Marvin X: Why I love Nikki Giovanni

This morning I heard an interview by Sonali Kalhatkar (Uprising Radio) with Nikki Giovanni on radio station KPFA, Berkeley, a Pacifica station. Nikki and I have been friends and comrades since 1968 when the Black Arts Movement shakers and movers were in Harlem NY and throughout the United States. But Nikki was there along with the Last Poets, Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka, Ed Bullins, Woody King, Askia Toure, Larry Neal, Barbara Ann Teer, Haki Madhubuti, Sun Ra, Milford Graves, myself and a host of others.

Nikki took full advantage of the moment and went on to great success. After our BAM moment, sometimes I agreed with her and sometimes I didn't, but this morning I agreed with almost everything she said, especially when asked about the BAM poets and their relationship and contribution to the Rap poets. She appreciated Tupac, especially for holding up the revolutionary banner; she gave Jay Z, 50 cents, Sean Jean, even Kanye West, kudos for being artists and businessmen. She did say Kanye lives on another planet!

We appreciated her remarks about her elders, especially her grandfather, whom she described as a man of class, who dressed with class as did my father and uncles.

I especially liked her comments about people tripping over fidelity. She said we need to get beyond such matters. Of course her remarks are in sync with my pamphlet Mythology of Pussy and Dick. By the way, the young people are distributing this pamphlet to each other and they report to me that it is changing young people's lives.

But when the interviewer asked her about President Obama, her answer sent chills over my body. She said President Obama has placated his enemies but not his friends. He is not her idea of a great man. "My idea of a great man is H. Rap Brown," she said. Nikki, I love you!
--Marvin X
7/24/14

H. Rap Brown, aka Imam Jamil Al-Amin

Open letter to the Community from Karima Al-Amin

Jul 24, 2014 — 

As-salaamu'alaikum, Ramadan Mubarak!

I am so pleased to share this update with the many individuals who supported our effort to campaign for Imam Jamil to receive medical attention and to be transferred to a federal medical center. I have heard from Imam Jamil who has reported that he indeed was transferred on Tuesday, July 15, 2014, from the Florence, Colorado ADX to Butner FMC, in North Carolina. He would like to express his deep appreciation for the support he has received from individuals who made calls, signed petitions, attended meetings, wrote letters, offered public comments, and galvanized others to take action. Within this past week, the Imam has had extensive examinations, from "head to toe." Additionally, this morning--July 23, 2014--he had the bone marrow biopsy. Although we will not receive the results for another two weeks, we are encouraging people at this point to continue sending letters and cards to the 

Imam, while he waits to receive the medical results.

I do intend to send personal letters of appreciation to individuals in the hope that I will not miss thanking those who made a difference in this campaign. Together we demonstrated that there are those who will see an injustice and act to expose and correct the wrong.

I also wanted to share that Imam Jamil has been able to keep his fast during Ramadan, which is yet another example of his strength and faith. May Allah continue to guide him and strengthen him. Send letters and cards to: Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, 99974-555 FMC Butner Federal Medical Center P.O. Box 1600 Butner, NC 27509

Jazak Allah Khaira Karima Al-Amin

Uprising Radio was founded in July 2003 by Sonali Kolhatkar, host and lead producer of Uprising. Uprising emphasizes connecting global issues with local ones. Simply informing listeners of the problems in the world and our communities is not enough – we hope to motivate our listeners to take an active role in their communities. It is a daily digest of independent news analysis, investigation, education, artistic expression, activism in the public interest. Uprising airs daily on KPFA, KFCF and KPFK, Pacifica Radio stations in California from 8-9 am on weekdays.

 Sonali has just completed a successful crowd funding campaign to expand the reach of her program to Free Speech TV. Sonali is also a weekly columnist for Truthdig.com and the Co-Director of the Afghan Women's Mission, a US-based non-profit that works in solidarity with Afghan women activists. She has a Masters Degree in Astronomy, and lives in Southern California with her husband and two sons. 

Uprising Radio is also produced by Bipasha Shom. She was recently nominated for an LA Press Club Award for her piece on the California Prisoners’ Hunger Strike.

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