Marvin X at Frank Ogawa/Oscar Grant Plaza, 14th and Broadway, downtown Oakland.
photo Pendarvis Harshaw
photo Adam Turner
After 400 years
I saw Toby today
down from Kunta Kinti
royal robes of Maa't
today funky
stinkin'
Toby
came in Peet's Coffee
Lakeshore Oakland
sat down at black woman table
she don't know what to say
Terrified Toby at her table
sippin' her Latte
tried to sit cool
Toby fool sick
Kinti mind dead
way backin' time
1619
was it Kinti's crime
Toby Villain victim
African army of Tobys
disabled veterans of US war on Toby
call Toby drugs crime in the street
deranged disoriented
I love the Whispers line
Lost and Turned out
on way to Grandmother's house
Toby
Elijah say lost-found socalled Negro
I call him North American Africa
Elijah say he Aboriginal Asiatic Black Man
Maker Owner Planet Earth
Really
This Toby in Peet's Coffee
If he own it will he claim it
too sick to claim own mind
Young dread lock brother ask Toby to leave
dread brother know Toby
know Toby sick
he kind to Toby
Young dread brother know Elijah lesson The Proper Handling of People
Tony pull up pants
Black woman sign relief
And this is my king
this Toby thang
no thanks
Where is Kunta
rise Kunta
Rise and take me home
yes
through door of no return
Malcolm X said we left our minds in Africa
rise Kunta
don royal robes
let us depart as we came in the water
submerged
we sail path Baraka told
"In the Atlantic Ocean
railroad of human bones....
King sold farmer to ghost
King sold farmer to ghost...."
Take me Kunta
no more Toby please
kill Toby hang him please
Toby no good nobody
Recycle Toby
let Kunta speak
speak Kunta
spit your royal rap
spit Hebrew Christian Muslim Yoruba Ma'at Sufi Sunni Democratic Socialist Communist Troskyist
Vudun Santeria Candomble' Holy Ghost Five Per Cent Noble Drew Ali Democrat Negro Republican Negro spit
gender sex gods
ocean gods rivers
mountain gods money gods
kill mama daddy money gods
speak
King Kunta speak
no silencia por favor
digame digame digame
stand Toby as Kunta
once again
at the crossroads of Legba Eshu Ptah Peter
Can Toby wash in river ocean stream
wash baptism of return
wash
drum ancestor rhythms
bata
djembe
conga
listen Toby listen good
let drum heal heart.
listen Toby listen good
God hears those who praise Him
Our Lord to Thee is due all praise.
Sami Allahu liman al hamida
Rabbana na laki al hamd.
---marvin x
1/17/19
Marvin X Speaks and Reads
coast to coast.
Now booking.
jmarvinx@yahoo.com
Marvin X Tour 2019
February 16, Sat
Alameda CA
Reading/ book signing
Back 2 Nature Wellness Salon
and Barber Shop
475 Central Avenue
3-6pm
February 22, Friday
Reading book signing
Hunters Point, San Francisco
5:30-7:30
901 Fairfax Avenue
February 23, Saturday
Oakland
Reading/book signing
BAMFEST
Marvin X reading at Charles Wright Museum, Detroit MI, December 15, 2018. He has been invited back at another venue for Black History Month
photo Leona McElevene
February 28, Thursday
Detroit, MI
TBA
March 2, Saturday
Reading/book signing
Philadelphia PA
Brothers Network
TBA
May
Reading/book signing
Seattle WA
Host Hakeem Trotter
TBA
August
National Black Theatre Festival
Winston-Saleem, North Carolina
TBA
October
Austin, Texas
How We Got Ova 1619-2019
A poetic myth/ritual dance drama
by El Muhajir, aka Marvin X
Train in da Water
poem by Marvin X
"In the Atlantic ocean is a railroad of human bones...."--Amiri Baraka
Train came to ocean
we riding in da water
Riding waves bout to go under
How sweet da waves
train went under
Passing da many fish
As we submerged
How pleasant da train
Going down slowly
another space for peace
Let da ocean wash us with love
We connect the bones of Baraka's railroad
train rides down into darkness
where no light is needed.
we black ocean same.
--1/13/19
The X Men: Marvin X, son Marvin K, grandsons Jordan and Jahmeel
Dear Black Folks,
Stay out of white folks bizness. They stay out of our bizness in the hood, even though they supply the guns, dope, sick religion, . mis-education, toxic food, water, air; death music rap beats, perverted psycho-sexuality of do yo thang, be what ya wanna be; totally insane political policies that violate their own laws at the drop of a hat, e.g., sanctuary cities and states. Imagine what white folks would do if we declared the hood a sanctuary space that excluded Europe American entrance and jurisdiction and banned them from arresting North American African criminals for any reason without our consent. We establish and adjudicate all violations in our space. Imagine this!
Stay out of white folks bizness. They suffer a malady far worse than white Supremacy. Our ancestors and elders called their condition white lunacy.
Let them fight among themselves. Let them have their second Civil War. That's their bizness not ours. Our business is to establish a sovereign, independent nation. The master and slave do not have the same agenda.
--Marvin X
1/14/19
San Francisco State University, Marvin X's alma mater. He was a founding member of the Black Students Union.
photo Davey D
Notes of Artistic Freedom Fighter Marvin X
Now Available
Order your copy from
Black Bird Press
requested donation
$29.95
call 510-575-7148
credit cards accepted
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Marvin X
Poet, playwright, essayist, educator, activist
speaking/reading
University of Chicago, 2015
photo Burrell Sunrise