Special Edition of Black Street Magazine, A Publication of the Black Vendors Association: Coming Soon Bay Area Black Streets Vendors Benefit Concert and Townhall, December 4th, at the Junkyard, 983 89th Ave., Deep East Oakland

Tickets on Eventbrite

Marvin X and Friends at the Junkyard, December 4, 6-10PM

Marvin X and Friends at the Junkyard, December 4, 6-10PM Poet, playwright, essayist, activist, organizer Marvin X and Friends will read perform at this benefit for Blac...

 

Egyptsia at her booth on Lake Merritt, she is also Manager of the Black Vendors Association

photo Ken Johnson

Poet Dr. Neal Hall Deconstructs The Junkyard

"The junkyard is everywhere, they just hide it!"--Dr. Neal Hall, M.D., Poet, Nigger for Life

Marvin X on his friend and advisor Dr. Neal Hall

FYI, Dr. Neal Hall is a Harvard University trained ophthalmologist who retired to become an internationally awarded poet. His poem Dr. Nigger should explain why he gave up ophthalmology to write poetry. Did American white supremacy make him abandon his profession? His poem is poetic evidence of why he departed eye surgery to become a poet. Moreover, he said the medical profession cuts up Black people too much just to make money. After five surgeries on my eye and they wanted me to do number six, I called Dr. Hall for advice. Firstly he asked if I were in pain? No. After operation number six, will you be able to see better? No. Then don't do it, he said. They just want to cut on you for dollars. When my esteemed elder, Dr. Nathan Hare, PHd in Sociology and Clinical Psychology, heard I'd lost an eye, he said, "Marvin, don't worry about it because you've seen enough of this world!"  I love Dr. Nathan Hare but I want to see THE END of this movie called Pax Americana. Remember when we were at the movie house eating hot buttered popcorn and finger fucking our girlfriend with the same hand, but when we looked up from our rite of passage, the movie screen was white except for the words in black THE END. Can you save a patient terminally ill? NO. One of my friends was dying of cancer although she had outlived the doctors expectations for her life by several years. She put the hospice people out of her house. She employed me as her care provider although the main thing I did was pick up the jars of liquid morphine for her that she did not take but allowed her friends to steal for their use or to sell.  She was finally overcome by cancer and the energy she expended trying to save the youth of Oakland. She was called the Mother Theresa of Oakland, Ancestor Betty King. When her son was the victim of a drive by shooting in the late eighties, we think that really broke her heart. I used to go with her to meetings of mothers who'd lost sons to drive by shootings. After a few meetings, I could go no longer. The testimonies of mothers was too painful for me. So what killed Betty King, physical cancer or political cancer? Recall Dr. Hall's poem as he is trying to save the life of a white racist, was it the trauma of contradiction in the deep structure or was it surface structure racism that led my beloved friend to abandon his medical profession? 

In December, 1968, while underground in Harlem running from the FBI for refusing to fight in Vietnam, I worked as associate editor of Black Theatre Magazine, a publication of the New Lafayette Theatre. They arranged for me to interview James Baldwin at his apartment across from Central Park. He'd already written in one of his books of essays, "The idea of white supremacy has led white people to rationalizations so fantastic it approaches the pathological!"  

James Baldwin in Harlem, cerca 1968

 

Marvin X in Harlem, 1968

photo Doug Harris

FYI, Marvin's 1968 chapbook is claimed to be the begging of the genre Muslim American literature, Marvin X along with other Black Arts Movement poets, including Amiri Baraka, aka LeRoi Jones, Sonia Sanchez, Askia Muhammad Toure, The Last Poets, and many others who came under the Muslim influence, especially after the assassination of Malcolm X. But his death divided North American Africans in general and Black Muslims in particular, very similar to the Sunni Shia sectarianism. Marvin X refuses to align with any form of sectarianism. "I love the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and I love Malcolm X as well. If you know the history of revolution, you know there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests. Study the French, Russian, American, Haitian, Mexican revolutions and note the treachery and reactionary moves by the various personalities in those theatres of war. Brothers who become enemies is war history. Brothers split the atom and it sometimes explodes from personality and/or ideological differences. Sometimes there are agents in the midst, formenting chaos and confusing, leading to a further splitting of the atom. Sectarianism is now full blown, a sect on every corner doing the life and death will of some schiek, imam, guru from a faraway village without electricity and clean water, but the holy man casts a spell on the sycophants who are willing to die for the mystery holy man, such is the thirst of their search for the reality of God, since they no longer believe in the mystery god Jesus. 

In the Sufi manner, Marvin X says he has transcended religiosity for spirituality. I don't need the myths and rituals or I keep them to a minimum and for my own sacred moments of devotion.

I say what the Sufis says, "I am in God and God is in me!" I say, "God has been good to you, but have you been good to God? Are you an ungrateful wretch, still praying when God has already answered? Spooked in religiosity, myth and ritual. When I ask brothers did they get Supreme Wisdom, one answered, "Yes, I got it but I didn't get it!" I've tried to get the best from Elijah and Malcolm, for surely we have been told nothing and no one deserves to be worshipped but Allah, not Elijah, Farakhan, Warith Din, no one and nothing, no woman, money, nothing. Our life and death are all for Allah. And the greatest Jihad is not without but within, i.e., the greatest holy war is to win your own soul from shaitan/the devil. 

Back to James Baldwin

That cold New York December, even James Baldwin had no heat in his apartment. But he said, "How can they talk about the Prince of Peace while they bomb the hell out of Vietnam? Christianity? Our condition proves they don't believe in Jesus, look at our condition. For a black father to raise a black son in this situation is a miracle. It's a wonder we all haven't gone stark raving mad! We're the only thing that happened here, nothing else happened here except us! 

He talked to me about Richard Wright, the top black writer during the 50s and 60s. Baldwin felt Wright was wrong to proclaim that Bigger Thomas was a metaphor for black rage that would one day end in murder, although Bigger's murder was by accident and stupidity.  Baldwin claimed Wright discovered in Africa that he was not African but an American, yes, a white man in black face. As I recall our interview of 1968, the audio tape was destroyed, Baldwin thought Wright was somewhat lost in Paris among the African intellectuals. Exile can dislodge one from the communal self. As one who suffered exile, it can cause trauma due to the disconnection in physical space but psychic space as well. In exile, we cannot fully understand the daily suffering of those in our particular national liberation struggle. Yes, internationalism is wonderful, Che style, Kwame Toure style, but tribalism is a mother..... You yearn to be back in your homeland, even if you were only crime in the street, and as Wright said in Native Son, your presence is a crime against the state. Richard Wright died under mysterious circumstances in Paris. Baldwin returned from exile and engaged in the Civil Rights struggle. Lately when I hear Baldwin speak with such passion, I wonder if his wisdom and creative energy was not wasted in conversations in, as he said, "airless rooms, talking to zombies in full blown addiction to white supremacy but in total denial, yet they seek to control the narrative with their White Fictive Theory while denouncing Critical Race Theory. I think a true or false test would end the discussion unless there are two truths, alternative facts and the pseudo validation of false narratives by domination in the verbal manner of S and M, San Francisco, South of Market, black leather domination from the world of make believe. 

Why is it so difficult to face reality? How long can a nation of people live on fantasy island? If the ocean is rising, why don't you pack up and leave the island or move further inland. Oh, you're going to stop the ocean from rising? Why don't you first clean up that island of plastic in the Pacific ocean three times the size of Texas? 

You psychosis is overwhelming you and the world. Yes, when the blind lead the blind they both fall into the ditch together. Who can follow you except the deaf, dumb and blind. 

Many of my people truly believe you know what you're doing, even when you know you don't know. Your monkey mind media of fake news reveals your ignorance while it parades and pontificates as intelligence, fair and balanced. Before you departed Kabul, you droned ten people, including seven children and said you were not to blame. It was the children's fault. What manner of lies can you not manifest to a believing world who go for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Santa Claus? 

I pray you enjoy Dr. Nigger:

Dr. Nigger

Dr. Nigger
Can you cure me without
touching me with nigga hands
Can you save my life
without changing my life
Can you dance soft-shoe while
humming those negro tunes
when my white life codes blue
Can you reach inside yourself
beyond the shit we put in you…
past painful moments we put in you…
past despair and hopelessness
we’ve put in you and
find that old black magic in you
to save my life without changing
all the shit we put in you
Dr. Nigger
Can you breathe in me
air free of nigga
from a nigger not free
to breathe in free air
Can you stay on the colored side
of the color line and reach across
without touching me with nigga hands
to restart my blue heart without
changing my cold heart
Can you reach past the life
we’ve taken from you to
save my life and not
let white life pass me by
Dr. Nigger
save my life
without taking my life
Cure me without
touching me with nigga hands
Dance soft-shoe while
humming negro tunes
while you save my life
without changing my life
when my white life codes blue
--Neal Hall, M.D.,
Copyright 2009

Black Love Lives!

Black Street Vendors at Oakland's Lake Merritt

White residents and merchants want them gone. In Richard Wright's classic novel Native Son, the lawyer who defended Bigger Thomas on murder charges, described his client thusly, "His very presence is a crime against the state, every glance of his eyes is a threat...." Invisible Man's mantra was "keep the nigga running!" In Destruction of African Civilization, Chancellor Williams said we've been running for 6,000 years, ever since the Semites came into Egypt and mated with our African mothers. The children identified with their white fathers in the grand tradition of the tragic mulatto syndrome, "Am  I black, am I white?" Chancellor said we fled from invasions, succession rites, famine, drought and other ecological factors. Diop proved linguistically and culturally as revealed in myths, rituals, burial customs and spirituality that West Africans are the direct descendants or Kemit or Egypt, Alkebulan. See his classic Cultural Unity of Africa. 

For sure, no matter if Blacks are officially banned from the lake or the City's project morphed and degenerate into a Miller Lite version of the North American African vision as celebrated by the North American Africans whose powerful presence so disturbed the peace loving residents and merchants along Lakeshore and Grand Ave.

James Copes of the Black International Marketplace at Lake Merritt and City Councilwoman Nikki Bas  in happier times. James, Chief organizer of the Lake Merritt black street vendors, has lost faith that the City of Oakland can transcend its long history of excluding Blacks from Lake Merritt. After months of police prohibiting parking on Lakeshore and Grand Avenues, James said  customers disappeared so we have no choice but to vacate the lake. The City achieved their aim to satisfy the white residents, merchants and prevent the recall of Councilwoman Nikki Bas.  Nikki appeared to be a friend of the Black street vendors but reelection is her priority. As we know, there are no permanent friends in politics, only permanent interests. 

Organizer of the Black International Marketplace at Lake Merritt, James Copes.

The Griot Speaks

At the Junkyard on December 4, 6-10, Marvin X will read poetry and discuss the status of Black Street Vendors on the streets of Oakland. The Black Vendors Association's organizer says, "At the end of November the City of Oakland's Black street vending project at Lake Merritt will end. The Parks and Recreation Commission asked James Copes, organizer of the Lake Merritt vendors, to present a long range plan for Black vendors that does not include Lake Merritt. Contrary to Parks and Rec, Mr. Copes asked me to write the proposal but include vending at Lake Merritt. Although the pilot project initially had the blessing of Councilwoman Nikki Bas, she was forced to acquiesce to the wishes of the mostly white Lakeshore and Grand Ave. residents and merchants who opposed the Black presence at Lake Merritt because of unruly behavior by some of the black street vendors and their customers, but we know that whites have opposed any black presence at the lake for decades, even before I was growing up in West Oakland and we were prohibited from the lake except on holidays like July 4th."

Dr. Ayodele Nzinga, First Poet Laureate for the City of Oakland

Dr. Ayodele Nzinga, The City of Oakland's First Poet Laureate, will join her indefatigable, peripatetic, irascible Teacher at the Junkyard. 

Marvin X and Dr. Ayodele Nzinga

photo Adam Turner

After Bar-b-Que Becky inspired Blacks to party and vend at the lake, residents forced the City to restrict the black vendors to one block on El Embarcadero. Police blocked parking on Lakeshore and Grand Avenues, thus killing potential customers from parking at the lake until vending died a slow death until many sought other sites rather than stay in a dead zone. James Copes, chief organizer, was one of the first to depart due to low sales. Of course the OPD achieved their purpose of killing customers. The Black Vendors Association has decided not to fight the pseudo white liberal residents desire to maintain white supremacy at the lake. On December 4th at the Junkyard, BVA organizer Marvin X will present vendors another plan to vend on the streets of Oakland, something Blacks have never been allowed to do. 

Master Percussionist Tacuma King, long time accompanist of poet Marvin X

Poet/organizer Marvin X and his favorite musician, Violinist Tarika Lewis.

FYI, Tarika is the first female member of the Black Panther Party.

Poet Samantha and Tarika Lewis, Violinist

We invite all Black Street Vendors to attend the event and become members of the BVA so we can fight for our rights in an organized manner. The reason Councilwoman Nikki Bas succumbed to the residents and merchants is because they voted her into office and threatened to recall her if she didn't remove the black menace to their peace and tranquility. If blacks were organized, including registered votes, Nikki would have had to respond differently, although she did make an effort but she knows what side her bread is buttered.

Marcus Garvey said get organized and so we must. All black vendors will receive discount tickets to attend this event at the Junkyard, located at 983 89th Ave., Deep East Oakland. For more information, please call 510-575-7148. General Admission tickets are $50.00, available on Eventbrite. Marvin X and Friends at the Junkyard, December 4, 6-10PM

Marvin X and Friends at the Junkyard, December 4, 6-10PM Poet, playwright, essayist, activist, organizer Marvin X and Friends will read perform at this benefit for Blac...

About this event

Marvin X will be accompanied by percussionist Tacuma King, Violinist Tarika Lewis, and Oakland's First Poet Laureate Dr. Ayodele Nzinga. The event is produced by Black Bird Press and the Black Vendors Association. Funds will benefit Black Street Magazine, official publication of the Black Vendors Association and provide mini-grants for vendors to come up.

Maestro Marvin X and the Black Arts Movement Poets Choir and Arkestra performing at the Malcolm X Jazz Art Festival, 2015

Collage Adam Turner

We thank our sponsors 

for their generous support

Comments 

Cornel West says, "Marvin X is the African Socrates in the hood, a combination Thelonious Monk and Marianne Williamson!"--Dr. Cornel West, Harvard, Union Theological Seminary

" If you want to learn about motivation and inspiration, don't spend all that money going to workshops and seminars, just go stand at 14th and Broadway, downtown Oakland and watch Marvin X at work. He's Plato teaching on the streets of Oakland."--Ishmael Reed, Professor Emeritus, UC Berkeley

Friday, July 3, 2020

blame it on marvin x

BLAME IT ON MARVIN X!!!

Have you seen it?

When is the last time you’ve walked downtown

Can’t believe what they’ve done

But, i know this, for sure

Gwon. Go ahead.

Hope the streets don’t call me out on this

But, i BLAME Marvin X!

He started it!

He and Immamu

The great Baraka

Elombe, Kwame, Maya, Abubadika, Ed Bullins, Sonia Sanchez, Askia Toure’

Bobby, Huey, Emory, Karenga, COBRA in Chi-town, Ishmael...

Yebo! They should all be held responsible!

Damn right, i blame Marvin X and ‘nem

For being the main instigators that has brought the world

More than 50 years

Five loooong decades-plus

Of terrifying White terrorists, including Reagan

While shaking up liberals

The nerve of him, the never of them

Waking up “Negroes”

When they’re trying to keep sleeping

Don’t know bout ya

But, i still blame Marvin X and ‘nem

Not just these miserable social conditions

Of vicious European and American global imperialist monopoly capitalist white terrorism

For causing all this

Particular unruly and unauthorized behavior

Firing up folks

Coast to coast

From the Atlantic to the Gulf to the Great Lakes to the Pacific and beyond

To the continent and around our diaspora

Especially among these brave youngsters

Who have no idea

What they’re up against

Or, how to be scared!

Ya can say what ya want

But, i’m calling him out

The truth is Marvin X and ‘nem are to blame.

He has to be completely out of his mind

For outrageously envisioning a safe, secure, valued CommUNITY of

Self-Determined African people with homes, banks, stores, theaters, cafes, galleries, vendors

And, no poo-poo. Ooops, typo. i meant no po-po

Calling it the “Black Arts Movement taking care of Our Business District”

In the Spirit of our Kemetic-like destroyed Greenwood-Archer-Pine “GAP” area in Tulsa, Never

In the center of Indigenous OHLONE-land

Renamed “oakland” by the European and American killer and raper

Raiders and 49’er gold diggers

Who else ya gonna blame, but Marvin X and ‘nem?

For confronting the City officials

To first recognize this Black Arts Movement District

Then demanding they put up some street signs and posters

To loudly declaring our sacred Red, Black and Green colors of Liberation!

So, it is, indeed, Marvin X and ‘nem

Who WE have to blame

Cause he has now taken the damn thang

To an even higher level

Without any prior notification

Or, “official” Invitation

Have you seen this outburst?

Witnessed all this dangerous art?

On every block! Every street! Even in some alleys.

And, to my amazement…

Not one broken window.

Go ahead

Let’s blame Marvin X and ‘nem

There they go again inspiring so many creative Spirits

And, Bold, Brave Amazing Souls

Who seem to have been set Free

And, given this precious Sacred Space

While confronting the deadly military armor, tear gas, hidden cameras, threats of arrests and jailings

And, drive-by shootings and murder

From Euro-American “white” military-trained terrorists

Along with this deadly virus from who knows where (at the moment)

i’m for blaming Marvin X and ‘nem

For issuing this Call to Create

With nothing to fight with

But their weapons of Warriors’ vigor

Unfiltered imagination and unabashed creativity

Nothing but pray cans, paint brushes, magic markers, sharpies

Plywood, concrete and asphalt

Or, the walls of the J.P. Morgan Chase bank robbers and their ilk

These newer versions of the Splash Sis-Stars and Brothers

With profound messaging

Representing the real World Champions GIANTS WE all be

Yebo. This dude, Baba Marvin X

Always stirring Up Trouble!

Among the Blacks! The Browns! The Yellows! The Reds!

Lighting matches with words

That have sparked the creation of these new and old Black and Beautiful images

Of Truth and Black Genius!

Fully expressing our global Black experience, echoing Baba ImHotep Byrd!

Shouting and Exercising Our Mighty and Unstoppable Black Power!

And, futuristic Black Life!

Yebo, ya damn right it’s his fault

So, please join and help me

In putting the blame right where it belongs

And, while WE are at it

Sharing our utmost Gratitude to...

Baba Marvin X!

And, his many Black Artist

And, especially MOVEMENT-building co-horts

Past, present and after he, and WE

Are Long Gone!

Ase`. Ase`. Ase’-O!

by Jahahara Amen-RA Alkebulan-Ma’at

June 2020

Poets Amiri Baraka RIP and Marvin X enjoyed a 47 year friendship as Co-founders of the Black Arts Movement coast to coast. Amiri Baraka said, "Marvin X has always been in the forefront of Pan African writing. Indeed he is one of the founders and innovators of the revolutionary school of African writing. "

Bust of Dr. Huey P. Newton and Marvin X, his revolutionary comrade from their Merritt College days, 1962-64. 

photo art Gene Hazzard