Monday, December 31, 2012

Marvin X Speaks on the Transition of Poet Jayne Cortez


12-28-12_Cortez


Greetings, Marvin---
Thank you again for sharing your creative remarks regarding Jayne Cortez.  The show will air from 4pm - 6pm tomorrow on KPOO, 89.5FM, San Francisco/www.kpoo.com.
Hope you get to listen.  either way, I will forward you a copy tomorrow night.  Merry New Year!  No justice, no peace...

-- 
Safi wa Nairobi
KPFA Radio, 94.1FM
1929 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way
Berkeley 94704 CA
510.848.6767, ext. 647 (station)
510.444.7226 (personal)

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Navigating the Perilous Mental Landscape



Navigating the perilous Mental Landscape

Like the earthquake in Japan, man too is in mental motion, a mind quake of the most devastating degree that is rocking his mental equilibrium to the core!

We must be aware of the times and what must be done. A blind man named Ray Charles told us "the world is in an uproar, the danger zone is everywhere...." And so it is, ancestor Ray, there is turbulence in the land and in man, woman and children. As the earth enters another 25,000 year cycle of history with the coming New Age of high spiritual consciousness, there are many who remain deaf, dumb and blind to present and future events, even though the news is full of rapidly changing events in the global village. One would need to be in worse shape than Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder not to see the earth is in transformation, even Nature itself. The ice is melting, the sea rising, the forests burning, earthquakes and tsunamis , drought, famine, pestilence, in diverse places, just as Jesus predicted.

Apparently, many do not believe what Jesus said even when they see events he predicted before their very eyes, on the news, Twitter, Facebook, Cable TV and elsewhere. He said mother would be against child and child against mother and father. Did he not say brother would be against brother and sister against sister? And do we not see this in our social relations today.

It is crystal clear to me we are in times in which a friend is no longer a friend, a wife and husband no longer wife and husband. There is no love between them. Husbands and wives say the horrible things to each other. Daughters and sons say the most wretched things to their parents, often when the parents are helping them.

But when the danger zone is everywhere, no one, no relationships are exempt from the turmoil sweeping the old order out and ushering in the New Era. But there is an almost organic relationship between the earth quaking and the minds of men, women and children becoming totally unbalanced. In this time of radical change of Nature and man, those with no understanding shall become unglued, losing their fragile mental equilibrium or simply tripping out. Ultimately, they become a danger to themselves and others and must be committed, for they are not the person we knew only yesterday. Today they are a total stranger who does not know us, cannot even recognize us, yet we have known them since childhood. They could be a sibling yet they do not act like there is any blood relationship between us. We behave like total strangers.

It could be parent/child relationships that come to such a low point children will sue parents or visa versa. In short the love is gone. Amiri Baraka tells us in his play A Black Mass, "Where the souls print should be there is only a cellulose pouch of disgusting habits...."

As we walk the streets be very careful what you say to people, for they are on edge, on the precipice, ready to strike out at the slightest perceived negative incident, or wrong word uttered.
Yes, they are ready to kill, so be aware as you make your daily round.

The political/economic atmosphere is charged with venom, but it is misplaced aggression, for no one is going after the bankers, the loan sharks, the Wall Street financiers who were casino gamblers with the wealth of the people, stealing 13 trillion dollars in the sub prime housing scam.
And yet hardly a banker is in jail, meanwhile 2.4 million mostly poor are incarcerated for petty crimes, additionally they suffer drug abuse and mental illness, not to mention lack of proper legal representation at the time of their trials. The only white man doing time is the one who stole from the rich, not the poor. Those who robbed the poor are yet receiving multimillion dollar bonuses while 30 million workers are unemployed and millions are now homeless.

It is this atmosphere that is so unsettling to the mental state of those who were already suffering stress from the general hostile environment, from bad food, the media dispensing
information from the world of make believe and promoting the addiction to white supremacy conspicuous consumption

How do we move from problem to solution, from addiction to recovery, from sickness to healing?
The Buddhists says knowledge plus the right action. We must first understand the time and what must be done. These are perilous times, very dangerous, thus one must tip through the tulips, through the mind fields that lay before us, behind us, to the right and to the left.

We must practice eternal vigilance and stay on guard against being deceived. There are those who wish to deceive us so that we remain victims of the slave system. They will not tell us all the institutions are exhausted, political, economic, educational, religious, marital. None of these shall continue with business as usual. They must and shall undergo radical structural change, if not simply thrown into the dustbin of history where they belonged long ago.

Those not prepared for radical change shall be blown by the wayside where they shall inhabit the lower realms of an animal existence until they die or recover from savagery and come into the era of civility and spirituality beyond religiosity.

Those who are a danger to themselves and others will need to be confined to a program of long term recovery, a rehabilitation of their disgusting habits, namely greed, ego, pride, lust, arrogance, and other deadly sins, and most importantly the inability to practice freedom, justice and equality, constitutionally unable to share the wealth and practice democracy or the consent of the governed.

The end is the beginning and the beginning is the end, or rather what goes around comes around. What we are witnessing and experiencing is not linear time but circular, for we shall continue, but only those who are able to jump out of the box of the old structures into the new.

The fearless ones, they shall be successful. Those not motivated by the illusions of the monkey mind shall be successful. We pray for the others who persist in their inordinancy, blindly wandering on, as the Qur'an says.
--Marvin X
4/7/11

Marvin X Speaks in Fresno at the African American Museum



Marvin X spoke briefly in Fresno last night at the African American Museum's Kwanza ceremony. The
poet told of his early life in the Valley, struggle to teach at Fresno State University, his recent national book tour and the importance of North American Africans preserving their archives. He made the audience aware that two of Black America's greatest authors are from Fresno, himself, of course (audience laughter) and Sherley Ann Williams (RIP).

According to the museum's founder, Jack Kelly (RIP), "When Marvin X fought to teach at Fresno State College (now University), he made things better for everybody, not just students at FSU. Black police officers were not allowed to patrol the white side of town until Marvin X came to FSU."

He described racial conditions on his tour, especially in South Carolina where his advisors and host told him to say nothing, just enjoy Gullahland. But the poet said Upsouth was no better, especially in New York City where 700,000 young black and Puerto Rican men were stopped and frisked last year. NYC is under police occupation, especially the hood, so America is essentially a police state controlled by pigs and fear. The Kwanza event ended with his talk. People said they were inspired by his remarks.
The poet was invited by Pamela Young, President of the Fresno chapter of the NAACP. Arrangements are being made by Museum Director  Gregory Melancon to have the poet return during Black History Month.

Marvin X is available for speaking nationwide. Contact him at 510-200-4164 or his agent, Sun in Leo PR 718-496-2305, email: prgirl@suninleo.com.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Old Men Drive Alone

Old men drive around town alone
nowhere to go no matter how hard they try
the Mercedes takes them nowhere
can't stop by this friend's house he's dead
this friend is crazy
can't stop and chat with him
this nigguh is a long gone alcoholic
can't fuck with him
you drunk yoself
Henny and Bailey's
a deadly combo
separating mind from body
but you go out anyway
for air
too lazy to walk the lake down the street
fuck the lake
would ride bike if tire was fixed
paid the negro for a tire but didn't fix it
what's wrong with the negro
what about three centruries of free labor
think the negro ain't tired in his DNA
in the marrow of bones tired
would you work with no memory of pay
or wage slavery in the modern era
slave none the less
no food stamps
no medical
no parity
no job security
just work
three minimum wage jobs
enjoy life
don't let those Cali negroes come south talking shit
fuck up yo shit wit da white man
then leave
you stuck wit white man
three minimum jobs
can't pay car note after Cali nigguh departed
wish dat nigguh said nothing
just shut the fuck up and leave us lone
we know how to deal wit our peckerwood
Cali ass nigguh
deal wit dat Cali peck
and dad NYC peck
stop and frist ass peck
got you nigguhs under occupation
but you NYC nigguhs all that and bag of chips
stopped on every block wit pants hanging down
got any drugs
on probation parole
got gun
warrants
go ahead nigguh
might as well stay in South Carolina
shut up and stay
lease you got a job
minimum wage but job
ain't got that in NYC.

So I drive alone
no friends to call
no women friends
they gone or crazy too
I drive slow
through the Tenderloin of SF
do I know you?
Nigguh you still on the street selling dope
must be a snitch nigguh
how many nigguhs you sent to prison to stay on the street
I'm scared of you nigguh
I drive I drive
I pray I pray
asking God to tell me why You saved me
Please tell me why.
Why you didn't take me down in the mud with these other rats?
Why you save me to drive around in my Mercedes alone?
--Marvin X
12/28/12
Fresno

For Jayne Cortez in Memoriam


For Jayne Cortez in Memoriam
______________________________________________

© Marcia Wilson
A goddess departed for ancestral lands
full of fire this songbird
screaming in the night in the noon early morn
crying tears of joy at the music of life
dancing between Africa and America
making  connection real
we continue our howl in the night
a choir member departed
purple robe in hand
machine gun of words on her shoulder
warrior woman poet
a song a dance 
a scream a wonder
love is all
what else is real
a woman's touch
like a razor to the heart
you bleed but don't know it
until the blood consumes
let the blood rise to ancestor plane
for the living
the yet unborn.
--Marvin X
12/28/12
Fresno CA

Jayne Cortez In Memoriam


JAYNE CORTEZ (May 10, 1936–December 28, 2012) | In Memoriam

______________________________________________
 Ray Black
JAYNE CORTEZ | Voices from the Gaps | University of Minnestota
______________________________________________

© Marcia Wilson

Jayne Cortez was born May 10, 1936 in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and grew up in California. She was the author of ten books of poems and performed her poetry with music on nine recordings. Cortez presented her work and ideas at universities, museums, and festivals in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, the Caribbean and the United States.

Her poems have been translated into many languages and widely published in anthologies, journals and magazines, including Postmodern American PoetryDaughters of AfricaPoems for the MillenniumMother Jones, and The Jazz Poetry Anthology.

She was organizer of “Slave Routes the Long Memory” and “Yari Yari Pamberi: Black Women Writers Dissecting Globalization,” both conferences held at New York University. In 1991, with Ghanaian writer Ama Ata Aidoo, she founded the Organization of Women Writers of Africa (OWWA). She is president of this literary organization. She appeared on screen in the films Women In Jazz and Poetry in Motion.

She married Ornette Coleman in 1954 and divorced him in 1964. She was the mother of jazz drummer Denardo Coleman.

In 1976 she married sculptor Melvin Edwards. She lived in Dakar, Senegal, and New York City, where she died.

© Wikipedia
______________________________________________

UNDER THE EDGE OF FEBRUARY

Under the edge of February
in hawk of a throat
hidden by ravines of sweet oil
by temples of switch blades
beautiful in its sound of fertility
beautiful in its turban of funeral crepe
beautiful in its camouflage of grief
in its solitude of bruises
in its arson of alert
Who will enter its beautiful calligraphy of blood

Its beautiful mask of fish net
mask of hubcaps mask of ice picks mask
of watermelon rinds mask of umbilical cords
changing into a mask of rubber bands
Who will enter this beautiful beautiful mask of
punctured bladders moving with a mask of chapsticks

Compound of Hearts Compound of Hearts

Where is the lucky number for this shy love
this top heavy beauty bathed with charcoal water
self conscious against a mosaic of broken bottles
broken locks broken pipes broken
bloods of broken spirits broken through like
broken promises

Landlords Junkies Thieves
enthroning themselves in you
they burn up couches they burn down houses
and infuse themselves against memory
every thought a pavement of old belts
every performance a ceremonial pick up
how many more orphans how many neglected shrines
how many more stolen feet stolen guns
stolen watch bands of death
in you how many times

Harlem
hidden by ravines of sweet oil
by temples of switch blades
beautiful in your sound of fertility
beautiful in your turban of funeral crepe
beautiful in your camouflage of grief
in your solitude of bruises in
your arson of alert
beautiful

© Jayne Cortez
______________________________________________

JAYNE CORTEZ 
Biography and Bibliography
 
at
 Answers.com

______________________________________________
  © Ray Black

L-R: Poets Camille DungyRobert ChrismanJayne Cortez, Al Young,Melba Joyce BoydConyusArthur Sheridan, and (seated) Adam David Miller — following the 40th anniversary celebration reading for The Black Scholar Journal at the University of California, Berkeley ~November 2009

______________________________________________
______________________________________________
  Jayne Cortez Dot Com
 clickable images
______________________________________________

Jayne Cortez is the author of eleven books of poetry and performer of her poems with music on nine recordings. Her voice is celebrated for its political, surrealistic, dynamic innovations in lyricism, and visceral sound. Cortez has presented her work and ideas at universities, museums, and festivals around the world. Her poems have been translated into many languages and widely published in anthologies, journals, and magazines. She is a recipient of several awards including: Arts International, the National Endowment for the Arts, the International African Festival Award. The Langston Hughes Medal, The American Book Award, and the Thelma McAndless Distinguished Professorship Award.

Her most recent books include THE BEAUTIFUL BOOK (Bola Press) and JAZZ FAN LOOKS BACK (Hanging Loose Press). Her latest CDs with the Firespitter Band are FIND YOUR OWN VOICE, BORDERS OF DISORDERLY TIME (Bola Press), TAKING THE BLUES BACK HOME, produced by Harmolodic and by Verve Records. Cortez is organizer of the international symposium: “Slave Routes: Resistance, Abolition & Creative Progress” (NYU), and director of the film Yari Yari Pamberi: Black Women Writers Dissecting Globalization. She is co-founder and president of the Organization of Women Writers of Africa, Inc., and can be seen on screen in the films Women In Jazz and Poetry In Motion.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Carl Dix on the American Revolution 2013


Supporters stand with RCP co-founder Carl Dix and co-defendants on trial yesterday for protesting the NYC Stop and Frisk law. photo Marvin X


From the Desk of Carl Dix

MAKE 2013 A YEAR OF RISING RESISTANCE TO THE HORRORS OF THIS SYSTEM!

Sisters and Brothers,

I spent 2012 deeply involved in building resistance to mass incarceration.  Along with other Stop “Stop-and-Frisk” Freedom Fighters, I faced several trials for having stood up in 2011 to say no to that racist, illegitimate policy of the NYPD.   In waging a legal-political defense, we successfully turned the tables on the authorities and put Stop-and-Frisk on trial inside and outside the courtrooms, and beat back their attempts to put us in jail for standing up and fighting back.   

Along with Cornel West, I issued the Call to “Blow the Whistle on Stop-and-Frisk” on September 13, 2012.  In NYC alone, more than 20,000 whistles were distributed, giving people who the cops sweat non stop a way they could enlist in the resistance to police abuse and the way the whole criminal "injustice" system comes down on them.

I did all this as part of building a movement for revolution, a movement that has set its sights on leading millions of people in doing all that’s necessary to get rid of this capitalist system and all the horrors it inflicts on humanity — the wars for empire; the pillaging of whole countries; the brutality and sexual slavery enforced on women in many different parts of the world, including in the U.S.; the ravaging of the environment and more.

This kind of revolution is possible.  In Bob Avakian, the leader of the RCP, we have the leadership we need to make revolution.  And the new approach to revolution and communism he developed by studying the many great achievements and the errors and shortcomings of the revolutions in the Soviet Union and China make it possible to go farther and do better the next time revolution is made and power is in the hands of the people.  And the RCP has a strategy for making revolution in a country like this:  It’s spreading revolution everywhere" and “Fight the Power, and Transform the People, for Revolution!”

Look, I know a lot of people argue that the thing to do in 2012 was to make sure Obama got re-elected.  And those same people now say the thing to do is to hold his feet to the fire to get him accountable to the people who voted for him.  Doing this paralyzes and immobilizes people who should be out there building resistance to the crimes against the people Obama presided over and will continue to preside over.

At Obama's campaign rallies, the cry "Four More Years" rang out.   Four more years of what?  ...Of drone missiles rained down on Pakistan, Afghanistan and other countries destroying whole villages and killing thousands of innocent people?  ...Of Obama reviewing a kill list and deciding who gets assassinated on his say so every week?  ...Of Obama instituting policies like his assertion that the president can kill US citizens if he determines they are enemy combatants?  On these and other fronts Obama is worse than Bush!  Working to keep him in the White House, and trying to make him accountable to the people who voted for him keeps the system that breaks the bodies and crushes the spirits of millions and millions of people around the world in effect.  Doing this is worse than useless.

But there is something worthwhile you can and must be a part of.  

Join me in making 2013 a year of rising resistance, a year that thousands -- and even millions -- stand up to say police murder, racial profiling, torture like conditions in prison—all this shit—must end.  The slogan -- Mass Incarceration + Silence = Genocide -- expresses the reality for tens of millions of people in the U.S.  We must make 2013 a year of breaking that silence.  I urge you to be a part of making this happen because it will make a difference: for the youth treated like criminals and seen as guilty until proven innocent, if they can survive to prove their innocence; for those warehoused in prison; for those discriminated against after they’ve served their sentences; and for all their loved ones.

There are practical ways you could be part of breaking that silence.  

  1. Join the Stop Mass Incarceration Network in its Bear Witness Project (click here).

  1. Bring me to your campus or your area to speak on the horrors of mass incarceration and what to do about them.  Contact me directly at comradecarl@hotmail.com.

  1. Set up an interview so I can get into the media about what’s being done to fight mass incarceration.  Contact me via the SMIN at stopmassincarceration@gmail.com, or directly at comradecarl@hotmail.com.

  1. Contribute money!  Your contributions can play a crucial role in making 2013 a year of rising resistance.   You could contribute to both my efforts and to the SMIN:

(a) You can contribute to help me focus all my efforts on spreading revolution and building resistance.  Make a check or money order to Carl Dix to P.O. Box 941 Knickerbocker Station, New York NY 10002-0900.

(b) You can make a tax-deductible contribution to the SMIN.  You can do this by going online to make a contribution, or send checks and money orders to the Alliance for Global Justice (with a notation to “Stop Mass Incarceration”), and then send them to The Stop Mass Incarceration Network, P.O. Box 941 Knickerbocker Station, New York, New York 10002-0900.  

Revolutionary Greetings,

           Carl Dix

Office of Carl Dix, Revolutionary Communist Party, USA, P.O. Box 941 Knickerbocker Station, New York NY 10002-0900 * 866-841-9139 x2670 * blog:  comradecarl.blogspot.com *  facebook: carl.dix * youtube: CarlDix1 * twitter: @Carl_Dix