Detroit: Marvin X, the Human Earthquake will hit December 15, 2-4PM at the Charles Wright Museum, reading from his latest book Notes of Artistic Freedom Fighter Marvin X

I Wish I was a weak nigga

Marvin X reading at the University of Chicago Sun Ra Conference on Afro-futurism, 2015

photo Burrell Sunrise

I wish I was a weak nigga and I don't even know why. But I'm standing on the shoulders of so many strong niggas, I can't be a weak nigga if I wanted. I'm standing on the shoulders of so many warrior men and women, including Mama and Daddy, I can't be a weak nigga!

I'm standing on the shoulders of prison niggas who told me on the big yard, "Marvin X, you the smartest, you the minister." He told the other brother he was the secretary and he, himself, was the captain. Election over, meeting Sunday in the prison chapel. And we met!

I'm standing on the shoulders of strong niggas. Captain Edward X of Los Angeles FOI, drilled us chanting, "We FOI, we ain't no punks, no sissies, no squares, we FOI, soldiers in the name of Allah! March, march time march. left right left. about face, left right left, about face, march time march!"