Remembering Pearl Harbour: A Woman’s Perspective

Sixty-eight years ago, Pearl Harbour naval base on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, was bombed. Over the years, several film and documentary have been produced. Many stories have been presented. However, few stories of the role of women have been shared. Today, Women’s Magazine has some of those stories, like that of Lena Jamison, a California woman who was recorded two days after the bombing. by John Lomax of the Library of Congress, in Dallas, TX. Other stories include that of Ruth Baird Shaw, as well as journalist Cornelia Fort, a Pearl Harbour survivor.

Plus "Grandmother's Wisdom Way," marks the 16 Days of action for United Nations- mandated Campaign for the Elimination of Violence towards Women and girls. Listen to this extraordinary compilation of poetry, history and song, produced by Yevtte Hochberg and Nina Serrano. Featuring poet, musician and healer, MamaCoAtl, Alameda poet laureate Mary Rudge, radio host and musician/poet Avotcja and independent scholar Max Dashu.

Hosted by Jovelyn Richards and produced by Safi wa Nairobi.

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Remembering Andrea Lewis

Today on Women's Magazine, we aired a tribute to our sister and colleague, Andrea Lewis.

Included was an extraordinary interview with Andrea by Women's Mag producer, Lisa Dettmer, in which Andrea reflects on how she came to feminism, her perspective on lesbian feminism, and admits that her favorite album in her youth was Carole King's Tapestry. (And those of you who are old enough will know that means you'll be hearing "You've Got a Friend" and "Natural Woman.")

Also clips from some of Andrea's interviews and shows, and reflections from coworkers and friends.

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Wome's Magazine - Andrea Lewis: Feminist Extraordinaire. - November 23, 2009 at 1:00pm

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Letter to Andrea from Women's Magazine's Preeti Shekar:

Dear Andrea

I am so shocked you are no more. Many of us will feel shocked for a long time. How can we not? We lost in you a precious and amazing person. A voice meant for radio. A voice that energized, educated and enlightened so many of us.

I met you in 2006 when I was a news journalist and activist learning the ropes of radio production. I started listening to the morning show and like so many of your listeners, your voice, your energy, and radiance endeared me to the show. I tuned into the morning show regularly. When you left for the Stanford fellowship, like a lot of your regular listeners, I sorely missed your voice on KPFA. A year later when you returned to take charge of Sunday sedition, I began listening to it – once again more for you and very soon, it was also because of all the terrific guests and issues you brought to the show.

Dear Andrea I am sad that we never had lunch like we kept planning to. I remember when I pitched show ideas on South Asian issues that I work on, you used to write back saying, I think you should do it for the Sunday show, and I am glad to help you work on it. Thank you for being such a generous soul. I regret I didn’t get to work with you and learn from you more directly.

Your signature laughter, your gentle but firm style of dealing with an annoying guest – all of it was just so you. I loved how you enabled good discussions on radio, and how you broke down complex issues so well. As a younger woman of color delving into radio, I listened to you – literally! I loved how you wove in your left politics strategically, like a clever chess move, not the clichéd angry black woman calling out racism that maybe necessary and feels so right but sometimes just shuts down conversations and doesn’t let us on the progressive left build allies across differences.

You wore your politics with such impeccable style, broke stereotypes of how one could talk about issues of race, class, gender and sexuality and my most important lesson that I will always remember you for: humor. Listening to you on air was a reminder to those of us on the left to stop taking ourselves so seriously. Your booming laughter, be it on airwaves or across the KPFA hallways, was a nudge to us serious lefties that change can be done with laughter mixed with some love.

Like so many people, I am grateful to have known you. You are indeed a ray of sunshine lent to us too briefly. But we sure are glad we had the sun of your laughter ringing through our ears for years.

Love,

Preeti

A memorial for andrea will be held Tuesday evening, November 24 from 6:00-9:00 p.m., at the First Unitarian Church in Oakland, 685 14th St.

November 9, 2009: Rape and Militarism

Today we look at the intimate connection between rape and war. As the wars our country is embroiled in escalate, so does sexual violence at home.

In our first segment, Kate Raphael brings us voices from the Peace March held in Richmond on Saturday, November 7. The peace march was organized by rape survivors and brought people together from Richmond and throughout the Bay Area to empower and support one another.

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Watch video of the rally.

In our second segment, we hear a talk by Zoya, a 28-year-old leader of the Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan. She calls for immediate withdrawal of foreign troops, but also calls on the United States to disarm the warlords it previously armed.

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Monday, November 2 Show: New Directions for NOW and Real Talk with Kiki & Miz Chris

Monday on Women's Magazine, Terry O'neill, new president of the National Organization for Women, shares her vision for building the grassroots movement to win the Equal Rights Amendment, welfare rights and single-payer health care for all women.

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Think you know what NOW is about? You might really be surprised! Check out all the great stuff on their blog, Say It Sister!.

And don't miss the premiere episode of Real Talk with Kiki & Miz Chris, a groundbreaking exploration of living as lesbians of color in the East Bay, with DJ Olga T and spoken word artist Ramona Webb. Monday at 1 pm on KPFA or online anytime at kpfawomensmag.blogspot.com. Produced by Kate Raphael with Kiki Poe and Christine de la Rosa.

Listen to this segment

Peace March in Richmond Responds to Homecoming Rape

A Peace March will be held in Richmond this Saturday
November 7, 11:00 a.m.
Richmond High School, 1250 23rd St, Richmond, CA (get directions)
For more info malupresents@gmail.com

Richmond girl raped outside homecoming dance
BAY AREA NEWS GROUP
Richmond

Richmond girl raped: A 15-year-old Richmond girl who had left the homecoming dance was hospitalized in stable condition after being assaulted and allegedly raped by several men on the Richmond High School grounds, police said.

Police received several reports shortly before midnight Saturday and when officers arrived at the high school several men ran away. One was caught.

The 19-year-old Richmond man was in the county jail in Richmond on rape charges, said Richmond Police Sgt. Bisa French. She would not release his name, saying they were trying to get more information from him and police were concerned that if his name were known he might be more reluctant to talk.

The girl was unconscious and flown by helicopter to a hospital.

French said police believe the girl was raped by several men an they are looking for "at least" four males.

"She left the dance at some point and that's when this occurred," French said.

She said the girl apparently knew at least one of her assailants.

Mike Taugher

Expanded mainstream media coverage
News and Commentary from savvy sista
Rape seen as almost inevitable
Friend of survivor speaks out on CNN

Disability and Breast Cancer Awareness

Today, Women's Magazine spotlights women living with breast cancer.

In the first half hour you'll hear a documentary on Grace Paley, poet, writer, activist and social critic who died of breast cancer at age 84. Paley's short stories, which were rich with everyday dialogue, often chronicled the lives of women—generally Jewish New Yorkers. The Grace Paley documentary includes a contrast with young poet Ra Goddess. The documentary is produced by Reggie Johnson, with co-production by Deepa Fernandes and Matt Rogers.

In the second half of the show, we'll share a portion of a documentary about breast cancer from an African American perspective.

And, of course, you'll hear Jovelyn's World and the weekly calendar of events. The stories of African American women living with breast cancer comes from WABE's program Journey to Wellness. Today's show is hosted by Jovelyn Richards, the calendar compiled by Yvette Hochberg, and produced by Safi wa Nairobi.

Listen to the show.

Monday, September 14 - Feminists Resisting Militarism

This week on Women's Magazine: Feminists Resisting Militarism

We feature an interview by Margaret Thompson of Feminist International Radio Endeavor (FIRE) with Daisy Flores, a young organizer/activist with the Honduran group Feminists in Resistance. Feminists in Resistance has been in the forefront of the nonviolent street protests which have raged throughout Honduras since the overthrow of president Manuel Zelaya by the military and Roberto Micheletti.

Listen to the interview on FIRE's website.

Kate Raphael talks with Zanne Joi of the women's peace group Code Pink about their campaign to Ground the Drones. Unmanned drones controlled from Creech Air Base in Nevada carry out lethal attacks on civilians in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Download or listen to the interview here.

Plus an update on the case of South African track star Caster Semenya, who was forced to undergo a battery of "gender verification" tests after winning the 800 meters at the World Championships in Germany. Last week, newspapers leaked the results of the tests, which ostensibly show that Caster is intersex.

Download or listen to our report here.