Friday, January 9, 2015

BAM Press Release on Celebration at Laney College, February 7, 2015


Press Release: For Immediate Release
photo Kamau Amen Ra
1/9/2015

Contact Person:
Marvin X
510-200-4164
jmarvinx@yahoo.com
Now available for interviews 

The Black Arts Movement will celebrate its 50th Anniversary at Laney College on February 7th 2015. 

On February 7th 2015, Laney College will host the 50th Anniversary of the Black Arts Movement. This event will begin at 10am until 10pm. Its focus will be the Bay Area’s contribution to the Black Arts Movement. BAM is often referred to as the sister of the Black Power Movement. BAM is also known as the most radical artistic and literary movement in American History. According to  Ishmael Reed, "If not for the Black Arts Movement, African American culture would be extinct."

As a result of the Black Arts Movement, other ethnicities found their voices such as Asians, Native Americans and Latinos.  It forced the inclusion of Afro American literature and other ethnic literature in American Academia.

BAM literature was often considered too radical for Academia and many of the BAM founders, poets, playwrights, essayists and others were purged from academia, especially from Black Studies programs. The radicals were replaced by more pliant Negroes or Continental and/or Caribbean Africans.

The Bay Area’s contribution included some of the primary BAM journals such as Soul Book, Black Dialogue, Journal of Black Poetry and the Black Scholar Magazine. The icons includ Amiri Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni, The Last Poets, Haki Madhubuti, Askia Toure, Marvin X, Sarah Webster Fabio, Ed Bullins, Adam David Miller, Judy Juanita, Avotcja, Jose Goncalves, Elizabeth Catlette Mora and Emory Douglas.
 The Black Arts Movement Arkestra and Poet's Choir at the University of California, Merced, Feb-Mar, 2014
 Marvin X reads DOPE by Amiri Baraka, accompanied by David Murray and Earl Davis. Earl Davis performed in Marvin X's Black Arts West Theatre on Fillmore Street, San Francisco, 1966

 Marvin X and actor Danny Glover. Danny performed in Black Arts West Theatre, 1966. Both men attended San Francisco State College/now University.

 Former Black Panther Chairwoman Elaine Brown, Marvin X and Mama Ayanna of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement

Dr. Elnora T. Webb, PhD, President of Laney College, a special partner with Marvin X's BAM.

Empress Diamond, BAM Wellness Director, Mayor Libby Schaaf and Marvin X

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and City Councilwomen Lynette McElhaney and Desley Brooks support the BAM Celebration. City Council President McElhaney will introduce legislation to declare 14th Street The Black Arts Movement District. The first Last Saturday in the BAM District will be February 28, 2015, and event similar to Oakland's First Fridays.


Working Program
10:00 AM--Black Arts Movement Physical Wellness Boot Camp, facilitated by Michael Bennett's Wellness Team from the YMCA, HP/Bayview
11:00AM-- Peer Group on Mental Wellness: How to Recover from the Addiction to White Supremacy Group, facilitated by Dr. Nathan Hare and Suzzette Celeste, B.A., MPA, MSW
12 Noon--Book Fair--authors speak, music, Augusta Collins

2pm--Open Mike Poetry/Speak Out
2pm--BAM and Black Women Writers Panel; moderated by Elaine Brown; invited panelists: Judy Juanita, Avojtcha, Aries Jordan, Phavia Kujichagulia, Portia Anderson
4pm Black Arts Movement/Black Power Babies panel, moderated by Davey D; invited panelists: Phavia Kujichagulia and Taiwo; Dr. Ayodele Nzinga and  Stanley; Terry Collins and Renya; Walter Riley and Boots Riley; Marvin X and Amira; Jerri Lange and Michael

6pm - RECEPTION IN THE ART GALLERY: EXHIBIT OF SAN QUENTIN PRISON ART and Bay Area Visual Artists; curated by Professor Leslee Stradford; invocation,Suzzette Celeste, Practitioner & Social Justice Activist; Welcome, Laney College President, Dr. Elnora T. Webb; proclamation of Black Arts Movement District, Libby Schaaf, Mayor of Oakland; Councilwoman Lynette McElhaney on the Black Arts Movement District; host, Paul Cobb, Publisher, Post News Group; music by Earl Davis, Fantastic Negrito

7pm Laney College Theatre: Marvin X's BAM classic play Flowers for the Trashman, introductory remarks by Dr. Nathan Hare, father of Black Studies, founding publisher of the Black Scholar Magazine
8pm Black Arts Movement Poet's Choir & Arkestra with special guests John Santos, Muziki Roberson and Phavia Kujichagulia

Sponsors: Laney College, Post News Group, Black Caucus of California Community Colleges, YMCA, HP/Bayview; Black Think Tank, Black Bird Press, KPOO Radio, Davey D and Greg Bridges of KPFA Radio, lajones associates, BWOPA/TILE, William James Association Prison Art Project, San Francisco State University Ethnic Studies Department, It's About Time




BAM co-founders Marvin X and Sun Ra, both purged from teaching in Black Studies at University of California, Berkeley. 

While students at San Francisco State College/now University, these men edited and/or contributed to Black Dialogue Magazine, Journal of Black Poetry, Soulbook and The Black Scholar Magazine: LtoR: Aubrey LaBrie, Marvin X, Abdul Sabrey, Al Young, Arthur Sheridan and Duke Williams.

 Bay Area Black authors/activists celebrate the life of slain Oakland Post Editor Chauncey Bailey. The pose in front of the Joyce Gordon Gallery at 14th and Franklin, part of the upcoming Black Arts Movement District.
photo Adam Turner/Gene Hazzard

The Black Arts Movement Arkestra and Poet's Choir performing at the Malcolm X Jazz/Art Festival, 
May 17, 2014, Oakland CA
photo collage Adam Turner 

Dr. Elnora T. Webb donated $100.00 for the BAM Fest.

 Post News Group Publisher Paul Cobb and Black Arts Movement co-founder Marvin X
photo Walter Riley, Esq.

Oakland Post News Group Publisher, Paul Cobb, has donated $100.00 for the BAM Fest. He suggested 100 people donate between $100.00 and $500.00 for BAM so we can do for self. He will put the pic of all who donate in the Oakland Post. We are looking for 99 people of good will who believe in BAM. FYI, Paul Cobb is a Garveyite, his father and grandfather were Garveyites. I am a Garveyite! As they say in Houston, TX, "You better ax somebody!"
Marvin X


If you are willing to donate any amount, please call Marvin X, 510-200-4164. BAM must be a community supported project. The original Black Arts Repertory Theatre failed in Harlem when grant funds were cut off. BAM must be independent although we will accept funds but will not compromise our revolutionary values and goals, the freedom of our people.










Here’s an update for you from the ‘Black Arts Movement 27 City National Tour’ team:

If you are willing to donate any amount, please call Marvin X, 510-200-4164. BAM must be a community supported project. The original Black Arts Repertory Theatre failed in Harlem when grant funds were cut off. We need funds for food at the Laney College gala; we need money for artists, sound equipment, transportation,book give away,  costumes, speaker fees. Thanking you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Marvin X, Project Director
BAM 27 City Tour
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 Black Arts Movement chief architect LeRoi Jones, aka Amiri Baraka, on the set of his play The Toilet
Amiri and Maya, RIP
The Black Arts Movement Arkestra and Poet's Choir will perform at Laney College, Feb. 7, 2015
photo Adam Turner


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