Bay Area Black Authors to Visit Juvenile Hall

Bay Area Black Authors to Visit Juvenile Hall


At the request of Center of Hope's Rev. Brondon Reems, Bay Area Black Authors will visit Oakland's Juvenile Hall to speak with and donate books made available by the Post Newspaper Group. The PNG obtained books from 13 local authors at the recent Journal of Pan African Studies Poetry Festival and the Chauncey Bailey Book Fair held at the Joyce Gordon Gallery on February 19.

Rev. Reems is ecstatic Bay Area Black Authors will accompany him to share with the juveniles. For BABA organizer, Marvin X, the trip is reminiscent of the trip he and editors of Black Dialogue Magazine made to Soledad Prison in 1966, where they addressed the Black Culture Club chaired by Eldridge Cleaver and Alprentis Bunchy Carter. "We are happy to work with the Center of Hope to help improve literacy and appreciation of literature among the population at Juvenile Hall."

Rev. Reems also asked BABA to conduct a workshop at his church for members who are budding writers. Along with members of his church, Rev. Reems will attend the March 19, Women's History event produced by BABA, Academy of da Corner and the Post Newspaper Group. The event will be held at the Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th Street, 3-6 pm. It features the Bay Area women poets published in the Journal of Pan African Studies Poetry Issue. Poets include Ayodele Nzingha, Phavia Kujichagulia, devorah major, Toreadah Mikell, Aries Jordan and Jasmin Conner. The women have asked BABA male authors to perform Marvin X's classic poem For the Women. It will be read by Paradise, Geoffrey Grier, Eugene Allen, Ptah Allah El, Jermaine, Michael Lange and Marvin X.

The afternoon event will showcase scenes from For Colored Girls, performed by Jasmin Conner,Vagina Monologue, performed by Aries Jordan, Woman on the Cell Phone, enacted by Mechelle LaChaux, and Opal Palmer Adisa's Bathroom Graffiti Queen, performed by Ayodele Nzinga.

There will be a panel discussion of Womanhood Rites of Passage, facilitated by media living legend and author Jerri Lange. Author Timothy Reed will also read from her novel. The event is free, but the public is encouraged to purchase books from local authors and donations will be accepted.

Saturday, March 19, 3-6pm
Joyce Gordon Gallery
406 14th Street
Oakland