Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Black Bird Press News & Review: Marvin X on Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad
Black Bird Press News & Review: Marvin X on Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad: Assassinations happen in all revolutions, betrayal is part of revolution, grow up, study revolution, friends betray each other, long time associates, look at Fidel and Che, Stalin and his friends. Even Noble Drew Ali had problems with friends, jealous, envious. Elijah ran for seven years from the jealous ones who said they would eat a grain of rice a day until Elijah was killed after he was appointed leader by Master Fard Muhammad. Check out the Mexican revolution, a history of betrayal. The Palestinians kill then hug and pray together in the mosque. Negroes will hate you forever over two cents, don't hate the white man but hate you.
Abstract for the 27 City Black Arts Movement 50th Anniversary Celebration
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Two of BAM co-founders, Marvin X and Amiri Baraka (RIP)
Marvin X and Black Panther Party Minister of Culture, Emory Douglas
Elena Serrano of Eastside Arts, Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Marvin X
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BAM Physical Wellness Boot Camp at Laney College, Oakland
BAM Celebration at Laney College, Oakland: Kujichagulia and Taiwo
The
mission of the Black Arts Movement’s 27 City Tour is to continue the
cultural revolution we initiated during the 1960s. This cultural
revolution is still needed because for a variety of reasons the Black
Arts Movement was aborted due to the radical nature of our task which
was the liberation of our people in harmony with the political movement.
Today, the need to address the political condition is critical, yes,
even with the election of a non-white president, though this president
has done little to address non-white issues, especially the high
unemployment of youth, the high incarceration rate of 2.4 million and
the deportation rate of two million so called illegal immigrants since
President Obama took office.
But more than the political and economic situation is the cultural condition, the reactionary values in hip hop culture, especially unconscious rap poetry, and even the socalled conscious poetry is, in the words of my daughter, an expression of the pseudo conscious, for words are not followed by the right action. As we know, talk is cheap!
But most important is the overall lack of mental health wellness in our community nationwide, to say nothing of physical wellness. The high rate of homicide among young North American African men is symptomatic of a lack of manhood training or the infusion of traditional values that inspire and motivate people to be the best they can be, to give honor and respect to their elders and ancestors.
The 50% or more drop out rate of students in our schools is partly the result of our dire mental health condition. Alas, it is said not only is there a critical need for a positive curriculum and teachers with an undying love for our children, but the mental health condition of our children requires mental health counselors with radical values of wellness based on a holistic approach to solving our myriad psychosocial and economic issues. We are dumbfounded to learn the USA (Bush and Obama) promised the young men in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere (except in the USA) three items if they stop their violence and pledge allegiance to the constitution of their lands: education, jobs and housing. Why not offer education, jobs and housing for the boyz and girls , in the hood? The BAM tour will address some of these issues through the medium of art, i.e. poetry, drama, dance, music, graphics.
While art therapy has been used in traditional cultures, and was utilized in the Black Arts Movement, there must be a concerted effort to make use of art in the healing of our people. Throughout the years, we have seen the power of art in changing destructive personalities. We recall the production we did of Amiri Baraka’s play The Dutchman in Fresno CA. The local pimp loaned us a wig for the female character Lula. When he viewed the play and saw her stab the young North American African male, Clay, this rocked the pimp’s world and he threw in his pimping towel, joined the Nation of Islam and eventually became an imam and made his haj or pilgrimage to Mecca. Thus we see the power of art to heal broken, self destructive and economically damaged personalities.
Many times we heard Amiri Baraka speak about the need to reach our people in the 27 major cities we inhabit—to reach out and touch them with healing Black Art that can restore our mental and physical wellness. In honor of ancestor Amiri Baraka, we propose to conduct a 27 city tour with concerts and wellness workshops to aid in the recovery of ourselves. Our special focus shall be on young Black men, although we cannot and will not ignore young black women, nor will we avoid adult and parental responsibility.
We estimate the overall budget for this project will be 2.7 million dollars at $100,000 per city, including artist fees, promotion, advertisement, rental of venues, insurance, security, lodging, food and transportation. Since many of the Black Arts Movement workers are elders, the timeline would be at least three years to complete this project, including planning and production.
BAM workers in each community will be recruited to participate and we would like to establish a BAM center in each city, no matter if it is a 50 seat theatre as Amiri Baraka suggested. A staff of educators, and mental and physical health workers must be a part of this project so that we more effectively deal with our wellness in a holistic manner.
Sincerely,
Marvin X, Project Director
The Black Arts Movement 27 City Tour
Philadelphia PA
4/23/14
510-200-4164
But more than the political and economic situation is the cultural condition, the reactionary values in hip hop culture, especially unconscious rap poetry, and even the socalled conscious poetry is, in the words of my daughter, an expression of the pseudo conscious, for words are not followed by the right action. As we know, talk is cheap!
But most important is the overall lack of mental health wellness in our community nationwide, to say nothing of physical wellness. The high rate of homicide among young North American African men is symptomatic of a lack of manhood training or the infusion of traditional values that inspire and motivate people to be the best they can be, to give honor and respect to their elders and ancestors.
The 50% or more drop out rate of students in our schools is partly the result of our dire mental health condition. Alas, it is said not only is there a critical need for a positive curriculum and teachers with an undying love for our children, but the mental health condition of our children requires mental health counselors with radical values of wellness based on a holistic approach to solving our myriad psychosocial and economic issues. We are dumbfounded to learn the USA (Bush and Obama) promised the young men in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere (except in the USA) three items if they stop their violence and pledge allegiance to the constitution of their lands: education, jobs and housing. Why not offer education, jobs and housing for the boyz and girls , in the hood? The BAM tour will address some of these issues through the medium of art, i.e. poetry, drama, dance, music, graphics.
While art therapy has been used in traditional cultures, and was utilized in the Black Arts Movement, there must be a concerted effort to make use of art in the healing of our people. Throughout the years, we have seen the power of art in changing destructive personalities. We recall the production we did of Amiri Baraka’s play The Dutchman in Fresno CA. The local pimp loaned us a wig for the female character Lula. When he viewed the play and saw her stab the young North American African male, Clay, this rocked the pimp’s world and he threw in his pimping towel, joined the Nation of Islam and eventually became an imam and made his haj or pilgrimage to Mecca. Thus we see the power of art to heal broken, self destructive and economically damaged personalities.
Many times we heard Amiri Baraka speak about the need to reach our people in the 27 major cities we inhabit—to reach out and touch them with healing Black Art that can restore our mental and physical wellness. In honor of ancestor Amiri Baraka, we propose to conduct a 27 city tour with concerts and wellness workshops to aid in the recovery of ourselves. Our special focus shall be on young Black men, although we cannot and will not ignore young black women, nor will we avoid adult and parental responsibility.
We estimate the overall budget for this project will be 2.7 million dollars at $100,000 per city, including artist fees, promotion, advertisement, rental of venues, insurance, security, lodging, food and transportation. Since many of the Black Arts Movement workers are elders, the timeline would be at least three years to complete this project, including planning and production.
BAM workers in each community will be recruited to participate and we would like to establish a BAM center in each city, no matter if it is a 50 seat theatre as Amiri Baraka suggested. A staff of educators, and mental and physical health workers must be a part of this project so that we more effectively deal with our wellness in a holistic manner.
Sincerely,
Marvin X, Project Director
The Black Arts Movement 27 City Tour
Philadelphia PA
4/23/14
510-200-4164
Marvin X on Malcolm X
Assassinations happen in all revolutions, betrayal is part of revolution, grow up,
study revolution, friends betray each other, long time associates, look
at Fidel and Che, Stalin and his friends. Even Noble Drew Ali had
problems with friends, jealous, envious. Elijah ran for seven years from
the jealous ones who said they would eat a grain of rice a day until
Elijah was killed after he was appointed leader by Master Fard Muhammad.
Check out the Mexican revolution, a history of betrayal. Check out the African revolution.
Palestinians kill each other, then hug and pray together in the mosque. Negroes will
hate you forever over two cents, don't hate the white man, love his dirty drawers.--Marvin X
photo Doug Harris, Harlem NY 1968
Two men influenced my life greatly. One can say I am that I am
because of these two men, of which there are no divisions in my heart, I
love them both deeply, always have and always shall. Shit happens in
revolutions, friends become enemies, enemies become friends, there are
no permanent friends, only permanent interests.
If you were a gambler (and I am not) but if you had to bet on a certain
relationship that was successful for 12 years, but when divided, one
individual didn't live 12 months, would we not say the twelve years of
stability speaks for itself, no matter how rocky it may have been.
On a deeper level, jealousy and envy kill from within, thus it was
almost inevitable that Malcolm's prominence would be challenged by
senior officials jockeying for power, authority and influence.
His personal relationship with the Honorable Elijah Muhammad was enough
to make even the simple minded jealous. Let us remember the classic
master teacher relationship between Rumi and Shams of Tabriz. Rumi was
murdered by his jealous students, jealous of his relationship with
Master Teacher Shams, thus the Sufi whirl and whirl into the states of
divinity in morning of their teacher, Rumi.
And so I morn both my teachers, Elijah and Malcolm, love them both no
matter what happened between them. Shit happens in revolution, get over
it and move on to higher ground!
No one can say they loved Malcolm X more than I. No one can say they loved Elijah Muhammad more than I.
--Marvin X
Words of the Week
My self is on the shelf collecting dust!--Toya Williams
God BAM!--Dr. Nathan Hare
There's a new movie coming out: Marvin X Driving Miss Libby!--Paul Cobb
Thanks, Marvin, for stopping me that day at the Jazz Festival and taking me on the wild crazy ride called the Marvin X Experience.--Aries Jordan
Forget hands up, it's pants up!--Judy Jackmon
Wake up? Wake up to what?--Anonymous lady on Lakeshore Ave., Oakland
God BAM!--Dr. Nathan Hare
There's a new movie coming out: Marvin X Driving Miss Libby!--Paul Cobb
Thanks, Marvin, for stopping me that day at the Jazz Festival and taking me on the wild crazy ride called the Marvin X Experience.--Aries Jordan
Forget hands up, it's pants up!--Judy Jackmon
Wake up? Wake up to what?--Anonymous lady on Lakeshore Ave., Oakland
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