SOS―Calling All Black People: A Black Arts Movement Reader

Description

This volume brings together a broad range of key writings from the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, among the most significant cultural movements in American history. The aesthetic counterpart of the Black Power movement, it burst onto the scene in the form of artists' circles, writers' workshops, drama groups, dance troupes, new publishing ventures, bookstores, and cultural centers and had a presence in practically every community and college campus with an appreciable African American population. Black Arts activists extended its reach even further through magazines such as Ebony and Jet, on television shows such as Soul! and Like It Is, and on radio programs. Many of the movement's leading artists, including Ed Bullins, Nikki Giovanni, Woodie King, Haki Madhubuti, Sonia Sanchez, Askia Touré, and Val Gray Ward remain artistically productive today. Its influence can also be seen in the work of later artists, from the writers Toni Morrison, John Edgar Wideman, and August Wilson to actors Avery Brooks, Danny Glover, and Samuel L. Jackson, to hip hop artists Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Chuck D. SOS―Calling All Black People includes works of fiction, poetry, and drama in addition to critical writings on issues of politics, aesthetics, and gender. It covers topics ranging from the legacy of Malcolm X and the impact of John Coltrane's jazz to the tenets of the Black Panther Party and the music of Motown. The editors have provided a substantial introduction outlining the nature, history, and legacy of the Black Arts Movement as well as the principles by which the anthology was assembled. Cover Title Page Copyright Dedication Contents Editors’ Introduction The Black Arts Movement Section I. Theory / Criticism Introduction to Theory / Criticism Poetry and Black Liberation: Freedom’s Furious Passions (Reminiscence) DA-DUM-DUN: A BAM Triumvirate of Conch / Us / Nest: Miles Davis, Henry Dumas & Katherine Dunham in East St. Louis,Illinois (Reminiscence) 1. Politics and Culture The Harlem Black Arts Theater—New Dialogue with the Lost Black Generation Symposium: The Measure and the Meaning of Sixties Black Cultural Nationalism The Black Arts Movement Broadside Press: A Personal Chronicle On the Boycott The Development of the Black Revolutionary Artist Needed: A New Image Keep on Pushin’: Rhythm & Blues as a Weapon 2. Gender Preface to the Black Woman The Negro Woman in American Literature Lorraine Hansberry: On Time! Who will Revere the Black Woman? Black Men vs. Black Women New Fashions for Afro-American Women Queens of the Universe 3. Aesthetics / Poetics The Changing Same (R&B and New Black Music) If Black English isn’t a Language, Then Tell Me, what is? As Crinkly as yours Tripping with Black Writing Towards a Black Aesthetic Cultural Strangulation: Black Literature and the White Aesthetic The Question of form and Judgement in Contemporary Black American Poetry: 1962–1977 What Good is the Word without the Wisdom? or “English Ain’t Relevant” Excerpts from Black World Interview Black Poetry—Where It’s at Section II. Statements of Purpose: Groups and Journals Introduction to the Documents The Asian-African Conference, Final Communique: Cultural Cooperation Black Panther Party, Platform and Program Black World, Editor’s Notes SUDAN, The History of SUDAN (In Texas?) The Institute of the Black World, Statement of Purpose and Program Liberation Committee for Africa, Statement of Aims and What Africa Means to Americans NKOMBO, Food for Thought Elijah Muhammad, “What Do the Muslims Want?” Organization of Afro-American Unity, Statement of Basic Aims and Objectives: Culture OBAC [Organization of Black American Culture], Statement of Purposes Rhythm, Statement of Purpose Soulbook, To the Peoples of Afroamerica, Africa, and to all the Peoples of the World Southern Black Cultural Alliance, By-Laws Third World Press, A Statement of Purpose Max Stanford (Muhammad Ahmad), Towards Revolutionary Action Movement Manifesto Umbra, Foreword to Issue 1.1 Larry Neal [Atlanta C.A.P. Creativity Workshop], Resolutions Section III. Poetry The Poetry of BAM: Meditation, Critique, Praise Storm Coming: Memoir and History (Reminiscence) 1. Consciousness Upon Being Black One Friday Night in July What Shall We Tell My Children Who are Black Black People! The Life of Lincoln West Black Jam for Dr. Negro Sister Brother A Father Tells his Son about the Statue of Liberty Jitterbugging in the Streets The Revolution will not be Televised Niggers R Scared of Revolution But he was Cool Personal Jihad Barbequed Cong: Or We Laid My Lai Low How I got Ovah Summary Tomorrow the Heroes “Black Power!” Twelve Gates Cry Freedom 2. Malcolm Eulogy for Malcolm X A Poem for Black Hearts Malcolm X Portrait of Malcolm X That Old Time Religion Malcolm X—an Autobiography Malcolm For Malcolm Who Walks in the Eyes of our Children For Malcolm X A Plea for the Politic Man 3. Coltrane and Jazz How Long has This Trane Been Gone Legacy: In Memory of ’Trane Tribute to Duke Elvin Jones Gretsch Freak Don’t Cry, Scream The Coming of John Don’t Say Goodbye to the Pork-Pie Hat Conversions Transcendental Blues Written for Love of an Ascension-Coltrane A / Coltrane / Poem On seeing Pharaoh Sanders Blowing Did John’s Music Kill Him? 4. Africa African Night Suite The Painted Lady Africa I; Africa II Lumumba Lives Lumumba Lives!! My Name is Afrika Ancestors I am a Cowboy in the Boat of Ra Earth 5. Women For Gwendolyn Brooks—A Whole & Beautiful Spirit I Am a Black Woman Woman Poem Woman If you saw a Negro Lady Naturally Cadence Blackwoman The Last M.F. Woman 6. Heritage Promenade Lynch Fragment Urban Dream Return to English Turn The Music The Idea of Ancestry Ballad of Birmingham Rivers of Bones and Flesh and Blood Sunset Beach / L.A. 7. Songs Say It Loud—I’m Black and I’m Proud Afro Blue What’s Goin’ On Keep on Pushin’ To Be Young, Gifted, and Black War Section IV. Drama The Kuumba Theatre: A Radical Idea Comes to Life (Reminiscence) Living in the Black Arts Movement (Reminiscence) A Black Mass Clara’s Ole Man Prayer Meeting or, The First Militant Preacher Wine in the Wilderness The Suicide Flowers for the Trashman The Monster The Bronx is Next Section V. Fiction / Narrative Black Arts Fiction: An Introduction The Organizer’s Wife Harlem A Love Song for Seven Little Boys Called; Sam Sonny’s Seasons Reena A Happening in Barbados Excerpt from the Bluest Eye Cab Calloway Stands in for the Moon Frankie Mae The King Alfred Plan Afterwords The Hip Hop Vision: Password: Nation Conscious Rap Coming from a Black Thing: Remembering the Black Arts Movement Learning from the 60s Selected Bibliography Back Cover