ChickenBones: A Journal
for Literary & Artistic African-American Themes
www.nathanielturner.com 
God is a black man throwing dice / And each man is given his day
At throwing them once — but never twice — / For each must be on his way.
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Books by Marcus Bruce Christian
Song of the Black Valiants: Marching Tempo / High Ground: A Collection of Poems / Negro soldiers in the Battle of New Orleans
I am New Orleans: A Poem / Negro Iron Workers of Louisiana: 1718-1900 / The Liberty Monument
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God Is A Black Man
The dice of God are always loaded — Emerson
By Marcus B. Christian
God is a black man throwing dice,
While His partner is yellow Time,
And the scores are marked upon melting ice;
On His knees, in the dust and grime
Of the road that leads to Eternity,
Where the races of men go by,
Like a black man dreaming, He shakes them free
And flings them forth with a sigh.
God is a black man throwing dice
And each man is given his day
At throwing them oncebut never twice
For each must be on his way.
Each time the galloping squares are thrown
The scores on the wet ice climb;
But before they stop and the spots are known,
“Fade you!” cries small, yellow Time.
Source: I Am New Orleans & Other Poems By Marcus B. Christian edited by Rudolph Lewis & Amin Sharif
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Selected Letters Selected Diary Notes
Memories of Marcus B. Christian (Cains) Christian’s BioBibliographical Record Introduction to I AM NEW ORLEANS
A Theory of a Black Aesthetic Magpies, Goddesses, & Black Male Identity
Activist Works on Next Level of Change Intro to I Am New Orleans Letter from Dillard University
A Labor of Genuine Love Letter of Gift of Photos Letters from LSU and Skip Gates
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Negro Iron Workers of Louisiana: 1718-1900
By Marcus Bruce Christian
Study of the blacksmith tradition and New Orleans famous lace balconies and fences.
Acclaimed during his life as the unofficial poet laureate of the New Orleans African-American community, Marcus Christian recorded a distinguished career as historian, journalist, and literary scholar. He was a contributor to Pelican’s Gumbo Ya Ya, and also wrote many articles that appeared in numerous newspapers, journals, and general-interest publications.
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Audio: My Story, My Song (Featuring blues guitarist Walter Wolfman Washington)
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26 March 2010
National Black Writers Conference
Patrick Oliver, Kalamu ya Salaam, Dorothea Smartt, Frank Wilderson discuss the use of literature to promote political causes and instigate change and transformation. The event is at the Medgar Evers College at the City University of New York. C-Span Archives
26 March 2010
National Black Writers Conference
Herb Boyd, Thomas Bradshaw, Charles Edison and Major Owens discuss how current events are reflected in the writings of African Americans. The event is at the Medgar Evers College at the City University of New York. C-Span Archives
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The Death of Emmett Till by Bob Dylan / The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll / Only a Pawn in Their Game
Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson Thanks America for Slavery
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The Journal of Negro History issues at Project Gutenberg
The Haitian Declaration of Independence 1804 / January 1, 1804 — The Founding of Haiti
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update 17 April 2010
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Home Marcus Bruce Christian Selected Letters Selected Diary Notes I Am New Orleans Table (Poems) Fifty Influential Figures