hotep, racism and white supremacy is defined as "the five hundred year old global system of exploitation and oppression of the dark-skined majority and special privilege and favored status for the light-skinnned minority created, maintained and perpetuated by Europeans-Aryans-Caucasians and their black and brown supporters. Rooted in an unconscious fear of "genetic annihilation" by melanin rich people avarice and a desire to dominate..." Dr. Welsing never hesitated to elaborate on broadcast media about the system of white supremacy and how to counter it.
Dr. Welsing made her transition on January 1st at her home in Washington D.C. of two strokes in her sleep. In the attached video below, Professor James Small honors and remembers his friend and comrade, the great Dr. Frances Cress-Welsing.
Much has been said recently about Bill Cosbys' past. The dominant narrative says Mr. Cosby has been involved in some improprieties that include sex and drugs. There have been an inordinate amount of accusations coming from women who claim to have been drugged and taken advantage of by Mr. Cosby.
The high tech lynching of Mr. Cosby has been ongoing for more than a year. The media conveys a story that insinuates his guilt. Most of his accusers have been white women. It seems when white women accuse a black man of anything, there is an automatic assumption of guilt.
There are some that say Mr. Cosbys' image is being ruined because he angered some very powerful individuals. Word on the street says that Mr. Cosby refuses to play ball with these unnamed individuals, and they have decided to bring him down. There are other views that say that Mr. Cosby was trying to buy a television station that would portray African Americans in a positive light, and they are destroying his image in an effort to stop him from owing this television entity.
Either way, a person should be considered innocent until proven guilty- not guilty until proven innocent. The constant negative press Mr. Cosby is receiving should raise questions about the way black males are portrayed in the mainstream media. Perhaps it would benefit us to have a television station owned by someone who has the interest of African Americans at heart.
In 1968 Bill Cosby hosted a CBS television program called Black History- Lost,Stolen Or Strayed. This documentary explores some of the problems in the public school system and how it affects African American children in an adverse way. This negative impact reflects on the behaviour, attitudes and the future of African American children. This documentary is very conclusive and supports all theories with proof.
Listen to Mr. Cosby speak about what is commonly known as miseducation. It is interesting and refreshing to see Mr. Cosby speak to the core of what is wrong with Americas' educational system.
Anderson .Paak, one of our favorite singers and one half of Nxworries, will drop his second solo album Malibu, January 15.
Malibu comes out on OBE/Steel Wool/ArtClub Int'l labels, featuring Madlib, Kaytranada, Talib Kweli, Hi-Tek, BJ The Chicago Kid and Rapsody among others.
Meanwhile, Nxworries' Link Up & Suede EP will be released tomorrow. Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge are working on a full length album as Nxworries, to be release in 2016.
ANDERSON .PAAK TOUR DATES
Dec 03: Brooklyn @ Rough Trade
Dec 04: Philadelphia @ The Foundry
Dec 05: Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall
Dec 08: Atlanta @ Terminal West
Feb 11, 2016: Brussels @ Botanique
Feb 12, 2016: Amsterdam @ Paradiso Noord
Feb 14, 2016: København, Denmark @ Pumpehuset
Feb 15, 2016: Stockholm @ Debaser Strand
Feb 16, 2016: Oslo @ Parkteatret Scene
Feb 24, 2016: Paris @ La Bellevilloise
Feb 25, 2016: London @ XOYO
Feb 26, 2016: Manchester @ Ruby Lounge
Feb 27, 2016: Glasgow @ O2 ABC 2
The Mild High crew were on tour in UK recently where they taped this live performance of "Undeniable" with Cigar Box Sessions.
MILD HIGH CLUB UPCOMING DATES:
Dec 08: Mild High Club, Los Angeles
Jan 09: Mild High Club, Ferndale
Jan 11: Mild High Club, Cincinnati
Jan 12: Mild High Club, Cleveland
Jan 13: Mild High Club, Bloomington
Jan 14: Mild High Club, Tomorrow Never Knows in Chicago
Jan 15: Mild High Club, Madison
Jan 16: Mild High Club, Indianapolis
Vinyl: advance sale, now shipping exclusively from Stones Throw. Official release date: January 15, 2016.
“All instrumental immersion from visionary Los Angeles guitarist and songwriter.”
The Middle Sister, released by Leaving Records, is an instrumental album by Guy Blakeslee, guitarist from Entrance. Side A is all acoustic, improvised guitar music. Someone said it “sounds like John Fahey and Sandy Bull with celestial nuance.” Side B is all electric. Its more-experimental, “Noise Rock.”
GUY BLAKESLEE ON TOUR
11/29: Salt Lake City @ Diabolical Records
11/30: Boise @ Neurolux
12/1: Seattle @ Tractor Tavern
12/2: Portland @ Mississippi Studios
12/3: Arcata @ Richard's Goat
12/6: San Francisco @ Rickshaw Stop
12/8: San Diego @ Casbah
12/9: Los Angeles @ The Echo
12/10: Phoenix @ Last Exit Live
12/12: Austin @ Hotel Vegas
12/13: New Orleans @ Gasa Gasa
12/14: Nashville @ The End
12/15: Raleigh @ Neptune's Parlor
