General Kumasi orders Black August soldiers to read Marvin X's Notes

 George Jackson, Messiah of the Black Prison Movement

Assassinated by prison guards at San Quentin Prison

Black August founders,organizers and participants, left to right: Mama Efia Nwangaza, Human Rights Advocate, Greensville, SC,Shaka Al Thinin. Back left: Kumasi and Marvin X  
photo Wanda Sabir, SF Bayview Newspaper

Brother Kumasi, Black August Prison Movement co-founder and undisputed griot (historian) of the Black and American Prison Movement has issued orders to all Black August soldiers to read Notes of Artistic Freedom Fighter Marvin X!  ASAP! After reading the book twice, Kumasi says it is a narrative from the horse's mouth. Marvin X visited Soledad Prison's Black Culture Club, the beginning of the Black and American Prison Movement, 1966. The club was chaired by Eldridge Cleaver and Alprintice Bunchy Carter, When Eldridge Cleaver was released from prison and came to the Bay Area, Marvin X was the first person Cleaver hooked up with. They established a political/cultural center called Black House, 1967. Marvin introduced Eldridge to Bobby Seale and Huey Newton, his classmates from Oakland's Merritt College. Other soon to be members of the BPP also came through Black House: Samuel Napier, became Minister of Distribution of the Black Panther Newspaper. George Murray became Minister of Education. Emory Douglas became Minister of Culture.

Marvin X also recruited for the Nation of Islam., "fishing" Nadar Ali, who became Director of Imports. He mentored writer Fahizah Alim who wrote for Muhammad Speaks and the Sacramento Bee. More recently, his star student from his Laney College Drama class founded her own theatre and is founder of the Black Arts Movement Business District, CDC, Dr. Ayodele Nzinga.

Master Teacher Marvin X and his star student, Dr. Ayodele Nzinga

photo Adam Turner

All the above history is covered in Notes. Again, General Kumasi says it is a must read for radical activists.

 Marvin X and Nadar Ali, Marvin's "fish" for the Nation of Islam. Nadar became director of imports and was responsible for importing the Whiting fish Muslims sold by the boatload from Peru. On a business trip to Chile, Nadar was on the balcony of his hotel when Chile's President Allende was overthrown.

Panel of woman discussing the Black Arts Movement on the 50th Anniversary of BAM at Laney College, Oakland. Left to right: Elaine Brown, Halifu Osumare, Judy Juanita, Portia Anderson, Phavia Kujichagulia and Aries Jordan. Marvin X was producer, 2015
photo Ken Johnson

 Amiri Baraka and Marvin X, co-founders of the Black Arts Movement coast to coast. They enjoyed 47 years of friendship and revolutionary art projects.

MX and Fahizah Alim. Mentored by MX, she became a writer for Muhammad Speaks and is Writer Emeritus of the Sacramento Bee. Marvin considers her his muse.

MX and his mentor and associate, Dr. Nathan Hare, considered the Father of Black and Ethnic Studies. Hare was first chair of Black Studies at San Francisco State University and founding publisher of the Black Scholar Magazine.
photo Adam Turner

Marvin X met Eldridge and Bunchy on a visit to Soledad Prison's Black Culture Club, 1966.

Shorty after Bunchy and Huggins were assassinated in the BSU meeting room at UCLA by members of the US organization, on a speaking tour of Los Angeles colleges and universities during his fight to teach black studies at Fresno State University, Marvin X spoke at UCLA and was shown the BSU meeting room with the blood of Bunchy and John still on the walls. He was also shown the headquarters of the Black Panther Party that was site of a BPP/LAPD gun battle with bullet holes on the facade.

Founding members of the SFSU Black Students Union: Benny Stewart, Mar'yam Wadai and Marvin X. Benny was a strike leader, but before the strike Benny was a performer in Amiri Baraka's Communication Project that radicalized students with plays from the Black Arts Movement, including the works of Jimmy Garrett,
Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, Ben Caldwell and Marvin X.
photo Adam Turner

SFSU founding members Mar'yam Wadai, Danny Glover and Marvin X. Danny performed at Black Arts West Theatre, founded by Marvin X and playwright Ed Bullins.
photo Adam Turner

Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton, co-founders of the Black Panther Party.
Bobby, Huey and Marvin X were students at Oakland's Merritt College. Prior to co-founding the BPP, Bobby Seale performed in Come Next Summer, Marvin X's second play, circa 1965. Bobby portrayed a young black man trying to find himself, discover his revolutionary black consciousness. Huey Newton said, "Marvin X was my teacher, many of our comrades came through is Black Arts Theatre and The Black House.e.g., Bobby Seale, Eldridge Cleaver, George Murray, Samuel Napier, Judy Juanita, JoAnn Mitchell, Ellendar Barnes, et al.

The only known picture of Eldridge Cleaver and Marvin X. Pic is outside the house where BPP and OPD had shootout in which Lil' Bobby Hutton was murdered in cold blood by the OPD

photo Muhammad Kareem

Order your copy from

Black Bird Press

339 Lester Ave., Suite #10

Oakland CA 94606

$29.95

Credit cards accepted

Square and PayPal

call

510-575-7148

Shipped by priority mail

Marvin X, Bay Area Juneteenth book tour

As Marvin X signed books at San Francisco Juneteenth, he noticed a "fine" black female officer standing a few feet from him with a white officer. Aside from her beauty, he noticed she had a Muslim name. He called her over and asked if she would arrest him. She replied, "No, because there are too many black people already in jail", and returned to her post. 

Is Marvin X under surveillance? A few weeks ago when he boarded the Amtrak to Fresno, an Oakland police officer got on board behind him and came to his seat. The Black uniformed officer said loudly, "Oh, I see we have a celebrity on board this morning!"   

For Fresno Juneteenth, Marvin X and Dr. Nathan Hare donated five boxes of books from their libraries to give out to his hometown folks (he grew up in Fresno and Oakland; in 1969 he attempted to lecture in the Black Studies Department at Fresno State University but was removed on orders of then Governor Ronald Reagan, who also removed Angela Davis from teaching at UCLA the same year). 

Marvin later taught at UC Berkeley, 1972, San Francisco State University, 1974, UC San Diego, 1975, University of Nevada, Reno, 1979. He has authored and/or edited 30 books and has received writing awards from Columbia University and the National Endowment for the Arts; planning grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities. He is honored in the African American Museum at the Smithsonian, Washington DC. 

As one of the founders of the Black Arts Movement (the most radical artistic and literary movement in American history), Marvin X was recently praised by George Miles, a fellow alumni of Harlem's New Lafayette Theatre, "HONORS. Our Own Very Very Very Dear and Beloved Friend/Brother/Man, Supreme Warrior, Activist, Advocate Poet, Essayist, Author, Educator and Honored New Lafayette Alumni Marvin X (Jackmon). HONORS!"

His archives were acquired by the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Berkeley Juneteenth

 

Berkeley Juneteenth 

At Berkeley Juneteenth, Berkeley's Chief of Police stopped by Marvin X's booth. The chief said he was drawn to the poet's booth by a sign "White Awake, Challenge Racism." Marvin told the chief it is a movement. He could Google it.

FYI, Marvin X's friends used to shoot police, e g., Eldridge Cleaver, Bobby Seale, Huey Newton, and other members of the Black Panther Party.
And the police used to kill Panthers.

Marvin X recalls when he traveled with Cleaver during his Born Again Christian days, on one occasion the former BPP Minister of Information gave his testimony before a group of white Christians, including police who confessed they had murder squads killing black people in general and Panthers in particular. The police told Cleaver that since they had found the Lord, they no longer hated black people. Cleaver and the police embraced and the audience shouted praise the Lord, hallelujah. 


Marin City Juneteenth
 
On Saturday, June 29, Marvin X will speak at the Marin City Juneteenth Festival. Aside from speaking and autographing his latest book Notes of Artistic Freedom Fighter Marvin X, he will be interviewed by Duke University Professor Ellen McLarney for her book project on Muslim writers in America. Marvin X is considered the father of Muslim American literature (Dr. Mohja Kahf). Ishmael Reed calls him, "Plato teaching on the streets of Oakland." Bob Holman says, "He's the USAs Rumi...the ecstasy of Hafiz, the wisdom of Saadi, the politics of Baraka, the humor of Pietri...."

Coming Soon

save the date

 

Dr. Cornel West and Marvin X

A Conversation

Dr. Cornel West has agreed to an on-stage conversation with his dear friend, Marvin X, December, 2019. Date, time and place to be arranged. If you would like to be a sponsor or patron of this event, please call 510-575-7148. 

"Can't wait to see you both together again!"

--Clifton West

for more information or to invite Marvin X to speak and/or read from his works

www.blackbirdpressnews.blogspot.com

mxjackmon@gmail.com

 

Goodbye Speedy, Wade Woods, last Fillmore "Negro" Revolutionary

Sunrise October 19, 1945

Sunset May 31, 2019

 Rev. Amos Brown, Pastor, Third Baptist Church, San Francisco

 Rev. Arnold Townsend, officiated memorial services

 Actor Danny Glover

Mar'yam Wadai, co-founder of SFSU BSU, submitted first draft curriculum

for a Black Studies Department

Dr. Nathan Hare, founder of Black and Ethnic Studies, SFSU, and Marvin X, M.A., English, SFSU, BSU co-founder and lecturer in Black Studies, Journalism, Radio and TV Writing at SFSU


Left to right, bottom Dr. Nathan Hare; standing left to right: Benny Stewart, BSU/Third World Strike leader; G Money; Rev. George Murray, SFSU English Lecturer, Black Panther Party Minister of Education; poet, playwright Marvin X, Negro Students Association/BSU co-founder, San Francisco State University
photo Adam Turner

SFSU BSU co-founders, left to right: Benny Stewart, Mar'yam Wadai, Marvin X

photo Adam Turner

The consensus was that longtime political and community organizer Leroy Wade Woods, aka Speedy, personified love for his community and was well loved in return. San Francisco's black radical church, Third Baptist, under Rev. Amos Brown, held a memorial service for one of our very best North American African revolutionaries.

Even though people arrived on time for the 11AM service officiated by Rev. Arnold Townsend, himself a radical community organizer, it was well after 11AM when the service began due to people greeting each other and conversing because they had no seen each, some in years, others in decades, especially Speedy's revolutionary comrades, e.g., actor Danny Glover and other San Francisco State Black Student Union founders and the 1968 BSU and Third World Strike leaders who fought to establish Black and Ethnic Studies: Mar'yam Wadai, Jimmy Garett, Jerry Vernardo, Benny Stewart, Rev. George Murray, George Corbett, Marvin X, et al.

 

 SFSU BSU founders Mar'yam Wadai, Danny Glover,

Marvin X

photo Adam Turner

Also in the audience was the Honorable Dr. Nathan Hare, first Chair of Black and Ethnic Studies on a major American college/university campus. Also present were Amelia Ashley-Ward, Publisher of the SF Sun Reporter and son, Evan Carlton.

Back row, left to right, Evan Ward, Dr. Nathan Hare, Amelia Ashley-Ward, Marvin X

It was a joyous occasion befitting the happy persona of our dearly departed revolutionary brother who was on the central committee of the BSU/Third World Strike at SFSU, this was after he joined the US military and fought in Vietnam. After he came into contact with North Vietnamese soldiers who called the blacks "soul brothers" and explained their struggle was based and patterned after the struggle for Black National Liberation in the USA, Speedy returned from 'Nam saying, "Vietnam turned my green beret Black!" His focus was organizing and strategizing for his community, especially the Fillmore District. He worked with comrade Terry Collins as a draft counselor, advising brothers not to join the US military, one brother was Marvin X who went into exile rather than become a running dog for US imperialism.

Speedy, who got his name because of his outstanding track skills, but he soon honed skills in community organizing as director of the Western Addition Project Area Committee, WAPAC. He oversaw community efforts to develop low-income housing. He guided the development of the 100% owned and operated Victorian Square Complex located at Sutter and Fillmore Streets. He helped save many Victorian homes owned by North American Africans. Wade was a co-founder of KPOO 89.5FM radio station.

A prayer was delivered by Rev. George Murray, BSU strike leader and Black Panther Party Minister of Education. SF Mayor London Breed sent a letter on behalf of the citizens of San Francisco.

 
 Rt. Judge George Corbert

Judge Emeritus George Corbert spoke of his inseparable friend and the good times they shared.


  Charlie Walker
  photo Adam Turner

Hunters Point businessman Charlie Walker told how Speedy helped him win the contract to clean up an oil spill under the Golden Gate Bridge. BSU Strike leader Benny Stewart told how working under Speedy qualified him to win a 100 million dollar contract for the Marin City Development Corporation.

Rev. Regnaldo J. Woods, brother of Speedy

photo Adam Turner
 

In my remarks, I spoke to the family. "You are his family, but sometimes family don't know how great one of their own can be. Many times you will think a family member ain't nothing. But you should see from the remarks today how great Speedy was. Until my family visited the Smithsonian and saw me in there, they treated me like I wasn't nothing. We know who and what Speedy was and he was family to us revolutionaries. Anytime you know a person over fifty years, they family. Thank you Speedy for sharing your love for us and with us."
The climax was the eulogy from his brother, Rev. Regnaldo J. Woods, a street brother who found the Lord! He simplified his brothers life as love for the people and love of God. In working for the people, Rev. Woods said, Speedy was working for the love of God. He when chided his brother for always helping other people and not himself, Speedy replied, "Don't worry about it. I will be all right." Rev. Woods said Speedy knew the source of his riches.

At the repast, we sat at the table with Dr. Nathan Hare, Rev. George Murray, Mar'yam Wadai, and Benny Stewart. Benny asked was it possible for us revolutionaries to meet on an occasion that is not a funeral or memorial service?

--Marvin X

6/7/19

Mother's Day at Geoffrey's Inner Circle

We spent Mother's Day evening enjoying jazz and dinner at Geoffrey's Inner Circle, the first class venue in Oakland's Black Arts Movement Business District. I invited my associate, Nur Jehan, and my patron, Hasan James and his wife. We were entertained by Dr. David Hardiman's Sextet. Guest vocalist Nina Causey was outstanding with her renditions of Stormy Weather, My Funny Valentine and other Black classical tunes. Dr. Hardiman channeled Miles Davis when he accompanied Nina with a muffled trumpet on My Funny Valentine. 

Photo Art by Gene Hazzard

As usual the food was excellent and reasonable. Where else can you enjoy live jazz, aka, black classical music, for $10.00 and dinner for $10.00? This is every Sunday from 6-10PM. Geoffrey's Inner Circle is located at 410 14th at Franklin Street, downtown Oakland. 

--MARVIN X
www.blackbirdpressnews.blogspot.com 

San Francisco's Sun Reporter Newspaper celebrates 75 years by Marvin X, photos Adam Turner 5/9/19

When Sun Reporter Publisher, Amelia Ashley-Ward, invited Dr. Nathan Hare and myself to the 75th anniversary of San Francisco's preeminent North American African newspaper, it didn't dawn on me until tonight that the date coincided with my 75th birthday, May 29, 1944. Coincidentally, when I was born my parents were publishing their black newspaper in the central valley, The Fresno Voice. So one can say I was born into journalism, thus the Sun Reporter has been a part of my life indirectly and directly since my writings have appeared in its pages off and on over the last half century. In 1966, we opened Black Arts West Theatre on Fillmore Street at Turk, around the corner from the Sun Reporter. We would encounter Sun Reporter Publisher, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett from time to time, also managing editor, Tom Fleming and political editor Edith Austin. After Amelia Ashley's graduation from San Jose State University and her internship at the Sun Reporter, she eventually became the Editor and Publisher.

US Senator Kamala Harris
photo Adam Turner

Left to right: Pam Moore, Amelia Ashley-Ward, Senator Kamala Harris, SF Mayor London Breed
photo Adam Turner

US Senator Kamala Harris, running for next president of the USA

photo Adam Turner

 San Francisco Mayor London Breed

photo Adam Turner

Sun Reporter Publisher Amelia Ashley-Ward and SF Mayor London Breed
photo Adam Turner

Left to right: Rev. Cecil Williams, Janice Mirikitani, Marvin X, Dr. Nathan Hare

photo Adam Turner

 Left to right: Rev. Cecil Williams, fans of Dr. Nathan Hare, Dr. Nathan Hare

photo Adam Turner

Left to right: Dr. Nathan Hare, poet Marvin K, Minister of Celebration, Glide Church, poet Marvin X

photo Adam Turner

Tonight at the San Francisco Hyatt Regency Embarcadero, 800 guests from throughout this nation, paid tribute to the Sun Reporter. The event began with News Anchor Pam Moore as MC. After a few opening remarks, Pam called three women of power to the stage: San Francisco Mayor London Breed, US Senator Kamala Harris and Sun Reporter Publisher Amelia Ashley-Ward. As the product of a strong black woman, we appreciate strong black women. The only thing my mother hated was ignorance. I can't imagine how proud she would have been to see those three intelligent, powerful women on stage tonight. Mayor Breed gave honor and praise to the Sun Reporter for being the voice of truth in our community. She noted that there was no way Willie Brown would become the first African American mayor or she would become the first black female mayor without the support of the Sun Reporter.

Evan Carlton Ward

photo Adam Turner

Amelia's son, Evan Carlton Ward, had the honor of introducing Senator Kamala Harris, now running for president of the United States. Senator Harris began with a praise song for Amelia as single mother who has raised a young man now serving as a communication officer in Mayor Breed's administration. Keynote speaker Senator Harris praised the Sun Reporter for her successful run to become D.A. of San Francisco. Although there were doubters that she could win, she noted that Amelia had total faith in her victory. The possible next president of the US decried the present occupant of the White House and contradicted the Trumpian narrative that America is on the road to be great again. She noted that most US workers don't have a $400.00 emergency fund. As per education, she vowed to support pay raises for teachers with low salaries yet often pay for school supplies from their meager checks. She called for gun control that would include identity checks. Most importantly, she called for a media that has truth as its primary mission which has been the tradition of the Sun Reporter.

The Honorable Mayor Willie Brown said he became aware of the Sun Reporter after arriving from Texas. He praised Publisher Dr. Carlton Goodlett for altering the course of San Francisco with his radicalism and entrepreneurial expertise. Alas, as Mayor, Willie Brown renamed the street in front of San Francisco City Hall Carlton Goodlett Way.

And then we heard from my main man, Rev. Cecil Williams, Pastor Emeritus of Glide Church, the legendary radical church in the wretched Tenderloin District. Cecil and his wife, poet Janice Mirikitani recalled their association with Publisher Goodlett. Cecil recalled his weekly conversations with Dr. Goodlett who demanded Cecil maintain his radical stance. He note how he and Goodlett supported the 1968 student strike for Black and Ethnic studies at San Francisco State University.
Jan noted how she was Cecil's 25 year old secretary when she met Dr. Goodlett and had little understanding of his radicalism that was igniting the fire of Cecil who would become her husband.
FYI, Jan once noted it was the poetry of Marvin X that forced her to become conscious of her ethnicity. Before the event began, Jan insisted on a pic with herself, Marvin K, current Minister of Celebration at Glide, and Marvin X. Minister Marvin K assured Marvin X he will be speaking and reading at Glide Church ASAP.

Detroit Journalist Dorothy Leavell, Chair of the National Negro Press Association, made it plain that the Sun Reporter and its Publisher Dr. Carlton Goodlett took the NNPA to a higher level with his Renaissance Man mind, whose influence was not only local, national but international.

Our concern was that if the Sun Reporter will continue another 75 years, why were the next generation of Bay Area journalists not in attendance? Nevertheless, thank you, Tom Fleming,
Dr. Carlton Goodlett, Edith Austin, Amelia Ashley-Ward, et al., who made the first 75 years possible.
Let us now prepare for the next 75!
--Marvin X
www.blackbirdpressnews.blogspot.com

On the mental health status of North American Africans, et al.

As a lay mental health street worker, I was inundated today at my Academy of da Corner, Berkeley flea market. I was scheduled to attend the Bay Area Book Fair in Berkeley, but the Holy Spirit told me to go to the Ashby Flea Market. The Spirit told me to forget the money I possibly would have made at the Book Fair and set up shop at the Flea Market. After all, the last two days at my Academy of da Corner Lakeshore, my Angel had blessed all those who stopped by and wanted to purchase my latest book but didn't have money. Due to gentrification, the Berkeley Flea Market is bleak these days so when I arrived there were many vacant stalls. No matter, I set up shop, more so because I was very upset with white people for their banning of my friend from Facebook, Minister Farrakhan, as many North American Africans are as I write. My day began with a young man who had been given my books by a 93 year old Professor emeritus, Dr. Stillman, in Sacramento. The young man was honored and humbled to be in my presence. He had come to the Flea market on another mission but was overwhelmed to meet me. As we talked, a black conscious white boy arrived that I call John Brown. I believe he was once a white supremacist but had somehow been converted to a essentially a "black supremacist" in a positive way. He has studied Black culture and philosophy and was sincerely trying to recover from racist white supremacist notions of history and reality. He shared his knowledge with the younger and less informed black brother. He even purchased one of Drs. Nathan and Julia Hare's books for the young man. His acts of kindness deflated my anger at White people. No matter how angry I was, he showed me there is hope for white people. He departed when a sister arrived with mental health issues herself and a severely mentally ill son suffering from situational disorders as Fanon, Hare and others have noted. The mother bemoaned that her son was not the son she knew and she felt helpless. A short time later another sister arrived and when I asked about her mother's health, proceeded to tell me about the mental state of her sister and niece suffering manic-depression. She noted their situation was complicated by homelessness partly the result of gentrification. Enough. I departed the Flea Market but not before purchasing three pies from the Nation of Islam brothers, and I don't eat very many sweets, but I wanted to support the NOI.

--Marvin X

5/4/19