A message to academia....
By Kishonna L Gray, PhD Dear white professor I am one of your students I want to talk about Ferguson Do you have a few moments? This entire semester We’ve been waiting and hoping Waiting for the moment For the discussion to open To talk about the reality That black people exist But by your avoidance IT’s a topic you resist This issue is more Than just black and white From what you’ve taught me It’s a lot of people’s plights But here in this moment It is they who suffer but because of your privilege You dare not utter The words. The reality The suffering. The pain Of bullets being riddled Black bodies being slain Regardless of your position No matter your stance We must take the time Open your eyes and glance Yes I’m privileged I don’t have to look But ignoring serves no purpose These live are being took By a system that’s flawed Blemished by design Rooted in the history Hanging from the pines These are things you taught us We learned them everyday History is repeating itself Sociology hit replay The movement is no different Criminology can’t you see You’re replicating a pattern That’s not woven for me Communications you’re not neutral Neither are you fair and balanced Your reporters are in the field Protesters they are silenced Cultural studies thank you For being at the front of the fight But it’s gonna take more, you see For us to take back the night Communities are gripped with fear Businesses thay can manage The protesters have a point to make When property is being damaged In our capitalist society Goods are worth more than life People are more up in arms Without Christmas tree lights I recognize my privilege. You taught me all about it. Do you live what you teach? Or is it time to recommit Remember why you’re here I’m starting to feel diminished You have a responsibility to teach me Your job maybe you should relinquish They said hands up. I said don’t shoot. You took that as a threat We’re not dangerous to you. It was an act of resistance Of solidarity, unity, and peace. For all my brothers and sisters White allies please increase
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SHE GRADUATED
BY KISHONNA L GRAY Mama I made it Yeah I graduated This feeling that I feel has got me so elated The degree is conferred The biggest lesson I learned? Wasn’t in the classroom So no grade could I earn The point and objective is that the Dream is deferred Progress deterred Because when we fight and we’re not heard We have to yearn For a system that is better Wrote the note a long time ago There is no loan that can repay this debtor I don’t have no major What you think I was trying to fake it Nah ma, I wasn’t even supposed to make it Let the stats show that me in this body Are more likely to raped or Harassed b/c I’m naughty Let them tell it You sent me here to avoid that shit in the street Thought I would meet Some sweet co-ed and bring him home to greet Mama you see the report? Yeah the retweet The court of Public opinion is the jury I have to beat Constantly questioned. Constantly denied. Not being believed because of some man’s lies But mama I learned more I probably should have never told What happened to me next Would burn your soul You know what else I learned that because of my gender I’m not valued as a true member Of this patriarchal society That would rather have me be Forced on my back than to give me any kind of equality Put me on my back that’s what he did But because I didn’t fight back… They couldn’t get rid Of that reasonable doubt that maybe she did Enough to lead him on I did say no but that wasn’t enough There should have been some bruises or marks Something more to show Because it was my fault Yeah I went to that party Yeah I had that drink And the rules of society would have you think In his eyes that shot was my consent I should not have spent Any more moments with him I would have never dreamt The experiences of one but let the real numbers show In reality let the truth be told Progress will come but with a hefty toll The price on my body my mind and my soul Having to endure the trauma Of a system that cares less for our daughters sistas and mamas But I guess I shouldn’t be mad No matter how long we’ve waited Yeah I guess I’m proud. Look mama I graduated Marked bodies Marked since birth Marked with beauty Marked with a curse Marked cuz we’re black Marked cuz we’re poor Marked cuz our society Always wants more America the beautiful America the marred America the dream America the scarred They live to want it We die to flaunt it Worship it so much They put God’s face on it Dying for them Nikes Dying for that check Dying cuz we’re fattening The White man’s check Keeping us in check Keeping us in control Sell the illusion of the vote The Ballot and the poll Money dropping like rain Falling on our scars Lashes from the profits Pain in these bars Poverty defines us Wealth reminds us That our worth is only rooted In the bling that surrounds us So when it rains and it pours Remember that thirst Cuz their sole intent Is to send my brothers to the hearse They are marking us for something Marking us for nothing Selling false dreams But my brothers they are Kings My sisters they are queens Created with Love Designed for peace Sent from above |
Authorfrom the poetic mind of Olivia Keene...(my mama gave me that pen name) Archives
March 2017
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