THE KOJO NNAMDI SHOW

Wednesday, Oct 14 • 1 p.m. (ET)

Ta-Nehisi Coates On Race, Justice And Finding A Voice In Local D.C.

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Few writers and public intellectuals command an audience like one currently following Ta-Nehisi Coates. But long before Coates' thoughts shaped nationwide conversations about race, justice and the black experience in America, he found his voice as a young writer in local D.C. and in the city where he grew up, Baltimore.

THE DOOR

with the invention of the door man changed the western world.
suddenly any man who had a door could rearrange the universe
to suit himself/include himself/or exclude himself;
society was invented.

    - Thulani Davis

Its been really nice working at home and no longer at Howard University.
So many projects on the desk.

This week my 8 week online memoir class with the University of Houston-Victoria comes to an end.

It's been a great experience with wonderful students. Next year I plan to teach a course on the life and work of Langston Hughes.

Much going on behind the door. Let me know if you plan to visit. Knock after you call.

ANNA JOHNSON

I can't remember how long it's been since I've talked with Anna Johnson. Anna once ran Open Hand, the company that back in 1986 published my book - WHERE ARE THE LOVE POEMS FOR DICTATORS? Before that Anna had republished one of the most important books of the Civil Rights Movement - James Forman's THE MAKING OF BLACK REVOLUTIONARIES. The new generation of activists should keep this book close at hand and near the heart.

Critical Connections: A local healing and community gathering for Grace Lee Boggs

Friday, October 16, 2015 - 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Washington Peace Center
1525 Newton Street, NW

"We never know how our small activities will affect others through the invisible fabric of our connectedness. In this exquisitely connected world, it's never a question of 'critical mass.' It's always about critical connections."  In memory and honor of Grace Lee Boggs, this intimate gathering will celebrate her life and legacy through reflection, dialogue, and poetry.  The program will consist of an opening tribute, readings of Grace Lee Boggs, community dialogue on her life and her values, reflection on organizing and activism, poetry readings and performances, and a closing vigil.  Join us for a night of healing and relationship building in the spirit of a revolutionary. 

For more information, click here

IPS

Movements and organizations are defined by the people who shape them. Two people responsible for the success of the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) are Angelique Been and Christina Curtin. Been and Curtin are the staff of the IPS Development Office. They are wonderful people who are wonderful to work with. I've been the board chair of IPS for several years. Here we are at the recent Letelier-Moffitt Human Right Awards Ceremony greeting guests. This year awardees were Daryl Atkinson and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice and Almudena Bernabeu and the Center for Justice and Accountability.

Next year IPS will be moving to a new location near DuPont Circle.
In our changing world IPS is needed now more than ever.

MIGHT BE TIME TO GET THE BIG BAND BACK TOGETHER...

http://www.jazzonthetube.com/videos/count-basie/fast-and-happy-blues.html

CUBS WIN ON A NIGHT THERE WERE SO MANY LOSERS

It was difficult to go from a Cubs win to Clinton last night. However I did turn the channel to the Democratic debate. Maybe this is further proof I lived my childhood in the Bronx and could never become a Mets fan. So instead of watching New York play the Dodgers I'm listening to Lincoln Chafee. Does anyone living inside or outside Rhode Island know this guy is running for President ?
Oh, and there was Jim Webb on the stage without an upgrade. Any reference to Vietnam makes me think of McCain for some strange reason. How many US military men have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since the Vietnam War?  How many young voters believe the Vietnam war was fought before the Civil War? Is Lincoln Chafee named after Abraham Lincoln?

OK, I must confess I love when Madame Hillary laughs. It's always such a Disney moment. I love Cartoon Clinton. And there was Bernie Sanders last night. Let me make another confession. When this guy decided to run I kept calling him Barry Sanders by mistake if a conversation was moving too fast. I watched Barry Sanders make some awesome moves before he walked away from the game.
Bernie seems like the political science teacher who might be popular on a small college campus. You know the guy with tenure and an office filled with books. The prof who can't find your term paper but you still love him. It's not about grades...

Last night I found myself cheering for O'Malley the way I had to find a team to root for after the Nationals faded to fade. This guy might just be the sleeper candidate if he received more media and money. Of course being a former mayor of Baltimore is like being African American and having to check a funny box on a job application. Final result - you're not going to get the job no matter what your qualifications are. So cry me an election. What should I do?   Right now I'm going to write in the name Ernie Banks and pray the ghost of Mr. Cub makes it to the World Series.

E-NOTE

A productive day. I completed work on my June Jordan essay and sent it off to Quincy Troupe for publication in Black Renaissance.

I now need to turn full attention to the upcoming Vera Katz/ Liz Lerman event. I'll be moderating their discussion and conversation at the Potter's House (1658 Columbia Road, NW) on October 24th. The event will begin at 3:30 PM. Thanks to Michon Boston and Ari Roth for making this happen.

I have 2 upcoming television shows to do. One with Kathleen Maloy and a second with Derek Musgrove. Kathleen and I will be talking about health equity. I'll sit down with Derek for a conversation about DC history and politics.

Right now I'm in the middle of my Stanley Crouch period. I'm reading his  Always In Pursuit: Fresh American Perspectives, 1995 - 1997.

In the mail today came 2 books. A first novel - Mourner's Bench by Sanderia Faye and a collection of poems - Strange Encounter at the Shakespeare Motel by Herb Guggenheim. I wrote a blurb for this book.

This is the last week for the online memoir class I'm teaching for The University of Houston-Victoria.
A wonderful 8 week course. I enjoyed working with my students. They all wrote very moving essays and book reviews. Next year I'll be teaching a 5 week class on the life and work of Langston Hughes.

The rest of October is filled with daily meetings for the rest of the month.

November is Birth Month. 2015 has been an exciting year. How about those Cubs?

Looking forward to seeing Curry play some b-ball.  I'll continue pulling for Brady and the Pats.

June Jordan

Information for researchers and scholars:

http://special.lib.umn.edu/findaid/xml/GV004.xml

KOJO NNAMDI SHOW - WAMU-FM 88.5

UPCOMING SHOWS

• Wednesday, Oct 14 • 1:32 p.m. (ET)

  Ta-Nehisi Coates On Race, Justice And Finding A Voice In Local D.C.

  Few writers and public intellectuals command an audience like one currently following Ta-Nehisi Coates. But long before Coates' thoughts shaped nationwide conversations about race, justice and the black experience in America, he found his voice as a young writer in local D.C. and in the city where he grew up, Baltimore.

E-Box for Grace A. Ali

I completed work on the next E-Box.  This one will be given to Grace A. Ali. Today I pulled from my personal library a number of books I think she will enjoy adding to her own collection.

Here is information about Grace:
http://www.ofnotemagazine.org/grace-aneiza-ali/

A QUESTION FOR BLACK POETS

Do you want to be a Black poet or a pocket passer?

FROM CUBA WITH LOVE

Nice note a few days ago from Nancy Morejon in Cuba. She informed me that REVISTA UNON # 87 is out. This publication includes several poems from my book FALTA DE AR which Nancy translated into Spanish. FALTA DE AR was published last year in Portugal by Medula Press. The book was put together by Manuel A. Domingos. He translated my poems into Portuguese. Below is a picture I took back in June when Nancy visited the US and gave a talk at Busboys and Poets (Takoma Park) in the Nicolas Guillen Room.

THE SCHOLARS

INTERVIEW WITH DR. JOYCE LADNER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGvJlgVaAO0&feature=youtu.be

THE POPE IS GONE BUT THE MONK IS STILL HERE

http://www.jazzonthetube.com/videos/thelonious-monk/round-midnight-11.html

"...a work of passion. Of necessity." -BroadwayWorld.com SEE IT IN PREVIEWS FOR $20 (Or click here to learn more about the show.) New seats released for Run Home and The Place We Built RUN HOME Commissioned by Ford’s Theatre for the Women’s Voices Theater Festival Written by Jennifer L. Nelson Directed by Patrick Pearson Monday, October 12 at 7:30 P.M. Free, but ticketed The year is 1862 and Obadiah and Lilah are like siblings—Lilah as the daughter of a farmer, and Obediah as his slave. But the two are thrown a curveball when they learn the secrets of their family histories, and soon must come together to fight for freedom…and save the President. From Helen Hayes Award-winning playwright and Mosaic Theater Company resident director Jennifer L. Nelson (Torn from the Headlines) comes this home run story about bravery, baseball, and the will to swing at all that life throws. Reserve tickets. THE PLACE WE BUILT Written by Sarah Gancher Directed by Eleanor Holdridge Monday, October 19 at 7:30 P.M. Free, but ticketed In a deserted neighborhood in post-communist Budapest, young bohemians squat in an abandoned building and build a bar. Reclaiming the Jewish identity their parents' generation abandoned after the Holocaust, they create a vibrant new subculture that combines big ideas and intense debates with wild parties. Friendships form and fray, couples recombine, people change, the neighborhood is transformed. But when authoritarianism and antisemitism make a surprise comeback in the country at large, will the places they built survive? Reserve tickets. The best seats. The best price. ORDER YOURS TODAY INDEPENDENT • INTERCULTURAL • ENTERTAINING • UNCENSORED

POET LORE

The new issue of Poet Lore magazine is out.
A few of the voices you can enjoy are:

Abdul Ali
Robin Becker
Grace Cavalieri
Jessica Greenbaum
Tony Hoagland
David Lehman
Carl Phillips
Margaret Randall
R.T. Smith
Janice Lynch Schuster and many more.

www.poetlore.com

God takes a day off while the Devil is hard at work everyday. Go figure...

A NICE STOP TO MAKE

Dolcezza Gelato and Coffee
Logan Circle
1418 14th ST NW
(202) 817-3900
www.dolcezzagelato.com

LAURIE ADAMSON//ADAMSON GALLERY

I took this picture today of Laurie Adamson. She's the director of the Adamson Gallery located at 1515 Fourteenth Street, NW.

Below is a link to the website for the Adamson Gallery. For much of the year they had been showing Gordon Parks: Segregation Story. Pictures Parks took in Alabama in 1956.

www.adamsongallery.com