Oakland sends Warrior Queen Dr. Julia Hare Home
by
Marvin X
photos
Johnnie Burrell
Fillmore Slim sings St. James Infirmary
Dr. Nathan Hare and his Sister Mildred, Mrs. and Mr. Gay and Paul Cobb, Marvin X
Dr. Ayodele Nzinga offering libation
Seated, Dr. Nathan Hare and his older sister Mildred
Standing, Marvin X and his star student, Dr. Ayodele Nzinga
Congresswoman Barbara Lee
Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Dr. Hare
Rabboni Sela, Dr. Hare, Dr. Ramona Tascoe
Sax man Jethro and guitarist Mike
Vocalist Bryant Bolling
Rt. Judge Horace Wheatley, Rashid Shabazz, Dr. Nathan Hare
Oakland gave Warrior Queen Dr. Julia Hare a home going celebration befitting a royal Black African queen in the hell's of North America. It was a power to the people's farewell at Geoffrey's Inner Circle, the anchor venue in the Black Arts Movement Business District along the 14th Street corridor from the lower bottom to Lake Merritt.
The celebration began with a Blues musical interlude by San Francisco Blues brothers, Jethro on sax/vocals, accompanied by Mike on guitar. Dr. Ayodele Nzinga gave the libation in the Yoruba tradition, followed by Minister of Poetry, Marvin X, who delivered in Arabic Surah Al Fatihah and Surah Al Ikhlas. He told the audience, "I am not going to translate, you felt the vibration, that's good enough!"
Representatives of Congresswoman Barbara Lee's office, District Director Tatyana Kalinga and Staff Assistant Antonio Burnett, presented Dr. Nathan Hare with a framed copy of the Congressional Record in honor of Dr. Julia Hare.
Legendary Black Arts Movement poet Avotcja read a poem in honor of Dr. Julia Hare, followed by Blues/Mack Man Fillmore Slim singing St. James Infirmary, made famous by Louis Armstrong and Bobby Blue Bland, among others. Marvin requested Fillmore do the Satchmo version, but Fillmore liked the Bobby Blue Bland version, He began with the Bobby Blue Bland version, sax solo by Jethro, and closed with the Satchmo version. The audience was overjoyed. Fillmore told Marvin, "I think I put myself on another level today!" The poet agreed.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee entered and sat at the table with her representatives.
When called to the mike, she gave honor and praises to Dr. Julia Hare as her shero! "When I first heard her, I wanted to be like her! Julia set the model of black women talking truth to power!"
The celebrants viewed the video of Julia's last hurrah, when she stole the show from other prominent "leading blacks" on Tavis Smiley's Black Forum, see Youtube. If there was any doubt Julia was the female Malcolm X in delivery and wit, her performance on Tavis Smiley shut down any debate. The audience of thousands applauded her time after time. Although many have seen this video, those in the audience who had not were stupefied, in total shock at the bluntness and boldness of this Warrior Queen, yes, this Black Goddess in our time who has slipped into eternity.
The Minister of Poetry said, "Ok, people, we have heard from Dr. Julia Hare. Now, you are going to hear from Dr. Nathan Hare, who wrote a love song in praise of his Queen, "She Always Stood by me!" The entire essay was in the program, but Marvin began to read it with the Black Arts Movement Reader's Theatre, a newly formed dramatic group originated by the poet without prior knowledge of the participants. He began reading, then passed the mike to Dr. Ayodele Nzinga, who passed it to Tureeda, then to Dishonne Muhammad. Since the complete essay was in the program, the poet skipped to the last paragraph and ended.
Bryant Bolling ended the reading singing Unforgettable, after which the celebration opened for comments from the people, followed by the repast. Dr. Hare told the poet, "Marvin, I think you outdid yourself today!"
Dr. Ramona Tascoe
Norman Brown, Zakiyyah and Bryant Bolling, Dr. Hare, unidentified sister
Marvin X
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