POEM: ALL THAT'S BLACK AIN'T BROTHER

photo by Alex Lear


 

 

all that's black ain't brother

 

            1.

            white people

            come in all colors

 

            their systems sink

            past skin

            anchoring into bone, mind

            flesh, heart and soul

 

            it is geno-suicide

            to minstrel aliens

            but some of us do die

            strangled by our own

            hands

 

            2.

            some of us

            selfishly think that

            self starts

            and stops

            with i

 

            dream not of peace

            but money, don't

            dance, hate

            our energy

            and lust for

            an equal opportunity

            to turn the screws

 

            see that

            black boy over there,

 

            he's white.

 

—kalamu ya salaam