Power to the people on the b day of my superhero Dr. Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party in Oakland, California. Oakland, City of Resistance to US domestic colonialism, no matter your numbers, we call upon you to be inspired to stand on the shoulders of the BPP and be fearless in the face of US domestic colonialism and globalism. Huey said I was his teacher, and maybe I did teach the BPP some theatrical techniques as per costumes and art as propaganda. And as he noted, many BPP comrades came through my black theatre, e.g., Bobby Seale, Emory Douglas, Eldridge Cleaver and Samuel Napier. But for me, Huey taught fearlessness, the most important lesson in revolution. Once the fear of death, jail, prison, exile is expelled from the heart of the revolutionary, the show beings and ends in death or freedom. I'd rather be dead than a slave to any man. Long live Dr. Huey P. Newton and all the BPP comrades, especially the often forgotten rank and file! Power to the People. --Marvin X/El Muhajir, co-founder of the Black Arts Movement
and Oaktown's Black Arts Movement Cultural and Business District.
2/17/18
