Oakland sends Warrior Queen Julia Hare home

Oakland sends Warrior Queen Dr. Julia Hare Home 

by

Marvin X

photos

Johnnie Burrell

 Fillmore Slim sings St. James Infirmary 

 Dr. Nathan Hare and his Sister Mildred, Mrs. and Mr. Gay and Paul Cobb, Marvin X

 Dr. Ayodele Nzinga offering libation

Seated, Dr. Nathan Hare and his older sister Mildred

Standing, Marvin X and his star student, Dr. Ayodele Nzinga

 Congresswoman Barbara Lee

 Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Dr. Hare

Rabboni Sela, Dr. Hare, Dr. Ramona Tascoe

 Sax man Jethro and guitarist Mike

Vocalist Bryant Bolling

Rt. Judge Horace Wheatley, Rashid Shabazz, Dr. Nathan Hare

Oakland gave Warrior Queen Dr. Julia Hare a home going celebration befitting a royal Black African queen in the hell's of North America. It was a power to the people's farewell at Geoffrey's Inner Circle, the anchor venue in the Black Arts Movement Business District along the 14th Street corridor from the lower bottom to Lake Merritt. 

The celebration began with a Blues musical interlude by San Francisco Blues brothers, Jethro on sax/vocals, accompanied by Mike on guitar. Dr. Ayodele Nzinga gave the libation in the Yoruba tradition, followed by Minister of Poetry, Marvin X, who delivered in Arabic Surah Al Fatihah and Surah Al Ikhlas. He told the audience, "I am not going to translate, you  felt the vibration, that's good enough!"  

Representatives of Congresswoman Barbara Lee's office, District Director Tatyana Kalinga and Staff Assistant Antonio Burnett, presented Dr. Nathan Hare with a framed copy of the Congressional Record in honor of Dr. Julia Hare.

Legendary Black Arts Movement poet Avotcja  read a poem in honor of Dr. Julia Hare, followed by Blues/Mack Man Fillmore Slim singing St. James Infirmary, made famous by Louis Armstrong and Bobby Blue Bland, among others. Marvin requested Fillmore do the Satchmo version, but Fillmore liked the Bobby Blue Bland version,  He began with the Bobby Blue Bland version, sax solo by Jethro, and  closed with the Satchmo version. The audience was overjoyed. Fillmore told Marvin, "I think I put myself on another level today!" The poet agreed.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee entered and sat at the table with her representatives.

When called to the mike, she gave honor and praises to Dr. Julia Hare as her shero! "When I  first heard her, I wanted to be like her! Julia set the model of black women  talking truth to power!"

The celebrants viewed the video of Julia's last hurrah, when she stole the show from other prominent "leading blacks" on Tavis Smiley's Black Forum, see Youtube. If there was any doubt Julia was the female Malcolm X in delivery and wit, her performance on Tavis Smiley shut down any debate. The audience of thousands applauded her time after time. Although many have seen this video, those in the audience who had not were stupefied, in total shock at the bluntness and boldness of this Warrior Queen, yes, this Black Goddess in our time who has slipped into eternity.

The Minister of Poetry said, "Ok, people, we have heard from Dr. Julia Hare. Now, you are going to hear from Dr. Nathan Hare, who wrote a love song in praise of his Queen, "She Always Stood by me!" The entire essay was in the program, but Marvin began to read it with the Black Arts Movement Reader's Theatre, a newly formed dramatic group originated by the poet without prior knowledge of the participants. He began reading, then passed the mike to Dr. Ayodele Nzinga, who passed it to Tureeda, then to Dishonne Muhammad. Since the complete essay was in the program, the poet skipped to the last paragraph and ended. 

Bryant Bolling ended the reading singing Unforgettable, after which the celebration opened  for comments from the people, followed by the repast. Dr. Hare told the poet, "Marvin, I think you outdid yourself today!"

Dr. Ramona Tascoe

Norman Brown, Zakiyyah and Bryant Bolling, Dr. Hare, unidentified sister

Marvin X

Amelia Ashley Ward and Marvin X: A Conversation of their love for Dr. Julia Hare

Amelia Ashley-Ward

Publisher of the San Francisco Sun Reporter

In Conversation with Marvin X 

on their mutual love of Dr. Julia Hare

Dr. Julia Hare, Female Malcolm X, Ball of Fire

Amelia Ashley-Ward, Publisher of the San Francisco Sun Reporter Newspaper and Dezi Woods-Jones, Founder and President of Black Women Organized for Political Action
photo Adam Turner

Marvin X, author of thirty books, most below the radar but his works are beloved in the community.
Poor people sometimes pay $100.00 per copy for the limited editions of his books. Often they put them on lay-a-way. Marvin X, who teaches at his Academy of da Corner, 14th and Broadway, downtown Oakland and Lakeshore Ave., says, "I wish our people  knew the beauty of our people. I give credit and 99% of the people pay me while I keep no record of their account. Of course, money means nothin' to me. I don't write for commercial success, I writer for the joy of writing and to educate my people and all people, no matter what color.



Amelia Ashley-Ward, Publisher of the Sun Reporter Newspaper, founded by Dr. Carlton Goodlett and Tom Fleming, organized and officiated the memorial ceremony for Dr. Julia Hare at Third Baptist Church. Marvin's review of the event is in the current edition of the Sun Reporter. The occasion made possible the renewal of friendship between Amelia and Marvin X, who is known to travel on the other side of planet earth!

Sun Ra, Father of Afro-futurism, see the movie Black Panther, see Space is the Place, filmed in Oakland. In 1971-72, Sun Ra and Marvin X taught Black Studies at UC Berkeley. Sun Ra arranged music for Marvin's musical Take Care of Business, performed at X's Black Educational Theatre, Fillmore District, later at the Harding Theatre on Divisadero Street; a five hour concert without intermission, reviewed in the Sun Reporter.

Indefatigable, peripatetic poet/playwright Marvin X and Sun Ra, co-founders of the Black Arts Movement; Sun Ra is the undisputed father of Afro-futurism In 1972 these Gemini twins taught Black Studies at UC Berkeley. Sun Ra's UC Berkeley lectures, audio version, are available on YouTube in four parts. Sun Ra and his Myth-Science Arkestra did the music for Marvin's classic play Take Care of Business.


After all, he was a coast to coast confident and artistic associate of the legendary father of Afro-futurism, Sun Ra, who synchronized Kemetic mythology and science fiction. Thus, Marvin X traveled the space ways with his buddy Sun Ra, not to mention his other earth and space travelers: Huey P. Newton, Bobby Seale, Eldridge and Kathleen Cleaver, Amiri and Amina Baraka and Drs. Nathan and Julia Hare, et al.

Dr. Huey P. Newton

Dr. Huey P. Newton said, "Marvin X was my teacher. Many of our comrades came through his Black Arts Theatre, e.g., Bobby Seale, Eldridge Cleaver, Emory Douglas, Samuel Napier,  Judy Juanita, JoAnn Mitchell, Ellendar Barnes, Sharon Treskanoff, et al."

After Marvin's aunts and uncles joined the ancestors and he became elder of his many cousins, in despair at the lost of his eders, he "adopted" Julia and Nathan as his aunt and uncle and became even closes  friends,associates and comrades in the revolutionary black nationalist liberation movement. Nathan Hare wrote the introduction to X's Black Arts Movement autobiography Somethin' Proper, Black Bird Press, 1998. Hare wrote the forward to his How to Recover from the Addiction to White Supremacy, a manual based on the twelve step model. Dr. Hare did the introduction to X's latest work Notes of Artistic Freedom Fighter Marvin X, Black Bird Press, 2019.


Amelia used to have phone conversations with Julia every morning at 6AM. Although Dr. Nathan Hare informed her Marvin would be attending the San Francisco memorial, Amelia was shocked to see him in person after so long, and happy to see he was calm and cool at the service. She noted that he seemed to be enjoying himself. He told her after the service, "If that preacher, Rev. Haynes, III, said two more words, I might have become a Christian!"

Rev. Haynes honoring Dr. Julia Hare at Third Baptist Church, San Francisco
photo Adam Turner

Marvin congratulated Amelia on the excellent memorial she organized and officiated. "I doubt we can top that when I officiate the Oakland memorial on Saturday, April 6, 3-6PM, at Geoffrey's Inner Circle, 410 14th St., Oakland. "Marvin, why do you think you need to top what I did?" "Well, I don't really mean top, all I can say is the Oakland celebration will be different!" Their conversation continued throughout the week anod as the Oakland date neared, Marvin told her, "Amelia, in Oakland we gonna put the funk in the game, Oakland style. Blues musician/hustler Fillmore Slim's going to sing St. James Infirmary." "Yes, and I see you stole Ricardo Scales for your event as well." "Yes, Ricardo is going to get down funky too, as he did at Third Baptist Church. Amelia, when I produced the Kings and Queens of Black Consciousness Concert at San Francisco State University, 2001, Dr. Cornel West told the folks, "We must keep the funk in place. That's whey we love Marcus Garvey, Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., they kept the funk in place, kept it real, they were authentic!"

Dr. Cornel West and Marvin X in Philly for Mumia Abu Jamal

Now, this was the same event that Julia proclaimed to the sisters, "Sisters, I didn't wait for my ship to come in, I swam out to meet it," then called out her husband in the audience, "Nathan, didn't I swim out to meet you?" and blew him a kiss! She also told the audience, "When Marvin X calls you to do something, it's like God calling. When he says jump, you say how high!"

Amelia and I agreed that we were united in our love for Julia and Nathan, that's it that's all. I invited Amelia to speak at the Oakland celebration, especially to share a few tidbits of her 6AM conversations with Julia. After telling Dr. Nathan Hare of our conversation, he said she needs to also mention the many luncheon conversations she and other women had with Julia throughout the years.:

Dr. Nathan Hare at the Third Baptist Church memorial of Dr. Julia Hare, wife of 62 years.
photo Adam Turner

Nathan and Julia Hare in the UK, where the Black newspaper called her the female Malcolm X

Participants 

Oakland  memorial for Dr. Julia Hare

Dr. Ayodele Nzinga
Tureeda Mikell
Geoffery Grier
Pam Africa
Fillmore Slim
Representatives of Congresswoman Barbara Lee's office
Vocalist Bryant Bolling
Pianist Ricardo Scales
Violinist Tarika Lewis
Officiated by Marvin X, Minister of Poetry

Videographers

William Drummond
Khalid Waajib
Mitchael Satchel


Sound/lighting
Langstyon Williams
Bobby, Blue Dream
William Drummond

Program
Dennis Jeffrey
Karen Cheadle

Repast 

Geoffrey Pete
Congresswoman Barbara Lee
LaNiece Jones
Judy Juanita
Delores Noche
Dr. Ayodele Nzinga
Dr. Ramona Tascoe
Mr. and Mrs. Leon and Carolyn Teasley
Mr. and Mrs. Hasan James
Attorney Amira Jackmon
Nefertiti Jackmon

Bio of Dr. Julia Hare

Biography

The dynamic motivational lecturer, relationship expert, author, social commentator and educational psychologist
Dr. Julia Hare was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Hare has appeared on several television programs offering her
expertise and insights on male/female relationships, gender interactions in the workplace, mate selection, toxic
relationships and matrimonial harmony. She has appeared on CNN & Company, C-SPAN, Tony Brown’s
Journal and Inside Edition. Hare has also spoken before the Congressional Black Caucus, participated in Tavis
Smiley’s “State of the Black Family” Conference and spoke at the annual Essence Empowerment Seminars at
the Essence Magazine Culture Festival. Her written work has been featured in several magazines and newspapers including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Miami Herald. Hare and her husband co-authored The Endangered Black Family; Bringing the Black Boy to Manhood: The Passage, The Miseducation of The Black Child, Crisis in Black Sexual Politics and How to Find and Keep a BMW (Black Man Working).

Hare, along with her husband, Dr. Nathan Hare, formed The Black Think Tank located in San Francisco,
California. Their consulting firm focuses on issues affecting the black family.

Dr. Julia Hare’s work has brought her many awards and honors including Educator of the Year for Washington,
D.C. by the Junior Chamber of Commerce and World Book Encyclopediain coordination with American
University; The Abe Lincoln Award for Outstanding Broadcasting, The Carter G. Woodson Education Award,
The Association of Black Social Workers’ Harambee Award; the Scholar of the Year Award from the
Association of African Historians; and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Black Writers
and Artists Union. Hare has been inducted into the Hall of Fame of her high school alma mater, Booker
T. Washington High, was given a Presidential citation from the National Association for Equal Opportunity
in Higher Education and was named one of the ten most influential African Americans in the San Francisco
Bay Area.

During graduate school, Hare taught elementary school in Chicago, Illinois integrating music into the
student’s lessons. Following a move to California, Hare served as the director of educational programs at
the Oakland Museum and later hosted talk shows for both ABC television and KSFO radio stations. She
also served as the public relations director in the local federal housing program in San Francisco.

Her formal education includes a B.A. in music from Langston University of Langston, Oklahoma; a M.A.
degree in music education from Roosevelt University located in Chicago, Illinois and a Ph.D. in education
from the California Coast University in Santa Ana, California.

Transition of Marvin X's three first cousins in three weeks

Faye and Sandra Murrill

Stan Murrill II

WTF, I am in total shock and disbelief that three of my first cousins have joined the ancestors within the last three weeks, also my "adopted" aunt, Dr. Julia Hare. My cousins, Stan, Faye and Sandra Murrill, were children of my mother's brother, Stanley, who raised them as a single father. The remaining siblings are Patsy, Connie and Cathy, all of whom except Connie resided in Sacramento. Their father was my mother's baby brother and my surrogate father after my parents separated. My maternal family suffered high blood pressure and the resultant strokes. Faye and Sandra were on dialysis and transitioned yesterday and today. When my sister Judy called to inform me Faye passed, I thought she was joking since we have yet buried cousin Stan, my most radical cousin who combined revolution and the hustling life. Faye and Sandra lived quiet lives, even more reclusive than I am, though this is a family trait, introverts. Faye's son, Byron, works hard as the manager of a DMV in Oakland. All of my cousins support the family radical, especially when I make appearances in Sacramento. Stan and I last kicked it together when I was a featured author at the Sacramento Black Book Fair. Stan never hesitated to tell all he knew that I was his cousin and he spread my books throughout the hood. When I stayed with him at his apartment, he rushed me to his neighbor's house, Fillmore Slim, legendary musician and master of the game.

Stan, also known as Butterball in the hood (especially in Sac's Oak Park neighborhood) was the inspiration of his five sisters, which makes me think they enjoyed an unconscious pack to depart together since they most certainly did. If I am correct, Stan, Sandra and Faye were the eldest of the six children. I thank them for the loving times we shared and know, yes, they are in a better place since I have no knowledge of their doing wrong to anyone. Surely we are from Allah and to Him we return. As the eldest of all my cousins, I say please pray for the Murrill/Jackmon family in our hour of grief. Thank you.

--Marvin X

3/21/19

Message from Byron Murrill

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the triple memorial service for my uncle Stan Murrill, aunt Sandra Murrill, and my mom Faye Murrill. The siblings passed within 3 weeks of one another from separate illnesses. Memorial to be held at VFW Post 67 at 2784 Stockton Blvd Sacramento CA 95817 on Monday April 8, 2019 at 1 pm. Please keep our family in your prayers.

Byron and Marvin X at the 80th birthday celebration of Dr. Nathan Hare, Geoffrey's Inner Circle, Oakland.

photo Aries Jordan

Memorial for Dr. Julia Hare, Saturday, April 6, 3-6PM, Geoffery's

Oakland Salutes Warrior Queen

Dr. Julia Hare

Sunrise

November 7, 1933

Sunset

February 25, 2019

Celebration of Life

Saturday, April 6, 3-6PM

Geoffery's Inner Circle

410 14th Street

Oakland CA

San Francisco Celebrates the Life of Dr. Julia Hare by Marvin X

San Francisco Celebrates the Life of Dr. Julia Hare, Queen of Black Consciousness

by
Marvin X
photos Adam Turner

Left to right, Mildred Hare and her young brother, Dr. Nathan Hare and Marvin X.
photo Adam Turner

Former San Francisco Mayor, the Honorable Willie Brown and Rev. Amos Brown
photo Adam Turner

Dr. Julia Hare, 

Educator, Motivator, Inspirator, Agitator, Liberator

Today, Saturday, March 30, must be declared Dr. Julia Hare Day, especially since the City of San Francisco celebrated her transition to the ancestors during Women's History Month. What manner of woman was this, this female Malcolm X as a black newspaper in England named her in a full page article some years ago. The consensus of speakers at Third Baptist Church said again and again, she was a phenomenal woman who gave all she could to enlighten, educate, inspire and motivate our people to be their very best selves. 

Left to right Wilford Ussery, Emory Douglas, Dr. Hare,Terry Collins, Benny Stewart (man on back left unidentified)

photo Adam Turner

Firstly, we must give honor and praise to Amelia Ashley-Ward for organizing and officiating this grand home going ceremony at Third Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. Amos Brown, mentored by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Third Baptist is known for it liberation theology and Civil Rights activism, the perfect space to honor and praise our modern Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth and Ida B. Wells. 

Before Barack and Michelle Obama, Beyonce' and JayZ became known as power couples, Julia and Nathan held the honor, they enjoyed 62 years of marriage.Dr. Nathan Hare has said, "Half the people not married are trying to get married and half of those married are trying to get unmarried!"

Speaker after speaker confirmed the Hares were the supreme model of black love and successful male/female relations, inspiring and counseling others to have positive relationships. Amelia Ashley-Ward, Publisher of the Sun Reporter Newspaper, shared her remarks after the Delta sorors gave Julia last rites. 

Amelia Ashey-Ward said she and Julia used to converse every morning at 6AM. on a myriad topics, including relationships and child rearing. 

The Honorable London Breed, Mayor of San Francisco and former Mayor Willie Brown

photo Adam Turner

Amelia introduced the first African American woman Mayor of San Francisco, London Breed. Mayor Breed made it crystal clear how critical Julia was in her career advancement, the unconditional love Julia gave her and all who came into contact with our beloved Queen of Black Consciousness and Upliftment. 

Mayor London Breed was followed by the Honorable Willie Brown, first black mayor of San Francisco and the undisputed god-father of California politics. The god-father showered more honor and praise upon Dr. Julia Hare. He referred to Mayor London Breed as the boss of San Francisco, but we have it from a reliable source that the god-father is still alive and well, executing his role as the king of San Francisco and California politics. And he looked so well, someone noted he must be taking a stay young pill!

Ernie Fields was in the first grade with Julia

photo Adam Turner

The singing and music was out of this world, revealing the genius of our black classical tradition, from the Sheryl Davis operatic rendition of "You're The Best Thing," to  Ricardo Scales on piano to saxophonist Ernie Fields, Jr.'s "Soul Serenade" and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." 

Sangin' Sarah blew us away with "My Way"

photo Adam Turner

Ernie noted that he knew Dr. Julia Hare before everyone in the audience, he knew her in the first grade, Tulsa, Oklahoma. His melodic sounds had the audience rocking. His "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" touched me deeply because my "adopted" aunt used to give me a private concert whenever I visited their apartment in the high class section of Jackson Street, where they have resided since 1973. Several people noted that although Julia and Nathan lived high, they always associated themselves with the people in the  hood. In 2004, I produced the Black Radical Book Fair in the wretched multi-cultural ghetto called the Tenderloin, only blocks from the affluent Union Square area of downtown San Francisco, attended by the black literati as well as pimps and hustlers who'd written books or were in the process of doing so, such notables as Fillmore Slim, Gangsta Brown, Mickey Moore, Rose Bud Bitterdose, et al. The pimps and hustlers said if they had known they could be successful writing books they would have never entered the sex trade. 

In her response to them, Dr. Julia Hare said, "Don't feel guilty about your pimping and hustling life because we got ecclesiastical pimps as well!" 

And as per male/female relations, our undisputed Queen of Black Consciousness told women at the Kings and Queens of Black Consciousness Concert, San Francisco State University, 2001, "Sisters, I didn't wait for my ship to come in, I swam out to meet it!" Then she called out her husband in the audience, "Nathan, didn't I swim out to meet you?" And blew him a kiss! What manner of woman is this? 

Amelia called up Dr. Mary Ann Jones, Director of San Francisco's Westside Mental Health Services.

Dr. Jones said Drs. Nathan and Julia Hare saved her life while a teenager because she was headed to destruction; she thanked Nathan and Julia for their guidance and making her the successful woman she is today!

After the King of Africa, Rabboni Selah, gave his inspirational, motivational remarks in praise of Julia, Amelia called forth my home-girl from Fresno, the founder and president of Black Women Organized for Political Action, Dezi Woods-Jones. 

Amelia Ashley-Ward, organizer and officiator of memorial, and Dezi Woods-Jones, Founder of Black Women Organized for Political Action

photo Adam Turner

In her coming into consciousness, Dezi noted how such black nationalists as Jimmy Garrett, Kwame Toure and Marvin X, and most especially Julia gave her the consciousness to be the woman she became as head of BWOPA, and she did not leave out the legendary Edith Austin, god-mother of Bay Area politics.

Rev. Amos Brown, presiding Minster, Third Baptist Church

Rev. Amos Brown gave critical historical remarks on Julia's attendance at Langston University and called for the full support of Historical Black colleges, especially Howard University, of which brother Langston should have been the first president. 

Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III

photo Adam Turner

Rev. Brown introduced, Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, who delivered a powerful message of celebration. In the manner of Dr. Julia Hare, Dr. Haynes, III, stole the show! In the grandest tradition of black Christian oratory, Dr. Haynes placed Julia in biblical historiography, the story of Tabitha, Acts 9:36-42. One translation of Tabitha is a woman of energy, grace, beauty and quick movements. Rev. Hayes asked was this not Dr. Julia Hare? Tabitha is also translated as gazelle, an animal who was swift even among rocks and hillsides, and he said, "Was not Dr. Julia Hare Tabitha?"

Before Rev. Brown's benediction, Amelia announced the Oakland Celebration will be Saturday, April 6, 3-6PM at Geoffrey's Inner Circle, 410 14th at Franklin, downtown Oakland. For more information: 510-575-7148

.

Dr. Nathan Hare and Marvin X

photo Adam Turner

Three first cousins of Marvin X join ancestors within three weeks, two in three days

Cover photo Alicia Mayo

Cover and book design Adam Turner

WTF, I am in total shock and disbelief that three of my first cousins have joined the ancestors within the last three weeks, also my "adopted" aunt, Dr. Julia Hare. My cousins, Stan, Faye and Sandra Murrill, were children of my mother's brother, Stanley, who raised them as a single father after divorcing his wife due to alcoholism. The remaining siblings are Patsy, Connie and Cathy, all of whom except Connie resided in Sacramento. Their father was my mother's baby brother and my surrogate father after my parents separated. My maternal family suffered high blood pressure and the resultant strokes. Faye and Sandra were on dialysis and transitioned yesterday and today. When my sister Judy called to inform me Faye passed, I thought she was joking since we have yet buried cousin Stan, my most radical cousin who combined revolution and the hustling life. Faye and Sandra lived quiet lives, even more reclusive than I am, though this is a family trait, introverts. Faye's son, Byron, works hard as the manager of a DMV in Oakland. All of my cousins support the family radical, especially when I make appearances in Sacramento. Stan and I last kicked it together when I was a featured author at the Sacramento Black Book Fair. Stan never hesitated to tell all he knew that I was his cousin and he spread my books throughout the hood. When I stayed with him at his apartment, he rushed me to his neighbor's house, Fillmore Slim, legendary musician and master of the game.

Stan, also known as Butterball in the hood (especially in Sac's Oak Park neighborhood) was the inspiration of his five sisters, which makes me think they enjoyed an unconscious pack to depart together since they most certainly did. If I am correct, Stan, Sandra and Faye were the eldest of the six children. I thank them for the loving times we shared and know, yes, they are in a better place since I have no knowledge of their doing wrong to anyone. Surely we are from Allah and to Him we return. Arrangements are pending. As the eldest of all my cousins, I say please pray for the Murrill/Jackmon family in our hour of grief. Thank you.
--Marvin X
3/21/19

And the beat goes on

Marvin X 75th b-day tour

b. May 29,1944

Saturday, March 23

Benefit for Haiti

Malonga Center, Oakland, 7pm

book signing

Sunday, March 24

Marvin X joins Bay Area poets in honor of the

50th Anniversary of the BSU/Third World Strike at SFSU

San Francisco Main Library, Larkin Street

1-4PM

Sunday, March 24, 6-10PM

Marvin X at Oakland's Blue Dream

1300 7th Street, West Oakland

The Art of Storytelling

a reading and trans-generational conversation with Marvin X
conducted by Hip Hop comic Langstyn Williams

"Marvin X is a National Treasure!"--Blue Dream
"Marvin X is Plato teaching on the streets of Oakland!"--Ishmael Reed, Master Writer 

"He's the USA's Rumi, Saadi, Hafiz!"--Bob Holman

"When you listen to Tupac Shakur, E-40, Too Short, Master P or any other rappers out of the Bay Area of Cali, think of Marvin X. He laid the foundation and gave us the language to express black male urban experiences in a lyrical way."
--James G. Spady,
Phiadelphia New Observer Newspaper

"Marvin X was my teacher. Many of our comrades came through his Black Arts Movement theatre, e.g., Bobby Seale, Eldridge Cleaver, George Murray, Samuel Napier, Emory Douglas, et al."--Dr. Huey P. Newton, co-founder, Black Panther Party

Saturday, April 6, 3-6PM
Memorial for Dr. Julia Hare

Minister-poet Marvin X officiates
Geoffery's Inner Circle
14th and Franklin Streets,
downtown Oakland CA

Tuesday, April 9, 4PM
Davey D's Hip Hop Class
San Francisco State University

photo Davey D

Marvin X with students in Davey D's Hip Hop class, San Francisco State University, 12/4/18

Marvin X received his B.A. and M.A. in English/Creative Writing from San Francisco State University, 1974-75. He was a TA in the English/Creative Writing Department, 1964-66, also a member of the Negro Students Association that morphed into the BSU, 1964-66. 

He graduated from Oakland City College, aka, Merritt, 1962-1964. His fellow students were Black Panther Party co-founders Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. The entire Bay Area was inspired by the black radical consciousness of the Afro-American Association under the leadership of Attorney Donald Warden, aka Khalid Abdullah Tariq Al Mansour. May he be forever praised! Without the AAA there would be no Black Panther Party, Black Arts Movement or Black Studies in the Bay Area. I wish sombody would hep me in the spirit of JB.

The SFSU Drama Department produced his first play, the Black Arts Movement classic Flowers for the Trashman, 1965. In 1966, he dropped out of SFSU to found his own Black Arts West Theatre in the Fillmore, later worked at the New Lafayette Theatre in Harlem, New York, while underground as a resister to the USA war in Vietnam. 

May 29, 2019

Honorary Philly Poet Marvin X 

celebrates his 75th b-day in Philly

at the University of Penn

hosts: Maurice Henderson, Gregory Walker, Tony Montiero, Pam Africa, Sonia Sanchez, Elliott Bey, Sun Ra Arkestra, Muhammad Ahmad, Nisa Ra, et al.

June 2019
Marvin X reads and signs Notes of Artistic Freedom Fighter
Seattle, Wa
host: Hakeem Trotter
TBA

October, 2019
Marvin X production
How We Got Ovah
celebration of the 400th anniversary of  our presence
in the wilderness of North America, English colonies
1619-2019
a myth-ritual dramatic dance drama/mixed media production
written/directed/produced 
by Marvin X
Six Square Black Cultural District
Executive Producer
Austin, Texas

Bay Area Poets honor San Francisco State University Strike, Reading at San Francisco Main Library

Join us on March 24, 1-4 p.m., in the Latino/Hispanic Room (Lower Level) of the San Francisco Public Library for a celebration of the SF State Student Strike of 1968.

From November 6, 1968 until March 20, 1969, hundreds of protesting San Francisco State College students, faculty, and staff went on strike to demand equal access to public higher education, the hiring of senior faculty of color, and a revised curriculum that would embrace the histories and cultures of all people, including ethnic minorities. The efforts of these activists led to the creation of the College of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State.

Come hear a stellar roster of Bay Area poets, including SF State strikers, express solidarity with the spirit of the Strike, as the poets take us along on their journey to experience the depth and beauty of all cultures and to end racism in America.

Val Ibarra (aka Global Val) of KPFA's Mutiny Radio will emcee this program. Featured readers include: Tongo Eisen-Martin, Q.R. Hand, Judy Juanita, Avotcja, Genny Lim, Kitty Tsui, Alejandro Murgia, Aja Couchois Duncan, Leslie Simon, Gary Goch, Ernie Brill and Marvin X.

Related exhibit: Strike! Ethnic Studies Now, on view March 23–June 20, 3rd Floor, Main Library. This exhibit explores the events leading up to the strike, the campus strike and the need and enduring legacy of Ethnic Studies.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-of-story-tellin-creators-bazaar-tickets-58813080507

Langstyn Avery 

Event Curator

Producer

Manager

Comic