Photo essay by Adam Turner: Laney College President, Faculty, Staff meet with Marvin X to plan Black Arts Movement 50th Anniversary Celebration at Laney College, Feb. 7

Black Arts Movement co-founder Marvin X, aka The Chancellor

 Dr. Leslee Stradford, curator of the BAM/Post News Group Visual Art Exhibit from San Quentin Prison. Next to her is  Brandi Howard, Staff Assistant to President Dr. Elnora T. Webb

Dr. Elnora T. Webb, President, Laney College. Laney formed a special relationship with the Black Arts Movement to make the event happen. "We love you, Dr. Elnora Tina Webb!"says Marvin X.

L to R: Jim Cave, Odell Johnson Theatre technical director; Eric Smith, Staff Assistant in Laney Business Office (sitting in for Kinetta Barnett, Laney Facilities Services Specialist) and Randolph Belle, Communications Director for President Webb.

 

Tamika Brown and Alicia Christenson, Co-chairs of the Ethnic Studies Department.

On Tuesday, Feb. 3, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors will honor The Black Arts Movement with a commendation for fifty years work. In the words of ancestor Paul Robeson, Marvin X and the  BAM workers describe themselves as Artistic Freedom Fighters.

BAM update: Artists, presenters and performers at Black Arts Movement 50th Anniversary Celebration, Laney College, Feb 7

 

 Fantastic Negrito will perform at the reception along with Earle Davis

 

We are honored to have the Honorable John Santos donate his time and talent

YGB, Youth Speaks Poets will perform

The Black Arts Movement Poet's Choir and Arkestra. Members performing at Laney College include the following: Tarika Lewis, Mechelle LaChaux, Paradise Jah Love, Dr. Ayodele Nzinga, Kalamu Chache', Lakiba Pittman, Earle Davis, Rashidah Sabreen, Zena Allen, Aries Jordan, Genny Lim, Tacuma King, Val Serrant, Destiny Muhammad, Tureada Mikel.

 Elaine Brown, former Black Panther Party Chairwoman will moderate panel on BAM and Black women writers.

 Suzzette Celeste, MPA, MSW, will co-facilitate the How to Recover from the Addiction to White Supremacy Peer Group along with Dr. Nathan Hare

 

San Francisco State University Professor Dr. Dorothy Tsuruta will participate on the panel BAM and Black women writers. 

 

Aries Jordan will participate on the panel BAM and Black women writers

 

Dr. Ayodele Nzinga will be a panelist on BAM/Black Power Babies, along with her son Stanley. Dr. Nzinga will also direct the production of Marvin X's play Flowers for the Trashman

 

Dr. Nathan Hare, PhD Sociology, PhD Clinical Psychology, will co-facilitate the How to Recover from the Addiction to White Supremacy Peer Group

 

Percussionist Tacuma King is part of the BAM Poet's Choir and Arkestra

 Judy Juanita, poet/novelist will be on the panel BAM and Black Women Writers

 BAM divas: Tureada Mikel, Mechelle LaChaux, Dr. Ayodele Nzinga and Tarika Lewis on violin

 Malik Seneferu will exhibit his visual art

 Michell Bennett will facilitate the BAM Wellness Boot Camp. Will Marvin X join the boot camp?

 Lakiba Pittman is part of the BAM Poet's Choir

 Kalamu Chache' is part of the BAM Poet's Choir

 Avotcja is an original BAM worker. She is part of the BAM Poet's Choir and Arkestra

 Poet Genny Lim is part of the BAM Poet's Choir and Arkestra

 Zena Allen, Kora player, is part of the BAM Poet's Choir and Arkestra

 Violinist Tarika Lewis, a member of the BAM Arkestra

 Earle Davis, an original member of Marvin X's Black Arts West Theatre on Fillmore St., SF, 1966

 Poet Paradise Jah Love will perform his classic "You love everything about me but me."

 San Francisco State University student activist. He was a member of the BSU and one of the 1968 strike leaders, now General Manager of KPOO Radio. He will appear with his daughter Renya on the BAM/Black Power Babies panel.

 Pianist Muzuki Roberson is a special guest with the BAM Poet's Choir and Arkestra

 Multi-talented Phavia Kujichagulia is a special guest with the BAM Poet's Choir and Arkestra

Empress Diamond, Mayor Libby Schaaf and Marvin X. Mayor Schaaf supports BAM District.

President of the Oakland City Council, Lynette McElhaney, Empress Diamond, Marvin X. President McElhaney will introduce resolution and proclamation establishing the BAM District

Empress Diamond, Councilwoman Desley Brooks, Marvin X. Councilwoman Brooks supports BAM

 

Carol Newborg of the William James Prison Art Project, Marvin X, Dr. Leslee Stradford, Professor of Art at Laney College. Art from San Quentin Prison will be exhibited at the BAM celebration, Feb 7.