The Black Arts Movement Celebrating Amiri Baraka

BAM poet Marvin X will perform with the BAM Arkestra and Poet's Choir on Feb 7 at Oakand's Laney College in the day long event celebrating the 50th anniversary of BAM. Oakland's new Mayor Libby Schaaf and City Council President Lynette McElhaney will participate. Dr. Nathan Hare will facilitate the How to Recover from the Addiction to White Supremacy Peer Group, along with Suzzette Celeste, MSW. The Physical Wellness Team from HP/Bay View WMCA will conduct a Wellness Boot Camp. Musicians performing include violinist Tarika Lewis, Harpist Destiny, percussionists Tacuma King and John Santos, trumpet master Earl Davis, pianist Muzuki Roberson, vocalists Mechelle LaChaux, Rasheedah Sabreen Shakir, poets Avotcja, Genny Lim, Kalamu Chache', Likiba Pitmann, Tureada Mikell, PhavioaKujichagulia, Paradise The Poet, Marvin X, Dr. Ayodele Nzinga, Javier Reyes and Hip Hop Poets. The event will exhibit the works of visual artists from San Quentin Prison, along with painters Emory Douglas, Renaldo Ricketts, Duane Deterville, Malik Seneferu, Refa One, Claude Clark; the Black Panther Archives of Billy X. Jennings: the archives of Dr. Nathan Hare and Marvin X. A panel on BAM and Black Women Writers facilitated by Elaine Brown; BAM/Black Power Babies, a panel moderated by Davey D, and more, including music by Fantastic Negrito. The evening includes a performance of Marvin X's BAM classic play Flowers for the Trashman. In the 60s. the Oakland Police Department threatened Black Arts West Theatre with arrest if they performed at Laney College. Two young males in the play go to jail for jaywalking (Hands Up, Don't Shoot). They play is produced and directed by Dr. Ayodele Nzinga who was a student of Marvin X when he taught theatre at Laney College, 1981. As a student she helped direct his play In the Name of Love, a Laney College production. Years later she directed his docudrama One Day in the Life, about his life on Crack, including a scene of his last meeting with Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton in a West Oakland Crack House. Ishmael Reed says, "Marvin X's One Day in the Life is the most powerful drama I've seen."