Marvin X and Sun Ra, a Philadelphia native. Sun Ra was the philosopher and mystic of BAM. He worked with Marvin X in theatre coast to coast.
Marvin X speaks at last rites of his friend, Amiri Baraka
Marvin X tour schedule, 2014
February 17
Eastside Arts Center Tribute to Amiri Baraka, et al
February 22
Marvin X speaks at Hinton Community Center, Fresno CA
February 24
Marvin X speaks at Fresno City College
February 28 thru March 2
Marvin X co-producer (with Kim McMillan) of the Black Arts Movement Conference
University of California, Merced
March 15
Marvin X speaks in Seattle WA
April 24,25,26
Marvin X in Philadelphia for 60th Birthday of Mumia Abu Jamal
May 29
Marvin X celebrates 70th birthday at Contra Costa College, Richmond CA
June 19, Juneteenth
Marvin X participates:
Fresno Juneteenth
Berkeley Juneteenth
San Francisco Juneteenth
for more information or to book Marvin X, please call 510-200-4164
email letter of invitation: jmarvinx@yahoo.com
visit his blog: www.blackbirdpressnews.blogspot.com
ACADEMIC FREEDOM
Comment
Parable of the Poor Righteous Teacher
for Haki Madhubuti (Don L. Lee), Dr. Anthony Montiero
Sooner or later, they always come for the teacher. After all, the more popular, the more dangerous. The more serious and sincere, the more a threat to the bourgeoisie whose philosophy is do nothing, say nothing, know nothing. Thus, the serious teacher has no seat at the table. Yes, he is tolerated for a time, maybe a long time, but the plot was hatched the first day he arrived to teach, when the contract was signed, his doom was sealed.
No matter what chairs he established, no matter how many institutions he created in the name of God. The bourgeoisie care nothing for God, only as a cover for their filthy behavior in the dark, their winking and blinking at the water hole.
The teacher must know absolutely if he is on his job he won't have a job, for no matter how many years he gives of his soul, his mental genius, he is not wanted. No matter how many students he is able to raise from the box, his services are not wanted.
The bourgeoisie do not want Jack out of the box, this must be understood. They prefer Jack and Jackie stay confined and proscribed in the box of ignorance. They are mere pawns in the game of chance the bourgeoisie play until they are removed from power, after they steal all they can, when the coffers are empty, the institution bankrupt and they are under indictment.
Now they will never put down their butcher knives, never turn into Buddha heads. This is why one must practice eternal vigilance with them. They are planning and plotting the demise of the poor righteous teachers at every turn.
So the teacher must teach his students about power, but when he does, his exit papers are signed. He may not know this. He may believe he has friends on the board of trustees, but he is only fooling himself. He is a starry eyed idealist, a dreamer, who shall be awakened from his dream one day for sure. And on that day he shall find his office door locked. His classroom door secured by a guard. His students transferred to other colleagues he thought were with him. But they will only say to him, "Sorry, brother."
--Marvin X
4/5/10