Parable of Da Corner

[Marvin X]

Parableof Da Corner

Parable of DaCorner

WAKE UP EVERYBODY - HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUENOTES (1975)

Plato Negro asks conscious teachers to follow his example by going to the street cornersof their communities and sharing with youth and adults, bydisseminating knowledge and practical wisdom, counseling those in needof healing from trauma and unresolved grief--to be more a listener than ateacher, for only by listening can we get to the root ofproblems--initially the person will only reveal surface matters, but ifwe listen and probe softly, we may get to the deep structure, to theroot and core of the problem.

Initially, the person may say hehas a problem but upon probing we find the problem is not him but hismate, and then we discover he is the problem his mate is suffering, forhe is actively blocking her good, though he perceives she has a problem.

Thesong Wake Up,Everybody said teachers must teach a new way, preachers mustpreach a new way, so focus on the new way. Go to the street corner andstand around, give away poster poems, life lessons, parables, fables,simple things people can comprehend in an instant, for in the digitalage of i-phones, u-phones and he/she phones, there is only an instant oftime to reach out to touch somebody. The major task is getting theirattention.

Try getting someones attention on the streets of NewYork. One must say something outrageous to make them stop as they rushto the subway, e.g., do you beat your wife? That will stop a person,though you will be surprised at the answer: "No, I don't beat my wife,she beats me and I like it!"

But we must get their attention,then we enter the realm of infinite possibilities. We can probe toissues of partner violence, infidelity, patriarchal domination, angermanagement, sexual identity issues, racial identity problems, economicindependence, unresolved grief, lack of imagination and self worth. Allthese matters will be revealed on the corner, if one listens, if onetakes a moment to extend a kind greeting to the mentally ill. You willsee you will become their friend, if no else in the world is theirfriend, only because you say hello to them as they pass in the midst oftheir madness. You will make their day.

Stand on the corner inyour free time. You may be surprised to find yourself with a line ofpeople waiting to speak with you,seeking your advice on the most simplematters, maybe a dollar for a hamburger, or two dollars to get on thebus to pick up their check. You may have DVDs and CDs for them, alongwith books.

If they don't have money, give them the items oncredit. Trust me, the people will pay you later, if the material isrelevant and inspiring. And if they tell you their friend stole theirbook, believe them, and be happy they stole your book--imagine aso-called Negro stole a book to raise their consciousness!
--Marvin X
6/13/10

[Marvin X]

Now dance in the streets! Spread the word to teachers who have time now that they've been laid off to go to the streets and teach a new way.

[KWASI Akyeampong]

I've listened Harold Melvin and the Bluenote's Wake Up Everybody so many times before. It was always a good tune to dance to. Now I hear it as a call to Action.