A Street Named Rashidah Muhammad

[Marvin X]

A Street Named Rashidah Muhammad

There is a street in Oakland
nobody knows
hardly sees
they pass it going downtown on 20th Street/Tom Berkley Way (A Black Man)
Rashidah Muhammad intersecting Tom Berkley
how nice
a black man's street intersecting a black woman's street
how nice
but who knows this Rashidah Muhammad
how many women or men or children
black or white, Muslim, Christian
but there it is
Rashidah Muhammad Street
named for a little warrior woman
midwife community organizer mother wife lover
who fought and killed her white rapist
down south and survived
police beatings and prison
The Uhuru Movement pushed her case nationwide
Free Dessie X
Free Dessie X
Uhuru! Uhuru!
Salaam Rashidah Muhammad Salaam.
We love you.
--Marvin X
3/19/10

www.academyofdacorner.blogspot.com

[Marvin X]

Re: A Street Named Rashidah Muhammad

Thanks Brother Marvin,
I drive down that street on my way home from clinic just to see the name :-). I remember when I worked on her defense committee, and when she came to the Bay Area, for our benefit celebration at Dock of the Bay, she put the white folks on blast. It was comical to me as a young nationalist. Anyways, she liked here enough to return and become part of our community.

I love and miss her. I know she is with my sons and Javad and so many more of our loved ones watching over me and whispering into my heart with her love.

Peace
Mama Ayanna Mashama