Askia Toure confirmed for Black Arts Movement Conference at UC Merced, March 1-2, 2014

Peace, Bro. Marvin X,

I've just seen the Outline for the forthcoming Black Arts/Black Power Conference. I would like to make a suggestion: I would like to be included on the Black Power Section of the Program, due to the fact that I infiltrated SNCC and introduced Black Power into the Southern Civil Rights mass movement. When I was a member of SNCC's Atlanta Project, I co-wrote the 1966 SNCC Black Power Position Paper, with Atlanta Project leader, William Bill Ware, and Black SNCC activist-writer, Donald Stone. This paper influenced Stokely Carmichael, and it was published in the New York Times. After the Paper was circulated throughout the Southern SNCC chapters, where it was fiercely debated, it grew to become more or less the "official" position of Carmichael's tenure as director of Black Power SNCC, which deposed integrationist SNCC. Marvin, this proved historically important, because until then, "Black Power" was considered a "Northern" position, while the South was "integrationist." I'm not so sure that many Black Power activists in the North are even aware of this historical event. Muhammad Ahmed & I also taught Black Power/Black His-tory in the SNCC "Freedom Schools," in Mississippi, and in Atlanta, in 1967, where I developed an Atlanta "Freedom School," before being invited by SNCC's Jimmy Garrett and Sis. Sonia to come work with the Black Power/Black Studies project in San Francisco. 

Yours in Struggle, Askia Toure'.

Black Bird Press News & Review: Photo Essay:: Danny Glover and Marvin X at SF Anti-War Rally, 2003, photos by Kamau Amen Ra

Black Bird Press News & Review: Photo Essay:: Danny Glover and Marvin X at SF Anti-War Rally, 2003, photos by Kamau Amen Ra

Danny Glover discusses how the Black Arts Movement saved his life, esp. Marvin X and Sonia Sanchez at San Francisco State University. See www.scoopusanewspaper.com, September 27, 2013.

Bob Marley - WAR

Plato Negro, A Day in the Life at Academy of da Corner

Those who don't know need to know that Academy of da Corner is a project of the Marvin X Ministry, a writer's ministry to spread truth in the world, and someone said truth will set you free! If it ain't true for me and you, it ain't truth! Don't tell me what you believe, I care nothing for your beliefs. You can believe it's raining today in Oakland, but you see clearly the sun is shining, yet you want to convince me you believe it is raining. Get a life!

Today the poet/philosopher had a full day at his academy of da corner, located at 14th and Broadway, downtown Oakland, in the Oscar Grant Plaza/Frank Ogawa Plaza (Frank was a former city councilman, one of the best of the lot, says Marvin X), across from city hall.

Quitta and Plato

photo Doris Easley

It is enough to make a movie, he told his new wife, Quitta, who came to assist the poet and was overwhelmed at how people share their stories with the poet, who often says nothing but listens.

A senior woman was introduced to his wife and said how nice that she could help the poet, and she's beautiful too, the woman said.

Poet Charles Blackwell

Blind poet Charles Blackwell came through. In his raw manner, Marvin X introduced Charles as a nigguh from Mississippi. Charles, always humble except when he gets raw in his Mississippi manner, asked Marvin why he had to introduce him as a nigguh from Mississippi? How ya coin, Charlie? Rev. Reems told me to tell you he looking fa ya! He told me to tell you he looking fa you too, Charles shot back.

After Charles departed, Quitta remarked, "For a blind man, he sure moves fast with that cane. And he can read his poetry. I must tell my sons (9 year old twins) about him, even though he is blind. I told them about Stevie Wonder, a man who has never seen a piano."

Marvin X failed to inform readers that yesterday a young lesbian had come by and informed Plato she was not a boy, she was a girl. Plato had not asked her gender but was happy for the information. I'm tired of these girls acting like I got a dick. I know I don't have no dick and I'm tired faking. I'm gonna be the woman I am! I loveya gul, Plato said. Talk reality to me!

Mississippi poet Charles Blackwell was soon followed by another partially blind white man Plato recalled had bought DVDs in the past. The white man testified and confessed about his life for at least an hour. He said his mission is to search for truth. He is a veteran who fought in WWII and was disabled but felt he was not treated fairly by the Veterans Administration.

The man said he was about 100 feet away when the Marine, an Iraqi war veteran,  was shot in the head by the cops during Occupy Oakland. Plato was also present that night and was overcome by tear gas after the Marine suffered a concussion from a police projectile when he refused to dismiss on police orders.

Plato's classroom was also the scene of the Oscar Grant street protests. The film Fruitvale neglected to depict that mass protests over the Oscar Grant murder.

The blind white man said he would return next week to purchase some DVDs. But he didn't depart, he lingered on, talking about his search for truth. He mentioned the De Vichy Code and others sources that have tried to uncover truth in the world. Finally, he departed. This is what you go through, Quitta asked. Yes, sometimes you must just listen. Who else has time to listen,
but we must cut it short because the people will drain your energy.  You ain't seen nothing yet, he told Quitta. The show is just beginning.

Plato and San Francisco's Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi. He's had problems in his male/female relations

A man purchased the most popular piece of writing Plato has published, the 18 page pamphlet Mythology of Pussy and Dick. He went away but came back a little later to purchase another copy.
I want one for my son, he said. He must read this. I'm shocked at the things you've said. You noted a man can't bleed for five days and not die, you said he can't bleed for five minutes! That got me. Then you said don't be a 50, 60, 70 year old still tripping about pussy and dick. Yes, give me one for my son!

Quitta said, you're gonna get rich with that Mythology of Pussy and Dick! A white woman with luggage waiting for her son to pick her up bought a copy as a gift for her son.

A brother came manic over the fact he'd just got out of the US Marines this day, after 25 years. He said he didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so he was doing both. I feel sorry for my people here in America. If they throw me in jail I'm going to do this. He performed a little robot dance saluting and marching, left right left, march time march. It was straight drama and fit any stage. He said he better go because he's too excited. Pray for me, ya'll pray for me. Quitta couldn't believe the real live drama she'd just witnessed. Plato said the brother will need to be careful out here. You heard me tell him this is the Black man's battleground. This is the war and he is a victim.

Plato and Howard University, Wash DC fan

 Plato and Academy of da Corner Professor of Law, Gregory Fields

 Academy of da Corner top student, Jermaine Marsh, Civil Rights attorney Walter Riley,

living blues legend Suggar Pie De Santo and Plato

 Oakland Post Publisher Paul Cobb and Marvin X are childhood friends from West Oakland

Plato and Rahmana Ali

Plato's wellness coach Michael Bennett of the San Francisco Bayview/Hunters Point WMCA

We love you, Comrade George Jackson. Liberate the captives! Black August, look for me in the whirlwind!

Plato, librarian Sister Linda and novelist Cecil Brown

Want to contact Marvin X? 

Call 510-200-4164

Order books, speaking  and reading engagements nationwide

Robert Reich on New Republican Tricknology

ROBERT B. REICH, Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley, was Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration. Time Magazine named him one of the ten most effective cabinet secretaries of the twentieth century. He has written thirteen books, including the best sellers “Aftershock" and “The Work of Nations." His latest, "Beyond Outrage," is now out in paperback. He is also a founding editor of the American Prospect magazine and chairman of Common Cause. His new film, “Inequality for All,” will be out September 27. 

The House Republicans’ Dangerous New Constitutional Doctrine: Repealing Laws by De-Funding Them

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

Yesterday morning on ABC’s “This Week,” Newt Gingrich and I debated whether House Republicans in should be able to repeal a law — in this case, the Affordable Care Act — by de-funding it. Here’s the essence:

GINGRICH: Under our constitutional system, going all the way back to Magna Carta in 1215, the people’s house is allowed to say to the king we ain’t giving you money.

REICH: Sorry, under our constitutional system you’re not allowed to risk the entire system of government to get your way.

Had we had more time I would have explained to the former Speaker something he surely already knows: The Affordable Care Act was duly enacted by a majority of both houses of Congress, signed into law by the President, and even upheld by the Supreme Court.

The Constitution of the United States does not allow a majority of the House of Representatives to repeal the law of the land by de-funding it (and threatening to close the entire government, or default on the nation’s full faith and credit, if the Senate and the President don’t come around).

If that were permissible, no law on the books would be safe. A majority of the House could get rid of unemployment insurance, federal aid to education, Social Security, Medicare, or any other law they didn’t like merely by deciding not to fund them.

I believe the Affordable Care Act will prove to be enormously popular with the American public once it’s fully implemented — which is exactly why the Republicans are so intent on bulldozing it before then. If they were sincere about their objections, they’d let Americans try it out — and then, if it didn’t work, decide to repeal it. 

Black Bird Press News & Review: Marvin X's Brief Career in Academia: UC Berkeley, A Case Study by Dr. J. Vern Cromartie of the Contra Costa College Sociology Department

Black Bird Press News & Review: Marvin X's Brief Career in Academia: UC Berkeley, A Case Study by Dr. J. Vern Cromartie of the Contra Costa College Sociology Department:

Marvin X has argued that if contemporary professors of Black Studies want to be acceptable to the ancestors in Africa it will be important for them to ―make peace with the trees and swamps and bayous of Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana (p. 85).

Likewise, Marvin X has argued that contemporary professors of Black Studies need to connect with Black people in the ghetto. In his view, it is necessary for contemporary professors of Black Studies to ―make peace with them and ―teach them to make peace with themselves (p. 85).

Film Review: The Trials of Muhammad Ali

Review: Challenges in and out of ring in 'Trials of 

Muhammad Ali'

Bill Siegel reminds us of the negativity Muhammad Ali faced when he converted to Islam, changed his name and refused to go to war.

By Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times Film Critic

September 26, 2013, 4:35 p.m.

Muhammad Ali has one of the most recognizable faces in the world and is such a beloved public persona that George W. Bush personally presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the ultimate honor for an American civilian, in 2005.

It would not have been that many years earlier, however, when, if Bush had thought of Ali at all, it would have been in terms of opprobrium and fury. How had things changed so much in such a short time, and what had Ali done in the first place to earn the scorn of the nation's establishment?

"The Trials of Muhammad Ali" is a complex and involving documentary that looks deeply into these and related issues, presenting Ali from the unusual point of view of his outside-the-ring religious and political beliefs. It also underlines the point made by writer Robert Lipsyte, who shrewdly notes that "so many ways of looking at him have only to do with us and have nothing to do with him."

PHOTOS: Movie Sneaks 2013

Directed by Bill Siegel, who co-directed the Oscar-nominated "The Weather Underground," "Trials" interviews numerous people close to Ali, including his brother Rahman; his second wife, Khalilah Camacho-Ali; former New York Times sportswriter Lipsyte; and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. (Ali, who has Parkinson's disease, is present only in newsreel clips.) Together they present an intriguing portrait of a man who never wavered no matter what the world threw at him. Which was a lot.

"Trials" begins with two clips that underline the often forgotten savagery that Ali faced. The first is a blistering attack delivered by talk show host David Suskind in 1968, calling Ali "a disgrace ... a simplistic fool and a pawn." This is followed immediately by Farrakhan's recollection of Ali's bitter feeling about his place in the American racial landscape.

The film then flashes back to 1960 and then-Cassius Clay's gold medal win in the Rome Olympics and how a wealthy syndicate from his hometown of Louisville, Ky. (the group's only survivor is interviewed), guided his professional life.

Though America was shocked by Clay's conversion to Islam and his decision to change his name, "Trials" makes it clear that this had been a long time coming, starting with a young boy's wondering why Jesus and all the angels were white.

PHOTOS: Hollywood backlot moments

The film talks to Abdul Rahman Muhammad, who connected the fighter to the Nation of Islam when they met in 1961, and he reinforces that the future Ali was already familiar with the teachings through a celebrated phonograph record made by Farrakhan, "The White Man's Heaven Is the Black Man's Hell."

Perhaps the feistiest interviewee is second wife Camacho-Ali, a schoolgirl when they first met, who tells of tearing up the man's "Cassius Clay" autograph and telling him to come back when he knows who he is.

After surprising the boxing world by defeating Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship in 1964, Clay announced his previous conversion to Islam and that change of name, both of which shocked the sporting world even more.

Given that time has proven how serious and sincere a commitment this conversion was, it's a shock to see how people disregarded it and refused to use the new name.

"I'm no slave," Ali says more than once. "Don't call me by a white man's name."

PHOTOS: Billion-dollar movie club

Equally unnerving is to hear how Ali took his revenge on boxers who didn't respect him, not only beating but also punishing fighters Floyd Patterson and Ernie Terrell rather than knocking them out.

"You can't be a great fighter without a mean streak," says Lipsyte, adding that the Terrell fight was "a truly terrible moment in boxing history."

Worse was yet to come. At the height of the Vietnam War, Ali's Louisville draft board reclassified him 1A, leading to the boxer's decision to declare himself a conscientious objector because of his Muslim beliefs.

As a result, Ali was stripped of his championship and sentenced to prison. Even though the Supreme Court eventually voided that conviction, Ali was not allowed to fight for 31/2 years, during which time he honed his abilities as a public speaker and lived off the fees.

Ali's faith in Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad never wavered, not even when his mentorMalcolm X was assassinated in 1965. His steadfastness gradually won him regard from people who had earlier been critical, including Martin Luther King Jr., who is seen saying, "Whatever you think of his religion, you have to admire his courage."

After dealing with Ali's 1970 fight with Jerry Quarry, his first after his involuntary hiatus, "Trials" treads lightly on his life to date, talking to one of his daughters, Hana, about what it was like to be the child of a man who considered himself to be "daddy to the world."

Summarizes Lipsyte, "He didn't transcend boxing until he returned to boxing," one of the many paradoxes of a life that requires this gripping second look.

kenneth.turan@latimes.com

------------------------------------

'The Trials of Muhammad Ali'

No MPAA rating

Running time: 1 hour, 34 minutes

Playing: At Laemmle's Royal, West Los Angeles

Invisible Man Banned

Subject: [TONIGHT] Tell Randolph County school board to reverse its ban on "Invisible Man"

Black literature is under attack. Demand Randolph County reverse its ban on Invisible Man at tonight's meeting.

Dear Editor,
It took just one letter from an angry parent to convince a North Carolina school district to remove Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man from school libraries in the county. A short board meeting prompted by a single letter — describing one of the most significant pieces of Black literature in American history as "filthy" — was all that five members of the Randolph County Board of Education needed to feel justified in voting to ban the novel last week.¹ It's just the kind of quiet injustice — and officially-sanctioned bias — that happens behind closed doors in towns across the country all of the time. But this time, we have an opportunity to push back.
Just days after Randolph's decision made national headlines, the school board called an emergency special meeting for tonight regarding the ban.² If a couple of bad press hits is enough to make Randolph reconsider, imagine how powerful thousands of our voices can be.
The Board is meeting TONIGHT. Will you join us in demanding that the school board reverse its decision and return Invisible Man to library shelves? It only takes a moment.
This isn't the first time in recent months that books by Black authors depicting American racism have been attacked. Earlier this month, the president of the Ohio Board of Education called Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye "pornographic."³ And in July, a Detroit-area school district came under fire for dumping a collection of over 10,000 volumes of invaluable Black books and artifacts.⁴ Enough is enough.
Banning Black stories not only alienates Black students, it denies all students the opportunity to engage with and discuss important themes like racial enmity in society and the development of personal identity. For elected officials concerned with the education of our young people, it's particularly perverse that Randolph's school board failed to recognize the irony of banning a book that's about silencing critical voices and the ways in which racist culture restricts individuals from reaching their full human potential.
Please join us in calling on the Randolph County school board to reverse its book ban at tonight's meeting. Together we can send a message about the critical value of Black literature in our schools.
Thanks and Peace,
--Rashad, Arisha, Matt, Kim, Hannah, Johnny and the rest of the ColorOfChange team.
   September 25th, 2013
Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU—your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don't share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way.
  References
1. "Invisible Man Banned: Ralph Ellison's Landmark Novel Banned From School Libraries," Huffington Post, 09-19-13
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2956?t=9&akid=3136.1164386.IUBIr2 
2. "Board to reconsider its 'Invisible Man' ban," Asheboro Courier-Tribune, 09-20-13
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2957?t=11&akid=3136.1164386.IUBIr2
3. "ACLU to Ohio schools leader: Toni Morrison's 'The Bluest Eye' not porn," News Channel 5, 09-12-13
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2958?t=13&akid=3136.1164386.IUBIr2 
4. "Discarded Black history books incite protests in Detroit," Amsterdam News, 08-10-13
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2959?t=15&akid=3136.1164386.IUBIr2 

Marvin X as Plato teaching on the streets of Oakland

Oakland Youth at Academy of da Corner, 14th and Broadway

Marvin X as Plato

By Marvin X

After stopping by  Marvin X's outdoor classroom at 14th and Broadway, downtown Oakland, Ishmael Reed told the students gathered around Marvin X, "He's the modern day Plato, teaching his students on the street." Marvin told the people gathered in front on DeLauer's bookstore, "Ishmael Reed is my elder. He's always been supportive of my projects and I deeply appreciate him for this."

Ishmael had come to the bookstore /24/7 new stand to get a copy of the Sunday Los Angeles Times which carried a review of his latest book. He said the review cut him up as usual. He said people cut him up for his views on Alice Walker and other feminists, but according to Ishmael the most critical review of Walker's Color Purple was by Toni Morrison.

The people who stop at the open air classroom include a cross section of Oakland's humanity, including whites, blacks, youth and elders. David Glover, director of OCCUR, stopped through to advise Marvin to be a part of the cultural committee for the Ron Dellums administration soon to take the reins of Oakland.

A young sister stopped to say she was in pain because her friends are being killed on the streets for no reason. She has vowed not to be a victim but she is traumatized at the loss of some many friends. She is 19.

The police officer who works the beat that includes 14th and Broadway, comes through picking up litter. Seems a waste of time for the officer to pick up litter when there are so many unsolved homicides. The officer is known to post up at 12 o'clock to listen to Plato talk with his variety of students.

A brother came by to challenge Plato, telling him he didn't know anything, especially since he wasn't from the south, New Orleans in particular. Plato told him New Orleans was as much a killing floor as Oakland, look at the recent deployment of National Guard to stop the murders.

Another brother came through and invited Marvin to speak with youth at a West Oakland school. He agreed, telling the brother, "I recently spoke with children at the Black Repertory Group's summer camp. I was deeply impressed with their intelligence. They asked serious questions, as serious as any I've received from college and university students across the country."

On Sunday, July 30, Plato was given a book party in Richmond, another Bay Area killing floor. But the party, hosted by Sister Shukuru, was probably the most powerful gathering of black consciousness people in Richmond history. The party was attended by movement elders and organizers, including Alona Cliffton, Phil Hutchins of SNCC,

Margo Dashiel, Dr. James Garrett, Dr. J. Vern Cromartie, Jim Lacey, Ann Lynch, Suzzette Celeste, Richmond poet President Davis representing conscious hip hop.

Poet Opal Palmer Adisa gave a reading of her work that was as spicy and hot as a two dollar pistol in South Philly.

The audience was enraptured by the musical accompaniment of Elliott Bey Savoy, who backed Marvin's reading and the audience discussion. A brother showed a video of himself reading Marvin X's poem The Origin of Blackness in Venezuela. He read in Spanish, then English. The poem was originally written in English/Arabic. Marvin then read an updated version on the theme of the poem, Black History is World History. Much thanks to Sister Shukuru, a great organizer, formerly with Brooklyn's East.

*   *   *   *   *

Plato's Students Plato stood at the subway entrance on Broadway in front of DeLauer's news store that serves as his outdoor classroom. Three young girls come out of the SUB sandwich shop. Seeing Plato's books on display, they ask if he wrote them. "Yes." " You live in Oakland?" " Yes." " You grow up in Oakland?" " Yes." " Where?" "Seventh and Campbell." The girls laugh and giggle with shame, "He grew up in Campbell Village," they say to each other. " He from the bottom." " I don't know what ya talkin bout the bottom. I don't use that term. I grew up on Seventh and  \\ Campbell. That ain't Campbell Village." "Yes it is," they insisted, "He from the projects. You wrote them books, huh?"" Yeah.  And what if I am from the projects, so damn what?" " Don't get mad," one said. "I ain't mad."  " "  Why don't you write a book for young people?"What do you want me to write about young  people?" "Write about how bad boys treat us. "I might do that."  "What's your grandson's name? "What?" "Your grandson, what's his name?" He don't live in West Oakland." " Oh, well, we go tell our mamas to come buy yo books." They ran down Broadway toward  home. Plato stood thinking about what they'd said. So what if he grew up in the projects? Maybe he should write something for young people. And how did they know he had grandsons? Plato scratched his beard.

posted 3 August 2006 / Chickenbones.com/Nathaniel Turner.com

Plato Negro returns home to his Academy of da Corner, 14th and Broadway, downtown Oakland

After months away from his home base, Marvin X, aka Plato Negro, returned to his peripatetic Academy of da Corner at 14th and Broadway, downtown Oakland. The people were happy to see him after so long. They told him things have gotten worse since he's been gone. They youth have gotten worse with shootings in the downtown area in broad daylight. Surely, your presence will make things better, we need you here, said one lady. 

Several people had never seen his booth before and asked what he was all about. I am about spirituality, healing, inspiration, grief counseling, micro loan bank, books on credit, the community archives project, mentoring young men/ women and writers, education, literature, etc.

A young lady asked how he writes his books? You gotta get off the cell phone, get the woman or partner off your shoulder reading what you wrote about some other woman, i.e., solitude. 

In solitude one can, especially in nature, transcend your own thoughts and arrive at thoughts from the Divine. The Holy Spirit will guide your hand, you need only hold the pen, Allah is the ink!

If you need to catch Marvin X, best to call for an appointment or get his schedule, please call

510-200-4164. 

Save the date: March 1-2, 2014, University of California, Merced, presents a conference on the Black Arts Movement/Black Power Movement.