On Saturday, Feb. 19, at the Joyce Gordon Gallery, the Journal of Pan African Studies is sponsoring a Poetry Reading with Bay Area poets who are  published in the poetry issue of the journal and members of Academy of da Corner Reader's Theatre.

The event - which takes place from noon to 6 p.m. - also will feature a youth open mic from 2 to 3 p.m. and a Chauncey Bailey Book Fair. 

The community is urged to purchase books that will be sent to juvenile hall, Santa Rita jail and local prisons. The Oakland Post is spearheading this project as a way to help local authors and the incarcerated. Authors will dialogue on critical community issues.

The poetry festival will celebrate the release of the Journal of Pan African Studies Poetry Issue, whose guest editor was Marvin X, one of the founders of the Black Arts Movement. Bay Area poets include California poet laureate emeritus Al Young, San Francisco poet laureate emeritus devorah major, Ishmael Reed, Ayodele Nzingha, Phavia Kujichagulia, Ptah Allah El, Ramal Lamar, Fritz Pointer, J. Vern Cromartie, Itibari Zulu, Tureadah Mikell, Aries Jordan, Timothy Reed, Renaldo Manuel Ricketts, Niyah X, Maisha, Anthony Spires and Marvin X.

There is an open mike for other poets, plus members of Academy of da Corner Reader's Theatre will read. Poets include Geoffrey Grier, Eugene Allen, Alona Clifton, Lumukanda, Mechelle LaChaux, Hunia Bradley, Michael Lange, Aisha Fukushima. One of the "Queen Mothers of Bay Area Journalism," Jerri Lange, will be on hand to sing her book, "Jerri, A Black Woman's Life in the Media."

Sponsors for the event include the San Francisco Recovery Theatre, Lower Bottom Playaz, Oakland Local, Academy of da Corner, Oakland Post Newspaper Group, San Francisco State University Ethnic Studies Department, Refa 1, Journal of Pan African Studies and Black Bird Press.

The Joyce Gordon Gallery is located at 406 14th St., Oakland. More information can be found at Black Bird Press News and Review.

About Oakland Local editorial team

The Oakland Local Editorial Team is made up of Kwan Booth, Amy Gahran, Irene Florez, Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig, Eric Arnold, Jennifer Inez Ward, Tymeesa Rutledge, Meg Bertoni, Susan Mernit, Tehea Robie, Debi Mason, and others.