Recovery Theatre @ Theatre St. Boniface
133 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco
between Leavenworth and Jones

Purpose

Recovery Theatre and Black Bird Press  are proud to host the San Francisco Tenderloin Book Fair and University of Poetry, 2004, celebrating the radical black arts movement, the most significant literary movement in African American history. But as we celebrate, we face the sober reality of a crisis in our community and the world. Author Sam Anderson tells us, "Never before in the history of African humanity has there been such a huge disconnect between revolutionary consciousness and our youth. This book fair should help face this crisis head on."

Indeed, if we look from Africa to America, we see youth in either reactionary drug gangs or diamond seeking child armies, with the ultimate beneficiary  American and/or European imperialism, African middle men serve as traditional colonial servants and running dogs, from Charles Taylor to Colin Powell, Lord have mercy!

As revolutionaries, we must ask ourselves why the diamond merchant and the dope dealer is the number one employer of our youth? In the final analysis, we must give youth a viable economic alternative to the drug culture, pimping life and employment as murderous child soldiers. As elders, we must teach alternatives to street and domestic violence, and we must teach by example.

We will address critical issues of this nature in a series of presentations, panels, workshops and spoken word performances, hopefully igniting the final stage of our cultural revolution, exposing and resolving contradictions that have derailed our recovery and liberation. "By cultural revolution we mean to raise the level of the people's education, eliminate illiteracy, and narrow mindedness," says Amiri Baraka.

One of the founders of the Black Arts Movement (BAM), Baraka will facilitate a workshop for radical writers sincere about going beyond rhetoric. "Projects for Radical Writers Workshop will discuss how writers can unite, inspire, educate, mobilize, organize the great majority of all nationalities to become part of a mass force needed to oppose the current fascist trend in America; this workshop will discuss how to create, publish, produce and distribute writings for the cultural revolution."

From the Black Arts Movement to Hip Hop is a panel discussion designed to address generational problems in African American culture. Poet Askia M. Toure cries, "Most of the hip hop generation has lost its national consciousness, in its rush to assimilate materialism, bling  bling, capitalism and misogyny. With the exception of Common, India Iree, Jill Scott, Dead Prez and a few others, most hip hop leaders don't appear to see that Africans in America have a cultural tradition and a legacy to defend. How did we go from 60s Black Queens and sista freedom fighters to skeezers, chicken-heads, bitches and hos? Why don't hip hop people seek out black revolutionaries?"

Amina Baraka answers Toure, "How can the hip hop generation learn from our mistakes if we are still making them?" And poetess Sonia Sanchez notes, "We cannot condemn the hip hop generation for doing on stage what the Black Arts Movement was doing behind closed doors."

Without a doubt, this panel will be hot and spirited, especially with the participation of the legendary Fillmore Slim. "My message is the same to all youth, male and female. Think about the consequences. There's a price. Are you willing to pay the price for being in the game. If you're willing  to pay the price, what can I say to you? I paid my dues, I went to prison. I'm not proud of what I did, so I tell people to think about the consequences of your actions, think about how you end up in the game."

The Tenderloin Book Fair will expose people to writers not seen in the commercial media and market place, especially self published authors. We want Tenderloin residents and others  to meet these authors who may offer an alternative to a lifestyle of drugs, crime and homelessness. After all, great literature is known to originate from such oppressed conditions, once the oppressed persons regain sobriety, sanity and radical consciousness. My Play One Day in the Life  based on my days as a drug addict in the Tenderloin has become a recovery classic. If I changed my self-destructive behavior to creativity, so can you.

Marvin X
Book Fair Producer,
Recovery Theatre Director

Book Fair Program

Friday, January 30, 2004

4:00 pm -- Reception, book signings

5:00 pm -- Welcome, Suzanne Celeste

5:30 pm -- Music by Destiny and her band of Angels, Elliott Bey, Fillmore Slim

6:00 pm -- Rewards Dinner, MC Dr. Julia Hare, Libations by Luisa Teish

7:30 pm -- Open Mike, MC Greg Bridges of KPFA and JAHVA House

8:00 pm -- University of Poetry Concert 1:

                  Devorah Major, Ishmael Reed, Al Young, Everett Hoagland, Opal Palmer Adisa

                  Kalamu ya Salaam, Avotcha, Roxanne, Sam Hamod, Reginald Lockett

Saturday, January 31, 2004

08:30 am -- Registration

10:00 am -- Welcome Remarks, Devorah Major, Poet laureate of San Francisco

10:15 am -- Introduction, Marvin X, Book Fair producer

10:20 am -- Mental Health and The Cultural Revolution, Dr. Nathan Hare

10:30 am -- Overview of Black Radical Literature, Askia Touré

10:45 am -- Do We Need a Black Writers Union? Sam Anderson, Spencer Moon

11:00 am --  University of Poetry Workshops I

                     A. Projects for radical Writers, Amiri Baraka

                     B. Writing for the Digital Age, Kalamu ya Salaam

                     C. Writing for the Music Industry, Keith Crawford

1:00 pm  LUNCH

2:00 pm -- University of Poetry Workshops II

                  A. How to Write Your Book, Opal Palmer Adisa

                  B. How to Publish Your Book, Jamie Walker, Lonnie DeWitt

                  C. Radical Recovery Literature, Marvin X, James Robinson, Andriette Earl-Bozeman,

                                                                    Charlie Walker, Luisa Teish

3:30 pm -- Tenderloin Tour with Fillmore Slim

4:00 pm -- DINNER BREAK

5:00 pm -- Open Mike, Host Ayodele Nzinga

6:00 pm -- Panel: From The Black Arts Movement to Hip Hop, Reginald Lockett, moderator

                  Panelists: Askia Toure, Sam Anderson, Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka, Fillmore Slim

                  Respondents: Davey D., Jamie Walker, Roxanne, Ptah Allah-El

8:00 pm -- University of Poetry Concert II:

                   Amiri Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, Askia Toure, Marvin X, Amina Baraka

REGISTRATION

Book fair is free, but Registration is $20.00 for admission to the University of Poetry, including the Rewards dinner, workshops, panels  and concerts ( both nights). Seating is limited, pre-registration advised. Tickets available at Reggae Runnins, 505 Divasadero, SF, Da Corner, 3rd and LaSalle, Hunters Point, Da Corner, Fillmore and Hayes, San Francisco, Aquarius Rising, 60th and Telegraph, Oakland. 

Or  send check to Recovery Theatre, 133 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, 94102. Vendors call Leona Lee at 415-986-8186. 

Vendors call: Leona Lee at 415-986-8186

For more information contact: Marvin X at 510-798-9155 or Geoffrey Grier at 415-241-6506

Special thanks to Joe Halaiko of Theatre St. Boniface.

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AUTHORS AND PARTICIPANTS

Dr. Julia Hare, How To Find A BMW (Black Man Working). The wit and wisdom of this Queen Bee is nationally known. She stole the show at Marvin X's Kings and Queens of Black Consciousness Concert.

Dr. Nathan Hare, Black Anglo-Saxons. Father of Black Studies, sociologist and clinical psychologist, facilitates Recovery Theatre's mental health group session called Black Reconstruction.

Sonia Sanchez, Shake Loose My Skin. Poet, playwright, professor, undisputed queen of the Black Arts Movement.

Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones), Somebody Blew Up America. Poet, playwright, essayist, activist, godfather of the Black Arts Movement, pioneer of modern American literature.

Amina Baraka, poet, singer, dancer, cofounder of Spirit House.

Ishmael Reed, Another Day At the Front. Poet, playwright, essayist, novelist, publisher, MacArthur genius award winner.

Fillmore Slim, subject of legend and a movie Gospel of the Game. His day job is singing and playing the blues throughout the world.

Reginald Lockett, The Party Crashers of Paradise. Poet, professor. One of the original members of the West Coast black arts movement. Performed at Black House, San Francisco.

Devorah Major, An Open Weave. Poet, novelist, first African American poet laureate of San Francisco.

James Robinson, Gospel of the Game. Played the game and lived to tell the consequences in his novel Gospel of the Game.

Askia Toure, Dawnsong. Poet, essayist, activist, one of the godfather's of the Black Arts Movement.

Marvin X, In the Crazy House Called America. Poet, playwright, essayist, activist, producer of Tenderloin Book Fair and University of  Poetry. One of the founders of the BAM.

Opal Palmer Adisa, It Begins With Tears. Poet, professor, photographer. Opal and Devorah Major comprise the Daughters of Yam.

Jamie Walker, 101 Ways Black Women Can Learn To Love. poet, author, journalist, editor of Sonia Sanchez Anthology

Andriette Earl, Embracing Wholeness. Spiritual practitioner at the East Bay Church of Religious Science. She is a coach, speaker and facilitator.

Dingane (Joe Goncalves), founder of the Journal of Black Poetry, bible of the 60s radical poetry.

Luisa Teish, Carnival of the Spirit. Yoruba priestess, healer and spiritual worker.

Roxanne Ware, conscious hip hop poet. Her poem "Federal Offense" should be national anthem of the prison movement.

David Hilliard, This Side of Glory. Black Panther Party chief of staff, facilitates the Huey P. Newton Foundation.

Destiny, harpist from the hood, with a voice from heaven.

Elliott Bey, keyboard master, director of Recovery Theatre East, Philadelphia.

Tarika Lewis, Violinist, first female member of the Black Panther Party. Performs with John Handy and Destiny's band of Angels.

Al Young, Drowning In the Sea of Love. Poet, novelist, one of the members of the West Coast Black Arts Movement.

Lonnie Dewitt, In the Car. His book addresses issues affecting the California Department of Corrections and other agencies.

Ayodele Nzinga, Walden House Suite. Actress, director, poet, associate director of Recovery Theatre.

Everett Hoagland, Here: New and Selected Poems. Teaches at UMASS, Dartmouth. This volume offers thirty years of his best published poems plus New work.

Dr. Kwasi Harris, Readings in Black Political Economy. Dr. Harris is professor in political science at San Jose State University.

Spencer Moon, Reel Black Talk. Spencer's book discusses blacks in the movie industry.

Sam Hamod, Islam in the World Today. Sam is an internationally known poet and scholar on Islam.

Rudolph Lewis, founder of NathanielTurner.Com. One of best websites on the Internet for Black literature.

Sam Anderson, Black Holocaust for Beginners. Founding member of the Black Panther Party in New York, Sam co-edited the award winning anthology In Defense of Mumia.

Charlie Walker, America Is Still the Place. "In January I was broke. In February I made five million dollars." Charlie tells us how to do for self and be free.

Kalamu ya Salaam, The Magic of Juju. Kalamu is one of the founders of Black Arts South.

Tacuma King, Master drummer, multi-instrumentalist, member of Destiny's band of Angels.

Davey D, legend of hip hop culture, DJ and MC. Listen to him on Hard Knock radio, KPFA Berkeley.

Greg Bridges, host of spoken word at Oakland's Jahva House, DJ on KPFA and KCSM radio.

Suzzette Celeste, MSW, MPA,  chair, Recovery Theatre, dancer, practitioner at East Bay Church of Religious Science.

Geoffrey Grier, associate director Recovery Theatre San Francisco, actor, Treatment on Demand Council.

Dr. Salat Townsend, actor,  associate director Recovery Theatre Sacramento.

Raynetta Rayzetta, dancer, chief choreographer of Marvin X's poetry.

Keith Crawford, promoter, associate of Recovery Theatre.

Leah Thomas, writer, Mentor Project, planning advisor to Marvin X.

Ptah Allah-El (Tracy Mitchell), writer, Journal of Black Studies at San Francisco State University. Videographer for Recovery Theatre, filmed video version of One Day In the Life, coordinator of filming for the video Kings and Queens of Black Consciousness by Marvin X.

Duncan Barber (Rafiq), cofounder of Black Arts West Theatre, SF

Hillary Broadus (Abdullah), cofounder of Black Arts West Theatre, SF

Emory Douglas, Black Panther Minister of Culture. Emory was part of the Black Arts Movement  (came to Black House) and still is today.

Ted Wilson, Slo' Dance. Poet, one of the original members of Black Arts Repertory Theatre in Harlem

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Supporters of Recovery Theatre, Inc.

Recovery Theatre has received support from:

Mayor Willie L. Brown's Office

Grant for the Arts

San Francisco Department of Public health

Treatment on Demand Council

Zellerbach Family Fund

United Way

Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission

Marin County Board of Supervisors

KPOO Radio

KPFA Radio

San Francisco Bayview Newspaper

Sun Reporter Newspaper

Sponsors and Supporters of the Book Fair Include

Akbar Muhammad Accepts Invitation

to Black Radical Book Affair

Akbar Muhammad -- Lecturer, Historian, World Traveler, Businessman and Foreign Diplomat (Nation of Islam) Mr. Muhammad was born in Hampton, Virginia and raised in New York City.  His formative years were spent as a student under the leadership of Minister Malcolm X at the New York Mosque of the Nation of Islam.  From 1965 - 1975, he was the top assistant of then New York Minister, Louis Farrakhan.