Saturday, May 16, 2015

Chicago, get ready for the Wild Crazy Ride called the Marvin X Experience at University of Chicago Sun Ra Conference

Ishmael Reed calls him "Plato teaching on the streets of Oakland." Bob Holman says, "He is the USA's Rumi!--the wisdom of Saadi, the ecstasy of Hafiz." Rudolph Lewis says, "A master teacher in many fields of thought. One of America's great story tellers. I'd put him ahead of Mark Twain!" James G. Spady writes, "When you listen to Tupac Shakur, E-40, Too Short, Master P or any other rappers out of the Bay Area of Cali, think of Marvin X. He laid the foundation and gave us the language to express black male urban experiences in a lyrical way."

Sponsors of his Chicago tour include Paul Cobb, Publisher of the Oakland Post News Group, and Leon Teasley, childhood friends and patrons of the poet.

Black Bird Press News & Review: Marvin X has a unique point of view! Order his classic How to Recover from the Addiction to White Supremacy!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Elder Marvin X speaks on his 71st earthday, raw, uncut, xxxx rated

Four young brothers at the Academy of da Corner reading the Oakland Post Newspaper.
photo Gene Hazzard

West Oakland childhood friends Paul Cobb and Marvin X, both writers and publishers

photo Walter Riley, Esq.

Oakland Black Writers/activists honor slain journalist Chauncey Bailey at the Joyce Gordon Gallery, downtown Oakland, Black Arts Movement District, 14th and Franklin
photo Gene Hazzard and Adam Turner for the Oakland Post Newspaper

Black Arts Movement/Black Power Babies, an inter-generational discussion in Brooklyn, NY, produced by Muhammida El Muhajir

I love you because I love you because I love you because I love you.

Revolutionary love!

Marvin X Poem

I loved grandmother's hands
grandfather's too
Johnny Murrill
drunk at El Gato Negro in Chinatown
go with uncle stand to pick him up
grandfather stuck on stupid in El Gato Negro
In Chinatown
drunk in the gambling shack
drunk broke
sittin in the car for hours
outside El Gato Negro
the Black Cat
Uncle Stan went inside
Uncle Stan please come back soon
gpaw stuck on stupid
broke
all week workin in da field
pickin cotton in the valley
fresno dos palos los banos
grandfather do take my girlfriend
you drunk on gin
runnin through the house calling girlie girlie girlie
grandpaw
did ma girl
please.

And now I am grandfather. Dirty old man. Filthy McNasty
Somebody hep me but you can't hep dirty old man.
Ase.
Please don't come with square ass bullshit. Spare me square ass bitches.
Square motherfucker will get ya killed,
hustling padner taught me.
fuck a square ass bitch
saw them in the crack house
freak of the week
give up BMW for a rock
suck every cock fa a rock
nigguh please
we saw it all
no Miller Lite here
we all gave it all in the game of slavery
don't have no shame today
--mx

Mother Blues

Oba/king of the Yoruba African Village, Sheldon, South Carolina

We thank the Oba for attempting to transform us back from nigguhs to Africans!

Thank you, Oba!--Marvin X

Don't make me tell the tales I know
dreadful
grand kids say
Gpaw what is wretched?
wretched of the earth I say
in the manner of Fanon
terrible grandchild
pitiful grandson
don't be wretched
say this to your mother
Mother, heaven is at your feet
Mother says don't just say it do it
Naeema say Heaven is at the feet of your, Mother
Daughter says, Oh, Father, Naeema puts on the worst show on earth at bedtime!
What?
Oh, Father, she puts on the greatest show on earth every night at 8pm, at bedtime!
Grandson Jah Amiel, also a terrorizer of his mother!
I made him declare before his mother, "Oh, Mother, heaven is at your feet!" At first he looked up to heaven to praise his mother. I said, no, Jah Amiel, the Prophet Muhammad said, Heaven is at the feet of your mother.
Jah Amiel declared to his mother, "Mother, heave is at your feet."
Mother was not convinced.
Mother said, Oh, Father, please take them with you!
She showed me a video of a Mother on Strike.
Also check out the mother who beat her son's ass in the Baltimore rebellion.
As father and grandfather, as lover of mothers with children, I praise the mothers who must care for their children 24/7, who watch out for them feed them wash them get them to school visit them in jail and prison yes praise the Mother Goddess forever and forever and forever!
--Marvin X
5/14/15

Drama at Academy of da Corner, Black Arts Movement District, downtown Oakland: Young Oakland interviews Elder Marvin X

Young Oakland continues their interview with artistic freedom fighter Marvin X this week as part of their "Talking To The Elders" series. In this segment Marvin X talks about the Black Arts Movement, of which he is one of the founders, along with Amiri Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni, the Last Poets, Haki Madhubuti, Larry Neal, Sun Ra, Barbara Ann Teer, Milford Graves, Askia Toure, Ed Bullins, et al.

West Coast BAM members include Emory Douglas, Judy Juanita, Halifu Osumare, Danny Glover, Jose Goncalves, et. al. This was a national movement of socially conscious artists/activists aligned with the Black Liberation Movement: east coast, west coast, mid west, dirty south!

Emory Douglas, Black Panther Minister of Culture is the best example of the Black Arts Movement artist who was a member of a political organization as well. He was a member of the BPP. See his comments on his role as BAM/BPP?BLM artist/activist in the Stanley Nelson documentary film The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution.

To best understand the importance of BAM in the Black Liberation Movement, check out what co-founder of the BPP Dr. Huey P. Newton said, "Marvin X was my teacher. Many of our comrades came through his Black Arts Theatre: Bobby Seale, Eldridge Cleaver, Emory Douglas, Samuel Napier, Judy Juanita, et. al." Larry Neal said BAM was the sister of the Black Liberation Movement. Marvin X says, "BAM was the mother! BAM gave cultural consciousness to those students, intellectuals and grass roots people who went into the political movement. We awakened the people with our poetry, plays, songs, chants, raps, paintings, dance, music, literature, journals, and all other genres of the Black Esthetic."

This young lady videos an interview with Marvin X at his Academy of da Corner for her Youth Speak with the Elders Project. After she and her colleague exhausted Marvin X with questions about the Black Arts Movement District, there was more drama in Oakland's BAM District. Marvin X was too absorbed in the action to use his cell phone camera to document the events that soon followed the interview with youth, but down the block from him at 14th and Franklin, two lesbians got into a fight and a short time later two men scuffled in front of the Chase Bank across from Academy of da Corner. When one pulled out a knife, the security guard at the boarded up Chase Bank pulled his gun to stop the fight. The OPD arrived to arrest the man with the knife. They handcuffed him but later released him. After being released, the man broke down emotionally as he road off on his bike.

Marvin X says while we appreciate the videographers who come through to interview me, we think we need our own camera to document the action taking place in "the most dangerous classroom in the world". Would you like to donate a video camera to Academy of da Corner? Your donation can be tax-deductible. Call 510-200-4164.

On May 21, 22, Marvin X will be at the University of Chicago conference on Ancestor Sun Ra, his mentor and colleague in the Black Arts Movement. On June 5,6,7, he will be one of the featured authors at the Second Annual Sacramento Black Book Fair.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Update: Mumia Abu Jamal Hospitalized

HiMarvin,

Dateline May 13th 2015: Philadelphia, PA

A SCI Mahanoy prison nurse called Wadiya Jamal Mumia's wife at 8:50 pm last night May 12th and told her that Mumia had been moved to the hospital. This is a disturbing development and is cause for grave concern. There are reports that he had a fever, and that he has open wounds and sores on his legs. HIs attorney Bret Grote visited him on Friday. He was engaged, alert, yet he was in pain in his knees and leg.

We will be working to gather more information as the day goes on. His hospital conditions will be abhorrent: he will be chained to the bed. He could, as they did before, be arbitrarily and systematically denied visitors. The last time we were in the ICU they did not let his familly or lawyers see him, or give them any information for 24hrs. Even though they were the ICU waiting room just a few feet from Mumia's bed..

Clearly Mumia's chronic conditions remain undiagnosed and unsuccessfully treated. Mumia was given a skin biopsy on Monday of this week, and had been in the infirmary following that procedure.

Mumia's legal team of Bret Grote of the Abolitionist Law Center, has been augmented with the addition of attorney Bob Boyle. Mumia's doctor has been speaking directly with Mumia, even though the time he has been allowed for the phone in the infirmary was limited. There is no phone at the hospital. Mumia's expert medical team has been advising Mumia on the tests and the medications that have been done. This advice has been critical, and is now not possible.

As we noted in our last update oversight and close monitoring of any tests, especially the diagnostic tests are crucial. The prison is preventing Mumia and Mumia's doctors from adequate oversight and input. Because communication is being limited by prison officials Mumia does not have access quickly enough to information he needs to advocate for his own care. We are clear that Inadequate testing, delays, and any deviation from the medically necessary course of treatment, will be challenged.

Obtaining a diagnosis is of paramount importance at this moment.

Mumia remains seriously ill. Public pressure has been key every step of the way, and remains extremely important. Please keep up the calls, emails and faxes. Demand that (1) Adequate diagnostic testing be done (2) That Mumia's doctor is able to communicate freely and regularly with the prison infirmary physicians who are delivering Mumia's medical care (3) His doctor has meaningful and regular phone access with Mumia. (There are no phones in the hospital, in the infirmary, his calls are limited to 15 mins and and he has limited access to the day room where the phones are). (4) And allow Mumia's chosen doctor to conduct an onsite medical examination. And as many have said, it is past time for Mumia to be released from prison.
Noelle Hanrahan, P.I. Director Prison Radio

p.s. May 13th is the 30th Anniversary of the MOVE bombing in Philadelphia. Please see Mumia's commentary "May 13th at Thirty" (2:37) recorded (4/26/2015) for this event. Prison Radio has recorded other U.S. political prisoners for this occasion as well.

Thank you to everyone who is making Mumia's legal and medical Care possible! With 783 supporters from around the world, so far we have raised $46,039!

Your gift is making sure that we are
Keeping Our Eyes on Mumia;
obtaining all medical records, preparing litigation;
& getting expert Medical Advice!

bit.ly/rise4mumia

Call, write, fax continue to keep the pressure on demand freedom & medical care for Mumia:

John Wetzel, PA Secretary of Corrections: 717-728-4109
Governor Tom Wolf: 717-787-2500
SCI Mahanoy: 570-787-2500
For a full list of addresses and faxes, visit www.freemumia.com and prisonradio.org

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Norman Richmond quotes Malcolm X on John Brown; Marvin X replies

John Brown

When a reporter asked whether white people could join the Organization
of Afro American Unity(OAAU), Malcolm X said, "Definitely not." Then
he added, "If John Brown were still alive, we might accept him."

Marvin X says, "If you ain't a John Brown white man, don't say shit to me!"

Marvin X

Black Bird Press News & Review: Academy of Da Corner Episode #2: Broken Systems, Broken Minds

Join us at the opening events for the Second Annual Sacramento Black Book Fair, Friday, June 5, 2015

Blue Nile Press and Community Partners
invite you to the opening events for the
Second Annual Sacramento Black Book Fair

All on Friday, June 5, 2015

6:00PMOpening Reception to meet and greet the featured writers
at underground Books,2814 35^th Street, Sacramento CA 95817

6:45PMOpening Panel Discussion by the featured writers

at The Guild Theater
2828 35^th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817
(Next door to underground books)
9:00PMPost Panel Mixer
Live jazz, refreshments, and opportunity to converse with
featured speakers and participating authors
at the Brickhouse Art Gallery, 2837 36^th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817

Please RSVP by Sunday, May 31, 2015 to Faye Wilson Kennedy (916) 484-3749 or emailing:Faye at Faye@bluenilepress.com

Featured author Marvin X will perform with students from his Academy of da Corner, Prosperity and Aries Jordan

2015 Co-Sponsors/Community Partners:

African Research Institute

Black United Fund of Sacramento Valley

The Black Group

Brickhouse Art Gallery

Blue Nile Press

City of Sacramento – Neighborhood Services Department

Friends of the Sacramento Public Library

Jtenterprise

Roberts Family Development Center

Sacramento Area Black Caucus

Sacramento City Councilmember Allen Warren

The Sacramento City Teachers Association

Sacramento City Councilmember Steve Hansen

Teichert Foundation

The Talking Drums News

Colonial Heights Library Affiliated Friends

Kakwasi Somadhi

Underground Books

Sacculturalhub.com

Drexel University Sacramento

Sacramento Juneteenth, Inc.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.,Eta Gamma Omega Chapter

Sacramento Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated

Fred and Ruth Foote

ZICA Creative and Literary Guild

Center for African Peace & Conflict Resolution, CSUS

Black Humanists and Non-Believers of Sacramento

Sacramento Section- The National Council of Negro Women

Mary McLeod Bethune Readers are Leaders Club

Tracy & Symia Stigler

Young Scholars –Calvary Christian Center

Sacramento Poetry Center

Sister to Sister Book Group

100 Black Men of Sacramento

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

Felicia Armelin

Brenda’s Mane Event

Black Parallel School Board

Literary Ladies Alliance

The Merritt Law Clinic

Sisters Quilting Collective

NIA –Women of Purpose

Leslie Wilson Kennedy

Sacramento Chapter-Black Child Development Institute

Pam Haynes

Black Images Book Club

The Borden Family

OBBC (Book Club)

Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce

Allegro Book Club

Sacramento Public Library Foundation

The California Endowment

The Office of Campus Community Relations, University of California, Davis

Los Rios Community College District

Roy Kaufman

Sacramento Observer Newspapers

California Black Chamber of Commerce

Endorsed by:

Mayor Kevin Johnson

Women's Civic Improvement Club

Oak Park United Methodist Church

Guild Theater

Sacramento City Unified School District

Sacramento Public Library

Assembly member Kevin McCarty

California Legislative Black Caucus

916Ink

Crocker Art Museum

Sacramento Area Youth Speaks (SAYS)

Thank you and join the celebration!!!

Tribute for Ancestor poet Louis Reyes Rivera

Flowing River of Words
Annual Tribute Event for Louis Reyes Rivera

Saturday, May 16
The Nuyorican Poets Cafe
236 Third Avenue, Manhattan
6:30 - 8:30 PM

Every year, the National Writers Union features four emerging poets who were personally selected by close associates of Louis Reyes Rivera. These four artists are given the extraordinary opportunity to read their original works to the accompaniment of professional jazz musicians in a prominent venue. This year, the poets are Cesilie Anandi, Cypress Preston Jackson, Nkosi Nkululeko, and Meriam Rodriguez. Carolyn Butts and Layding Kaliba will also be honored with the 2015 Louis Reyes Rivera Excellence Award for Educator Artists. We're thrilled to announce that UpSurge! Jazz will be performing too! This event was funded in part by Poets & Writers, Inc., with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Tickets: $15 in advance/ $20 at the door. Event tickets are available for sale through The Nuyorican Poets Cafe Box Office.
Call 212‐780‐9386 or visit nuyorican.org.

Can't attend? Please consider making a donation so this event can continue.
http://louis2015tribute.eventbrite.com. Thank you!

About Louis Reyes Rivera
Known as the Janitor of History, poet/essayist Louis Reyes Rivera began studying his craft in 1960 and teaching in 1969 after co-founding The Paper, an institution brought forth as a result of the 1969 Student Takeover of City College. Rivera was born May 19, 1945, in Brooklyn, the oldest of 12 children. Considered by many as a necessary bridge between the African and Latino American communities, he was a professor of Pan-African, African-American, Caribbean and Puerto Rican literature and history whose essays and poems appeared in numerous publications, including his own Scattered Scripture. Before his passing on March 2, 2012, he completed an epic poem, Jazz in Jail (unpublished) and translated Clemente Soto Velez's Broomstick Stallion. The recipient of over 20 awards, Rivera assisted in the publication of well over 200 books and frequently performed with his own band, The Jazzoets.

Learn more!
Article by award-winning journalist Herb Boyd
"Inside the River of Poetry" essay
Fascinating Interview

Marvin X has a unique point of view! Order his classic How to Recover from the Addiction to White Supremacy!

Yes, they say I have a unique point of view. One day I was hustling my books on Fulton Street in Brooklyn, NY. A brother ran up to me for books because he'd just heard a bout me at another conscious book stand. They told him I'd just come through and had a different point of view. He spent about 30 dollars with me because he said he wanted a different point of view. At the African Village in South Caroline, a young brother came up to me. He said, "Marvin X, I know who you are. I'm not your friend on face book but my friend sends your stuff to me. You definitely have a different point of view."

Now Available from Black Bird Press: the Marvin X classic How to Recover from the Addiction to White Supremacy, a 13 step manual based on the AA 12-Step model with a Pan African Perspective. $19.95, Black Bird Press, 339 Lester Ave. #10, Oakland CA 94606. We have the Square for credit cards: call 510-200-4164, add $5.00 for priority mailing.