Marvin X dialogue with University of California, Merced students

Today, May 25, 2016, Black Arts Movement co-founder Marvin X will dialogue (via SKYPE) with students at the University of California, Merced. Students in Kim McMillon's class Theatre and Social Responsibility are reading two one act plays by Marvin X, Flowers for the Trashman and Salaam, Huey Newton, Salaam. Students want Marvin X to hear them reading his dramatic works and talk with him about the Black Arts Movement and artistic freedom fighters.

Marvin X is the author of 30 books, including poetry, essays, autobiography, memoir. He has taught at Fresno State University, University of California, Berkeley and San Diego, San Francisco State University, Mills College, University of Nevada, Reno, Laney College, Merritt College. He received writing fellowships from Columbia University (via Harlem Cultural Council) and the National Endowment for the Arts; planning grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, via the Nevada Cultural Council. His archives were acquired by the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. Most recently, Marvin helped the City of Oakland create the Black Arts Movement Business District along the 14th Street corridor, downtown.

He has two forthcoming books: Sweet Tea/Dirty Rice, New and Selected Poems, 2016, and Notes of an Artistic Freedom Fighter: Essays, Letters, 2016, Black Bird Press, Berkeley CA. 

 His writings appear in Ishmael Reed's The Complete Muhammad Ali

 His poetry appears in Black Gold Poetry Anthology

 This is his 13 Step manual to recover from the addiction to white supremacy
foreword by Dr. Nathan Hare

 Writers at memorial for Jayne Cortez and Amiri Baraka, New York University

 Marvin X Fan Club

 The Black Arts Movement Poets Choir and Arkestra, University of California, Merced, 2014

 Marvin X participated in the Sun Ra Conference, University of Chicago, 2015. Marvin X and Sun Ra worked together in Harlem, 1968, and later in the Bay Area; both lectured in Black Studies, UC Berkeley, 1971-72.

 Marvin and Oakland CA Mayor Libby Schaaf, a supporter of the Black Arts Movement

 Marvin X in conversation with Amiri Baraka, Lannan Foundation, Santa Fe, New Mexico

 His writings appear in the BAM Reader, also in the BAM Classic Black Fire

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 Marvin X appeared in Stanley Nelson's film

Director Stanley Nelson, Marvin X, Fred Hampton, Jr.

"Marvelous Marvin X!"--Dr. Cornel West

Marvin X and daughter Nefertiti at Laney College BAM 50th Celebration, 2014. In this inter-generational panel discussion, she urged her father to pass the baton! After working to pass legislation to establish the Black Arts Movement Business District in Oakland, he passed the baton to Dr. Ayodele Nzinga, his star student, also founder of the Lower Bottom Playaz, in residence at Oakland's Flight Deck Theatre on Broadway. She is scheduled to produce the Bay Area Black Arts Movement Theatre Festival in September.

Panel Discussion: Women and the Black Arts Movement, Laney College BAM 50th Celebration, 2014. Left to Right: Elaine Brown, Dr. Halifu Osumare, Judy Juanita, Portia Anderson, Kujichagulia, Aries Jordan. Marvin X, producer.

A scene from Marvin X's BAM classic Flowers for the Trashman, produced by Kim McMillon's theatre students at University of California, Merced. 

Students and Marvin X in Kim McMillon's class on theatre and social activism. "My students love Marvin X!" says Professor McMillon.