Writing

Over the years I’ve written everything from cultural commentary and arts features to hard news and investigative packages. Here are some of my favorites, either because of the writing, the subject or the experience, these pieces all resonate and reflect various aspects of my creative interests.

Commentary:

• To Kirkus w/love, a book geek’s lament
• World Aids Day dads and dancefloors
• The problem w/the CNN Nas interview
• Death of Autotune or death of hip hop?
• Michael Jackson’s dead
• Music+Tech+Crumbling Industry=We’re not sure yet, but it’s gonna be cool

Arts and Culture:

• Lost, found and famous-Profile of Grammy nominated singer Ledisi
• PeaceOut festival brings Homo-hop to the World
• The Prince Cometh-Profile of poet and performer Ise Lyfe
• The Day The Music Died, Maybe
• Open to Interpretation- Profile of painter Raymond Saunders

Reviews:

• Passing Strangely Through Blackness-Theater
• Hurston’s “Spunk” Still Stings-Theater
• The Blue Door to History-Theater
• Dancing with Language-Poetry

Interviews:

• Spells on the Walls-Curator Cicely Sweed
• The Cartography of Visual Culture-Critic and visual artist Duane Deterville
• No Spectator Journalism-Journalist and community activist JR Valrey
• Hip Hop Colony-The African Hip Hop Explosion-Film director Michael Wanguhu
• Kenyan Hip Hop Comes to Oakland-Kenyan hip hop stars The Logombas, Bamboo and Ida

News:

• Series: Bay Area Toxic Tour
  • Port’s Diesel Pollution Stirs West Oakland Protest
  • West Oakland Neighbors Tackle Toxic Legacy
  • Ship Pollution Escapes Oakland Diesel Debate
  • Port of Oakland Truck Meeting Spins Wheels
  • Oakland: Port Vote Paves Way for Cleaner Trucks
• Bay Area join US Social Forum
• Clinton: Act Like Americans

Original image: The Letter Writer by Rita Banerji