Tired of the Dreaming | Izzy Noon
I grow tired
of deadly encounters
in the night, of
tragedy and racism
in the dark,
of disputes in my dreams
which should
be full of peace instead.
racism poems
Crossing the Race Line | Bryn Fortey
come the late twenties
and music, particularly jazz
took some small steps
in crossing the race line
encouraging interracial performances
Italian/American Eddie Lang
born Salvatore Massaro
cut some 1929 duets with
African/American Lonnie Johnson
bringing together the two men
credited with giving the guitar
prominence as a solo instrument
though Lang had to be billed as
Blind Willie Dunn
to hide the fact he was white
around the same time
a white St Louis novelty jazz act
The Mound City Blue Blowers
featuring comb and tissue paper
and a suitcase for a drum
cut some sides with
well known jazz guests
one of which was
black tenor sax virtuoso
Coleman Hawkins
one of the first such recordings
to be issued
tiny steps maybe
but important in their own way
Dressed to Kill | Renee Drummond-Brown
We brush our teeth, knowing
the upside-down smile
blocks our speech.
We wash our face
hoping the sterile mask
gently stays in-its place.
We put our shoes-on,
knowing there’s no job
for “us” to trod.
We put our pants-on,
knowing we ain’t got
a leg to stand on.
We put on
our white tee-shirt(s),
knowing by the days end,
it’ll be filled with red bullet holes.
This is what I do know.
The body of armor
covers-up a Motherless-childs’
city potholes.
Casket sharp.
That’s what I know.
Best dress fo-sho.
Dedicated to: Good to be seen, not viewed. ‘Ya heard me?
More at http://www.reneespoems.com/.
So Far | Cattail Jester
When children still
Say “Not you,
You are not welcome”
We have not come so
Far
When the President says:
“Go back, we don’t want you,
All our criminals are black”
We have not come so
Far
When the proud hero of
Wakanda cannot make his
Way to the multiplex
To stand tall in the young
Dreams of boys and girls
Without hate and disdain
We have not come so
Far
Fifty years ago still beats
Alive and well today.
After | Tara Lynn Hawk
This street
Now quiet
All the fires having been
Put out
People dispersed
The smell of ash and dirty water
Now all over my toes
I feel lost and
Without a county
And I wonder
Will tolerance ever prevail
In my lifetime
More at https://www.taralynnhawk.com/.
Declaration of Independence | Renee' Drummond-Brown
My ears done been through slavery. My wise
eyes done been through the Civil ‘WRITES’ Movement. My mouth’s been
through the 21st century. I pen ’em
like I see ’em and feels nothin’ in return.
Miss Lady Liberty has undressed me. Stolen all my funeral clothes. And
put my widowed dress on! Underneath
all that mean green; don’t get it twisted…she’s real
rusty. Jus’ like me. Sum rumored her
an Ace of THE Spade. But
I hear she sports a mean slave-men’s
ball and chain
???
In any event…No man is an island. But. The rusty
lady IZ. Come out of the closet gal.
And let yOUR freedom ring liberty
and justice for all!
Dedicated to: O’ Beautiful!
A RocDeeRay poem for our beloved B.A.D.
—–
Renee’ Drummond-Brown, is a poetess with experience in creative writing. She is a graduate of Geneva College of Western Pennsylvania. Renee’ is still in pursuit of excellence towards her mark for higher education. She is working on her seventh book and has numerous works published globally which can be seen in cubm.org/news, KWEE Magazine, Leaves of Ink, Raven Cage Poetry and Prose Ezine, Realistic Poetry International, Scarlet Leaf Publishing House, SickLit Magazine, The Metro Gazette Publishing Company, Inc., Tuck, and Whispers Magazine just to name a few. Civil Rights Activist, Ms. Rutha Mae Harris, Original Freedom Singer of the Civil Rights Movement, was responsible for having Drummond-Brown’s very first poem published in the Metro Gazette Publishing Company, Inc., in Albany, GA. Renee’ also has poetry published in several anthologies and honorable mentions to her credit in various writing outlets. Renee’ has won and/or placed in several poetry contests globally and her books are currently eligible for nomination for a Black Book award in Southampton County Virginia. She was Poet of the Month 2017, Winner in the Our Poetry Archives and prestigious Potpourri Poets/Artists Writing Community in the past year. She graced the cover of KWEE Magazine in the month of May, 2016. Her love for creative writing is displayed through her unique style. Renee’ is inspired by none other than Dr. Maya Angelou; because of her, Renee’ posits, “Still I write, I write, and I’ll write!”
Nine Dead in SC | Marsha Owens
The church’s beating heart
shot dead
while oppression hangs in a noose,
slumps in a desk, stands jobless
on the corner tonight,
tomorrow sits in jail,
a sanctuary with food
where suits scream fiery orange,
cover angry,
rat tails sweep the floor.
Black People | BlackQueen
Black People
We are smart
We are brilliant
We are bright
Black People
We get judged
And shot
And mistaken—
Mistaken for being dangerous in the very comfort of our own home
Mistaken for being dangerous just walking down the street
Dangerous even while delivering packages because we are UPS drivers,
as it clearly says on our uniforms
Black People
They hate our color,
But love our culture
Black People
We see those who copy our hair,
listen to our music,
want to be a part of our culture,
but won’t stand up for us when times aren’t right
Black People
70,000 of us MISSING in the country,
But very few of those cases are in the news
Black People
We get SHOT because the phone in our hand is mistaken for a gun—
Black People
We aren’t allowed to be sad
To feel depressed
To have feelings
Black People
We don’t get hired because our names sound too “black”
And when we are hired, it’s for diversity
And we get fired for bringing cultural concerns up on the job
Black People
We are
Mistreated
Not trusted
“Dangerous”
A threat
We are “animals”
We are hated
We are Black People
And we are people.
We don’t deserve to be treated like animals
We shouldn’t be hated
We shouldn’t be judged based on the color of our skin
We deserve a fair chance at life
We deserve to be loved
We deserve to live
And prosper
And be happy
We are black people, and we deserve better, because
We are People.
White Ass Reacts to Uncertainty | Arya F. Jenkins
She is frightened of the
Black man the darkness
The question the unknowing
Bigness of it lurking
Riots Hangings Violence
Don’t matter who done it
The scene unscrolls like a nightmare the eyes have seen
The glory of putting down evil
And All it represents
Black evil
White good
Good white
Evil black
For the uneducated the
World Must be simple
Must be and complications
Need to be smacked down
What do I do with
What I don’t understand?
What do I do?
What do I do with the rush of the question that makes me feel
Not curious but bad
Oddly ugly
Out of place because
I see what I am capable of becoming
I feel the trigger in my hand
I know what to do
What is my right to do
When I see a bad thing
A black thing threatening
A poor white girl like me
I shoot why I shoot
I shoot shoot.
More at http://writersnreaders.blogspot.com.
Baltimore’s Son, Freddie Gray | Najwa Kareem
Would you have guessed you’d be next?
Perhaps you said so to someone close once in a text. Your suspicions concerning the police kept you running.
Did you ever consider that maybe you were too stunning?
That maybe your continuous smile was too bright.
That maybe your face was filled with too much light.
That maybe your comings and goings, your daily visits to Mom were too much.
That perhaps your happy, cheerful, respectful demeanor could reach out and touch.
That maybe a look into your eyes, they were blinded by the sun.
That surely at the ripe age of 25, your life would be done.
An act of racism I ask?
An act of brutality I ask?
An act of inhumanity I ask?
An act of injustice I ask?
Where in police school does one learn that a young black man standing on the street makes him a suspect?
Where in police school does one learn wearing Prada makes you a
prospective criminal?
Where in police school does one learn that having a nickname Pepper
makes one a target?
Where in police school does one learn that a citizen’s lead
poisoning makes him a magnet for a 6 police officer raid?
Where in police school does one learn that having no knowledge of a
man carrying a knife makes him the next chase?
Where in police school does one learn that being a human officer
entitles one to act unjustly against a human person?
Who are you or I to say because he couldn’t read as well as you or I his life didn’t matter?
Who are you or I to say because Freddie lived like many in low-income housing he didn’t deserve a chance at a better life?
Who are you or I to say because he had been arrested for drug
possession in the past he didn’t deserve to live out his dream?
Who are you or I to say because he liked to sing and make others laugh he didn’t deserve a life of dignity?
Who are you or I to say he didn’t have the right to continue
visiting his dear Mother, Mrs. Gloria Darden?
Who are you or I to say he shouldn’t have had the privilege to
continue walking Baltimore’s streets?
Now Freddie our hearts grieve your loss.
Now Freddie my heart grieves your uncalled-for death.
Now Freddie your prideful city has simmered down but it still feels
the pain.
Now Freddie my warmest sympathy to you, your family, your friends,
your supporters, and the city of Baltimore.