Black Bird Press News & Review: SOS--CALLING ALL BLACK PEOPLE: A BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT READER

Black Bird Press News & Review: SOS--CALLING ALL BLACK PEOPLE: A BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT READER: Many of the movement’s leading artists, including Ed Bullins, Nikki Giovanni, Woodie King, Haki Madhubuti, Sonia Sanchez, Askia Touré, Marvin X and Val Gray Ward, remain artistically productive today. Its influence can also be seen in the work of later artists, from the writers Toni Morrison, John Edgar Wideman, and August Wilson to actors Avery Brooks, Danny Glover, and Samuel L. Jackson, to hip-hop artists Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Chuck D. SOS—Calling All Black People includes works of fiction, poetry, and drama in addition to critical writings on issues of politics, aesthetics, and gender. It covers topics ranging from the legacy of Malcolm X and the impact of John Coltrane’s jazz to the tenets of the Black Panther Party and the music of Motown. The editors have provided a substantial introduction outlining the nature, history, and legacy of the Black Arts Movement as well as the principles by which the anthology was assembled.

Black Bird Press News & Review: TOUR SCHEDULE OF THE WILD CRAZY RIDE CALLED THE MARVIN X EXPERIENCE

Black Bird Press News & Review: TOUR SCHEDULE OF THE WILD CRAZY RIDE CALLED THE MARVIN X EXPERIENCE

Why not Invite Marvin X to a
venue in your town? You won't be
disappointed, although you are advised to bring your seat belt and air
bag. Ishmael Reed says, "If you want motivation and inspiration, don't
spend all that money going to workshops and seminars, just go stand at
14th and Broadway, downtown Oakland and watch Marvin X at work. He's
Plato teaching on the streets of Oakland!" Bob Holman calls him the
USA's Rumi, Saadi, Hafiz. Amiri Baraka wrote, "Marvin X has always been
in the forefront of Pan African writing. Indeed, he is one of the
founders and innovators  in the revolutionary school of African
writing."

For booking Marvin X and/or the Black Arts Movement Poet's Choir and Arkestra, 27 City Tour: 510-200-4164/jmarvinx@yahoo.com

Common banned from speaking at university for song about Assata Shakur

The rapper Common is not the most racially controversial artist in America.  In fact, some say he’s relatively mild mannered.  But even one old song about Assata Shakur is enough to brew racial tensions in a country that pretends that racism doesn’t exist.  The rapper was set to appear at Kean University to speak, but he’s now been told to go away after writing a song in support of Assata Shakur many years ago.  According to some officials, Shakur is simply a wanted “cop killer” who doesn’t deserve anyone’s support, let alone an artist like Common.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The campus is divided about the decision to push Common off campus.  Also, in recent years, many colleges campuses have become quite restrictive when it comes to freedom of speech, effectively banishing anyone sharing unpopular viewpoints.  It leads us to wonder what future exists for a country when people are not able to express dissent without having their views squashed by those who disagree with them.  Read more:

Common, who recently said that black people should show a hand in love to white people when it comes to racism, was scheduled to give Kean’s commencement address next month—that was until someone came across his song “A Song for Assata.” On Monday the university announced that Common had been selected, but by Tuesday it had axed him.

Susan Kayne, a university spokeswoman, told The Record that the announcement was made prematurely.

“The students expressed interest in Common because he composed the Oscar-winning song ‘Glory’ with our prior commencement speaker John Legend,” Kayne said. “While we respect his talent, Kean is pursuing other speaker options.”

Apparently New Jersey State Police took issue with Common’s old song because of Shakur’s conviction for killing a New Jersey state trooper.

Chris Burgos, president of the State Troopers Fraternal Association of New Jersey, said that having Common speak at the university would be a “slap in the face.”

4/1 update on Mumia Abu Jam

4/1 update  Dateline: Intensive Care Unit Schuylkill Medical Center in Pottsville, PA Mumia Abu-Jamal in Medical Crisis Here is an excerpt from the hospital press conference yesterday: Mumia's wife and brother were allowed to see him separately for 30 minutes each late this morning. The mobilization worked. But our job is not yet done. On the morning of March 30, 2015 Mumia fainted in the prison and was taken to the ICU of a nearby clinic. His blood sugar count was dangerously high at 779. He was in a diabetic shock. For perspective: diabetic coma is 800.  He is recovering slowly and still in ICU. His blood sugar is currently at 333. That Mumia had diabetes was a complete shock to all of us. For the last 3 months, he has been under medical care in the prison and diagnosed with eczema. And since he had three "comprehensive" blood tests since February, diabetes should have been diagnosed and treated accordingly. But it never was. Instead he has been subjected to hell by the prison medical system. In January Mumia was shaken out of a deep sleep by guards during count. For the infraction of not being awake during count he was punished for 2 weeks, without calls or yard. Deep trance-like sleep and lethargy were the first signs of the problem. In addition to the physical depletion produced by untreated diabetes, he was/is also dealing with a severe outbreak of eczema. He likened his skin to that of an elephant's. It was raw, blistered and bloody all over. He was so sick that he was not taking visitors. The "meds" he was given for his skin produced an extreme adverse reaction. His skin swelled and ruptured and he was put in the prison infirmary for 2 weeks. There's more, but the above point to negligence of the worse kind if not an outright attempt on Mumia's life. We are demanding review of his case by outside doctors and...since the world is watching, we are calling for Mumia's immediate release. It's time to bring our brother home. Johanna Fernandez  These two very very brief visits by his immediate family were important.  But the OUTRAGEOUS actions by the PA DOC continue.  They are controlling the hospitals actions and LIMITING all information about his condtiion.  Preventing the Mumia Abu-Jamal and his family from getting access to the critical information they need for his care. His family and lawyers still have very very little information about his treatment and his conditions.  They are trying to limit additional visits. It was inhumane that his family continues to be limited in accessing and monitoring his condition and his health.  Literally for 20 hours his family was in the Intensive Care ICU and were told nothing. Now that they have had a visit.  They are attempting to speak with the doctors and get medical records. Literally after 20 hours of torture Mumia remains in intensive care. .    Mumia's family is keeping vigil in the ICU critical care visiting room. Schuylkill Medical Center in Pottsville, PA.    His supporters and lawyers were at trial challenging the Revictimization Review Act aka the "Mumia Silencing Act"  in Harrisburg, PA when they received word that he had been taken to the hospital. The Abolitionist Law Center's Bret Grote is in Pottsville and taking all necessary steps  to gain access to his client for the family and access to his medical records so that independent doctors can intervene.   Mumia Abu-Jamal’s brother Keith Cook stated “The rules that the prisons have are very arcane. They don’t give out any information about prisoners to their families or anyone else. It’s like you have your hands tied because you don’t know how the prisoner is and you have no way of talking to him. I remember a month ago--- Phil Africa exercising in the prison, next thing they know they moved him to a hospital and didn’t tell his family where he was, and three days later he was dead. "It’s scary.  This situation needs to change. The prison authorities need to be more humane to the families of prisoners.” Pam Africa stated "Prison Officials are lying.  Mumia is going through torture at the hands of Department of Corrections through medical neglect.   It is clear to people that they want to kill Mumia.  They gave him the wrong medication which made his condition worse. Inmates on the inside who questioned what was happening have been subjected to direct retaliation by the superintendent.   They have been moving concerned inmates out of Mumia's unit in an effort to both bury and keep this critical information from the public." Johanna Fernandez of the New York Campaign to Bring Mumia Home noted “Mumia has been complaining about being ill since January. If he had gotten the proper care he needed originally, he would not be in this situation. This crisis illustrates the problem of health care in American prisons as a basic human rights violation. I am personally concerned because Phil Africa of the MOVE organization was rushed to the hospital not long ago in good health and a few days later he was dead. We need to fight to defend Mumia’s life, and that of all prisoners.” Bret Grote   bretgrote@abolitionistlawcenter.org    412-654-9070 Johanna Fernandez 917-930-0804 jfernandez1202@gmail.com 917-930-0804 Pam Africa 267-760-7344 Keith Cook kdc52@aol.com 919-302-4177 Noelle Hanrahan info@prisonradio.org 415-706-5222 The Abolitionist Law Center is a public interest law firm inspired by the struggle of political and politicized prisoners, and organized for the purpose of abolishing class and race based mass incarceration in the United States. Link to Yesterday's press conference outside of the hospital in Pottsville, PA.      CALL NOW and demand that Mumia's family can visit him at the medical center: 570-773-2158 SCI Mahanoy 301 Morea Rd, Frackville PA Superindendent John Kerestes (570) 773-2158 x8102   We do not trust that the prison officials will provide any transparency on Mumia's medical emergency. They indeed told us Phil Africa was fine, and he passed away the next day.   We need you to help us demand family visitation rights at Schuylkill Medical Center NOW!  We will send a trial update shortly. Please make the call right now: 570-773-2158 x8102   Share Tweet Forward Support Prison Radio   $35 to become a member.  $50 to become a member and receive a beautiful tote bag. Or call us to special order a yoga mat bag. $100 to become a member and receive the DVD "Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary." $300 to become a member and bring one essay to the airwaves. $1,000 (or $88 per month) will make you a member of our Prison Radio Freedom Circle. Thank you! Support Prison Radio To give by check:  PO Box 411074 San Francisco, CA 94141 Stock or legacy gifts: Noelle Hanrahan (415) 706 - 5222 unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

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Mumia Abu Jamal Medical Update

UPDATE: Yesterday morning, March 30, Mumia Abu-Jamal was rushed to the hospital after passing out at State Correctional Institution (SCI) Mahanoy. He was admitted to the Schuylkill Medical Center with a blood sugar level of 779. Today, he received visits from his wife, Wadiya, and his brother, Keith Cook. Mumia's blood sugar had dropped to 333 as of a couple hours ago. This is still elevated and at an unhealthy level. 

Mumia does not have a history of diabetes, but had been experiencing a series of symptoms that should have alerted medical staff at the prison to the onset of the disease. Instead, he was not given comprehensive diagnostic treatment and a medical crisis emerged that could have resulted in his slipping into a diabetic coma or worse. 

Prison officials only relented and permitted visitation under immense public pressure from all over the world. Keep it up. If the prison had its way, nobody would know Mumia was hospitalized, nor would they have permitted visits or the release of any medical information to family.

Family and friends are not leaving Pottsville. Mumia is not out of danger and we will remain vigilant and mobilized. The state keeps trying to kill Mumia - spied on by the FBI since he was 15, shot in the chest and severely beaten on December 9, 1981, framed for a killing he did not commit and put on death row, held in solitary confinement under threat of execution for 30 years, and now denied competent, basic medical care. He is alive because the movement has fought like hell to make it so. The government of the united states of apartheid can never be trusted to protect the rights or respect the lives of Black people or those held in prison. Never forgive, never forget. Stay alert and ready to act. 

Free Mumia

Video: Master Teacher Marvin X returns to Academy of Da Corner in Oakland's Black Arts Movement District, 14th Street

P-SPAN #413: Panel on Black Women Writers, at Laney College

Black Arts Movement Panel on Women Writers: Left to Right: Elaine Brown, Halifu Osumare, Judy Juanita, Portia Anderson, Kujichagulia, Aries Jordan. Standing BAM producer Marvin X. photo South Park Kenny Johnson
Video: Peralta College Television