In the Crazy House Called America

In The Crazy House Called America, essays

…People who know Marvin X already know him as a peripatetic, outspoken, irreverent, poetic “crazy nigger,” whose pen is continually and forever out-of-control. As a professional psychologist, I hasten to invoke the disclaimer that that is in no way a diagnosis or clinical impression of mine. I have never actually subjected this brother to serious psychoanalytical scrutiny and have no wish to place him on the couch, if only because I know of no existing psycho-diagnostic instrumentality of pathology of normalcy that could properly evaluate Marvin completely.

—

Dr. Nathan Hare, Black Think Tank, San Francisco

Oppression produces a ruling class of sick souls addicted to domination, i.e., White Supremacy Type I, and an under class of sick souls who suffer White Supremacy Type II. Our concern is with the latter class of individuals who also practice denial which is a classic feature of the addictive process. 

The ruling class addiction is most often full blown since they suffer and enjoy white privilege to an extent it is a severe pathological state. Only long term recovery will possibly bring them back from the brink of hitting rock bottom or self destruction, but the danger here is they may take the oppressed class down with them, only because the oppressed is connected to the placenta  of the master class. The oppressed man and woman must of necessity cut the umbilical cord and become self sufficient in every manner, educationally, spiritually, economically, and politically. Otherwise he plays the role of a clown, buffoon, a running dog for the master class. He imitates the imitator and thus reveals the severity of his pathological condition as well. 

--Marvin X

Parable of the Heart

There was a man who loved God. He went to churches, mosques, temples in his search for God. He married, had children, a good job, yet still didn't feel he knew God. He prayed day and night until his knee caps had sores. He called out for God to make Himself known in his life. Hearing nothing from God, he balled his fists at God, in anger and frustration. Why won't God talk to me, he wondered?

He loved his family and they loved him. He gave them all the material comforts, yet he was angry because he felt God was hiding from him, and he wanted God to be real in his life. He tried over and over attending churches, mosques, temples. He studied all the religions, isms, schisms, sects, cults. He almost had a breakdown because he believed God was playing tricks with him.

Finally God spoke to him. He said, look, man, you have everything any man could want: a beautiful family, good job, a sincere heart. Why do you keep calling me. Do you think I am deaf?

I've done all I can do for you. You have everything. Get off your knees, there is no need to pray to me. Why are you praying when I've already answered? Are you an ungrateful wretch? Don't you know I have plenty of work to do with all these wretched beings causing hell on earth? Why do you want me to waste time with you when I made you perfect, without defect?

Your search for me is in vain because I have been with you all the time. Every time your heart beats, that is me moving inside you. Now what else do you need to know?

And so the man came to know God as his heart beating in the day and in the night. He came to believe and know the religion of the heart. He no longer searched for God in buildings, churches, mosques, temples, but instead listened to his heart beat, the rhythm of his soul. He looked to the God within and without, since God also told him He was everywhere in all things, that there was nothing and nowhere He was absent. He was in the trees, rivers, oceans, fish, cows, horses, mountains, old people, poor, rich, youth, hungry, sick, dope fiend, alcoholic, sinner. All is in God and God is in all. He is in the fly, bees, birds, ants, mosquitoes, rats, snakes.

His family was so happy he had found God in his heart. They wondered why it took so long for him to see the light. His wife told him she saw God in his face the day they met. And she still sees that glow around him. That's why she married him--the only reason!
--Marvin X
4/6/10

from the Wisdom of Plato Negro, parables/fables, Marvin X, Black Bird Press, 2012.