Because sometimes prose just won’t do…..
WHEN WAS AMERICA GREAT?
when was America great
was it when this land was “discovered”
was it when this land was stolen
was it when this land was “settled”
was it when First Peoples were killed
was it when First Peoples were “rounded up”
was it when First Peoples walked the “trail of tears”
when was America great
was it when Black bodies were snatched
was it when Black bodies were chained
was it when Black bodies were sold
was it when Black bodies were branded
was it when Black bodies were lynched
was it when Black bodies were raped
when was America great
was it when Black bodies were three-fifths
was it when Black bodies were denied the vote
was it when Black children were spat on
was it when Black bodies were ordered to the back of the bus
was it when Black leaders were gunned down
was it when Black bodies pleaded “don’t shoot”
when was America great
when
©2020 \o/ tmr
DISSIN’ US AND DISMISSIN’ US
dissin’ us and dismissin’ us
cuz
they programmed to
disparage us
disprove us
dis-count us
discredit us
discourage us
cuz
they know they can’t
dis-solve us
disappear us
disillusion us
discern us
dis-spirit us
cuz
we distinct
and un-extinctable
©2020 \o/ tmr
NON-ESSENTIAL ESSENTIALS
we see what you do
turning the world upside down
where essential is non-essential
and non-essential is essential
where truth is lie
and lie is truth
where news is fake
and fake is news
where science is hoax
and hoax is science
where racism is patriotism
and patriotism is racism
where peace is riot
and riot is peace
where honor is shame
and shame is honor
we see what you do
©2020 \o/ tmr
THE ‘RONA AIN’T RACIST: SOME OF ITS CLOSEST FRIENDS ARE BLACK
the ‘Rona don’t see color
it sees just human hosts
the ‘Rona believes all lives matter
not just the Black ones
the ‘Rona don’t have a racist strand
it loves the masked and unmasked
the ‘Rona ain’t privileged
it thrives high and low
the ‘Rona don’t stereotype
it strikes in and out the margins
the ‘Rona don’t discriminate
it deals in equal opportunity death
©2020 \o/ tmr
PATTYROLLERS GON’ GETCHA
Pattyrollers gon’ getcha
Wit’ they blue hoods
Pattyrollers gon’ getcha
Wit’ they badge to kill
Pattyrollers gon’ getcha
Wit’ they iron ropes
Pattyrollers gon’ getcha
Wit’ “gal” and “boy” on they lips
Pattyrollers gon’ getcha
Wit’ “nigger” in they heart
Pattyrollers gon’ getcha
Wit’ they search for freedom papers
Pattyrollers gon’ getcha
Wit’ they knock n’ kill warrants
Pattyrollers gon’ getcha
Wit’ they motorized slave chasers
Pattyrollers gon’ getcha
Wit’ they bullets in our back
Pattyrollers gon’ getcha
Wit’ they knee on our neck
Pattyrollers gon’ getcha
Pattyrollers done gotcha
©2020 \o/ tmr
CODE SWITCHERS
code-switchers
shape-shifters
duality-bingers
soul-tillers
black-tax victors
long before the ‘Rona
we wore the mask
making us agreeable and safe
surviving instead of thriving
the mask can’t save us from
voice-nullers
culture-busters
history-scrubbers
hate-pushers
truth-snuffers
yet we wear the mask
so we can breathe
and teach our kids the same
©2020 \o/ tmr
KKKAREN
KKKaren is who you are
sippin’ pinot grigio
with yo’ grown-out hair roots
hissin’ like a serpent
to draw in men
and do us dirty
KKKaren is who you are
wearin’ whiteness like a crown
while your manicured hand
clutches a phone
to call the cops
on our sons and daughters
KKKaren is who you are
layin’ claim to all the air
leavin’ none for us to breathe
while you curl your tongue
into lies that kill
then demand we forgive
©2020 \o/ tmr
TRUTH DON’T CARE
TRUTH don’t care nuthin’
‘bout your “fragile” feelings
you rage and roar before
TRUTH
to stage a war against
TRUTH
outmatched, outwitted, outdone
not conceding
not O.G.-ing
not once heeding
TRUTH that is and is to come
TRUTH don’t care nuthin’
‘bout your “fragile” feelings
you trade TRUTH for deception
stealing, killing, destroying
while denying
but yet knowing
our excellence
at even HeLa cell level
immortal cells that heal
but cannot heal your soul
the real darkness among us
TRUTH don’t care nuthin’
‘bout your “fragile” feelings
you claim master race status
legislating, worshipping
systems of brutality
from the beginning
snatching us
kidnapping us
shipping us
killing us
stripping us
of ev’rything important to us
today wishing to deport us
trying to report us
back where???
what was erased from us
shook from us
requires more than was took from us
TRUTH don’t care nuthin’
‘bout your “fragile” feelings
you store up hubris and pride
boastful, unremorseful
gleefully sowing
seeds of destruction
making light of
in spite of
while doubling down on
gaining ground on
refusing cooperation
with owed reparations
TRUTH don’t care nuthin’
‘bout your “fragile” feelings
you scorn the window of grace
destined for a date with fate
promised, wedded
set up and sealed
by laws of TRUTH
first weeping
then reaping
deeds that you’re steeped in
not comprehending
that tending to death brings death
forsaking TRUTH
you lost the WAY
forsaking TRUTH
it costs your LIFE
so ends you and
your “fragile” feelings
©2021 \o/ tmr
BLM: BLACK LIVES MONETIZED
it’s trashy
to cash in
on Black skin
so shameful
disdainful
distasteful
their prize is to
capitalize
on Black lives
it’s disgusting
no repercussions
only dollars
for their coffers
©2021 \o/ tmr
UNCOMFORTABLE WHITE FRIEND
I shake you up
Wake you up
Disrupt you
Interrupt you
Pierce you
Re-steer you
Turning you into
Excuse-less
Time to get purpose-full
So go ahead
Be annoyed
Be irritated
Be angry
Be sure…
You know
The WHY of your unsettling
Sit with it
Intuit it
Let it stir you
Unfurl in you
Mold you
Unfold in you
Equip you
To fix it
To remix it
‘Til ev’rybody gets it
©2020 \o/ tmr
A RAP FOR MY “TOMPROMISED” & “COONFUSED” FRIENDS
(to the tune of “Fresh Prince of Bel Air)
Now, this izza story all about how
Black folks got flipped-turned upside down
And I’d like to take a minute
To post right here
I’m tellin’ you some skinfolk ain’t what they appear
Cuzza white suprem’cy we been burned and played
Code switchin’ is how we spend mosta our days
Foolin’ ‘em, maxin’, excellin’, all cool
All side-steppin’ some wipipo actin’ the fool
When a couple-a skinfolk who were up to no good
Started makin’ trouble for Black livelihoods
They got one taste of whiteness and it soon became clear
They’re coonin’ wit’ their auntie and uncle overseer…….
They hustle for approval, for it ta come near
Their lyin’ face says skinfolk but no kinfolk in the mirr’r
If anything we pretend these coons are rare
But we know “damn, let’s face it; they’re, ev’rywhere”
Theyyyy pullll up to the big-house betrayin’ 7 or 8
And yell to the masses, “yo folks, sell ya later”
They gave up the kingdom
Havin’ fallen so far
To be on display as the tools that they are
“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” original lyrics: ©Will Smith / Jeffrey Townes
parody lyrics: ©2022 \o/ tmr
THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA
THE FINAL “WORD”
I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence comes my help. 2 My help comes from Yahuah, which made heaven and earth. 3 He will not suffer your foot to be moved: he that guards you will not slumber. 4 Behold, he that guards Yashar’el shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 Yahuah is your guard: Yahuah is your shade upon your right hand. 6 The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 Yahuah shall guard you from all evil: he shall guard your soul. 8 Yahuah shall guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore. Tehilliym (Psalms) 121 KJV, את Cepher
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Thru September 30 or until we reach maximum capacity of 50 (whichever comes first), you can apply to be a member of my “True Anti-Racism Allies Academy.” The optimum term here is “true.”
Having launched August 1, the Academy is a subscription-based community for aspiring anti-racism allies and anti-racism allies-in-progress to (un)learn and grow to become impactivists™. Benefits include community support for the journey, coaching, content not released on LinkedIn, minimum of one video lesson per month, monthly invitation to a live virtual learning lab.
The community is NOT right for those who are “fragile,” ego-driven, unreceptive to feedback and correction, averse or “allergic” to discomfort, or are looking for “ally cookies.”
Membership is neither automatic nor guaranteed.
Our first week together focused on “adulting” (it doesn’t mean what you think it means in the anti-racism space) as a non-desirable trait for impactivists™ and on what it means to really listen. Having done a deep-dive on The Impact Apology, we are now immersed in “white silence”….confronting and combatting it in self and in others.
Click here for more information and to apply.
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