James Sweeney introducing Marvin X at Berkeley Juneteenth
photo Harrison Chastain
In Memoriam: My Main Main
A poem for James W. Sweeney
by
Marvin X
James Sweeney gave Amiri Baraka
a poetic introduction at AB's 75th b day
celebration in San Francisco
Death is swift
death is slow
death to friends
death to foe
death is sweet
death bitter
death taller than Mt. Tai
some deaths lighter than feather
death comes winter
death summertime
do not fear death
death is life
life is death
don't separate divide
death is life
life is death
there's no escape
enjoy the moment
love da one ya wit
it's cheaper ta keep her
why get another lover
same
different name
who won the game
player got played
woman said
I said in my poem Round Midnight
for Monk
"Death always round
tryin' ta steal life
death always round
tryin ta steal life
If it don't get husband
it get the wife...."
Round Midnight, Round Midnight....
Sweeney my main main
Sweeney did thangs
you ain't never seen nigga do
Sweeney did thangs
you ain't never seen nigga do
Sweeney came to my play
One Day in the Life
This nigga jumped from his seat to stage
like Superman/Blackman
Sweeney jumped on stage
in middle of my play
put himself in the script
ain't ask me shit
you don't believe what I say
domestic violence scene
rocked his world
he jumped on stage
Captain save a girl
had to do intervention he said
he didn't know she was gonna shoot dat nigga dead
tell me truthfully
have you ever seen a nigga put himself in a play?
Jump from audience an' make script go his way
This black arts movement theatre
revolutionary people's theatre
people make the play
BAM theatre ain't nothin like Broadway
silent death theatre
no call response black nigga African theatre
Sweeney couldn't jump on stage in New York broadway show
white folks do play dat nigga shit
negro broadway either
Sweeney played blackway
no shame in his game.
So glad he came for Dr. Cornel West and me
People told me he was happy to be there
I was happy he was there for me
like the many times he came
Came to my Richmond house book party
wearing sandals with ashy feet
elder black woman whispered
dat nigga need to grease his feet!
I didn't care bout his feet
I was happy Sweeney was there.
Ran for Mayor of Berkeley
His uncle was Judge Sweeney
Sweeney had law degree
he was everything a black man could be
I was amazed the things he said of me
Said I was, "The freest black man in non-free America!"
Said,"I walked through the muck and mire of hell
but came out clean as white fish and black as coal!"
He was poet too
I gave him honor to introduce Amiri Baraka
at his 75th b day party in San Francisco
Sweeney gave Baraka poetic intro
We love you Sweeney for all the love you gave to the Bay
mental health projects
partner violence recovery meetings
homeless drop-in centers
Berkeley City Council member
Renaissance man
entrepreneur
lobbyist for the people
You praised me much my main main
All praise be to you
All praise be to you
May your family be at peace with your transition to the Upper Room in our Father's House
We'll see you there
I swear!
Well, maybe, maybe not.
My internet connection says the federal surveillance van is near.
--Marvin X
2/27/20
Addendum
1. I must recall the book party Sweeney and his wonderful wife gave me at their home in Elk Grove, a suburb of Sacramento. Although I live a Spartan live (Mrs. Amina Baraka, 1967), I am amazed when visiting the homes of our "progressive bourgeoisie" because their homes are virtual art galleries. Sweeney's home had an abundant collection of paintings by our most revolutionary painter/sculpturist Elizabeth Cattlett Mora. Before my book party, Sweeney had me stop by the home of Judge Henry Ramsey and his wife Eleanor Mason: their home was a virtual art museum, including paintings and sculpture by Elizebeth Cattlett Mora. She was my contact for my second exile in Mexico City. She and her husband were witnesses at my civil marriage ceremony with Barbara Hall, mother of my daughters Nefertiti and Amira.
2. After Duke Williams gave the libation, in came a procession of the Linda Johnson African dancers, including Linda, Raynetta Rayzetta and Rashidah, with drummer Val Serrant and another drummer. The dancers praised Amiri Baraka at his feet. Queen Rev. Mutima Imani facilitated a blessing ritual inviting everyone to send Baraka love by saying together, "We honor you and respect you."
The dance segment was too much for event organizer Marvin X who was so moved with emotion he broke into tears of joy and was unable to speak for a moment as he began moderating the panel discussion Black Studies and Community. He called up James W. Sweeney who introduced Baraka with a praise poem.
Baraka talked of his work in black studies, including the time he came to San FranciscoState University to help establish black studies, after an invitation from BSU leader Jimmy Garrent, who spoke on the panel. Rev. George Murray presented his views, stressing his spiritual work in the community after going to jail during the '68 strike. An English instructor, George became minister of education of the Black Panther party. Abdul Sabry, a BSU founder, also editor of Black Dialogue (a key publication of the Black Arts Movement), stressed the Islamic roots of black studies.
Ptah Allah el, a former Black Studies major, coined the time "Black Studies went to college and never came home." He read a poem on that theme, then introduced Dr. Dorothy Tsuruta of the Black Studies department. She tried to explain the good black studies has done the last forty years but encountered static from her fellow panelists who disagreed with her, citing the failure of black studies to create community projects. Bernard Stringer, a BSU and strike leader, had told Marvin X that black studies lasted one year in the community. After than, reaction sat in and has continued to this day. UC Berkeley professor Cecil Brown, author of Hey, Dude, What Happened to My Black Studies Department, spoke on the origin of the student movement in the south with the protests and sit-ins. He told how the student struggle was throughout the Bay Area, California and the nation. He cited the UC Berkeley student strike. Marvin X was himself the target of Gov. Ronald
Reagan’s attack on black intellectuals. The same time Reagan attempted to removed Angela Davis from UCLA, he moved on Marvin X at Fresno State University, 1969.
Marvin X said told the audience this event is just the beginning of dialogue on critical issues in our community. The Jazz Heritage Center director, Peter Fitzsimmons was so elated with the turnout that he told Marvin X he has the green light to plan future events at the Jazz Heritage Center and Lush Life Gallery. Marvin X thanks the following for their support: Paul Cobb, Gene Hazzard, Adam Turner, Walter Riley, Rev. George Murray, Terri Collins, Jimmy Garrett, Christine Harris, Norman Brown, Dr. J Vern Cromartie, Suzzette Celeste, HuNia, Thomas Simpson, Wade Woods, Aubrey Labrie, Duke Williams, Geoffrey Grier, James W. Sweeney, Mutima Imani, Davey D, Eugene Allen, Paradise, Charlie Walker, Khalid Waajib, Emory Douglas, Wanda Sabir, Michael Lange, Duane Deterville, Earl Davis, Ken Johnson, Renee, Leon and Carolyn Teasley.