Pow Wow: A Fundrasier for The Before Columbus Foundation

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	POW WOW FUNDRAISER A Celebration Honoring 33 Years of the Before Columbus Foundation with special performances in music, theater, poetry, dance and the art of the short story. Hosted by Ishmael Reed & Justin Desmangles Sat., May 9, 2009 1-4 PM with Reception This event is free to the Public. Donations are welcomed at the door. Main branch of the San Francisco Public Library Lower level, Koret Auditorium 100 Larkin Street (at Grove) For more information, contact: Justin Desmangles hoodoojazz@gmail.com www.beforecolumbusfoundation.org Alejandro Murguia Artists Performing: The line up includes music, poetry, dance, theater and the short story. Alejandro Murguia, Author Deepa Subramaniam & Vidya Iyer of the Nrithyollasa Dance Academy Flamenco & Jazz guitarist Aswut Rodriguez Nrithyollasa Dance Academy Tennessee Reed, Poet Conyus, who will be reading his short story, Wormwood A performance from Wajahat Ali's play Domestic Crusaders Ishmael Reed, presenting a performance piece from Genny Lim's The Only Language She Knows directed by Carla Blank, with music by Jon Jang. Tennessee Reed The International Capoeira Angola Foundation Conyus Ishmael Reed About the Before Columbus Foundation: The Before Columbus Foundation was founded in 1976 as a nonprofit educational and service organization dedicated to the promotion and dissemination of contemporary American multicultural literature. The goals of BCF are to provide recognition and a wider audience for the wealth of cultural and ethnic diversity that constitutes American writing. BCF has always employed the term "multicultural" not as a description of an aspect of American literature, but as a definition of all American literature. BCF believes that the ingredients of America's so-called "melting pot" are not only distinct, but integral to the unique constitution of American Culture-the whole comprises the parts. In 1978, the Board of Directors of BCF (authors, editors, and publishers representing the multicultural diversity of American Literature) decided that one of its programs should be a book award that would, for the first time, respect and honor excellence in American literature without restriction or bias with regard to race, sex, creed, cultural origin, size of press or ad budget, or even genre. There would be no requirements, restrictions, limitations, or second places. There would be no categories (i.e., no "best" novel or only one "best" of anything). International Capoiera Angola Foundation Domestic Crusaders by Wajahat Ali Genny Lim Jon Jang The winners would not be selected by any set quota for diversity (nor would "mainstream white anglo male" authors be excluded), because diversity happens naturally. Finally, there would be no losers, only winners. The only criteria would be outstanding contribution to American literature in the opinion of the judges. All winners are accorded equal standing. Their publishers are also to be honored for both their commitment to quality and their willingness to take the risks that accompany publishing outstanding books and authors that may not prove "cost-effective" in the short run. There are special Award designations (such as Lifetime Achievement) for contributions to American literature beyond a recently published book. The American Book Awards Program is not associated with any industry group or trade organization. The American Book Awards offer no cash prize nor do they require any financial commitments from the authors or their publishers. The Award winners are nominated and selected by a panel of writers, editors, and publishers who also represent the diversity of American literary culture. American Book Awards Before Columbus Foundation The Raymond House 655-13th Street, Suite 302 Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 268-9775 www.beforecolumbusfoundation.org