BAM Babies 3.0 with Master Poet Marvin X at his Academy of da Corner, Berkeley

 Marvin X and BAM Babies 3.0

photo Ustadi

 

Nisa Ra and Marvin X with their BAM Baby 2.0, Muhammida El Muhajir. Muhammida works in Ghana, West Africa.

In conversation with Nisa Ra, one of the members of the BAM National Advisory Board, Marvin X was told to be sure to include the children in the Bay Area BAM celebration. Marvin X assured her the children will be included in the 50th Anniversary celebration which begins with a gala opening at Laney College Art Gallery on February 7, 2015, including a performance by the BAM Poets Choir & Arkestra. The BAM Isaiah 61 Project will feature the art work of prisoners at San Quentin. BAM is partnering with The Post News Group on this phase of the BAM celebration. The Isaiah 61 Project will make books available to inmates on a monthly basis and disseminate their writings in the Post Newspapers. "We know reaching our children with literature will help deter them from being  victims of the criminal justice system." Although Marvin has written material for children such as his 1968 classic fable The Black Bird, he feels we must reach the parents as well. "I was horrified when teachers at a local middle school informed me a parent told her son,'Don't bring nothin' home from dat school'." We look forward to working with, Karen Monroe,  the new superintendent of the Alameda County Schools who is aware of the Bay Area BAM celebration.