KPOO radio documentary film

My name is Donald Lacy. I am director and producer of my film Broadcasting The Revolution: The KPOO Radio Story. I am working in partnership with KPOO radio to produce this film through the LoveLife Foundation. I am seeking your donations which are tax deductible to help us tell this great story of a one of a kind radio station. This video depicts a small sample of the history and impact of KPOO radio. A independent community radio station that gave regular air time to rap, reggae, salsa. blues and other forms of music and culture that was not being played on standard commercial radio formats. A Black owned and operated non commercial radio station that helped change the world. KPOO stands for Poor Peoples Radio Incorporated. A voice for the voiceless that gives community members access to the airways to speak out against injustice. 

 

Since 1974 KPOO radio has made an impact from San Francisco that reverberated to the 4 corners of the globe. This film will show the role KPOO radio was thrust into during the Patty Hearst/ SLA saga. Communiques from the SLA were dropped off at KPOO as media from around the world received information on Patty Hearst's kidnapping and the SLA demands to feed poor people. As the world watched KPOO was the center for information as the Patty Hearts story unfolded.

 

The role KPOO radio played in the divestment movement was key and pivotal. KPOO promoted the anti Aparthied movement and the resistance lead by SWAPO and the ANC. KPOO led the way in the divestment movement in the city of San Francisco.. The city by the Bay was the first major city in the United States to divest from Aparthied South Africa. After San Francisco divested, other major cities around the country divested which eventually broke the back of the South Africa regime and led to the release of Nelson Mandela.

 

KPOO was one of the first radio stations around the country to play rap music on a regular basis. Russell Simmons brought rap legends to KPOO like LL Cool J, RUN DMC, Public Enemy, Whodini, and many more. A lot of Bay Area rappers got their music played on radio for the first time on KPOO. The long list of Hip Hop luminaries includes Too Short, Digital Underground, MC Hammer, and others.

 

With its eclectic music format KPOO also had regular reggae music programs which helped popularized reggae starting when the great Bob Marley first came to KPOO in 1975. Other reggae legends who visited KPOO include Peter Tosh. Black Uhuru Aswad, Gregory Isaacs and Steel Pulse.

 

There has never been a radio station like KPOO. Any donations toward the production of this landmark film are tax-deductible. Your support is greatly appreciated. Your donations will go toward production expenses to produce the film which will include equipment costs, productions staff, editing costs and archival footage fees. For your donation you will be given an on screen credit for supporting this film.

 

This film is produced by the LoveLife Foundation which has been serving at risk youth to violence in the city of Oakland since 1997. The LoveLife Foundation was founded for 16 year old LoEshe' Lacy who was murdered on October 20, 1997 an innocent victim to a shooting. The work of the LoveLife Foundation has been proclaimed by the United States Congress. The LoveLife Foundation has also received awards from the American Red Cross, The National Council on Crime and Delinquency and was Broadcast on CNN. Due to the life saving work of the LoveLife Foundation the Oakland City Council on April 5, 2016 adopted : "L:oveLife" as the official motto of the city of Oakland. Every Entering Oakland sign says: " LoveLife" on them to honor all victims of violence and to remind us all to respect and cherish the gift of life.