"The junkyard is everywhere, they just hide it!"--Dr. Neal Hall, M.D., Poet, Nigger for Life
At the Junkyard on December 4, 6-10, Marvin X will read poetry and discuss the status of Black Street Vendors on the streets of Oakland. The Black Vendors Association's organizer says, "At the end of November the City of Oakland's Black street vending project at Lake Merritt will end. The Parks and Recreation Commission asked James Copes, organizer of the Lake Merritt vendors, to present a long range plan for Black vendors that does not include Lake Merritt. Contrary to Parks and Rec, Mr. Copes asked me to write the proposal but include vending at Lake Merritt. Although the pilot project initially had the blessing of Councilwoman Nikki Bas, she was forced to acquiesce to the wishes of the mostly white Lakeshore and Grand Ave. residents and merchants who opposed the Black presence at Lake Merritt because of unruly behavior by some of the black street vendors and their customers, but we know that whites have opposed any black presence at the lake for decades, even before I was growing up in West Oakland and we were prohibited from the lake except on holidays like July 4th.
Dr. Ayodele Nzinga, First Poet Laureate for the City of Oakland
After Bar-b-Que Becky inspired Blacks to party and vend at the lake, residents forced the City to restrict the black vendors to one block on El Embarcadero. Police blocked parking on Lakeshore and Grand Avenues, thus killing potential customers from parking at the lake until vending died a slow death until many sought other sites rather than stay in a dead zone. James Copes, chief organizer, was one of the first to depart due to low sales. Of course the OPD achieved their purpose of killing customers. The Black Vendors Association has decided not to fight the pseudo white liberal residents desire to maintain white supremacy at the lake. On December 4th at the Junkyard, BVA organizer Marvin X will present vendors another plan to vend on the streets of Oakland, something Blacks have never been allowed to do.
Master Percussionist Tacuma King, long time accompanist of poet Marvin X
Poet/organizer Marvin X and his favorite musician, Violinist Tarika Lewis.
FYI, Tarika is the first female member of the Black Panther Party.
Poet Samantha and Tarika Lewis, Violinist
We invite all Black Street Vendors to attend the event and become members of the BVA so we can fight for our rights in an organized manner. The reason Councilwoman Nikki Bas succumbed to the residents and merchants is because they voted her into office and threatened to recall her if she didn't remove the black menace to their peace and tranquility. If blacks were organized, including registered votes, Nikki would have had to respond differently, although she did make an effort but she knows what side her bread is buttered.
Marcus Garvey said get organized and so we must. All black vendors will receive discount tickets to attend this event at the Junkyard, located at 983 89th Ave., Deep East Oakland. For more information, please call 510-575-7148. General Admission tickets are $50.00, available on Eventbrite. Marvin X and Friends at the Junkyard, December 4, 6-10PM
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About this event
Marvin X will be accompanied by percussionist Tacuma King, Violinist Tarika Lewis, and Oakland's First Poet Laureate Dr. Ayodele Nzinga. The event is produced by Black Bird Press and the Black Vendors Association. Funds will benefit Black Street Magazine, official publication of the Black Vendors Association and provide mini-grants for vendors to come up.
Maestro Marvin X and the Black Arts Movement Poets Choir and Arkestra performing at the Malcolm X Jazz Art Festival, 2015
Collage Adam Turner