The Origin of Blackness
by Marvin X/El Muhajir
Translated from English into Arabic
by Ali Sheriff Bey
RIP
Sudan la al lawn
black is not a color
lawn kuli min sudan
all colors come from black
sudan al harakat
black is a rhythm
al marna tambura
a drum beat
anata
ancient
assi
primitive
al awwal sudan kalam
first word was black
al awwal rajuli sudan
first man was black
Allah sudan
god is black
sudan ilmi akhi
black knows its brother
anta mufail mashay min sudan
you can't run from black
anta mufail ghaybaw min sudan
you can't hide from black
ka umma sudan
your mama is black
ka abu sudan
your father is black
ka burka sudan
your shadow is black
al atum ra'a wa sami sudan
things you see and hear are black
sudan al asil
black is reality
wahabi
unity
hurriya
freedom
adil
justice
musawat
equality.
--Marvin X/El Muhajir
from Woman, Man's Best Friend, Al Kitab Sudan/Black Bird Press, 1972
