photo Gene Hazzard, Post News
The Black Arts Movement 50th anniversary planners would like to have downtown Oakland's 14th Street between Martin Luther King, Jr. and Alice Streets declared The Black Arts Movement District. Chief planners of the Bay Area Bam Celebration, Paul Cobb and Marvin X, will present the Mayor-elect Libby Schaaf and City Council members with a proposal to proclaim this area sacred ground of the Black Arts Movement that revolutionized the arts, literature and ethnic studies in America.
I think what Black Arts did was inspire a whole lot of Black people to write. Moreover, there would be no multiculturalism movement without Black Arts. Latinos, Asian Americans, and others all say they began writing as a result of the example of the 1960s. Blacks gave the example that you don't have to assimilate. You could do your own thing, get into your own background, your own history, your own tradition and your own culture. I think the challenge is for cultural sovereignty and Black Arts struck a blow for that.--Ishmael Reed
According to Professor Mike Sell, "...The formation of Black Studies programs, changes in curricula and the affirmative hiring of African-American faculty in humanities departments across the US during the late 1970s and 1980s were due, in significant part, to the militance of Black Arts artists, writers, performers, critics and the conceptual power of the "Black Aesthetic."
Planners say the BAM district begins at the African American Museum/Library at 14th and Martin Luther King, Jr. As one heads up 14th, we pass the C. L. Dellums apartments, in honor of the Pullman Porters Union, the first Black union in America. At 14th and Clay, we pass the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and the Elihu Harris State Building, in honor of two Oakland mayors. In recognition of Asian American City Councilman Frank Ogawa, we visit the plaza at City Hall. As Ishmael Reed noted, BAM inspired Asian Americans and other ethnic groups. Poet Janice Mirikitani, wife of Rev. Cecil Williams and President of the Glide Foundation, declared, "Through the poetry of Marvin X I became conscious of my own ethnicity."
Youth reading at Academy of da Corner photo Gene Hazzard, Oakland Post
At 14th and Broadway, we enter the classroom of Marvin X, the most dangerous classroom in the world. The Oscar Grant rebellion occurred in his classroom. Occupy Oakland was literally in his classroom. His classroom is a literacy center, grief counseling site and microloan bank. Readings and dramatic performances happen there. He mentors youth at his Academy of da Corner. Ishmael Reed says, "Marvin X is Plato teaching on the streets of Oakland."
Geoffery's Inner Circle and the Joyce Gordon Art Gallery along with the Oakland Post Newspaper office are located at 14th and Franklin. The proposed Black Arts Movement District will end at the Malonga Arts Center, 14th and Alice, also the corner were Post Newspaper Editor Chauncey Bailey was assassinated. Chauncey wrote many stories about the above art venues and Bay Area Black artists. For more information on the Bay Area 50th Anniversary of the Black Arts Movement, please contact Marvin X at jmarvinx@yahoo.com. 510-200-4164
photo Adam Turner, Oakland Post