cover design by Mical Free, photo Kamau Amen Ra (rip)
Son of Man, 1968, was published while Marvin X was underground in Harlem NY. The FBI was on his trail because he refused to fight in Vietnam. Aftrer a second exile in Mexico City and Belize, Central America, he was captured and deported back to the USA. He served time in Terminal Island Federal Prison. See his court speech in The Black Scholar magazine, April/May 1971.
photo Doug Harris
According to Muslim American professor Dr. Mohja Kahf, Fly to Allah, 1968, is the seminal work in the genre she declared as Muslim American literature. Marvin X and other Black Arts Movement poets such as Amiri Baraka, Askia Toure and Sonia Sanchez are considered the founders of Muslim American literature and must be honored as such.
Marvin X at rally in support of Gaza, Seattle WA.
Black Arts Movement Business District artists/activists, Oscar Grant Plaza, Oakland CA. On January 19, 2016, the Oakland City Council officially declared the Black Arts Movement Business District along the 14th Street corridor, from the lower bottom to Lake Merritt.
Harlem NY reception for Marvin X at the home of Rashidah Ismaili
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Black Arts/Black Power Babies Conference, Brooklyn NY, an intergenerational discussion produced by Muhammida El Muhajir.
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Mythology of Pussy and Dick is an 18 page pamphlet more powerful and more often requested than all of Marvin's 30 books combined. It has liberated men, women and children. According to poet Paradise Jah Love, "They grab it as if it's black gold!". The 400 page version will be released soon. "Why should I release the 400 page version, they can't absorb the 18 pages!" Quitta and Marvin X. Yes, she quit him but it wasn't about pussy and dick.
Marvin X and Laney College President Dr. Elnora T. Webb in planning session for the Black Arts Movement 50th Anniversary Celebration at Laney College, Oakland, 2015
photo Standing Rock
photo Ras Ceylon
photo Kareem Muhammad
Usually there is stone silence.
cover design Standing Rock
University of Houston, Africana Studies Chair Conyus and Marvin X who spoke with students on his national book tour
Marvin X and oldest daughter Nefertiti (The beautiful one has come). Laney College,
Black Arts Movement 50th Anniversary celebration, 2015
photo Ken Johnson
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Marvin X in heaven, i.e., in the presence of beautiful, intelligent, revolutionary women. Black Arts Movement and Women's panel, Laney College BAM 50th anniversary. L to R: Elaine Brown, Halifu Osumare, Judy Juanita, Portia Anderson, Kujichagulia, Aries Jordan
photo Ken Johnson
photo Ken Johnson
Nefertiti's Thanksgiving Message on her father, 2016
I love this man who is forever optimistic in a world filled with daily tragedies, myths and lies. He is not delusional about the existence of such filth which causes the weak to walk bent over and on a jagged path. He just continues to insist on pushing forward, walking upright and going higher, rising above the fray and the frivolity that causes lesser beings to collapse, breakdown and give in.
He insists that knowledge can enlighten us all. He continues to seek after truth and consumes truth from the right, the left, the moderates, Muslims, Christians and as many other sources as are present, discriminating only against sources which seek to dumb down the masses.
He is a man who continues to dream and pushes others to dream big with him. Your interest or belief in his dream matters not. He waters, plants, nourishes until the fruits come forth.
Ashe' to a seeker of truth.
Ashe' to a dreamer of dreams.
Ashe' to a liver of dreams manifested.
Malcolm X Jazz Festival, Oakland CA
Newark, NJ Mayor Ras Baraka and Marvin X
Poet, playwright, activist Amiri Baraka (RIP) and Marvin X, who shared a 47 year friendship as artistic freedom fighters and founders of the Black Arts Movement. Baraka said of his comrade in the arts, "Marvin has always been in the forefront of Pan African writing. Indeed, he is one of the innovators and founders of the new revolutionary school of African writing."
Amiri Baraka
Marvin X and BAM mystic musician Sun Ra outside Marvin's Black Educational Theatre, San Francisco, 1972. Both were teaching at UC Berkeley at this time. Sun Ra arranged the musical version of Marvin's play Take Care of Business. They produced a five hour concert of the production with a cast of 50 and no intermission at the Harding Theatre, Divisadero Street, San Francisco. The Ellendar Barnes and Raymond Sawyer dancers also participated.
Marvin X and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf who said, "Marvin X is a wonderful personality. He never ceases to amaze me!"
photo Jahahara
Marvin and actor Danny Glover, BAM founders, both attended San Francisco State University
photo Ken Johnson
Contributors to the anthology Black Hollywood unchained, edited by Ishmael Reed. Panel discussion at San Francisco Main Library, July 3,2016. L to R: Justin Desmangles, Jesse Allen Taylor, Dr. Halifu Osumare, Marvin X and Ishmael Reed.
Marvin X, grandson Jah Amiel, film director Stanley Nelson, MX's daughter Attorney Amira Jackmon and granddaughter Naeema Joy at Berkeley screening of Nelson's Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution. Marvin made a brief appearance.
From his Academy of da Corner,, Marvin helped plan the Black Arts Movement Business District. The BAMBD newspaper The Movement is edited on da corner with designer Standing Rock.
photo Standing Rock
photo Gene Hazzard
photo Alicia Mason
Bio of Marvin X
Marvin X was born May 29, 1944, Fowler CA, nine miles south of Fresno in the central valley of California. In Fresno his parents published the Fresno Voice, a black newspaper.
Marvin attended Oakland’s Merritt College where he encountered fellow students how became Black Panther Party co-founders Bobby Seale and Huey Newton. They taught him black nationalism. Marvin’s first play Flowers for the Trashman was produced by the Drama department at San Francisco State University, 1965. Marvin X dropped out to established his own Black Arts West Theatre in the Fillmore, 1966, along with playwright Ed Bullins. Months later Marvin would co-found Black House with Eldridge Cleaver, 1967.
Marvin introduced Eldridge Cleaver to Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. Eldridge immediately joined the Black Panther Party. Huey Newton said, “Marvin X was my teacher, many of our comrades came from his Black Arts Theatre: Bobby Seale, Eldridge Cleaver, Emory Douglas and Samuel Napier.”
One of the movers and shakers of the Black Arts Movement (BAM) Marvin X has published 30 books, including essays, poetry, and his autobiography Somethin’ Proper. Important books include Fly to Allah, poems, Beyond Religion, toward Spirituality, essays on consciousness, and How to Recover from the Addiction to White Supremacy, a manual based on the 12 step Recovery model.
Marvin received his MA in English/Creative writing from San Francisco State University, 1975. He has taught at San Francisco State University, Fresno State University, UC Berkeley and San Diego, Mills College, Merritt and Laney Colleges in Oakland, University of Nevada, Reno. He lectures coast to coast at such colleges and universities as University of Arkansas, University of Houston, Morehouse and Spelman, Atlanta, University of Virginia, Howard University, Univ. of Penn, Temple Univ., Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, UMASS, Boston.
His latest book is the Wisdom of Plato Negro, parables/fables, Black Bird Press, Berkeley. He currently teaches at his Academy of da Corner, 14th and Broadway, downtown Oakland. Ishmael Reed says, “Marvin X is Plato teaching on the streets of Oakland."For speaking, readings and performance, contact Marvin X @ jmarvinx@yahoo.com,
510-200-4164. www.blackbirdpressnews.blogspot.com