MLK Day Literary Liberation Throwdown (Oakland)

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Get ready to have your spirit stirred and your mind awakened.  In a powerful commemoration of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a revolutionary ensemble is set to shake Oakland. This is not a quiet contemplation. This is a literary throwdown— a  must-be-there convergence of passionate, poetic talent and Black Panther Party history that demands your presence.

Hosted by Reverend Harry Williams aka OG Rev, in conjunction with Oakland City Church where Reverend Beth Carroll is the senior pastor, this event is a testament to the living, breathing spirit of activism and art. During this unique MLK celebration, the stage will catch fire with some of the Bay Area’s most explosive poetic voices.

Prepare yourself for:

Tongo Eisen Martin: The eighth Poet Laureate of San Francisco and NY Times Poetry Book Of The Year awardee, author of Heaven Is All Goodbyes.

James Cagney:  The James Laughlin awardee, author of the recently released poetry collection, Ghetto Koans: A Personal Archive.

Jenee Darden: Host of The Sights +  Sounds Show with Jeneé Darden on KALW 91.7 FM and author  of When A Purple Rose Blooms

Diego Rodriguez: The highly regarded  community activist hailing from East Oakland and a rising literary talent.

Donte Clark: is a poet, actor, and community activist from unincorporated North Richmond, California who works with youth organizations throughout the Richmond area. His most recent work is the poetry collection, We Cry Freedom.

David Newton:  The nephew of Black Panther Co-Founder Dr. Huey P. Newton works to preserve the Party’s legacy.  He will be reading from the newly released book, Huey P. Newton’s Family: Roots Of A Revolutionary Suicide.

Rev. Harry Louis Williams, II aka OG Rev: The prominent Oakland community activist, author and hip-hop artist who is also a bridge between the church and the streets  His ministry is well known to Oakland’s underserved citizens.  His latest novel is entitled Straight Outta East Oakland: Funk Season.

What:  MLK Day Literary Liberation Throwdown

When:  Monday, January 19 th at 11:00 a.m.

Where:  Oakland City Church, 2735 MacArthur Boulevard near Coolidge Avenue

Admission:  FREE

Community contact: Reverend Harry Williams, (510)508-4888,

wordsofhopehoodversion@gmail.com

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.