Intersection For The Arts & City Lights Booksellers present
A Thousand Manong Heartbeats Rappin in the Light : A Literary Tribute to Al Robles
Sunday, September 19, 2010, 6:00 P.M.
Intersection 5M | 925 Mission Street | San Francisco, California, 94103
Donation requested $5.00 (sliding scale, no one turned away due to lack of funds)
Hosted by Sean San Jose & D. Scott Miller with Jessica Hagedorn | Jack Hirschman | Janice Mirikatani | Alejandro Murguia | Jaime Jacinto | Ishmael Reed | Barbara Jane Reyes | Allyson Tintiangco Cubales | Paul Yamazaki
Intersection for the Arts and City Lights Booksellers are pleased to bring together members of the Bay Area literary community in a literary tribute casting light upon the life and work of an extraordinary figure. Poets, writers, editors, and booksellers, all offer a unique view, via poetry, prose, conversation, and recollection, in an evening of storytelling in honor of a great storyteller.
Poet, educator, community activist, and advocate for the poor and senior citizens, Al Robles walked in many worlds. Born a Filipino American in the Fillmore district of San Francisco, his life was informed and nourished by the rich cultural fabric all around him. He lived at the intersection of African American, Japanese, and Pilipino cultures. Jazz was a much a part of his upbringing as zen. His forays into edges of North Beach, via Manilatown, brought him into contact with the poetry and personality of the Beats as well. His empathy with the marginalized peoples around him brought him into the frontline of the struggle to preserve the civil rights and the heritage of Manilatown culture. He was a tireless fighter against the demolition of the I-Hotel on Kearny Street. He worked closely with the Pilipino elders to preserve their stories and heritage. He worked with Pilipino youth to engender within them a deep connection to their culture. Al Robles’ art and poetry were inextricably linked to his activism and his concern for people. He lived his life as a gentle warrior, always in the service of the community.
For more info on Intersection 5M visit: www.theintersection.org