chris hall's love poem to his uncle marvin x

mrs. and mr. robin and chris hall

marvin x and oakland mayor libby schaaf

photo jahahara alkebulan

left to rt: paul cobb, dr. leslie stratford, rt. col. conway jones, jr.,  marvin x,oakland mayor libby schaaf holding marvin's granddaughter naeema joy, below, grandson jahmeel; laney college president elnora t. webb, dr. nathan hare, lynette mcelhaney, president, oakland city council

photo ken johnson

I got Jackmon in my blood

Marvin X has four living children and one son who preceded him in death.

There are some things only family can know. 

The great Marvin "X" Jackmon, one of the Leaders of the Negro, 
live Strong ,recreate for black Fate. 

Besides Trying to Understand a man against hate but will not WAIT to use it in a debate 

a man that 8 plus 1 one is what he comes from 

wasn't the oldest but defiantly the closest 

Uncle ollie is whole notha story, He was Quite the OG 
but back to the man with a plan . 

Peaceful Muslim at heart but still Christian in art 
continues to write books that preach but tend to reach. 

keep faith my brotha 

denounce hate my brotha 

you buried a brotha and sista in one year 

someone I was taught to fear 

but the reasons were unclear 

the world should see how I would be  

I wanna say thanks you see 

if it wasn't for the x man 
a father at heart

witty and sharp 

holds composure 
struggles with closure 

The war on segregation is over

I have known you my whole life  

growing up  thinking you didn't like nothin white 

thought you hated my mother

thought one half or another 

was never gonna be good or tough enough 

it was never quite there

when push came to shove. 

Speaking the word of love 

but my skin makes me only half good enough. 

House nigga that's what you  call me  But

yet you my blood n know nothin about me 

 I know how to stay woke 

but sometimes it feels good to lay down without the fear of early stroke. 

You know how it goes for black folk

turn on the blinders pretend 

the shit I read aint the shit in real life 

Worry bout my son gettin shot by police

In flat out malice 

You probably think that's why I married a girl that could easily be named Alice 

Life its hard to imagine 

tunnel vision 

quickly dismissing my right to be 

livin 

you got three daughters all of em queens

trust I've seen. 

tho it may seem a half white half black shouldn't be able to dream 

fearing the world may no longer divide 

instead unite 

have you heard your own  words?

you preach the opposite of a white supremacist 

but you will lead black men in herds to fight your battle 

what makes you different than the honky moving cattle   

what separates you from the man in the klan 

how come their demise has to be part of the plan 

battle against America so called land of the free 

yet when set free we grow to hate.

ya I said it. it's true 

hate to say it but think about ray curruth goggle him 

baller Allstar killed his own kin because his ignorance made him believe that'd help him win 

just like the negro used to live next door to me got caught up 

the sight I saw as he begged and pleaded

covered in blood shot in front  of my door

find him bleeding by another black man that keeps him from breeding 

it's apparent to me 

you and whitey or Abdullah Hussein 

different parts of the world calls you terrorist 
does that make them insane 

we live in a world each culture finds a reason 
to be the definition of vain 

Looks and verbiage turbans and capes 

Not heroes at all 

now readers and viewers don't take this poem wrong  

a letter  no no it's  a song 
of  love to my uncle Marv 

no one will understand being treated like I should play with the Otha white boys or kick back be black 

and discover the lack of which I was man of color 

took awhile but found out 

so now I'm letting the sound out 

So hear me shout

black haters trying to fuck the so called shit outta us niggers

as the African black man hates his own self  so 

much 

all the punishment didn't deter him from raping a white lady who has his baby 

then feels too much responsibility runs down hills and trees 

Now that child faces hate from both sides 

Poor ol half breed 

Uncle Marv should I starve 

cause I'm light or called a nigger when I'm out of sight

1 2 3 4 I could count some more 

that's the number of fights over words 

I'm whiteafrican 

fuck the fact some times I get discriminated cuz someone thinks I'm actually Mexican 

I'm part German 

the part that thought gays jews and blacks were the closest thing to Vermin 

it could be simple  

you  see why its important to allow me to have my rite of passage 

my message 

to you brotha father grandfather uncle 

man black man  who is kin 

to me 

Gotta love the nigger and nazi in me 

heard your words that sparked thought 

like what if we put our minds off culture and color 

and blend one another 

it's because you fear we are too weak 

our minds don't show signs of elevating to the next level 

tell us to stay woke 

but shoot down any signs of peace and hope 

it's all right tho 

had a long night so 

you showed me love in oak town

thought I could provide you with som black nazi  poetry 

whose really not either as he sees him self for himself 

No I'm not oj or someone with that new playlist from jay z 

 I love you uncle seriously 

your heart your spirit 

feels reborn in me 

But what if I preach unity 

share my features with the evil white creature 

you my anti hero hero I want you to win 

because well you my  kin... 

you heard it a lot yes yes kin 

but you'll probably not gonna relate to your nephew 

cause of the different genetics that created white skin 

you family by dna 

never expected my offspring to become lighter then me 

but his mom had great energy 

it was meant  to be 

my god created me 

Can't you respect me?

hope you get chance to converse with me 
black love and god speed 

your nephew you know that house negro from Sac 

I'm from the  south to be exact (Georgia)

just hopes you will join me to bring end of hate and start spreading unity rather than call it diversity 

a place to call home

and see no history 

but aint afraid to speak or hear others' story

a grace land 

in which color is celebrated for all man 

in joy not separated with the intent of destroy destroy destroy

Tired of the whole

white versus black 

black versus white 

all hate the brown 

and the yellow 

So maybe you'll hear these words from this young fellow
--Your great nephew, Chris 

Marvin X reads "Dope" by Amiri Baraka

marvin x grandson at Dartmouth, summer class with dr cornel west

 James with dad, Houston, Texas attorney and Texas Southern University Business School Professor, Eric Rhodes.

 James in Paris, France

James speaks

Marvin X's oldest daughter, Nefertiti Jackmon, and son James, Dartmouth student

 Dr. West and Marvin X. He told his grandson to learn all he can from his friend, Dr. West. Carry his bags!

Dr. West with Nefertiti and Amira Jackmon, daughters of Marvin X. Nefertiti is Executive Director of the Austin, Texas Black Cultural District, Six Square; Amira is an attorney. Man on left is the Honorable John Douimbia, RIP, mentor of Marvin X and associate of Malcolm X during his "Big Red" days in Harlem. Photo is from The Kings and Queens of Black Consciousness, San Francisco State University, 2001, a Marvin X production.
photo Kamau Amen Ra, RIP

water, the final battle

owh studios

Jul 10 at 3:24 PM

SUPPORT OWH STUDIOS ASK YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER TO SUPPORT OWH STUDIOS MISSION TO PROVIDE A COMMUNITY VOICE VIA A   PUBLIC ACCESS STATION www.owhstudios.tv View this email in your browser Amazon's third-annual Prime Day is on Tuesday, July 11 and will feature more than 100,000 deals exclusively for Prime members, making it one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Next Tuesday you can help OWH Studios move forward on its mission to provide our youth and returning veterans, job skills by shopping at SMILE.AMAZON.COM ​ OWH Studios, Inc.  offers job-training in video production and broadcasting for at-risk youth, veterans, women, other economically undeserved residents of Alameda County, and the general public. OWH has now completed upgrading our video studio and equipment to HD, thanks to our generous supporters in the television industry.  We want the members of the Press to join us at the studio, take an actual, as well as a virtual tour and see the resources we are now offering to independent video producers of all sizes. Video production studio and equipment rental are new services we are adding to what we offer to the Alameda County community,  Hear our founder, CEO and Jefferson Public Service Award recipient;Bishop J.E. Watkins, Ms. Faye Oliver, our Executive Director and other Industry professionals on our staff share our plans for success:  • OWH educational programs promote STEM skills that help our youth compete in today’s technological job market by arming them with computer literacy, coding and other STEM skills. • Our training programs are focused on, but not limited to at-risk youth, young adults, veterans and the re-entry population, as defined by AB109. • Be the first to know our plans for the future, in which OWH plays an important role giving voice and visibility to people in Oakland’s community who are contributing to the arts, culture and innovative solutions to today’s urban problems.  • OWH STUDIOS’ VISION is to become Oakland’s Public Access Television Channel, broadcasting via streaming.   • Learn how we heroically saved our home in the historic, Marcus Garvey / Liberty Hall Building from foreclosure.  We now own it.   • See the “Tolerance Tour” video produced by young men from the Probation Department’s Camp Sweeney as the culmination of their training at OWH.   OWH Studios, Inc. Bishop James E. Watkins, Founder, CEO Faye Oliver, Executive Director 1485 8th Street, Oakland,CA. 94607 510-893-5103 owhstudiostv@gmail.com

heal thyself book

Coming soon: Chris Hall's love poem to his uncle marvin x

 mrs. april hall and mr. chris hall

RBA Creative Events

Jul 10 at 5:02 PM

RBA Creative Events Vision Board Networking Party Thursday, July 13th Pop-Up Gallery Closing Reception Saturday, July 15th RBA Creative is a design, communications and consulting firm, which provides a comprehensive offering of creative services for corporate and nonprofit clients. RBA Creative has acquired a new co-working space for artists and creative professionals in the Laurel District of Oakland created to provide fine artists, photographers and creatives a place to exhibit work, meet clients, build businesses in a supportive environment. Amenities include a photography and production studio, meeting space, shared marketing and access to business equipment. RBA will also provide high-resolution photography, printing, and fine art reproduction services. A range of affordable membership options are available. This week we have two fun events we are hosting: Vision Board Co-working Party Thursday, July 13th ADHD and Life Coach Ariel Davis is having a vision board co-working party at our space. Learn why she uses vision boards with clients and create and explore this no-tech, old school life hack to identify what you want in your life and how to get there! ***Please RSVP to ariel@adhdcoachsf.com by Wednesday, July 12th so we can save you a seat. Space is limited! Doors at 6:30pm. Event at 7pm.  The event will be led by Adult ADHD & Life Coach, Ariel Davis. Ariel's strengths-based approach is based on over 14 years of supporting people with addiction, ADHD and other mental health issues, as well as 25+ years in the creative arts. Connect with her: adhdcoachsf.com Email: ariel@adhdcoachsf.com Instagram, FB & Twitter: @adhdcoachsf RBA Creative Pop-Up Gallery Closing Reception Saturday, July 15th RBA Creative is hosting a closing reception and sale for our first pop-up gallery. Please tell a friend and stop by to start collecting some of the fabulous artists on exhibit. Featured Artists Lucy Beck Milton Bowens Suzanne Cerny Ariel Davis Jim Dennis Irene Dogmatic Gene Dominique Michael Eastman Em Hertzstein Gary Kuroki Alyx Morgan Malcolm Nicoll Mary K. Shisler Monique Schaifer Laura Schatzkin Craig Smith Karin Turner Tell and Friend and looking forward to seeing you all! Vision Board Co-Working Party  - Thursday, July 13th, 2017 Doors Open 6:30pm Event Starts 7:00pm - - - - - -  Pop-Up Gallery Closing Reception - Saturday, July 15th, 2017 12 noon - 5 pm 3718 MacArthur Blvd Oakland, CA 94619 Find Out More

the revolution has come, black power, gender and the black panther party in oakland

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Chico Neblett and Bobby Seale (back) leading audience with a Black Power salute at the Black Community Survival Conference, March 30, 1972.

 

By Michael Ezra

July 10, 2017 - aaihs.org

The wealth of scholarly inquiry into the history of the Black Panther Party (BPP), including the most recent studies timed to accompany the fiftieth anniversary of the organization’s founding, still leaves many questions about the Party’s structure, accomplishments, and demise. One could read numerous books about the Panthers and learn precious little about the BPP’s daily activities, its finances, and why it fell apart.

Thankfully, Robyn C. Spencer’s excellent The Revolution Has Come sheds light on these issues. The author’s crisp, clean, incisive prose proved an eye-opening reading experience that at times left me dumbfounded as to how many myths and assumptions have come to dominate latter-day perceptions of the Panthers. The Revolution Has Come is no hagiography, but it will leave some people profoundly disappointed with certain key Panther figures, most notablyHuey P. Newton, who in Spencer’s telling was more useful to the organization while incarcerated than while running things.

Other broadsides against Newton, like Hugh Pearson’s The Shadow of the Panther, might be cast aside as weakly sourced, biased, or part of a larger ideological takedown of the Black Panther Party. Spencer’s strongly researched and evenhanded approach will be harder for Newton—and BPP—apologists to contend with. Spencer’s account also states quite clearly that although Newton faced surveillance and harassment, it was neither police nor government repression that most profoundly compromised Newton, but rather his own failings.

The same point holds true for the BPP as a whole, Spencer argues, and not without faint traces of disappointment registering in a text wiped mostly clean of sentimental longing about the party or its members. The truly heroic of the Panther rank-and-file—mostly women—were betrayed catastrophically by party leadership—mostly men, especially Newton, and in a lesser sense David Hilliard. Although this is a less-than-flattering portrayal of Hilliard, The Revolution Has Come never ignores his contributions, particularly as the party chief of staff who played a crucial role in structuring the organization. Bobby Seale, on the other hand, comes off throughout as a reasonable leader, but Spencer nevertheless makes clear that women galvanized the BPP and that Panther men, especially at the top, were as likely as not to be detrimental to the group’s survival, including its ability to institute successful community programs.

What makes Spencer’s more critical portraits so convincing is that they are presented within an analytical structure that clearly articulates the BPP’s positive virtues as standard bearers of America’s civil and human rights vanguard. Readers ofThe Revolution Has Come will be greatly impressed by the reach of the BPP’s community programs and the dedication of its members. Overall it is a positive portrayal of the Black Panther Party that simply refuses to deny the organization’s many weaknesses.

The book’s economical length, just over 200 pages, testifies to Spencer’s ability to pick the right combination of words to relay complex ideas, often as signposts that keep the reader on course for her main points, as demonstrated in her description of Newton’s release from prison: “His release put the flesh-and-blood man on a collision course with the symbolic leader that Panthers had so carefully constructed” (96). The final narrative paragraph, just prior to the conclusion, perhaps best exemplifies Spencer’s ability to boil down ideas, as in merely a few sentences she succinctly summarizes one of her most important arguments:

The centralization of authority and the inability of rank-and-file members to hold leadership accountable severely circumscribed democracy in the Black Panther Party. The organization that had managed to empower black men and women to challenge so many institutions and fight for structural change in the world had disempowered them from believing that they could take the reins from one of their own party’s founders. Because criticism was unwelcome or resulted in only small reforms rather than a change of course, departure became the only recourse for disaffected members. In the end Newton would be the only Panther left standing in the wreckage.” (201)

Despite being one of the shortest books published about the Panthers, The Revolution Has Come is also one of the best.

Black Panther Women.

Spencer’s skill as an oral historian rests at the heart of the narrative. While I am not an expert on the BPP literature, many of the names in this book were new to me and will be new to readers, too. Not only did Spencer track down forgotten Panthers, but readers will also note her ability to get subjects to recount difficult situations, uplifting stories, and revealing details about their, or other people’s, personal lives. Readers will feel the pain and the triumph of the Panther experience as its survivors tell their stories.

Another strength that typifies the book, and which is also evident in the endnotes (which are as orderly as such can be), is the author’s ability to locate a key data point or piece of evidence in an archive or interview and write a succinct, no-frills, useful paragraph about it. Want to know what happened to Panthers whose chapters closed but still wanted to be part of the movement? See page 116. Want to know where there was interest in forming new Panther chapters in 1971–1972? See page 114. Want a list of BPP survival programs provided through the United Black Fund as of October 3, 1972? See page 131. Time and again, the author carefully chooses detail, telling us what we really need to know, not more nor less.

Such detail, clearly rendered, serves an important function. Merely listing the range of BPP programs in Oakland gives the reader a sense of the organization’s impact as a community force: the Free Breakfast Program, the People’s Free Food Program, the Inter-Communal Youth Institute, the Legal Aid Educational Program, the Free Busing to Prisons Program, the People’s Free Shoe Program, the People’s Free Clothing Program, the People’s Free Medical Research Health Clinic, the People’s Sickle Cell Anemia Research Foundation, the People’s Free Ambulance Service, the People’s Free Dental Program, the People’s Free Optometry Program, the People’s Free Plumbing and Maintenance Program, and the Community Cooperative Housing Program.

Black Community Survival Conference, March 30th, 1972, Free grocery distribution. Photo:

My positive impression of The Revolution Has Come makes it difficult to render much criticism, but it would be interesting to hear Spencer further explain her relationship to the interview subjects and the process of interpreting their responses. Occasionally, a phrase in the book made me think she should have asked more questions. For example, she writes, “Darron Perkins’s story is instructive. Perkins, who had once endured five lashes with a bullwhip without flinching when he was brought up in front of the Board of Corrections, believed that physical punishment was a viable method of maintaining ‘iron discipline’ to deal with the ‘hardheaded’” (162). How did she verify whether the man flinched or under what circumstances he was whipped? What does it mean to be brought up in front of the Board of Corrections, and how did whipping become part of the procedure? Some information is missing here.

While this was the rare passage that lacked clarity, perhaps the harder critique of the book might be that the interviewees were generally portrayed positively. Accusations of bias, unconscious or otherwise, cut deep, but at times I wondered whether two of the book’s most critiqued figures, Newton and Hilliard, might have fared better had they been able (in Newton’s case) or willing (in Hilliard’s case) to tell their stories to the author. Was Spencer’s positive portrayal of Seale related to her interviewing him?

Certainly there were openings in the book for more critical language toward Seale. Spencer writes of the Attica prison uprising in 1971, “At the request of the prisoners Seale went to Attica to negotiate for them” (115). Heather Ann Thompson’s 2016 book Blood in the Water portrays Seale’s appearance at Attica as ineffective, if not detrimental; he refused to speak for or to the prisoners, many of whom would have liked him to do both. While the prisoners’ request reflects the great esteem and influence that Seale and the BPP had in the hearts and minds of many underrepresented people, his failure to come through at this big moment does not register in Spencer’s language, even though it was the perhaps the most crucial lesson to be learned from Seale’s Attica fiasco.

Despite these minor criticisms, The Revolution Has Come is a very strong book that I would recommend for high school, undergraduate, and graduate school students as well as general readers. Even seasoned experts on the BPP will likely learn much from this wonderful new account.

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Michael Ezra is Professor of American Multicultural Studies at Sonoma State University and editor of the Journal of Civil and Human Rights. He is the author of several books, including Muhammad Ali: The Making of an Icon and Civil Rights Movement: People and (with Carlo Rotella) The Bittersweet Science: Fifteen Writers in the Gym, in the Corner, and at Ringside. Follow him on Twitter @civilhumanright.

 

harlem book fair

Join the National Writers Union at the Harlem Book Fair NWU Members can sell their books at our booth. Reserve your place by Friday by emailing nwuny@nwu.org. Saturday, July 15   10AM -  6PM West 135th Street between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Malcolm X Boulevards The Harlem Book Fair is the United State’s largest African-American book fair and the nation’s flagship Black literary event. Held annually in Harlem, NY, the Harlem Book Fair features exhibition booths, panel discussions, book sales, and workshops. Notable participating authors have included Maya Angelou, Cornel West, Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka, Walter Mosley, Terry McMillan, Touré, Farai Chideya, Stanley Crouch, Nelson George, and Mark Anthony Neal. The 19th annual Harlem book fair will take place on Saturday, July 15, 2017 10:00 am  to 6:00 pm on West 135th Street between Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd. and Malcolm X Blvd (take the 2/3/B/C train to 135th Street). A free event for the entire family.   Why Join the NWU? Having free space to sell your books at the Harlem Book Fair, the New York Poetry Festival, and the Brooklyn Book Festival is just one of many reasons.  In keeping with its mission to defend writers’ rights and improve writers’ economic conditions, the NWU, through the collective efforts of its members, is able to provide a host of resources, benefits, and services to those who join us. For more information about the membership benefits, see below. Press passes Tools to Earn More from your Writing Contract and grievance help Advice along the way Traveling to promote your work Advocacy Find a Union Writer Share your writing story Help with health insurance Union Plus benefits Visit nwu.org to learn more.

sun ra arkestra at sf jazz

"Watching Sun Ra Arkestra is akin to seeing a group of people have a religious experience ... pouring their soul into their music"

— The Guardian

Sun Ra Arkestra

THU-SUN, AUG 3-6

The enduring legacy of jazz visionary and legendary eccentric Sun Ra is celebrated by this ensemble made up of Arkestra veterans and a younger generation of exploratory musicians led by saxophonist Marshall Allen – a fixture of Sun Ra’s bands since 1958. Sun Ra created an entire universe of expression, integrating Ellington-influenced big band swing with free jazz, the blues, electronics, and African musical traditions while establishing a singular visual style that combined futuristic concepts with ancient Egyptian iconography. The Arkestra's music is described by The Guardian as "essentially an extended jam session – swings between jazz, honky tonk, soul, ragtime and blues, among a dozen other genres, frequently underlined by sci-fi noise effects". Few bands have influenced the evolution of music across so many genres than Sun Ra's Arkestra.

BUY TICKETS

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WATCH

WATCH: Sun Ra Arkestra's live performance

at the 2016 Pitchfork Music Festival

Sun Ra Arkestra perform an untitled improvised song at last year's Pitchfork Music Festival. Pitchfork described Sun Ra Arkestra's live performances "like watching a light show produced by the supernova (the late Sun Ra)". The Chicago-based publication further states, "After all, in the year following the passing of star-children Maurice White and David Bowie, the Arkestra’s sonic happenings might represent a ticket-buyer’s last chance to be a part of the utopian musical “equation” that influenced both the pop world and the counterculture in the 1970s". Watch the cosmic-jazz pioneers perform an excerpt from their highly-praised 2016 performance.

WATCH

three sun ra disciples, marvin x, david murray, earle davis

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

Marvin X at University of Chicago Conference on Black Arts Movement Master Sun Ra 101st Earthday

 

Marshall Allen, leader of the Sun Ra Arkestra

 Members of the roundtable discussion on Sun Ra and Afro-futurism: Denenge Akpem, Ytasha Womack, Breanna Champion, Marvin X and David Boykin

Sun Ra musicians Marshall Allen, Danny Thompson and poet Marvin X, BAM associates since 1968

Marvin X and Sun Ra at Marvin's Black Educational Theatre, San Francisco, CA 1972. Sun Ra arranged the musical version of Marvin's Flowers for the Trashman, retitled Take Care of Business. Both also lectured at the University of California, Berkeley in Black Studies, 1971-72.