Hard Knock Radio 02-25-2014: We had insightful discussions on HKR about the Black Arts Movement and the fight to keep Ethnic Studies alive and well in California..We also talk about the importance of Bone Marrow and its impact on communities of colors.
We start off by speaking with Marvin X who was co-founder of Black Arts Movement on the West Coast. He breaks down the details about the upcoming Black Arts Conference at UC Merced and the impact the Black Arts Movement had American culture and the academia.
Marvin X noted that the conference initially was designed to talk about ways to bring the history of BAM to the masses for clearer understanding. The late Amiri Baraka was scheduled to be a major part of the conference. Sadly with his passing last month, the conference this weekend will be more of tribute. During our interview, Marvin talked about his long friendship with Baraka which spans 47 years.
He also talked about how the conference will pay particular attention to the important role women played in the Black Arts Movement as well as ways in which the Hip Hop generation can better take up BAM’s mission
you can get more info on the conference by clicking the link below:
Black Arts Movement Conference Program Highlights, UC Merced, Feb 28 thru March 2, 2014
http://blackbirdpressnews.
In our second segment, we speak with Professor Melina Abdullah, who is in the Pan-African department of CSULA.. We talked about the current fight to keep Ethnic Studies as a requirement at CSULA and ways to keep it alive and well at all colleges in California.
Abdullah noted that there is a trend all over the country to re-write history books and downplay the important contributions of People of Color. Many feel its a harsh reaction to the Blackening and Browning of America by those who are determined to hold on to power at all costs.
We also talked about the fact that there are attempts to marginalize ethnic studies and make it seem the classes taught within it aren’t credible. Many of the folks pushing that narrative are vying for power and feel threatened by peers in the academy challenging and dismantling long-held erroneous theories and notions ..
We conclude our show by speaking with Carol Gillespie of the Asian American Donar Program about the importance of folks donating to the program, the impact Bone Marrow donation has on Communities of color and mixed race kids. We talk about their upcoming fundraising comedy show
Guests: Marvin X, Professor Melina Abdullah and Carol Gillespie
HKR-02-25-14 Black Arts Movement-Save Ethnic Studies-Bone Marrow