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Thursday, March 5, 2015
Marvin X on War in the Hood
America is the Black man's battleground. As I travel the streets of Oakland, I run into police at crime scenes, streets taped and markings for bullet casings. It is almost daily or weekly. This is war, whether caused by external or internal forces. War is war. Coast to coast. But we cannot make war unless one is prepared. When unprepared, one is simply the victim who suffers but is unable to stop the war against him or her. How does one prepare for war? Put on the armor of God or obtain spiritual consciousness, then one can walk through the valley of the shadow of death but fear no evil. Be conscious of the Tone Test: when stopped by the police, one can be arrested, released or killed, depending on one's tone of voice. When encountering another brother, the tone test operates. Depending on our tone of voice, we can have an argument or the situation can escalate to violence and death. Isn't there a Hadith that says when we encounter the ignorant, say As-Salaam-Alaikum. Don't escalate a situation when you know where it is going! We must survive to fight another day of our choice, not the enemy's. And don't think you are going to defeat the enemy with guns. My friends and comrades in the Black Panther Party tried this but suffered a military defeat. We don't have enough guns or bullets to match the police, the US Army, Navy, Air Force, FBI, CIA, NSA, spies, snitches and agent provocateurs. Fidel Castro said, "The weapon of today is not guns but consciousness."--Marvin X
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Bobby Seale honored at Peralta Colleges Foundation Dinner/Bobby Seale honors Marvin X
Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale and fellow Merritt College student, Marvin X. Bobby Seale performed in Marvin's Black Arts West Theatre before joining the Black Panther Party. He played a young revolutionary Black man trying to find himself in Come Next Summer, Marvin's second play. Tonight at Oakland's Marriott City Center, the Peralta Colleges Foundation honored one of their own, former Merritt College student Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, along with fellow student Huey P. Newton. Bobby Seale was ill, so he sent Virtual Murrell, another Merritt College student and first president of the Soul Students Advisory Council, that morphed into BSUs across America. The first thing Virtual Murrell read was a note from Bobby to let those in attendance know that the Soul Students Advisory Council began after a performance of fellow Merritt student Marvin X's (Jackmon) play Flowers for the Trashman. The anti-Vietnam play recruited students into the Black consciousness and activist movement at Merritt College. Marvin X stood at the $175.00 plate dinner, a benefit for the Peralta College Foundation that gives scholarships to needy students.
Speaking for Bobby, Virtual also said Peralta College students and instructors must tell the true story of Merritt, not the watered down, Miller Lite version so often heard, although attendees did view a trailer of the award winning Peralta College TV documentary on Merritt College as the birthplace of the Black Panther Party and student activism, especially in the Bay Area.
Marvin X's autobiography Somethin' Proper, narrates the student struggle at Merritt, one of the few sources on the history of the Black Arts/Black Power Movement, especially on the West Coast. Laney College Professor, Judy Juanita's novel, relates some of the history as well. See also the writings of Donald Warden of the Afro-American Association, the key organization that preceded the Black Panther Party and the Black Arts Movement on the West Coast and nationally.
Bobby Seale and Marvin X
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Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Black Bird Press News & Review: Marvin X on Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad
Black Bird Press News & Review: Marvin X on Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad: Assassinations happen in all revolutions, betrayal is part of revolution, grow up, study revolution, friends betray each other, long time associates, look at Fidel and Che, Stalin and his friends. Even Noble Drew Ali had problems with friends, jealous, envious. Elijah ran for seven years from the jealous ones who said they would eat a grain of rice a day until Elijah was killed after he was appointed leader by Master Fard Muhammad. Check out the Mexican revolution, a history of betrayal. The Palestinians kill then hug and pray together in the mosque. Negroes will hate you forever over two cents, don't hate the white man but hate you.
Abstract for the 27 City Black Arts Movement 50th Anniversary Celebration
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Two of BAM co-founders, Marvin X and Amiri Baraka (RIP)
Marvin X and Black Panther Party Minister of Culture, Emory Douglas
Elena Serrano of Eastside Arts, Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Marvin X
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BAM Physical Wellness Boot Camp at Laney College, Oakland
BAM Celebration at Laney College, Oakland: Kujichagulia and Taiwo
The
mission of the Black Arts Movement’s 27 City Tour is to continue the
cultural revolution we initiated during the 1960s. This cultural
revolution is still needed because for a variety of reasons the Black
Arts Movement was aborted due to the radical nature of our task which
was the liberation of our people in harmony with the political movement.
Today, the need to address the political condition is critical, yes,
even with the election of a non-white president, though this president
has done little to address non-white issues, especially the high
unemployment of youth, the high incarceration rate of 2.4 million and
the deportation rate of two million so called illegal immigrants since
President Obama took office.
But more than the political and economic situation is the cultural condition, the reactionary values in hip hop culture, especially unconscious rap poetry, and even the socalled conscious poetry is, in the words of my daughter, an expression of the pseudo conscious, for words are not followed by the right action. As we know, talk is cheap!
But most important is the overall lack of mental health wellness in our community nationwide, to say nothing of physical wellness. The high rate of homicide among young North American African men is symptomatic of a lack of manhood training or the infusion of traditional values that inspire and motivate people to be the best they can be, to give honor and respect to their elders and ancestors.
The 50% or more drop out rate of students in our schools is partly the result of our dire mental health condition. Alas, it is said not only is there a critical need for a positive curriculum and teachers with an undying love for our children, but the mental health condition of our children requires mental health counselors with radical values of wellness based on a holistic approach to solving our myriad psychosocial and economic issues. We are dumbfounded to learn the USA (Bush and Obama) promised the young men in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere (except in the USA) three items if they stop their violence and pledge allegiance to the constitution of their lands: education, jobs and housing. Why not offer education, jobs and housing for the boyz and girls , in the hood? The BAM tour will address some of these issues through the medium of art, i.e. poetry, drama, dance, music, graphics.
While art therapy has been used in traditional cultures, and was utilized in the Black Arts Movement, there must be a concerted effort to make use of art in the healing of our people. Throughout the years, we have seen the power of art in changing destructive personalities. We recall the production we did of Amiri Baraka’s play The Dutchman in Fresno CA. The local pimp loaned us a wig for the female character Lula. When he viewed the play and saw her stab the young North American African male, Clay, this rocked the pimp’s world and he threw in his pimping towel, joined the Nation of Islam and eventually became an imam and made his haj or pilgrimage to Mecca. Thus we see the power of art to heal broken, self destructive and economically damaged personalities.
Many times we heard Amiri Baraka speak about the need to reach our people in the 27 major cities we inhabit—to reach out and touch them with healing Black Art that can restore our mental and physical wellness. In honor of ancestor Amiri Baraka, we propose to conduct a 27 city tour with concerts and wellness workshops to aid in the recovery of ourselves. Our special focus shall be on young Black men, although we cannot and will not ignore young black women, nor will we avoid adult and parental responsibility.
We estimate the overall budget for this project will be 2.7 million dollars at $100,000 per city, including artist fees, promotion, advertisement, rental of venues, insurance, security, lodging, food and transportation. Since many of the Black Arts Movement workers are elders, the timeline would be at least three years to complete this project, including planning and production.
BAM workers in each community will be recruited to participate and we would like to establish a BAM center in each city, no matter if it is a 50 seat theatre as Amiri Baraka suggested. A staff of educators, and mental and physical health workers must be a part of this project so that we more effectively deal with our wellness in a holistic manner.
Sincerely,
Marvin X, Project Director
The Black Arts Movement 27 City Tour
Philadelphia PA
4/23/14
510-200-4164
But more than the political and economic situation is the cultural condition, the reactionary values in hip hop culture, especially unconscious rap poetry, and even the socalled conscious poetry is, in the words of my daughter, an expression of the pseudo conscious, for words are not followed by the right action. As we know, talk is cheap!
But most important is the overall lack of mental health wellness in our community nationwide, to say nothing of physical wellness. The high rate of homicide among young North American African men is symptomatic of a lack of manhood training or the infusion of traditional values that inspire and motivate people to be the best they can be, to give honor and respect to their elders and ancestors.
The 50% or more drop out rate of students in our schools is partly the result of our dire mental health condition. Alas, it is said not only is there a critical need for a positive curriculum and teachers with an undying love for our children, but the mental health condition of our children requires mental health counselors with radical values of wellness based on a holistic approach to solving our myriad psychosocial and economic issues. We are dumbfounded to learn the USA (Bush and Obama) promised the young men in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere (except in the USA) three items if they stop their violence and pledge allegiance to the constitution of their lands: education, jobs and housing. Why not offer education, jobs and housing for the boyz and girls , in the hood? The BAM tour will address some of these issues through the medium of art, i.e. poetry, drama, dance, music, graphics.
While art therapy has been used in traditional cultures, and was utilized in the Black Arts Movement, there must be a concerted effort to make use of art in the healing of our people. Throughout the years, we have seen the power of art in changing destructive personalities. We recall the production we did of Amiri Baraka’s play The Dutchman in Fresno CA. The local pimp loaned us a wig for the female character Lula. When he viewed the play and saw her stab the young North American African male, Clay, this rocked the pimp’s world and he threw in his pimping towel, joined the Nation of Islam and eventually became an imam and made his haj or pilgrimage to Mecca. Thus we see the power of art to heal broken, self destructive and economically damaged personalities.
Many times we heard Amiri Baraka speak about the need to reach our people in the 27 major cities we inhabit—to reach out and touch them with healing Black Art that can restore our mental and physical wellness. In honor of ancestor Amiri Baraka, we propose to conduct a 27 city tour with concerts and wellness workshops to aid in the recovery of ourselves. Our special focus shall be on young Black men, although we cannot and will not ignore young black women, nor will we avoid adult and parental responsibility.
We estimate the overall budget for this project will be 2.7 million dollars at $100,000 per city, including artist fees, promotion, advertisement, rental of venues, insurance, security, lodging, food and transportation. Since many of the Black Arts Movement workers are elders, the timeline would be at least three years to complete this project, including planning and production.
BAM workers in each community will be recruited to participate and we would like to establish a BAM center in each city, no matter if it is a 50 seat theatre as Amiri Baraka suggested. A staff of educators, and mental and physical health workers must be a part of this project so that we more effectively deal with our wellness in a holistic manner.
Sincerely,
Marvin X, Project Director
The Black Arts Movement 27 City Tour
Philadelphia PA
4/23/14
510-200-4164
Marvin X on Malcolm X
Assassinations happen in all revolutions, betrayal is part of revolution, grow up,
study revolution, friends betray each other, long time associates, look
at Fidel and Che, Stalin and his friends. Even Noble Drew Ali had
problems with friends, jealous, envious. Elijah ran for seven years from
the jealous ones who said they would eat a grain of rice a day until
Elijah was killed after he was appointed leader by Master Fard Muhammad.
Check out the Mexican revolution, a history of betrayal. Check out the African revolution.
Palestinians kill each other, then hug and pray together in the mosque. Negroes will
hate you forever over two cents, don't hate the white man, love his dirty drawers.--Marvin X
photo Doug Harris, Harlem NY 1968
Two men influenced my life greatly. One can say I am that I am
because of these two men, of which there are no divisions in my heart, I
love them both deeply, always have and always shall. Shit happens in
revolutions, friends become enemies, enemies become friends, there are
no permanent friends, only permanent interests.
If you were a gambler (and I am not) but if you had to bet on a certain
relationship that was successful for 12 years, but when divided, one
individual didn't live 12 months, would we not say the twelve years of
stability speaks for itself, no matter how rocky it may have been.
On a deeper level, jealousy and envy kill from within, thus it was
almost inevitable that Malcolm's prominence would be challenged by
senior officials jockeying for power, authority and influence.
His personal relationship with the Honorable Elijah Muhammad was enough
to make even the simple minded jealous. Let us remember the classic
master teacher relationship between Rumi and Shams of Tabriz. Rumi was
murdered by his jealous students, jealous of his relationship with
Master Teacher Shams, thus the Sufi whirl and whirl into the states of
divinity in morning of their teacher, Rumi.
And so I morn both my teachers, Elijah and Malcolm, love them both no
matter what happened between them. Shit happens in revolution, get over
it and move on to higher ground!
No one can say they loved Malcolm X more than I. No one can say they loved Elijah Muhammad more than I.
--Marvin X
Words of the Week
My self is on the shelf collecting dust!--Toya Williams
God BAM!--Dr. Nathan Hare
There's a new movie coming out: Marvin X Driving Miss Libby!--Paul Cobb
Thanks, Marvin, for stopping me that day at the Jazz Festival and taking me on the wild crazy ride called the Marvin X Experience.--Aries Jordan
Forget hands up, it's pants up!--Judy Jackmon
Wake up? Wake up to what?--Anonymous lady on Lakeshore Ave., Oakland
God BAM!--Dr. Nathan Hare
There's a new movie coming out: Marvin X Driving Miss Libby!--Paul Cobb
Thanks, Marvin, for stopping me that day at the Jazz Festival and taking me on the wild crazy ride called the Marvin X Experience.--Aries Jordan
Forget hands up, it's pants up!--Judy Jackmon
Wake up? Wake up to what?--Anonymous lady on Lakeshore Ave., Oakland
Monday, February 23, 2015
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Marvin X, the Human Earthquake, caused an 8.9 in the BAY at aproximately 9am ish, this Sunday at True Vine Ministries, meeting at Mclymonds High School in West Oakland
√African Heritage Month commemoration with Marvin X, Corey Page, Ken McCollum, True Vine praise dancers and choir featuring Dale Anthony and Quinton Cooper & the band (Tommy Bradford, deLuca, Doug, Sandra & Cam)
— at True Vine Ministries.
Marvin X, the human earthquake went 8.9 on the Ricter scale at True Vine Ministries this Sunday, 9am. Invited by Oakland City Council President, Lynette McElhaney, her assistant Brigitt Cook said after Marvin X's sermon on Revolution, "I had no idea, but he was far beyond my imagination."
During his talk, the poet said he had no idea he was going to preach rather than read poetry. The Holy Ghost took over so what could I do except go along for the ride? He told the young men forget hands up, it's pants up! You call yourselves pimping while staying at yo mama's house riding a bicycle. Our women need you but you are unacceptable with pants off your behinds. Where are our women going to find husbands. Women have B.A.s, M.A.s, PhDs, and you doing twenty-five to life. Some women have no choice except turning to you for husbands but it's pitiful.
Talk about Black History? Oscar Grant died on New Year's Day. Do you
realize New Year's Day was the worst day in the history of our people?
It was the day of the slave auction, when mothers were separated from
children, husbands, and we still celebrate New Year's Day. It should be a
day of prayer and a day to ask our ancestors to forgive us for giving
up the struggle for liberation, a day we vow to never give up until
freedom is won. The poet ended with his classic poem For the Women,
especially since an earlier poet had said a poem that asked what will it
take to make the Black woman smile? We think Marvin X made the women in
the congregation smile!
Marvin X speaks tonight on Houston's Pacifica Radio station www.kpft.org, 8:30pm CT, 6:30 PT. Tune in on the Wild Crazy Ride called the Marvin X Experience.
Marvin X speaks tonight on Houston's Pacifica Radio station www.kpft.org, 8:30pm CT, 6:30 PT. Tune in on the Wild Crazy Ride called the Marvin X Experience.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
BAM News Update: Life and Death in West Oakland
Wendy’s Cheesecake Bakery
& Le`RoyaltyLadies Catering Service
Presents: The 18th Annual Black History Celebration
We invite you to participate in this years celebration themed: “Our Roots Run Deep.” Join us in honoring our
Ancestors, whose shoulders we boldly stand on, recognizing the Blood, Sweat and Tears, that built the foundation of
American History.
This year’s Celebration will be held at The West Oakland Youth Center, at: 3233 Market Street, Oakland, Ca. 94608; Friday, February, 20th 2015, 6:00pm – 9:30pm. Admission is FREE. Hors-d’oeuvres and Refreshments will be served from 6pm – 6:45pm.
Our Guest Speakers:
Ms. Elaine Brown - Legacy of Black Panthers Movement
Marvin X (Black Arts Movement)
Pastor Larry Austin - (Oakland City Church – 180 Degree, African American Male Achievement) Pastor James A. Long, Jr. – (True Faith Baptist Church - Our Souls Run Deep)
David Roach - (MoBetterfood.com)
Letitia Henderson (Olivet IMBC – History)
L. Karen Monroe - (Alameda County Superintendent of Schools)
Melody Powers - (The Bay Area Black United Funds)
Allensworth Descendants Association
Brenda Brumfield-Ross & Paula Kirkendoll - (Sister Cities International)
Douglas Steward - (Covered California)
I80 Degree Program / Piedmont Avenue Elementary School Gators
BOP - (Black Organizing Project)
Pastor Larry Austin - (Oakland City Church – 180 Degree, African American Male Achievement) Pastor James A. Long, Jr. – (True Faith Baptist Church - Our Souls Run Deep)
David Roach - (MoBetterfood.com)
Letitia Henderson (Olivet IMBC – History)
L. Karen Monroe - (Alameda County Superintendent of Schools)
Melody Powers - (The Bay Area Black United Funds)
Allensworth Descendants Association
Brenda Brumfield-Ross & Paula Kirkendoll - (Sister Cities International)
Douglas Steward - (Covered California)
I80 Degree Program / Piedmont Avenue Elementary School Gators
BOP - (Black Organizing Project)
Spoken Word Artist:
Dance Group
Dance Group
Musical Selections
Voices of Freedom “Keren Beloved”
Piwai of Acoustic Soul Stories
Voices of Freedom “Keren Beloved”
Piwai of Acoustic Soul Stories
Montoya Mayo
Aries Jordan
Downtown TAY
LaShawn Rabon
Participating Vendors:
The Bay Area Black United Fund KulCha Coloring Works, Inc. Montoya Mayo
Marvin X, Black Bird Press
Covered California
Bay Area Headwraps
Allensworth Descendants Association Aries Jordan
Women’s Chamber of Commerce The Aieste Star Foundation, 501(c)3 Sankofa Vine
Ankara Style
The Bay Area Black United Fund KulCha Coloring Works, Inc. Montoya Mayo
Marvin X, Black Bird Press
Covered California
Bay Area Headwraps
Allensworth Descendants Association Aries Jordan
Women’s Chamber of Commerce The Aieste Star Foundation, 501(c)3 Sankofa Vine
Ankara Style
Chocolate Platinum Soul Line Dancers
Marvin X at the West Oakland Youth Center Black History Event
photo Cathy Gent
As we came up on 3200 block of Market Street in West Oakland, we passed the flashing lights of police cars and saw the block of 32nd between Market and San Pablo was roped off by police tape, indicating a homicide. We slowed but continued to find a parking place so we could speak at a Black History program at the City of Oakland's Youth Center. We parked and went inside to find people lined up to eat dinner before the program began. While the OPD investigated the crime scene down the block, people inside were preparing to enjoy an evening of presentations on Black History. Elaine Brown was scheduled to speak on the Black Panther Party of which she was former chairwoman. I was representing the Black Arts Movement. The program was produced by Barbara Howard. The MC was George Pearson, PA, a former student of mine at Mills College.As people ate dinner, I could hear them whispering about the homicide around the corner in the area we used to call the Dirty 30s. It is an area well familiar to me since I once lived at 32nd and Market as well as 32nd and Magnolia. Thirty Second Street was a freeway for drugs back in the day and apparently still is alive with medication for the oppressed.
The Dirty 30s is also known as an area for sex workers, one of whom was immortalized in my essay The Maid, the Ho, the Cook (In the Crazy House Called America, essays, Marvin X, Black Bird Press, 2002). The character with the triple crown was based on a sex worker I befriended and who came to live with me for a time. It was a time when I was already giving shelter to the director of my play One Day in the Life, Ayodele Nzinga, and her six children. The prostitute shared my one bedroom apartment along with Ayo and her children who were homeless at the time. Often when the prostitute came home from her runs up and down San Pablo, she would find us rehearsing One Day in the Life, a docudrama about my addiction and recovery from Crack, including a scene of my last meeting with Black Panther co-founder Huey P. Newton in a Crack house near the infamous Acorn Projects. She pretended not to notice us rehearsing and would often fall asleep on floor from exhausion, sleeping anywhere she could find space. But the play apparently seeped into her subconscious since she eventually gave up her sex work and went into recovery. She went to San Francisco and enrolled in a job training program to become a paralegal. So there is hope for those caught in the Dirty 30s. For sure, the Youth Center is making an impact, despite the fact that there are victims falling every minute in America's 400 year old war with North American Africans.
--Marvin X
BAM Poet's Choir and Arkestra, University of California, Merced, 2014
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf at Laney College BAM celebration
LtoR: Paul Cobb, Dr. Leslee Stradford, Conway Jones, Jr., Marvin X, Naima Joy in arms of Mayor Schaaf, Jah Amiel (grandchildren of Marvin X), Laney College President, Dr. Elnora T. Webb, Dr. Nathan Hare, President of Oakland City Council, Lynette McElhaney
photo South Park Ken Johnson
photo South Park Ken Johnson
Marvin X and the BAM 27 City Tour is coming to San Francisco, Berkeley and Sacramento. Stay tuned to www.blackbirdpressnews.blogspot.com or call 510-200-4164 for booking in your city.
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