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Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"

A poetry jam in space — created across and despite razor wire, prison bars and censored phone lines. It is a gathering of poets to celebrate the work of sister poet Marilyn Buck, who has spent more than 20 years in US prisons for her anti-imperialist politics and actions.In the eyes of the government, Marilyn is an enemy of the state, despised for her role in freeing Black Liberation leader Assata Shakur, hated for her willingness to risk her life and freedom for a world imaginable only to a revolutionary—or a poet.
Yet for the poets who rushed to lend their voices and their words to this collection, Marilyn is someone very different – a woman who lives for transformation. Through her political activism and writing, she creates the possibility of a world of social justice and peace. Through her approach to prison, she transforms the repression and censorship of imprisonment and, in the process, has become a poet.The poet contributors read Marilyn's poems and their own. They include Amiri Baraka, carolyn baxter/Nottiehead Bosco, Dennis Brutus, Aya De Leon, Fanny Howe, Uchechi Kalu, Elana Levy, Genny Lim, devorah major, Sara Menefee, Kiilu Nyasha, Maria Poblet, Presente!, Carlos Quiles, Samsara, Sonia Sanchez, Staajabu, Jean Stewart, Piri Thomas, Kwame Ture/Stokely Carmichael, Nellie Wong, Merle Woo, and Mitsuye Yamada. See the poet profiles and the poems.
Framing the poetry is music contributed by India Cooke, Eugenio Maldonado “El Viejo Mago," Fred Ho & the Brooklyn Saxophone Quartet,Copper Wimmin, Idris Ackamoor, and the musicians and activists of Shame the Devil.

Documents

Marilyn Buck Reads Concrete Cocoon Marilyn Buck Reads Concrete Cocoon
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
An excerpt from "The Order: 9 AM PDT", read by the author. Part of "Incommunicado: Dispatches from a Political Prisoner"
Rap for Justice Rap for Justice
Format: mp3Program: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
A rap by Marilyn buck on rebellion against the Prison Industrial Complex, from "Incommunicado: Dispatches from a Political Prisoner"
Marilyn Buck Reads The Tortured Marilyn Buck Reads The Tortured
Year: 2004Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Marilyn Buck reads her short poem on imprisonment. From "Incommunicado: Dispatches from a Political Prisoner"
Marilyn Buck Reads Night Marilyn Buck Reads Night
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Marilyn buck reads an excerpt from her poem, "Night". Originally from "Incommunicado: Dispatches from a Political Prisoner".
Sara Menefee Reads Moon Bereft Sara Menefee Reads Moon Bereft
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Activist and poet Sara Menefee reads Marilyn Buck's poem. Sarah is a long-time community activist, much involved in the homeless and cultural movements. As part of her work with Food Not Bombs, she was arrested for feeding the hungry without a permit. She is a founding member of The League of Revolutionaries for a New America.
Marilyn Buck Reads Dream Fragments Marilyn Buck Reads Dream Fragments
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Marilyn Buck reads her poem.
Fanny Howe Reads Acrobatic Fanny Howe Reads Acrobatic
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Poet Fanny Howe reads Marilyn Buck's piece "Acrobat" for Wild Poppies.
Presente! Performs After the Wave" Presente! Performs After the Wave"
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Presente! reads Marilyn Buck's piece, "After the Wave". Presente! includes cultural revolutionaries, some former political prisoners, whose stage production on US political prisoners includes two of Marilyn's poems set to music.
Uchechi Kalu Reads 1950 Uchechi Kalu Reads 1950
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Uchechi Kalu Reads Marilyn Buck's poem on love.
Uchechi Kalu Reads Blindfolded Men Uchechi Kalu Reads Blindfolded Men
Format: mp3Producers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Materials Recorded and Gathered for "Wild Poppies"
Uchechi Kalu Reads Marilyn Buck's poem on racism and the prison system. Uchechi Kalu is a Nigerian-born poet who has conducted writing workshops at schools, prisons and community organizations. Her book of poetry, "Flowers Blooming against a Bruised Grey Sky", is published by Whit Press.