Marvin X Archives at University of California, Davis, Shields Library

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Marvin X collection, 1977-1984.

X, Marvin, 1944-

15 items (1 folder)

University of California, Davis - Shields Library

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Contact Information

Notes and summaries

Educator, poet, playwright, essaytist, and activist Marvin X (born Marvin Jackmon, also known as 

Imam El Muhajir) was born on May 29, 1944 and grew up in Oakland and Fresno, California. 

After attending Merrit College in Oakland, he received his B.A. and M.A. in English from 

San Francisco State University. He has taught English, creative writing, journalism, Arabic, 

and drama at Fresno State University, U.C. Berkeley, U.C. San Diego, San Francisco State 

University, Mills College, the University of Nevada, Reno, Laney College, and Merritt 

College. During the 1980's he organized the Melvin Black Forum on Human Rights 

and the 1st Annual All Black Men's Conference. It was during this time that he also 

attempted to create the Marvin X Center for the Study of World Religions.

These items form a component of the Department of Special Collections' African 

American History Collection. Material in the collection includes: applications 

for tax exemption for the Marvin X Center for the Study of World Religions, 

Marvin X Ministry budgets for the 1982-1983 fiscal year, press release explaining 

Marvin X's resignation as Eldrige Cleaver's aide, an abstract on "manhood training," 

records on the planning and promotion of the 1st Annual All Black Men's Conference, 

and photocopies (of poems, sheet music, and newspaper clippings).

Unrestricted.

Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17 of the U.S. Code. All requests 

for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the 

Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special 

Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis as the owner of the physical 

items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which 

must also be obtained by the researcher.

Finding aid in Dept. of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis.

Collection on Marvin X, D-207 128:3, Department of Special Collections, General Library, 

University of California, Davis.

African American History Collection, Dept. of Special Collections, General Library, 

University of California, Davis.

This collection covers:

X, Marvin, 1944- Archives.

Cleaver, Eldridge, 1935-1998.

African American poets.

African American dramatists.

African American scholars.

Black nationalism.

Editors, Translators, and other contributors:

University of California, Davis. Library.

View this collection description in WorldCat.org:

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56893009

Why African American Bookstores Close

Top Ten Reasons Why African American Bookstores Are Closing by Gwen Richardson Book sales migrated to the Internet  Most Black bookstores failed to take advantage of this trend. According to WebPro News, books are the #1 item people purchase online. Other brick-and-mortar chains, such as Blockbuster, also were flanked by their online competition, so this trend is not exclusive to bookstores.   Price competition  The advent of Internet sales ushered deep discounting on books. Because large online sites like, Amazon and Wal-Mart, are able to take advantage of volume discounts, Black bookstores could not match these discounted prices and, if they tried to, they were unable to maintain profitability.   Failure to diversify With the advent of price competition and Internet book sales, diversification into other product lines was the only way Black bookstores stood a chance of maintaining viability. Most did not make this adjustment fast enough and some didn't make it at all.   African American sections added to stores like Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, WaldenBooks and Borders Black consumers urged the major chains to include African American sections in their stores. Once this occurred, most Black consumers flocked to these stores for their purchases and kicked the Black bookstores to the curb. (See reason #5)   Lack of loyalty from consumers African American consumers do not have a tradition of loyalty to Black-owned establishments. If they can purchase the same products at a white-owned (Asian-owned, or any non-black owned) establishment, they will do so FIRST. The vast majority will only shop at a black-owned establishment if they have no choice -- if they are unable to obtain a much-desired item elsewhere. This is the primary reason why dollars leave our community so rapidly, while other ethnic groups have loyalty to their merchants and turn dollars multiple times.   Black Expressions Book Club  Owned by Doubleday, Black Expressions Book Club has the financial resources to advertise in every major Black magazine in America. They offer 4 books for $1 to African American consumers if they agree to purchase X number of books over a two-year period. They now have 460,000+ Black readers as members and these individuals obtain many of their books this way, rather than shop at brick-and-mortar bookstores. A lot of the members of the club actually believe it is Black-owned, when it most definitely is not.   Unprofitable locations  Many of the Black-owned bookstores are located in predominantly Black neighborhoods. The reading population of Black consumers tends to be middle-class and these people tend to live in suburban areas and mixed-raced communities. The bookstores are not in proximity to their most likely clientele.   Poor management Many people who opened Black bookstores did so because they had a passion for literature, but not necessarily because they had good business and management skills. A business requires experienced management in order to be successful. It also requires sacrifice -- one has to reinvest dollars into their business for the long-term, especially during the early years, and not take money out of the business for personal "bling."   Tough economic times When the economy goes into a recession, the firms in the weakest position are among the many casualties. Many of the black-owned bookstores were already barely hanging on when the economy took a nose-dive in 2008. With limited financing and a dwindling clientele, they simply had no choice but to close their doors.   Lack of commitment from owners Business ownership is not for the faint of heart and requires a tremendous commitment. Recessions will come and go, but if the commitment is there, the entrepreneur will find a way to adjust with the environment. It may be painful during the tough times, but faith, ingenuity, a willingness to be innovative and stay abreast of the industry will lead to ultimate success. To survive, these stores must figure out how to remain relevant. Two out of 3 black bookstores that were in business just a few years ago are now closed.   The list include: A & B Distributors - Brooklyn, NY African & Islamic Books Plus - Cleveland, OH African American Books and Publishing - Baltimore, MD African American Gift Gallery - Knoxville, TN African American Heritage Book - West Palm Beach, FL African Artisans - Baldwin, NY African Book Store - Fort Lauderdale, FL African Heritage Books & Gifts - San Francisco, CA African House Institute of Learning - Jersey City, NJ African Marketplace - Los Angeles, CA Afro Books - Atlanta, GA Afrocentric Book Store - Chicago, IL Afrocentric Books & Cafe - St. Louis, MO Alkebulan Books - Berkeley, CA Amen-Ra's Bookstore and Gallery - Tallahassee, FL Arawak Books - Hyattsville, MD Ascension Books - Columbia, MD Asiatic the Soul of Black Folks - Toronto, ON Atlantic Bookpost - Reston, VA B.T.S. Unlimited Books - Detroit, MI Baruti-Ba Books - Dayton, OH Bishari Urban Books, Phoenix Crossing Shopping Center - , NC Black Book Discounters - Houston, TX Black By Popular Demand - Hyattsville, MD Black Classics - Books & Gifts - Mobile, AL Black Images Book Bazaar - Dallas, TX Black Spring Books - Vallejo, CA Black Swan Books & Coffee - Kohler, WI Blacknificent Books & More - Raleigh, NC Blackprint Heritage Gallery - New Haven, CT Book House Cafe & Gifts - Benton Harbor, MI Books In Color - North Highlands, CA Books in the Black - Columbia, SC Bright Lights Children's Bookstore - Inglewood, CA Brother's Books - Seattle, WA Carol's Essentials Ethnic Gifts and Books - Seattle, WA Celebrate - Peachtree City, GA Crescent Office Store - East Orange, NJ Cultural Bookstore  - Chicago, IL Cultural Expression - Newport News, VA D & J Book Distributors - Laurelton, NY Da Book Joint - Chicago, IL DARE Books & Educational Supplies - Brooklyn, NY DeesBookNook Distributors - So. Richmond Hills, NY Dorothea's African-American Books and Gifts - Columbia, SC Drum and Spear Books - Washington, DC Dygnyti Books - Hamden, CT Dynasty Bookstore, Eastland Mall - Charlotte, NC EDEN Books - Hartford, CT Education 2000+ Bookstore - Long Beach, CA Education Central, Sunny Isle Shopping Plaza - St. Croix, Ethnic Elegance - Jacksonville, FL Exhale African American Books & Gifts - Sugar Land, TX Faith To Faith Books  - Minneapolis, MN Forewords Books & Gifts, Located in Originations Gallery - Ann Arbor, MI Freedom Now Bookstore - Decatur, GA Gene's Books - King of Prussia, PA Haneef's Bookstore and Mosi Art Gallery - Wilmington, DE Heritage Bookstore and More - Rancho Cucamonga, CA Heritage House - Charlotte, NC Imagine This! Books Etc. - Memphis, TN IronWood Corner - Pasadena, CA Jamaicaway Books & Gifts - Boston, MA Kana CDs & Books - Columbus, Ohio [Owner Cedric Reed closed the store in 2008 and cntinued Operation on-line until 2009] Karibu Books - Hyattsville, MD, (6 Locations) Know Thyself, Bookstore and Cultural Development Center - Philadelphia, PA Kongo Square Gallery - Los Angeles, CA LaCeter's Book Service - Southfield, MI Liberation Bookstore - New York, NY Ligorius Bookstore Inc. - Philadelphia, PA Living Room Book & Pastry - Greensboro, NC Lodestar Books - Birmingham, AL Love Christian Book Store - Orlando, FL Mahogany Books - Detroit, MI Mahogany Books & Gifts - Fairfield, AL Matais Books Cards & Art - Long Beach, CA Mind & Soul Bookstore, Inc. - Trenton, NJ MochaReaders - Dayton, OH [Owner Rhonda Bogan thought long and hard about tough decision of closing store in 2011] Montsho BookFairs, Etc., Inc. - Orlando, FL Mt. Zion Kid's Village, Little Angels Children's Bookstore - Jonesboro, GA Nefertiti's Books and Gifts  - Jacksonville, FL Nimde Books - Louisville, KY Nu World of Books - Beaumont, TX Off The Shelf African American Books - Columbia, SC One Force Books - Richmond, VA Our Black Heritage - New York, NY Out of Africa, Windsor Park Mall - San Antonio, TX Paperback Connection - Oklahoma City, OK Paradise Book Store - Peoria, AZ Peek-A-Boo Books II, Wheaton Mall - Wheaton, MD People's Books & Gifts - Springfield, OH Phenix Information Center - San Bernardino, CA PowerHouse Books - Hopkins, SC Precious Memories Reading and Collectibles - Richmond, VA Rainbow Books & Blooms - Yorktown Heights, NY Reading Room Bookstore  - Chicago, IL Roots & Wings: A Cultural Bookplace  - Montgomery, AL Sacred Thoughts Bookstore - Jersey City, NJ Sensational Minds - Savannah, GA Serengeti Plains  - Montclair, NJ Shades of Sienna - Oakland, CA Sidewalk University - Memphis, TN Soul Source Bookstore - Atlanta, GA Special Occasions - Winston-Salem, NC Stouffville Book Connection Inc - Stouffville, ON TDIR Books - Columbia, SC Tenaj Books & Gift Gallery - Fort Pierce, FL The Black Bookworm - Fort Worth, TX The Black Library - Boston, MA The Book House Café, LGBT Books - Oakland, CA The Book Lovers Lounge - Lauderdale Lakes, FL The Cultural Connection Bookstore  - Milwaukee, WI The Heritage Center - Vicksburg, MS The Know Bookstore - Durham, NC The Living Word Bookstore - Chicago, IL The Presence of Africans In the Bible Book Center - Minneapolis, MN The Reading Room Bookstore - Atlanta, GA The Roots Book Store, Inside of Tapers Hair Care - Baton Rouge, LA Too-No Books Etc. - Moss Point, MS Treasures of the Mind Bookstore - St. Louis, MO Tricia's Books N' Things - Houston, TX Truth Boutique & Bookstore, Eastland Mall #823 - Harper Woods, MI Tunde Dada House of Africa - Orange, NJ Tunde Dada House of Africa, Green Acres Mall - Valley Stream, NY Two Friends Bookstore - Atlanta, GA Uhuru Books - Minneapolis, MN Under One Roof Afrikan American Bookstore - Killeen, TX W&W African American Art, Specializing in Books & Gift Items, Etc. - Fayetteville, NC X-pression Bookstore & Gallery - Indianapolis, IN Yawa Books - Washington, DC Yehudah Inc. - Teaneck, NJ Zawadi Gift Shop - Brooklyn, NY

Black Woman saves the babies from gunman

She faced down the suspect

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Henry County Sheriff's Office

This March 2013 booking photo provided by the Henry County Sheriff's Office shows Michael Brandon Hill. Channel 2 Action News has confirmed that Hill, 20, was arrested in Decatur, on Aug. 20, 2013 after police say he fired shots at them with an AK-47 from inside McNair Discovery Learning Academyl. No students or officers were injured. Hill had previously been arrested for making terroristic threats in Henry County.

Photos: For parents, anguish after shots fired at McNair Academy 

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• DeKalb report: Corruption spans adminitrations, all levels of government
• Sneiderman attorneys request new trial
• How McNair elementary breaks the school-shooting stereotype
• McNair bookkeeper calm, empathetic with school shooter
• Experts: Sneiderman likely won't serve full sentence
• Recalling text messages, tense moments a day after DeKalb school shooting

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By Channel 2 Action News

Channel 2’s Jovita Moore spoke exclusively to the bookkeeper that came face-to-face with the gunman at Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy Tuesday.

Antoinette Tuff said she was the one sitting in the front office when Michael Brandon Hill walked in with his assault rifle drawn.

For nearly an hour she talked to him about her life and his own all the while saving the lives of many others.

“The clips that go into the gun… he sat there right in front of me in the office and began to load them with bullets,” Tuff told Moore.

“Antoinette, this whole time, what are you thinking?” Moore asked Tuff.

“I just started praying for him. I just started talking to him and allowing him to know some of the stories and let him know what was going on with me and that it would be OK. And then let him know that he could just give himself up,” Tuff said.

“Did you tell him to put the guns down?” Moore asked.

“I did. I told him to put them on the table, empty his pockets. He had me actually get on the intercom and tell everybody he was sorry too.  But I told them, ‘He was sorry, but do not come out of their rooms,” Tuff said.

“You're the hero today,” Moore told Tuff.

"I give it all to God, I'm not the hero. I was terrified,” Tuff said.

Tuff said her pastor has recently talked about 'anchoring' in the lord. She said she just thought about her faith in God the entire time she was facing the gunman. She also thought about her family.

It's About Time presents: Bobby Seale interviewed by Marvin X

Marvin X and Bobby Seale discuss their days at Merritt College, how they were self educated into Black consciousness to become the Neo-Black intellectuals; how Bobby performed in Marvin's play Come Next Summer; Bobby recites his favorite Marvin X poem "Burn,Baby,Burn" about the 65' Watts rebellion; how Bobby and Huey evolved into Black Panthers. Interview reveals Bobby's excellent memory of black history down to the minute, second, microsecond. Get it from the horse's mouth rather than swallow revisionist history told by muddle headed academics and intellectuals in perpetual crisis.--Marvin X

www.itsabouttimebpp.com/Media/Media_index.html

‎

Bobby Seale interviewed by Marvin X 2000 [Video: 64 min]

Bobby Seale interviewed by Marvin X 2000: Part 1

Bobby Seale interviewed by Marvin X 2000: Part 2
Bobby Seale interviewed by Marvin X 2000: Part 3
Bobby Seale interviewed by Marvin X 2000: Part 4

Video Credit: Marvin X, The Community Archives Project

The Marvin X audio/visual collection at the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley

For the complete Marvin X audio/visual archives, contact him directly. For Bobby Seale interviewed by Marvin X, please go to It's About Time.com. Also, see Youtube.com.

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Marvin X audio visual collection.

Motion Picture 1102 D:1-27; Motion Picture 1103 E:1-21; BANC CD 686 :1; Phonotape 4011 C:1-29; ...

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Collection Overview

Title:

Marvin X audio visual collection

Creator/Contributor:

X, Marvin, 1944-, creator

Abstract:

Video and sound recordings of performances (One Day in the Life, Kings and Queens of Black Consciousness, In the Crazy House Called America, etc.), radio appearances, video of Eldridge Cleaver memorial, Bobby Seale audio interview, audio interviews with Nisa Islam Muhammad and other items.

Date:

ca. 1980-2003 (issued)

Subject:

X, Marvin -- 1944- -- Archives

Cleaver, Eldridge -- 1935-1998

Seale, Bobby -- 1936- -- Interviews

Baraka, Amiri -- 1934-

Muhammad, Nisa Islam

African American poets -- 20th century

African American dramatists -- 20th century

Note:

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Consent is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright holder. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright holder.

List of contents available. Shelved as Motion Picture 1102 D Notes.

Physical Description:

27 videocassettes, 21 dvds, 20 cds, 29 sound cassettes

Language:

English

Identifier:

Motion Picture 1102 D:1-27

Motion Picture 1103 E:1-21

BANC CD 686 :1

Phonotape 4011 C:1-29

BANC CD 686 :8

BANC CD 686 :9

BANC CD 686 :10

BANC CD 686 :11

BANC CD 686 :14

BANC CD 686 :15

BANC CD 686 :16

BANC CD 686 :17

BANC CD 686 :18

Motion Picture 1102 D:1-27

Motion Picture 1103 E:1-21

BANC CD 686:1-20

Phonotape 4011 C:1-29

Origin:

California

Copyright Note:

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Consent is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright holder. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright holder.

Black Bird Press News & Review: Support Black Power Baby Muhammida El Muhajir's World Tour

Black Bird Press News & Review: Support Black Power Baby Muhammida El Muhajir's World Tour