Black Bird Press News & Review: Senator Barbara Boxer--In Search of My Soul Sister

Black Bird Press News & Review: Senator Barbara Boxer--In Search of My Soul Sister

Please go to the above link to read Marvin's essay In Search of My Soul Sister

 Marvin X and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. She presented the BAM poet/playwright with a proclamation in celebration of The Black Arts Movement 50th Anniversary.

Daughter Nefertiti comments on her Dad's essay In Search of My Soul Sister

Oh do I love the way that you preach the TRUTH. There are many sisters who love you and as you say, have always supported you. I am one, and I am eternally grateful for your boldness, for the truth for which you speak. I am grateful for the way that you have allowed yourself to evolve into a whole person, a person who is a lover of humanity. Many of us have gotten stuck into ignorant dogmas that have long ago proven their fallacies, but we fail to abandon them. I love you and you have given birth to a quiet feminine version of yourself.--Nefertiti

Marvin X in a poetic moment with Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf

 Marvin X and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf at the San Quentin Prison Art Exhibit and Reception for the Black Arts Movement 50th Anniversary Celebration, Laney College, Feb. 7, 2015
photo  Baba Jahahara Amen-RA Alkebulan-Ma'at

BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT #2

Laney College Celebration of the Black Arts Movement and Black Women Writers

Elaine Brown, author, former Chairwoman of the Black Panther Party, Halifu Osumare, Judy Juanita, Producer Marvin X, Portia Anderson, Kujichagulia, Aries Jordan

Elaine & Judy,

It was a rewarding panel, wasn't it?  It proved that when you get thoughtful sisters together, magic happens.  I know we planted some seeds at the Women Writers Panel at the 50th Anniversary of the Black Arts Movement.  Great meeting you Elaine, and great reconnecting with you Judy; already started your novel, and will send my book....

Many Blessings,

Halifu

 

Halifu Osumare, Ph.D.
Professor 
African American & African Studies
University of California, Davis
(530) 402-7425
www.halifuosumare.com

BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT 50th Anniversary Celebration at Laney College, Feb. 7,2015#1.

South Park Kenny Johnson's photos of BAM celebration at Laney College, Oakland Feb 7

 The Panel on Black Arts Movement/Black Power Babies

 Left to Right: Moderator Davey D, Renya Collins, Terry Collins, Phavia Kujichagulia, Taiwo Kujichagulia Seito, Marvin X, Nefertiti Jackmon

 Front row, unidentified person, Dr. Nathan Hare. Far left: Earle Davis with trumpet; Val Serrant, Mechelle LaChaux, Renaldo Ricketts, Nefertiti Jackmon, niece Naima Joy, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Marvin X, grandson Jah Amiel, Aquella Lewis, James Gayles, Paradise Jah Love, Aries Jordan, Laney College President Dr. Elnora T. Webb, Samantha Akwei
photo South Park Kenny Johnson

 Black Arts Movement/Black Power Babies Panelist: Kujichagulia and daughter Taiwo. Taiwo is in the tradition of her mother 100%. Yes, she "brainwashed" Taiwo to save her from the addiction to white supermacy.

Nefertiti, Marvin X's oldest of three daughters. She said, "Dad, you say pass the baton but you won't pass the baton.  We are ready and qualified, so pass the baton." Her remarks went viral throughout the celebration. When the Mayor arrived, she told Nefertiti she'd heard about her comments. Nefertiti told her father weeks ago the program was too intense for one day. By the end of the day, Marvin X was exhausted along with everyone else.
photo South Park Kenny Johnson

 The 50th anniversary of the Black Arts movement conference at Laney College in downtown Oakland, curated by Marvin X, was no mere nostalgia event: "If we have a theme, it is passing the baton to the next generation of artistic freedom fighters," he writes. One of the most vital, engaging, gathering of performers, artists, activists, musicians, and educators I've had the honor of attending (including, for instance, Nathan Hare, Phavia Kujichagulia, Judy Juanita, Elaine Brown, Davey D., Aries Jordan, and a performance by Young Gifted and Black) breathed new life into the struggle against this culture's addiction to white supremacy. This amazing gathering of talent caught the attention of Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, who declared a Black Arts district in downtown Oakland....--Chris Stroffolino

 Left to Right: Mrs. Gay Cobb, Marvin X, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Laney College President Dr. Elnora T. Webb, Dr. Nathan Hare, Paul Cobb, Publisher Post News Group

Left to Right, Paul Cobb; Laney curator of San Quentin Prison Exhibit, Dr. Leslee Stradford, Conway Jones, Jr., Chief Adviser to Marvin X, Marvin X, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf holding Marvin's granddaughter Naima Joy, beside is Marvin's grandson Jah Amiel, Laney College President Dr. Elnora T. Webb, Dr Nathan Hare, Oakland City Council President Lynette McElhaney

photo South Park Kenny Johnson

Left to Right: Laney Art Exhibit curator Dr. Leslee Strandford, Marvin X and grandson Jah Amiel, Laney College President Dr. Elnora T. Webb, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf holding Marvin's granddaughter Naima Joy, Dr. Nathan Hare, President of Oakland City Council, Lynette McElhaney, Retired Col. Conway Jones, Jr., Cheif Adviser to Marvin X

Notes on the Black Arts Movement 50th Anniversary Celebration at Laney College, Oakland CA, Feb 7, 2015

      BAM/Black Power Baby Rashid Shabazz, Marvin X and Dr. Nathan Hare, father of Black Studies

BAM Notes:

Chris Stroffolino, Laney College Radio

The 50th anniversary of the Black Arts movement conference at Laney College in downtown Oakland, curated by Marvin X, was no mere nostalgia event: "If we have a theme, it is passing the baton to the next generation of artistic freedom fighters," he writes. One of the most vital, engaging, gathering of performers, artists, activists, musicians, and educators I've had the honor of attending (including, for instance, Nathan Hare, Phavia Kujichagulia, Judy Juanita, Elaine Brown, Davey D., Aries Jordan, and a performance by Young Gifted and Black) breathed new life into the struggle against this culture's addiction to white supremacy. This amazing gathering of talent caught the attention of Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, who declared a Black Arts district in downtown Oakland: What might that consist of? Affordable housing for artists? A stepping up of initiatives to educate the youth of Oakland into a tradition too often ignored in our "education" system? More funding to put artists to work in gov't funded projects to rebuild the city's infrastructure (a la WPA on a local level)? An Oakland radio (or even TV) station that truly serves the community, and other anti "urban removal" (anti-gentrification) strategies should all be on the table. This was/is Oakland culture at its finest.--Chris Stroffolino

 

 

BAM Poet's Choir and Arkestra Members: Poetess Kalamu Chache', percussionist/steel drummer Val Serrant, poet Lakiba Pittman at Laney College BAM celebration.

 

 

San Quentin Prison art by Michael Williams.  BAM/Post News Group Isaiah 61 Project

in cooperation with the William James Prison Art Project and Laney College Art Gallery,

curated by Dr. Leslee Stradford, Laney Art Department.

Notes

Lakiba Pittman, member BAM Poet's Choir/Arkestra

Thanks to Marvin X  for being the catalyst which led to the "Black Arts Movement 50th Year Celebration and Conference... Passing the Baton." It took place yesterday - February 7th, 2015 - at Laney College (Black Arts Movement West) !!! The Black Arts Movement (BAM) brought culture to Black America and the world, and was founded by Amiri Baraka, Marvin X, Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, The Harlem Renaissance and more. Started ~1965, the Black Arts Movement was the artistic branch of the Black Power movement. Although started in Harlem, it quickly spread across the continent and the world with deep roots in the bay area. Catalyzing the movement in Oakland and San Francisco, it also spread to the Nairobi community (E. Palo Alto, CA) in the early 70's. Prior to that the man who became my husband and father of my only son was in the underground revolutionary arm of what became The Black Panthers. Years later I sang with the Wajumbe Cultural Ensemble out of San Francisco, led by Nontsizi Cayou and became an integral part of the Nairobi Experience which was a renaissance movement that included education (Nairobi College - one of the first independent Black College institutions on the west coast), health and well-being (way ahead of the health movement today - we had own own gardens, co-ops, fun-runs, meditation), Nairobi Day School, Nairobi High School, the Nairobi Messengers, the Voices of Nairobi (a precursor to Sweet Honey In The Rock), the Nairobi Cultural Center (started by Talala Mshuja and still exists today), Nairobi Institute of Cultural Arts (started by cultural artists - Malonga Casquelourd, Tumani Onabiyi, José Roberto Santos Lorenzo, Al Hajji Robert Rowland, Lakiba and more), Nairobi Vocational & Maintenance School (started by Loyci Stockey) ... and the beginnings of Fua Dia Congo - a Congolese Music & Dance Ensemble. It was a privilege for me to be a part of the Nairobi experience and a privilege for me to be a part of this day. It was A POWERFUL event with speakers, panelists, artists and vendors including Elaine Brown, Joan Tarika Lewis, ToReadah Mikell, Aries Jordan, Aqueila M. Lewis, Kujichagulia Phavia, Mechelle LaChaux, Samantha Akwei, PaRadise ThePoet, Davey D Cook, Val Serrant, Nefertitti Jackmon, Terry Collins, Renaldo Rickets, Claude Lockhart Clark, Randolph Belle - and more, throughout the day; an art gallery featuring well-known artists like James Gayles, Renaldo Rickets plus artists from San Quentin (one pic is attached) - the William James Prison Art Project, a reception with Mayor Libby Schaaf of Oakland, Paul Cobb of the Post News Group, Dr. Elnora T. Webb, Laney College President, and other dignitaries including Nathan Hare, a play by Marvin X directed by Dr. Ayodele Nzinga and the day concluded with the dynamic and powerful BAM Poet Choir and Archestra of which I am a member. YOU HAD TO BE THERE!!!! and hope you help us to spread the living and timely messages and spirit that our ancestors continue to feed us while directing us how to lead our people to a full encompassing of our power and glory. Each poet and musician was on fire with truth, heart, soul, wisdom, humor, direction, dynamic and healing. We are seeking other opportunities to share our creativity - contact Marvin X for booking information: 510-200-4164.

 Sista Adama Mosley (in white outfit) working out

 Samantha Akwei (Red shirt), Assistant to Marvin X, working out

 YMCA Wellness Trainer, Lynn Cole

 Michael Bennett, Physical Wellness Director, YMCA SF Hunters Point/Bayview

 Wellness Trainer, former Laney Dance Instructor, Lynn Cole

 Left to Right: Grandsons of Marvin X, Jah Amiel and James

 

 

Participants of the BAM Physical Wellness Boot Camp at Laney College