Marvin X’s has been a published writer for over 40 years and has a
storied past as a writer, teacher, community activist, journalist,
entrepreneur, husband, father, and recovered addict. He has
befriended, offended and crossed paths with the likes of Huey Newton,
president Ronald Reagan, Amiri Baraka, the Republicans, the
Democrats, Donald Rumsfeld, Eldridge Cleaver, and Jim & Tammy
Faye Baker just to name a few!
He chronicles the Black experience, the American experience in
language that is raw, gritty and brutally honest. Highly
informed, Marvin X speaks to many societal levels and to both
genders—to the intellectual as well as to the man/woman on the street
or the unfortunate in prison—to the mind as well as the heart.
He shuns political correctness for the truth of life and common sense
dominates his thought. Marvin X’ work in advocating racial
cohesion and religious dedication as an antidote to the legacy of
racism he saw around him in the 1960s and 1970s has made him an
important voice of his generation.
He has lectured at California College of the Arts and taught at
Fresno State University; San Francisco State University; UC-Berkeley
and San Diego; University of Nevada, Reno; Mills College, Laney and
Merritt Colleges in Oakland.
Marvin X, a teacher, community activist, published
author for over 40 years, and founding father/artist of the Black
Arts Movement heads to the east coast to celebrate the release of
his latest title, The
Wisdom of Plato Negro.
The Wisdom of Plato Negro, parables/fables is a post-modern version
of the ancient tradition of story telling. Says Rudolph Lewis,
"Marvin X has expanded contemporary literature. I suspect
there is nothing like them in post-modern American literature."
Ishmael Reed declares, "...If I had to pin down the influence
upon Marvin X...I would cite the Yoruba texts: texts in the Yoruba
language reveal that didacticism is a key component of the Yoruba
story telling style.... Marvin X imparts wisdom by employing cautionary
tales and uses his own life and mistakes to consul the young to
avoid mistakes."
His recent stop in Houston included appearances at SHAPE Community Center,
Khepera Books, University of Houston, Africana Studies Department,
and Texas Southern University.
The tour will continue with
dates in Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York, Washington DC at the
Black Power Hip Hop Conference, November 2-4.
Marvin X is available for
lectures, speaking engagements, and book signings.
