Jeneé Darden
Executive Producer/Host, Sights & SoundsJeneé Darden is an award-winning journalist, author, public speaker and proud Oakland native. She is the executive producer and host of the weekly arts segment Sights & Sounds as well as the series Sights + Sounds Magazine. Jeneé also covers East Oakland for KALW. Jeneé has reported for NPR, Marketplace, KQED, KPCC, The Los Angeles Times, Ebony magazine, Refinery29 and other outlets. In 2005, she reported on the London transit bombings for Time magazine. Prior to coming to KALW, she hosted the podcast Mental Health and Wellness Radio.
Her first book, When a Purple Rose Blooms (Nomadic Press), is a collection of essays and poetry about her personal journey through Black womanhood. Her work is also published in the books Previously on X-Men: The Making of an American Series and We've Been Too Patient: Voices from Radical Mental Health.
Jeneé holds a BA in ethnic studies from UC San Diego and a master’s in journalism from the University of Southern California. When she’s off the clock, Jeneé enjoys dancing, performing her poetry, concerts, karaoke, traveling and watching superhero films. Follow her at www.jeneedarden.com.
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During this turbulent time in our country, I am once again reminded of the importance of artists. -
On today’s show, we’ll pay homage to the late D’Wayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Tone!, then the San Francisco Ballet is getting ready for their production of “Frankenstein,” and why an Oakland author wanted to write a children's book about “Star Trek’s” Nichelle Nichols. -
On this week's episode of "Sights + Sounds Picks," writer, publisher and artist Alie Jones gives her arts and culture suggestions happening in the Bay Area. -
CrosscurrentsFor nearly five decades, photographer Barbara Ramos' pictures of San Franciscans going about their day to day in the 1970s were kept safely stored away. But during the COVID quarantine Barbara shared some of them on social media. The posts drew a lot of attention and inspired her to collect them into her new book, “A Fearless Eye.” -
On today's show, we hear from a poet who honors her Louisiana Creole heritage in her new book, a playwright who works with a theatre company that presents plays from women and gender non-conforming artists over 40, and a drag parody of 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.' -
CrosscurrentsEvery Wednesday at 4pm Jeneé will deliver intimate, rich interviews with Bay Area artists, and the outside talent who are coming through the Bay for shows and performances. -
“Crosscurrents” Host Hana Baba interviews "Sights + Sounds" Host Jenee Darden about her journalism career and plans for her new one-hour art show. -
CrosscurrentsDorothy Lazard was the head librarian of the Oakland History Center at the city's main library for more than a decade, before she retired from that position in 2021. Her 2023 memoir “What You Don’t Know Will Make a Whole New World” was a Northern California Book Award Finalist. -
Sights + Sounds interviews the founder of the music label Empire and artists -
On this week's episode of "Sights & Sounds," photographer Barbara Ramos gives her arts and culture suggestions happening in the Bay Area.
