Report: Dr. J. Vern Cromartie at Exhibit Marvin X

Journalist Lee Hubbard,
Marvin X, Professor Cromartie
photo Gene Hazzard


On Saturday, February 11, poet/sociologist Dr. J. Vern Cromartie presented a lecture/reading at Exhibit Marvin X. He gave a summary of the paper he presented on Marvin X's brief tenure as a lecturer in black studies at University of California, Berkeley, noting the poet taught there with only an A.A. degree from Merritt College. Along with the black studies faculty, Marvin was purged by the administration and more pliant Negroes were hired. Dr. Cromartie recalled Cecil Brown's book What Happened to My Black Studies Department? to suggest an even more sinister move wherein blacks are brought in from the Pan African Diaspora and given tenure because they are even more accommodating to white supremacy academia, the local radical academics being regarded as dangerous to the status quo.

Cromarties noted that even while teaching at UCB, Marvin X had his own Black Educational Theatre in San Francisco's Fillmore where his UCB students performed his myth-ritual drama
Resurrection of the Dead, which included a naming ceremony. Many students kept their names for life, including Nisa Ra (Greta Pope) and Malika Jamilah (Charlene Hunter). Singer/actor Victor Willis had the lead role in this production. He went on to sing with the Village People and wrote such hits as Macho Man, YMCA and I'm In the Navy.

The sociologist put on his poet hat to read two poems dedicated to his teacher whose works he read as a 14 year old in Waycross, Georgia, in particular Black Man Listen, Broadside Press, 1969. The first poem described the poet during his Crack addiction, the second told of Marvin X's love affair with his high school girlfriend, poet-critic-professor Sherley A. Williams. Marvin X was deeply moved at hearing this poem that revealed Professor Cromartie's profound poetic insight. The professor noted that Sherley may have been his soul mate, but apparently the poet has had several powerful soul mates that Cromartie has had the privilege of knowing since he enrolled in the poet's theatre class at Laney College, 1981: Nisa Ra, Hurriyah Asar, Masha Satterfield and Suzzette Celeste Johnson. Cromartie, of Gullah Geeche ancestry, said all these women were beautiful, highly intelligent and spiritual. Yes, Marvin X said, these women were angelic, I was the devil.

Hurriyah Asar, poet's longtime friend

The program climaxed with a reading of the poet's works by Aries Jordan, one of several poets Marvin X is mentoring. Aries read from Marvin X's Land of My Daughters, Black Bird Press, 2005, a collection that made Bob Holman call Marvin X the USA's Rumi.






Aries read What is Love, How to Love a Thinking Woman and Never Love a Poet. Aries said she loves How to Love a Thinking Woman simply because she is a thinking woman, and Never Love a Poet touched her because it deals with the creative personality. Clearly, Aries has absorbed the spirit of her teacher. Her voice is loud and clear, her dramatic technique precise. She read his poems better than he. Now 24 years old,we suspect she will become an expert at reading the poetry of Marvin X before and after he joins the ancestors. Aries concluded with two poems from her collection Journey to Womanhood, Letter to the Elders and That Girl.







Exhibit Marvin X, Sat., Feb. 18, 7pm
presents Dr. Oba T'Shaka and Norman Brown on John Douimbia, mentor to the Bay Area Civil Rights and Black Power movements


Exhibit Marvin X continues on Saturday, Feb. 18, 7pm, with a lecture/discussion of Marvin X's mentor, the Honorable John Douimbia (RIP). Dr. Oba T'Shaka, professor emeritus at San Francisco State University and community organizer Norman Brown will make presentations, both were also mentored by John D, as he was affectionately known. Exhibit Marvin X is located at 1222 Dwight Way, Berkeley. For reservations, please call 510-575-2225.

Exhibit Marvin X thanks the following for their support: Dr. Robert McNight, Berkeley High School Black Studies, Ramal Lamar (Berkeley High, B-Tech), Suzzette Celeste, Phil Johnson, Paul Cobb, Oakland Post Newspaper, Adam Turner, videographer, Amira and Nefertiti Jackmon, Dr. J. Vern Cromartie, Contra Costa College.