Madam Mayor Libby Schaaf, Please give Straight Outta Oakland, the BAM 27 City Tour, a benefit concert at the Paramount Theatre!

 Marvin X and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf
(FYI, that's spilled coffee on MX's shirt, aka Messy Marv)

Mayor Schaaf said she will use her power as Mayor to support the BAM 27 City Tour by contacting mayors in other American cities. We urge her to do so ASAP. Even better, Madam Mayor please give BAM 27 City Tour a benefit concert at the Paramount Theatre with the Oakland Symphony joining the BAM Poets Choir and Arkestra. We think Symphony Conductor Michael Morgan is ready to do the BAM Thang!

 

Black Arts Movement Poets Choir and Arkestra Producer/Director Marvin X and Oakland Symphony Conductor Michael Morgan agreed to join their talents in a concert. Let it be the Straight Outta Oakland, BAM 27 City Tour, benefit concert. We'll invite some of the BAM icons like Danny Glover,  Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni, Askia Toure, Last Poets. For sure, the Bay Area Black Arts Movement Poets Choir and Arkestra will do the BAM Thang!

 

photo collage Adam Turner
The Black Arts Movement Poets Choir and Arkestra 
Malcolm X Jazz/Art Festival,
2014

Straight Outta Oakland

Straight Outta Oakland, the Black Arts Movement 27 City Tour, has been invited to perform at Oakland's Flight Deck Theatre on Broadway, downtown Oakland. Executive Director Anna Shneiderman emailed BAM Tour producer Marvin X: Hi Marvin. I'd love to see this concert happen at The Flight Deck.  Please let me know if you think that makes sense and if so, what time of year you're thinking about.

Bests,
Anna

Anna Shneiderman
Executive Director

Ragged Wing Ensemble & The Flight Deck
510-858-7383

www.raggedwing.org

www.theflightdeck.org

CUBA first stop on 27 City Tour?

Members of the Black Arts Movement Poets Choir and Arkestra  informed producer Marvin X they would like to initiate the tour in Cuba rather than end in Cuba as Marvin had planned. BAM artists from coast to coast have suggested Cuba first, so we shall see. Since the BAM icons are elders, their schedules and health will determine how many will be able to do the 27 city tour. Poet Sonia Sanchez, 80 years old, told the producer, "Marvin, the very idea of a 27 city tour makes me tired."

 BAM poet Sonia Sanchez

Straight Outta Oakland, BAM 27 City Tour is estimated to cost about 3 million dollars @ $100,000.00 per city, plus the Cuba Concert. We are seeking donations to make this tour a reality. What is the purpose? Ancestor Amiri Baraka would say, "It's about beauty and truth! It's about advancing the cultural revolution. It's about a United Front of all progressive people." For information or booking, email jmarvinx@yahoo.com. 510-200-4164.

Amiri Baraka, BAM Chief architect (RIP)

Straight Outta Oakland

The Black Arts Movement 27 City Tour

Amiri Baraka and Maya Angelou doing the BAM BAM (RIP)

 

Graphic design by Adam Turner

Now that the Oakland City Council has approved the Black Arts Movement Business District, the time has come for the Black Arts Movement Poets Choir and Arkestra to hit the road and complete the 27 City Tour envisioned by ancestor Amiri Baraka.  AB told BAM artists to tour the 27 cities with large populations of North American Africans and spread radical cultural consciousness. He said we should at least establish a fifty seat theatre in each city based on the BAM concept of the artistic freedom fighter. Long live the spirit of AB!

 
Amiri Baraka (RIP) and Marvin X enjoyed a 47 year friendship as movers and shakers of the Black Arts Movement

The Black Arts Movement was/is the most radical artistic and literary movement in American history, sister of the Black Power Movement. Our mission is to spread radical cultural consciousness throughout the land. We thank the citizens of Oakland for establishing the first Black Arts Movement Business District in America.

The defining work of the Black Arts Movement, Black Fire is at once a rich anthology and an extraordinary source document. Nearly 200 selections, including poetry, essays, short stories, and plays, from over 75 cultural critics, writers, and political leaders, capture the social and cultural turmoil of the 1960s. In his new introduction, Amiri Baraka reflects — nearly four decades later — on both the movement and the book.

 

 BAM co-founder Marvin X and Lynette McElhaney, President of the

 Oakland City Council

photo Adam Turner

 Marvin X speaking at Oakland City Hall's Black History Celebration, Feb. 24, 2016
Marvin X referred to Madam President as African Queen!

We especially thank Oakland City Council President, Lynette McElhaney, for pushing through legislation establishing the Black Arts Movement Business District. Also, thanks to Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Laney College President Elnora T. Webb for celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Black Arts Movement at Laney College.

Mayor Schaaf said she will use her power as Mayor to support the BAM 27 City Tour by contacting mayors in other American cities. We urge her to do so ASAP. Even better, Madam Mayor please give BAM 27 City Tour a benefit concert at the Paramount with the Oakland Symphony joining the BAM Poets Choir and Arkestra. 

We think Symphony Conductor Michael Morgan is ready to do the BAM Thang! Let Oakland be the model for other cities. We ain't goin' into no town half stepin', we first class, that's the only way we travel. We represent Oaktown fada git down! You gotta git in town and outta town. We Straight Outta Oaktown!

 

Black Arts Movement Poets Choir and Arkestra Producer/Director Marvin X and Oakland Symphony Conductor Michael Morgan agreed to join their talents in a concert. Let it be the Straight Outta Oakland, BAM 27 City Tour, benefit concert. We'll invite some of the BAM icons like Danny Glover,  Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni, Askia Toure, Last Poets, et al.

 

Left to Right: Mrs. Gay Plair Cobb, Marvin X, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Laney College President, Dr. Elnora T. Webb, Dr. Nathan Hare, Paul Cobb, Publisher of the Oakland Post News Group

We would like the BAM 27 City Tour to end in Cuba with a grand concert featuring the BAM Poets Choir and Arkestra, Francisco Mora's Afro Horn, Sun Ra Arkestra and David Murray. We need sponsors, promoters, booking agents to make this happen. If you or your city has a venue for the 27 City US tour, please contact Marvin X: 510-200-4164 ASAP.

Sincerely,

Marvin X,
Producer
BAM 27 City Tour
jmarvinx@yahoo.com

Straight Outta Oakland

The Black Arts Movement 27 City Tour

Amiri Baraka and Maya Angelou doing the BAM BAM (RIP)

 

Graphic design by Adam Turner

Now that the Oakland City Council has approved the Black Arts Movement Business District, the time has come for the Black Arts Movement Poets Choir and Arkestra to hit the road and complete the 27 City Tour envisioned by ancestor Amiri Baraka.  AB told BAM artists to tour the 27 cities with large populations of North American Africans and spread radical cultural consciousness. He said we should at least establish a fifty seat theatre in each city based on the BAM concept of the artistic freedom fighter. Long live the spirit of AB!

 
Amiri Baraka (RIP) and Marvin X enjoyed a 47 year friendship as movers and shakers of the Black Arts Movement

The Black Arts Movement was/is the most radical artistic and literary movement in American history, sister of the Black Power Movement. Our mission is to spread radical cultural consciousness throughout the land. We thank the citizens of Oakland for establishing the first Black Arts Movement Business District in America.

 

 BAM co-founder Marvin X and Lynette McElhaney, President of the

 Oakland City Council

photo Adam Turner

 Marvin X speaking at Oakland City Hall's Black History Celebration, Feb. 24, 2016
He referred to City Council President Lynette McElhaney as African Queen!

We especially thank Oakland City Council President, Lynette McElhaney, for pushing through legislation establishing the Black Arts Movement Business District. Also, thanks to Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Laney College President Elnora T. Webb for celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Black Arts Movement at Laney College. Mayor Schaaf said she will use her power as Mayor to support the BAM 27 City Tour by contacting mayors in other American cities. We urge her to do so ASAP. Even better, Madam Mayor can give BAM 27 City Tour a benefit concert at the Paramount with the Oakland Symphony joining the BAM Poets Choir and Arkestra. We think Symphony Conductor Michael Morgan is ready to do the BAM Thang!
 

 

Left to Right: Mrs. Gay Plair Cobb, Marvin X, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Laney College President, Dr. Elnora T. Webb, Dr. Nathan Hare, Paul Cobb, Publisher of the Oakland Post News Group

We would like the BAM 27 City Tour to end in Cuba with a grand concert featuring the BAM Poets Choir and Arkestra, Francisco Mora's Afro Horn, Sun Ra Arkestra and David Murray. We need sponsors, promoters, booking agents to make this happen. If you or your city has a venue for the 27 City US tour, please contact Marvin X: 510-200-4164 ASAP.

Sincerely,

Marvin X,
Producer
BAM 27 City Tour
jmarvinx@yahoo.com

Icons of the Black Arts Movement
invited to join the 
BAM 27 City Tour

Askia Toure

Sonia Sanchez

Marvin X and Danny Glover

 

Nikki Giovanni

l

The Last Poets 

Felipe Luciano, Last Poets

Haki Madhubuti

Mrs. Amina Baraka

Marshall Allen, Sun Ra Arkestra

 

Danny Thompson, Sun Ra Arkestra

Francisco Mora Catlett, Afro Horn

David Murray

FYI, David Murray, Berkeley native,  now living in Paris, France,  invites the Black Arts Movement Poets Choir and Arkestra to a European tour ASAP! Thank you, David! We be dare directly!

The Black Arts Movement Poets Choir and Arkestra

The Black Arts Movement Poets Choir and Arkestra 

University of California, Merced

BAM 50th Celebration, 2014

 

Marvin X, David Murray, Earle Davis

Marvin X reading DOPE by Amiri Baraka (RIP)

Black Arts Movement Poets Choir and Arkestra

Malcolm X Jazz/Arts Festival

Oakland, CA.

2014

Featured artists of the Bay Area 

BAM Poets Choir and Arkestra

Tureada Mikell, Michelle LaChaux, Dr. Ayodele Nzinga, Tarika Lewis

Tacuma King

Kujichagulia

Paradise Jah Love

f

Choreographer Linda Johnson, Val Serrant, Raynetta Rayzetta

Destiny Muhammad 

Earle Davis

Zena Allen 

 

Aries Jordan

Marvin X

TOWARD THE BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT 27 CITY TOUR

University of Chicago 

presents 

Sun Ra Conference, May 21-22, 2015

l

 

 

Sun Ra

Marshall Allen, 91 years old, now leader of the Sun Ra Arkestra (He said, "Marvin I'm not 91, I'm 19." Marvin X says, "And he plays like he's 19!" Danny Thompson and Marvin X at University of Chicago, Sun Ra Conference, 2015. They performed and discussed the teachings of BAM Master Sun Ra and their relationship with him as fellow artists. All three are dedicated to the teachings of Sun Ra. FYI, all of us BAM artists were/are students of Sun Ra, students and/or associates of Sun Ra, the POPE of BAM, AB the High Priest. David Murray and Francisco Mora Catlett performed and were infected with the Ra doctrine. RA RA RA!

 
The Gemini twins: Marvin X and Sun Ra. These "Latter Day Egyptian Revisionists" (Sun Ra term) worked together coast to coast. Marvin X worked with the Arkestra in New York, Philly and the Bay Area. Both men taught in the Black Studies Department at University of California, Berkeley, 1971-72. The above pic is outside Marvin's Black Educational Theatre, San Francisco, 1972. Sun Ra arranged the music for Marvin's play Take Care of Business, aka Flowers for the Trashman. They produced a five hour concert (without intermission) at San Francisco's Harding Theatre on Divisadero. The production had a cast of fifty, including Marvin's actors, Sun Ra's Arkestra and the dancers of choreographers Ellendar Barnes and Raymond Sawyer, living legends of Bay Area BAM dance. See SF Sun Reporter archives for review. See Youtube for Sun Ra lectures at University of California, Berkeley, 1971-72.

Juan Felipe Herrera, currently, US Poet Laureate, performed with the Black Arts Movement Poets Choir and Arkestra at the University of California, Merced, 50th Anniversary Conference, produced by Kim McMillon and Marvin X.

h

Poet Ginny Lim, member of The Black Arts Movement Poets Choir and Arkestra 

Left to Right: Zena Allen, Kora player, poet Marvin X, Tarika Lewis, violinist

Linda Johnson, choreographer/dancer

Many of the movement’s leading artists, including Ed Bullins, Nikki Giovanni, Woodie King, Haki Madhubuti, Sonia Sanchez, Askia Touré, Marvin X and Val Gray Ward, remain artistically productive today. Its influence can also be seen in the work of later artists, from the writers Toni Morrison, John Edgar Wideman, and August Wilson to actors Avery Brooks, Danny Glover, and Samuel L. Jackson, to hip-hop artists Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Chuck D. SOS—Calling All Black People includes works of fiction, poetry, and drama in addition to critical writings on issues of politics, aesthetics, and gender. It covers topics ranging from the legacy of Malcolm X and the impact of John Coltrane’s jazz to the tenets of the Black Panther Party and the music of Motown. The editors have provided a substantial introduction outlining the nature, history, and legacy of the Black Arts Movement as well as the principles by which the anthology was assembled.

 

Dr. Cornel West and Marvin X

Cornel supports and will participate in the

Black Arts Movement 27 City Tour

"Marvelous Marvin X!"--Cornel West