The gate of Marvin X's writing retreat in Cherokee CA, that suffered fire destruction in the Camp Fire that totally destroyed the nearby town of Paradise CA.
photo Adam Turner
Most progressives understand monopoly capitalism and its highest stage imperialism now called globalism. Kwame Nkrumah hipped us to Imperialism: the final stage of capitalism. But let us also deconstruct the contradictions in monopoly socialism, a left wing ideology that ultimately leaves many oppressed peoples on the bottom of the economic and political ladder. In monopoly socialism there is opportunism, classism, racism, ageism and white and/or caste based on color domination parading often under the guise of multi-multiculturalism, but always with North American Black Africans on the lowest rung of the multi-cultural ladder. In many cases if not most, the mulattoes in power will decry and deny mulatto power, will even deny they are mulattoes even though they enjoy all the privileges of mulattoism, a classical syndrome in Pan Africa, from the Motherland, Caribbean and USA. Do you know the Brown Bag Test? Even at Oakland's Merritt College that gave birth to Bay Area African consciousness through the African American Association under the leadership of Attorney Donald Warden, aka Khalid Abdullah Al Mansour: black panther party, black arts movement and black studies, and Kwanza, alas, Maulana Karenga was the Los Angeles representative of Oakland's Afro American Association.
As per monopoly socialism, a monopoly socialist feigned shock when I identified him as a monopoly socialist today at my Academy of da Corner Lakeshore, Oakland. He'd never heard the term before.
The term has wandered about in the deep structure of my mind for some time. Furthermore, I have experienced the trauma of monopoly socialism in the arts. As per monopoly socialist artists attempting to dominate the capitalist grant process for non-profit organizations, the competition is lethal. Even after over a half century of labor as a cultural worker in the black arts movement, even after a close reading of Mao's classic Talks on Art and Literature at Yenun Forum, one can be deceived by artistic opportunism and elitism. Ancestor Amiri Baraka warned artists not to submit to the toxin of elitism. The bourgeoisie will attempt to satisfy starving artists with kibbles and bits. And artists suffering the toxin of elitism and opportunism will succumb to the world of make believe and conspicuous consumption.
In summary, North American Africans must guard against being deceived by all forces in the universe, most especially, the evil within himself/herself, for what is the greatest Jihad or Holy War? Answer: To win one's own soul!
One must individually and collectively maintain focus on the North American African Agenda, not the multi-cultural mirage, leading to nothingness and dread. Yes, we must cultivate our own vine and tree! Look at the heavenly gardens Rasta Man/Woman have created. Look at the fruit thereof, look at the children who honor ancestors, elders, parents, children and the yet unborn.
We shall not be subjected to monopoly capitalists or socialists. We are revolutionary black African nationalists. Have no mistake about this. We are in the spirit of Marcus Garvey and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. And we love Malcolm X. Have no mistake about this. We understand revolution is not a pretty thang. Revolution is violent, contrary to our beloved brother Malcolm X, even the socalled Negro revolution was/is violent!
--Marvin X
12/28/18