There was a poor man who lived like a rich man. His father said he was so smart he should have been a billionaire but he outsmarted himself. He grew up in his parents business and when he went to college declared business as his major but changed it to sociology and was awarded the A A degree in Sociology. From Oakland's Merritt College he transferred to San Francisco State University and majored in English/Creative Writing.He never thought that writing would keep him in poverty. He only knew he loved writing and nothing else. He knew his writing was not commercial and never intended it to be, and it never was. It was radical to the extreme and he intended it to be a vehicle to help free his people.When the college Drama Department produced his first play, he was thankful until they told him to tone it down. He refused and dropped out of college to establish his own theater in the Fillmore District of San Francisco, Black Arts West Theater with Ed Bullins Duncan Barber Hillary Broadous Ethna Wyatt and Carl Bossiere.BAW was not about money but freedom. It received no grants but became the critical theater in the black arts movement on the west coast and nation wide in the history of black arts and Liberation.When Eldridge Cleaver was released from Soledad Prison, he came to the Bay Area and connected with the poor man. But the real reason he came to the Bay Area was to connect with his lawyer Beverly Axelrod who smuggled his manuscript Soul on Ice out of Soledad Prison and it became a best seller. More importantly, he had promised to marry Beverly and upon released moved into her house in San Francisco.But when he connected with the poor man, he used his royalties from Soul on Ice to rent Victorianhouse on Broderick St that became the Black House, a political cultural center of the Bay Area Black radical community.Amiri Baraka and his pregnant wife Amina came to the house and described the poor man's room as Spartan in contrast with the high tech Speaker phone room of EC.The poor man shared his Spartan quarters with his partner from Black Arts West Theater, Ethna Wyatt, aka, Ethna X, aka, Hurriyah Asar.Amina Baraka recalls when whites tried to enter the Black House and a woman told Ethna she was white and Native American. Ethna replied,"The Native American can come in but the white got to go!"Years later a white woman from Canada became the patron of the poor man. She told him she might be poor but not as poor as him.A young lady told him he was the poorest famous person she'd ever met.Yes, he was poor but rich in spirit.His name was better than gold!When he called upon people to assist his projects, they answered without charging anything for their services.When he agreed to pay a VIP for his services, when the VIP arrived, he told the poor man he would not accept a penny for his services. He came to serve in the name of love. "Brother you can't give me a dime for doing this for you. I'm doing this for you for all the good you have done for our freedom struggle throughout the years, more than half a century!"The poor man was humbled, overwhelmed.Once he asked several VIPs to do a benefit for him. When they came at their own expense, people asked him how he brought them together? He said he used a device called the cell phone. A good name is better than gold!A VIP woman said, "When he calls you to do something, it is like the Lord calling you. When he says jump, you say how high?Men, especially rich men, were intimidated in his presence, even though he was the poorest man in the world. A rich man known for his self confidence told an audience the poor man was the most self confident man he'd ever met. Even though he was poor, many men felt insecure in his presence.Though poor, many could only take his wisdom for an hour or less. And even after an hour, people departed with a headache. A woman friend could only take him for a short while, even when he wined and dined her, she would not return for a month or two. She said she needed time to absorb his wisdom.One man said he was brutally honest. A young lady said he was blunt!Several wanted him to be a stand up comic though he never tried to be funny.He gave his knowledge freely, especially to those without money. Once a young man came to his stand at 14th and Broadway, downtown Oakland and wanted a book but didn't have money so the poor righteous teacher gave him a book. The young man took a few steps then stopped and broke down into tears. The poor man asked him what was the problem? The young man said no one had ever given him anything in his life.The poor man knew his mission was beyond money. Still people begged him to stop giving away his books and writings for free.Sometimes his rich patron would seize his books when they came off the press so the poor man would not give them away.His children told him to stop giving away his writings for free. One daughter said, "Dad, why would anyone pay for your writings when you post them daily on the internet?"Still, the poor man wrote daily because he loved to write and not for money or fame. He didn't care about awards and rewards, even though a good friend told him to go for the reward, i.e. the money!One elder told him to stay poor. It would keep him honest and truthful.Still people begged him to monitize and he knew they were right since he knew too often we focus on the show and forget the show business.The poor man simply could not focus on the business. He was absorbed with the show!He knew it takes money to produce a show, to pay actors, dancers, musicians, tech crew, front house, but he would let the Spirit come to him for such mundane matters. And the Spirit blessed him time after time.He knew time was money and money was time but time was more important to him than money. He treasured his time.His time was worth millions to him. A free man owns his time, thus he can create at his pleasure. Some men have millions of dollars but somebody else owns their time. They are not free men, they are slaves.The poor man treasured his time, time to think, write, produce. And he produced with no budget time after time. He loved that film Field of Dreams, e g., If you build they will come!--cont--MARVIN X3/10/21
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Parable of the poor man who lived a rich life
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Cornel West departs Harvard and the Street People poem by Marvin X
I'm glad my beloved brother and revolutionary comrade has departed that shithole called Harvard. His genius is far beyond the low information vibration mentality of Harvard. As per Black people, my mother told me, "Marvin, you don't need niggas, niggas need you!" I told Cornel West the same, "Cornel, you don't need Harvard, Harvard needs you!" Praise be to Allah you are gone from that rathole!
If streets could talk
If streets could talk
They would say damn
WTF mf
These people ain't people
We used to see
Up and down back forth
Night day
Not these people
Strange people
Street people
Suit and tie suite people
Job people rob people
Homeless tent people
Cardboard loving people
Street dope fiend people
Suite dope fiend people
Make daily run walk jog
Dog people
Love people ❤️
Hate people
Straight gay lez trans people
Holy ghost people
Catholic confession holy Mary Mother of God people
Muslim Muhammad people
Jewish chosen of God people
Yoruba Jah Rastafari people
Black Hebrew Israelite people
Noble Drew Ali Mo Science people
Walking talking praising praying
Down streets of joy hate love
We hold support embrace
The good bad ugly uggly
Saintified satanfied
They walk to and fro
Smiling frowning grinning shouting
Black lives matter
MAGA MAGA MAGA
La Raza la raza la Raza
Hotep
Alafia
Salaam akh ukhti
What's up dog
My nigga
My bitch
Street sounds abound
we streets listen
Streets cry
Look at our tears
Rolling down the street
We wonder
Can people do better
Is this really
The best they can do
We streets say no
They can do better
Love better ❤️
Hate better
Not for no reason
Kindergarten colors
WTF
Colors
Class
Caste
Illusions of the monkey mind
Guru Bawa said
illusions of the monkey mind
If streets could
We'd shut the fk up
Silencia por favor silencia
Calle dice
Nada mas!
--MARVIN X
3/9/21
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Marvin X, Star Witness at Probate Court trial of his late Patron's estate, Abdul Leroy James
Marvin X
Star Witness at Probate Court trial of his late Patron's estate
Abdul Leroy James
In 2019, Marvin X invited Dr. Cornel West to Oakland for a Conversation on local, national and global issues. Continuing the philanthropic tradition of his brother Leroy, Larry James helped produce this event at Geoffrey's Inner Circle. Hassan Larry James was also in charge of security for the event.
Monday, March 1, 2021
Hapi b day son, miss you much, love you much
Anna Malaika Tubbs: The Mothers of the Civil Rights Movement. Marvin X comments on his Mother, Marian Murrill Jackmon
I was deeply moved by Anna Malaika Tubbs discussion of her book on the mothers of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr. and James Baldwin. But much of what she said was similar to remarks I have made in my writings about my mother, though she inspired me to discuss further my mother who produced me, her wonder child, although I had no knowledge of such until my adulthood when my siblings revealed their jealousy of me because my mother had made known to them that she knew I was a special child, her special child. Yet I have written that I know so much of what I am is due directly to my mother's influence on my development even though I often thought she did not give me the attention I wanted from her. I did not understand she was a single mother raising nine children and two grandchildren as she worked her real estate business which was only the surface structure mission of her life. I came to ultimately understand that she was a spiritualist (disciple of Mary Baker Eddy's Christian Science) and this was the mission in the deep structure of her soul. I am convinced if she hadn't to care for her eleven children and her real estate business, she would have devoted full time to her spiritual ministry. But being practical, she merged her real estate business with her spiritual ministry, i.e., her customers were her subjects for spiritual enlightenment and many times I sat in her office as she counseled her clients, most especially when they were selling property in a bitter divorce. She had to counsel them so they would reconcile their differences in order for the deal to close escrow, otherwise she could not get her commission. Over many years I sat in her office watching her counsel couples who were bitter towards each other but she had no choice but to apply her spiritual wisdom to reconcile them.
As Anna Malaika Tubbs continued to discuss her book about the great mothers who produced Malcolm, Martin and James, I could not help but reflect on my mother, especially when I used to mumble when speaking. She told me over and over that if I did not learn to speak up and enunciate my words, I would not go very far in life. Thanks to my mother, most people know I actually don't need a mike to speak. Of course part of the reason is because my years in theatre, but it started with Mama telling me to speak up so she could understand me.
Of course I learned from her to combine business and spirituality after seeing her counsel her clients over the years. I've found myself selling my books but listening to people who have come to me with their many problems at my Academy of Da Corner, 14th and Broadway, downtown Oakland. There were many times when I listened to the problems of street people that I knew I was in my mother's persona, but I knew as she was needed, so was I in my time. Sometimes the people would get in my face eyeball to eyeball to make sure I was listening to them as they had no one else who had time to hear their problems.
Often they cried to me because they had lost loved ones to violence, whether violence in the hood or police violence, but no one cared about their slain loved one. They wanted to know why one slain person in the hood or who suffered police violence could have rallies but there was nothing for their loved ones, not even a police investigation. I had no choice but to listen yet I was psychologically exhausted from years of working with mothers and families who’d lost loved ones to violence in the hood or at the hands of police.
Once I worked with mothers of sons slain in drive by killings during the crack era until I could take it no more. Sitting in a room full of mothers in grief at the lost of their sons was overwhelming to the point that even today, years later, I am unable to attend rallies such as the Oscar Grant murder and numberous others that would make me an ambulance chasing. I have often thought about what Elijah Muhammad told Malcolm X when the police raided the Mosque in Los Angeles. Elijah told Malcolm that in war there shall be many soldiers slain on the battlefield but we cannot react to every tragic situation that may put the entire Nation of Islam in harms way.
Mrs. Tubbs discussed the close relationship between James Baldwin and his mother, who exchanged letters throughout their lives. She said his mother was his oracle. My mother advised me many many times, from the time my girlfriend got pregnant when I was 18. She told me I didn’t need to marry her because she was pregnant, but go on to college. I ignored her and married the mother of my two sons but the marriage was over shortly after they were born. She told me further, I didn’t need to get married period. She said I needed a maid, secretary and mistress but not a wife. At 76, I am yet grappling with Mama’s wisdom, still trying to figure out how she had deconstructed my artistic personality, but after multiple failed marriages, do I have a choice but to confess she was right? At this time in my life, i.e., the fourth quarter with a hail Mary left, I surely don’t need a wife but I could use a maid, secretary and mistress.
After meeting my many friends, including Bobby Seale, Eldridge Cleaver, Sun Ra, and others, Mama said, “Them niggas ain’t nothing, Marvin. You don’t need them niggas, them niggas need you! And than Eldridge Cleaver is the worst of all them niggas, talking about he saw Jesus in the moon. Boy, leave them niggas alone and use the mind God gave you. If you don’t God is going to take your mind from you.”
On her death bed at Alta Bates hospital in Berkeley, her last words to me were complaining about the bland food and to get her some money as she had lost all her property when interest rates were high and the Crack era made it difficult to pay her mortgages because renters wouldn’t pay their rent. Alas, I had fell victim to Crack myself and before she got sick she came to Oakland pleading with my sisters to see her wonder child after a long absence from visiting her. I am honored to have Marian Murrill as my mother and will spend my last days trying to honor and respect her for making me the man I am.
--Marvin X
3/1/21
Marian Murrill Jackmon and Owendell Jackmon I
Saturday, February 27, 2021
Dollar as toilet paper
Subject: The dollar as toilet paper
The dollar is falling and shall be worthless and will be used for toilet paper. The black bird tells me Bitcoin will save you. Remember the Weimar Republic in Germany? When Hyperinflation hit and the value of the German Mark fell, it took a wheelbarrow of Marks to buy a hamburger.
--MARVIN X2/26/21See The Decline of the Dollar, Elijah Muhammad.
Thursday, February 25, 2021
Parable of the end of the world
photo Adam Turner
Parable of the end of the world
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Parable of the fool
Parable of the fool
Sunday, February 21, 2021
On Dr. Cornel West and Harvard
Friday, February 19, 2021
Parable of why I will eat white people
Parable of why I will eat white people
Email to a friend,
How's Harlem? I was there this time last year. Wrote a poem Harlem Ain't Harlem No More. My daughter wanted to buy a house in Harlem but couldn't afford it so she moved to Brooklyn, Bed-Sty. Now Brooklyn Ain't Brooklyn. Her white tenants yelled down stairs for me to stop talking so loud because they had to go to work. WTF. My daughter said, "Well, dad, you know you do talk loud."
A few days before when I came out the subway, two young white people were taking a survey so they asked me what I liked to eat. When I ignored them they walked away. As I awaited the bus, I decided to answer them. I walked over to them and said, "You want to know what I like to eat? I like to eat white people!" They gave me the strangest look.
I told my friend on the phone that night if the white tenants bug me again, I going to tell them, "Next time I'm coming up stairs to eat them!" What a wonderful world!
I wish someone would tell me to be quiet in my own house – that is deep. White folks move to the City and demand peace and quiet. They threw the drummers out of Marcus Garvey park when I was in Harlem. It is was a weekly ritual but a handful of white folks demanded silence.... When I grew up the sound of congas was ubiquitous.
Right now I’m living in Tulsa OK and work in the old Black Wall Street neighborhood of Greenwood, virtually nothing remains and it won’t be coming back … not too different than the spirit of Harlem.
Peace,
Troy
Malcolm and Martin
https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2021/03/11/malcolm-x-martin-luther-king-what-dignity-demands/
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Rush Limbaugh, King of White Nationalist Propaganda is dead
Rush Limbaugh, King of White Nationalist Propaganda is dead
I don't know how we can know our enemies if we don't listen to them.
For sure they listen to us, to every word we say, e.g., see the FBI files on black leaders since it was founded. The FBI began with putting Marcus Garvey under surveillance. Of course we were under surveillance throughout slavery to prevent rebellion (See Slave Catchers and Resisters, History Channel). During the 60s the FBI'S Cointelpro, counter intelligence program, spied on specific leaders and black people in general. The FBI concluded we were very funny.
I listen to right wing and left wing white supremacists. Left wing white supremacists? Yes, do you recall what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail? "I'd rather be with the KKK than phony white liberals!"
Didn't so-called white liberal Attorney General Robert Kennedy spy on MLK JR? When the director of the King papers at Stanford University was asked if it was difficult to research MLK Jr, he said no because the FBI had his every word!
Likewise, I study every word of the white supremacist media, left and right. I prefer the Right wing propagandists because the stupid shit they say is funny and the talk show hosts play more black music than the so called progressive white propogandists.
Rush Limbaugh was a funny guy.
I will never forget his quip, "The Congressional Black Caucus is the Caucus of black Caucasians." My daughter Nefertitti said she thinks he stole this line from Black People.
Well, a young black man told me a similar line, "The Black man is a white man dipped in chocolate!"
Rush and his gang of white supremacy propogandists remind me of my favorite quote from James Baldwin, "The notion of White Supremacy is so fantastic it approaches the pathological."
The recently retired right wing talk show host Michael Savage said perennially that white men invented everything in America. You mean he never heard of George Washington Carvel and the plethora of black inventors and their inventions too numerous to list? And he possesses the PhD?
Rush Limbaugh was undisputed king of conservative white supremacist propganda. The only thing I will miss is his sense of humor. The left wing white supremacist propagandists need to get a sense of humor to invigorate their fake news. They take themselves far too serious, especially with their sins of ommision! Al Qur'an says, "Will you hide truth while you know?"
--MARVIN X
2/18/21
Saturday, February 13, 2021
Thursday, February 11, 2021
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