Category Archives: non fiction essay

Oakland Bratton Venezuela 3.0

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

Advertisements Guest Editorial by Jean Damu Was Oakland Police Consultant William Bratton involved in the failed Venezuela coup? And if he was, should Oaklanders be concerned? By Jean Damu Hundreds of Oakland residents turned out recently to voice their opinions … Continue reading →

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Gentrification: No Resting Place, Pt.2

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

“West Oakland is situated on the Bay side of Highway 980 and is easily accessible by public transportation including BARTand buses. If you are an urban pioneer who is looking to buy somewhere before it really booms, look into West Oakland” (Red Oak Realty, 2012 para. 4). West Oakland is being discovered and repopulated by pioneers of a different stripe. Continue reading →

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Gentrification: No Resting Place, Pt.1

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

The Bottoms in West Oakland was once a desirable destination for North American Africans recently freed from chattel slavery. Ex-slaves and Pullman Porters wrote a chapter in this neighborhood’s history. This chapter, like many that followed, is informed by race. Continue reading →

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Media and the Management of Reality

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

Advertisements Marvin X says the news ain’t the news it ain’t nothing but the blues and I agree. You might as well listen to Damien Marley, Koran Streets, or WolfHawkJaguar, if you want the news, they will tell you what’s … Continue reading →

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King Tides and NewTown: Harbingers of the Time

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

Advertisements Today there were King Tides in the Bay Area. I wonder about tides pulled by the moon and what makes anomalies. I wonder. I stay in conversation with the universe. There are explanations for most anomalies. As humans we … Continue reading →

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So THIS is transformation–

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

I know my role. I am an interlocutor .

I am a craftsperson, an artisan. I create. My tools are word and story. I am an interrogator I listen. I speak. I question. I hold our place in conversation. It is my gift, my task, my purpose in this awareness. Continue reading →

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True North: Me and Wilson

Posted on September 29, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

Advertisements When you are on a quest there are some things in your control and others that are left to fate. There are things you can bring to the journey but the more important things are those you take away. … Continue reading →

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In Search of A Song

Posted on September 23, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

Advertisements Every Wilson play I have directed is about Africans finding their song.  The search for our lost song is a part of a conversation about movement literal and figurative both voluntary and involuntary. We have indeed lost our song and we … Continue reading →

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Happy Cul-du-Sac: A Personal Deconstruction of North American Holidays.

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

I do believe in the New Year. I like how it involves reflection, resolutions and comes with a clean slate like the turning of a page. My birthday is January 4th so the Year for me personally really begins then. This is all very personal. But I don’t think I am alone in the generality of repurposing American Holidays by North American Africans. Continue reading →

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Blessing are Due: A Thanksgiving Reflection

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

I have learned to appreciate the ease of that time with my mother. She taught me to cook

without ever writing down a recipe. I still measure my prowess in the kitchen by my mother’s.

We talked about things we never talked about at any other time. Continue reading →

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