That Old Black Magic: Black Arts West

That Old Black Magic: Black Arts West

On Saturday, February 19, Noon til, something exciting will happen at the Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th Street at Franklin, downtown Oakland. Something magical will occur when the poets and writers hit the mike. Earthquake, tsunami , hurricane, all of the above and more, for in the beginning was the word and the word was God. Thus when the poets gather, especially the conscious poets, just know a balm in Gilead is about to be dispensed, a balm of conscious literature by some of the most powerful poets and writers in the world.

As Guest Editor of the Journal of Pan African Studies Poetry Issue, Marvin X made it his duty to collect material from the most powerful poets in the world, and most especially from the Bay Area. Without question, they are top of the line: Al Young, devorah major, Ayodele Nzingha, Tureada Mikell, Phavia Kujichagulia, Fritz Pointer, Itibari M. Zulu, Ptah Allah El, are about the business of spreading consciousness in the land.

You will hear them and many more, young and old, who will spit truth to the winds for radical change. Can you spare some change, Ptah asks. Marvin X asks can you change? Al Young reminds us of Emmitt Till. Fritz Pointer recalls how Oakland responded to the killing of four OPD officers, sadly, he says the oppressed masses experienced an obscene pride after years of abuse under the color of law.

Phavia describes a human race to the finish line. Ayo asks how will she be remembered and reasons, reasons.... Paradise Jah Love tells us they love everything about us but us! Jerri Lange shares her narrative of a black woman's life in the media.

Just a few of the tales that will be told on Saturday at the Joyce Gordon Gallery poetry festival and book fair. The event will benefit the incarcerated. Books will be purchased for donation to juvenile hall, the country jail and local prisons.

You can support this project by attending and purchasing books written by local authors. You should support them whether you have heard of them or not. They are the continuation of the Black Arts Movement of the 60s, that originated here in the Bay Area as well as on the east coast, midwest and south. But the Bay Area was special since the predominate poetry journals and magazines of consciousness were published here, namely the Journal of Black Poetry, Black Dialogue and Soulbook, three of the most radical journals of the time. The Journal of Pan African Studies continues the tradition online. It receives over 14,000 hits per month. Itibari M. Zulu is the Senior Editor.

Poetry, music, parables, dance, and more will be part of the celebration on Saturday. The event is supported by the Post Newspaper Group, Bay Area Black Authors, Journal of Pan African Studies, School of Ethnic Studies, San Francisco State University, Kakakiki Slave System, Oakland Local, Academy of da Corner Reader's Theatre, Black Bird Press, Eastside Arts, It's About Time, Black Hour, San Francisco Recovery Theatre, Lower Bottom Playaz, Hug a Thug Book Club and Black Dialogue Brothers.

Program

12 Noon

Social, refreshments, book signings

1pm

Walk to 14th and Alice for Chauncey Bailey
Authors Speak

2pm

Open Mike/Speak Out

3pm

Journal of Pan African Studies Poetry Festival and Reader's Theatre Performance

Music provided by Kwic Time, Augusta Collins, Mechelle LaChaux, Rashidah Sabreen

For more information, email: jmarvinx@yahoo.com. www.blackbirdpressnews.blogspot.com