Hashtag Black Panther

Tags

black buying power, black lives matter, black panther movie, black panther party for self-defense, collective economics, vibranium, wakanda forever

Now that everyone is talkin’ ‘bout the black panther movie…

 

Can we talk about the Black Panther Party for Self Defense?

 

Can I get a Power to the People Forever?

Can you grip your fingers together

And raise a clenched-fist, one time, for Bobby and Huey?

 

Can we free our Political Prisoners

And arm our brothers & sisters with legal defense?

 

Now that everyone is talkin’ ‘bout the black panther movie…

 

May I advise, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised?

Can I get a HANDS OFF ASSATA FOREVER?

 

Would it be ill-advised to surmise Black Revolutionaries beyond a movie?

When we gon’ realize Black Buying Power beyond the opening week of a movie?

 

Can we get all the brothers & sisters in the streets struggling to come together?

Can we build our own homes,

Give our brothers & sisters a loan,

And open our own grocery stores?

Can you call upon the ancestors

And answer the call to support those that look like you and yours?

Can we teach unity,

Build our own communities,

And mandate Black Dollars Matter Forever?

 

Now that everyone is talkin’ ‘bout the black panther movie…

When we gon’ realize the world ain’t nothing but a B Movie?

And someone’s always comin’ to save the day in the B Movie.

 

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised…

No one is coming to save the day,

It’s not a movie!

 

My Freedom Fighters Ain’t Free,

The leaders of the Free World don’t move me.

 

When I talk about The Panthers, I ain’t talkin’ ‘bout the movie.

Yet I can draw parallels between The Movement and the movie.

 

Melanin is supercharged with sun energy,

Antagonists try to claw the Mali vibes from our cranium.

Sorta like Klaue when it comes to vibranium,

They aim to antagonize and drain our energy.

 

Let’s talk about synergy…

our kinetics are Kemetic,

The Panthers mobilized a united front in every major city.

 

In the spirit of FREE ANGELA;

Can we SET OUR PEOPLE FREE,

In every major city?

 

Now that everyone is talkin’ ‘bout the black panther movie…

 

Can we FREE THE PANTHERS that fought for our way of life in the sixties?

If it’s WAKANDA FOREVER,

Can we bring our Political Refugees home?

Can we talk about how many Panthers died at the hands of the FBI in the sixties?

 

May I ask why my brothers & sisters were incarcerated when they opposed hatred?

Why we still got brothers & sisters detained for joining the fight equal rights in sixties?

 

How did you forget about YOU and YOURS?

How we gon’ smash box office records,

Yet fail to break open prison doors?

 

If it’s WAKANDA FOREVER,

Can I get an I WON’T BE FREE UNTIL ALL BLACK PEOPLE FREE?

Can we scale the walls of justice and SET OUR PEOPLE FREE?

 

May I ask how many of our Panthers are still caged in penitentiaries?

Can you explain to me: Why our Freedom Fighters Ain’t Free?

 

Tell me: How can we smash box office records,

Yet fail to break open those prison doors?

When did you forget about YOU and YOURS?

 

If what’s good for the goose is good for the gander,

When you gonna see past the propaganda?

 

If we can contribute to smashing box office records,

Can we start a collective to build Black owned Banks and Grocery Stores?

 

If you can contribute to smashing box office records,

Why you can’t contribute to building better schools for YOU and YOURS?

 

If REPRESENTATION MATTERS,

When you gonna back Black Filmmakers and stop begging Hollywood for better images of YOU and YOURS?

 

Now that everyone is talkin’ ‘bout the black panther movie…

 

When we gonna talk about the Black Panther Party for Self Defense?

When we gon’ smash those prison doors or get our Freedom Fighters some legal defense?

 

–@StevieStreets #blackpanther #poem | Hashtag Black Panther

 

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WHO ARE YOU?

Tags

I AM, know thyself, self-awareness, self-image, self-talk, subconscious, thoughts

WHO ARE YOU?
I’m not asking about your name or where you are from.
I’m not asking about your occupation or the things you have done.
I’m asking: Who Are You?

The most important words that you shall ever speak will immediately proceed the phrase I AM;
so I repeat: Who Are You?

What kind of self-image are you painting? – Do you draw conclusions? – Where do you draw inspiration from? – What kind of self-image are you painting?

Are you kind to yourself? – What kind of thoughts are you thinking? – Do you know life and death lie in the power of the tongue? – Are you kind in your self-talk? – What kind of thoughts are you thinking?

I’m asking: Who Are You?

Who do you think you are? – Who are you? – Tell me who you think you are?

What makes you who are? – Who are you? – Tell me what makes you who are?

Can you tell me who you are? – Who are you? – Tell me who you are?

I don’t know how well you know yourself; I don’t know if you ever thought about who you are…
Nevertheless, I pose the question “Who are you?” to draw you closer to who you are. – Do you see who you are?

I don’t know if we’re the sum total of our thoughts; who knows if your mental lexicon defines who you are…
What I know for sure is the meaning of life is revealed to those that discover who they are. – Do you know who you are?

They say one can never travel beyond one’s thoughts; if so, you better keep your thinking up to par…
One thing’s for certain, you won’t go far without a conscious mind – keep that in mind – from this time on, get to know thyself – you deserve to know who you are. – Do you think about who you are?

–@StevieStreets #subconscious #sonnet | from THE BOOK OF QUESTIONS: WHO ARE YOU? (An Ode to I AM)

Georgia Powerless: the black out poem

Tags

blackout, Georgia Power, powerless, the first 48, tropical storm irma

Still amongst the Georgia Powerless,
awaiting thee electrician’s prowess,
thinking “How did a light drizzle and some wind leave parts of Georgia powerless?”
Not to underestimate Irma’s powerfulness
but where I was at, the electricity was on
and the trees were standing strong amid the thick of the storm;
but somehow hours after the storm began to calm
the lights began to flicker off and on
and then, like magic, the power was gone.
Abra – Abra – Abracadabra, Irma pulled the rabbit out of the hat;
faster than a finger snap, just like that, she caused a blackout in broad day.
Leaving many to ask “How is the power still out and the weather’s not even that bad today?”
And that was just the first day…
then darkness fell upon us and the lights were still not on;
but wait, it’s gets better, two days later Irma had us singing the same song.
Ye ain’t know?!
I wrote a song about it.
Would you like to hear it?
Hear it go…
How is the power still not on?
We’ve experienced thunderstorms that were more severe than this tropical storm.
Irma got me feeling like the detectives in The First 48…
I drop the mic exit left then return like “You want a Coke? You straight?
Tell me: What’s really going on? How is the power still not on?”

–@StevieStreets #blackout #poem v | Georgia Powerless

And The Saga Continues

Tags

blackout, tropical storm irma

And the saga continues…
sitting in my car charging my phone,
looking out the window into the darkness
wondering “How is the power still not on?”
On the bright side, the clouds are still
and the breeze is warm.
Just saw a plane fly by, other than that there’s nothing going on;
it’s been kind of peaceful amidst the darkness,
although, I’d much rather the lights on.
And as the saga continues, I have discovered a new appreciation for dawn.
When your compelled to function between sunrise and sunset,
you begin to master your minutes and look at the sun as an hourglass that resets with each dawn.
Amidst the darkness, I have been compelled to appreciate the stillness of night;
although, I can’t help but wonder: “How is the power still not on?”

–@StevieStreets #blackout #poem iv | And The Saga Continues: the blackout poem

How Is The Power Still Not On?

Tags

blackout, tropical storm irma

How is the power still not on?
We’ve experienced thunder storms that were more severe than this tropical storm.
It’s been drizzling for hours yet still the power’s gone.
Why was an 8 p.m. curfew issued to clean up the roads and restore power
yet 8 hours later they still haven’t turned the power on?
Maybe I missed the gusting winds, maybe I missed the heavy rain,
maybe I was somewhere in my bubble when we got hit with the worse of the tropical storm…
What I know for sure is it’s drizzling and the power is still not on.
How is the power still not on?
Maybe the power’s that be prepared for this state of emergency like they prepared for that ice storm…
in which case, I’m hoping I’m wrong.
I’m hoping a few falling trees doesn’t leave us for days without lights on.
Especially since we’ve experienced thunder storms that were more severe than this tropical storm.
But then again; maybe Irma is passive agressive, maybe she’s a quiet storm…
all I know is it’s been drizzling for hours and the power’s still not on.
Maybe I should practice patience, maybe I should track down Irma and ask her: What’s really going on?
Maybe I should practice patience, maybe I’m the one that blew a fuse…
Maybe my patience is gone.
Maybe, I need food to brighten my mood while I weather the storm.
But one thing I gotta know: How is the power still not on?

–@StevieStreets #blackout #poem ii | How Is The Power Still Not On?

What is Poetry?

Tags

art of poetry, metaphors, national poetry month

Poetry is the art of making words beautiful,
It is using language the way a painter uses color.

–@StevieStreets #nationalpoetrymonth #artofpoetry #writingprompt | WHAT IS POETRY?

Ode to a Surrealist

Tags

apple of the eye, birds eye, man in a bowler hat, motifs, rene magritte, surrealism, symbolisms, the false mirror, the son of man, theatrical masks

Everything we see hides another thing; we always want to see what is hidden by what we see. -Rene Magritte

#codeofthestreets:

Here’s an ode to a surrealist…

Who’s the man in a bowler hat?

Who’s the son of man with the provocative and playful knack?

Why does the false mirror compel you to see the real gist?

Who do you know that can open the mind’s of academicians,
evoke mystery and keep nothing hidden?

Who’s better fit to depict the actualisms that appear before the eye…

with symbolisms and motifs that draw you to see what’s hidden neath the eye?

How many artists do you know that can alter sight like an optician,
illustrate optical illusions to draw attention to the visible that’s hidden?

There’s always more than meets the eye…
Did the forbidden fruit fall from a tree or was it the apple of the eye?
Never rule out what you see,
on the level – there’s always more left for the eye.

In your right mind,
your left eye is the bird’s eye…
Don’t be close minded,
open your third eye;
the windows to the unmasked soul lie in the left eye.

Did you peep the undertones of the guy in the overcoat?
How’d he hide the visible in plain sight? – Was the arm bent slight a clear indication or an oversight of the eye?
Why does keeping up appearances drive one to lose sight of the visible that is present to the eye?

How do we get past the theatrical masks?
Why are the tears of a clown too complex to grasp?
Is sight something we see
or is it a reflection of a conscious mind?

Why is sight often cited as eyesight;
why is the ability to see perceived by the range of vision on site,
why does visualization begin in the mind?

I don’t know why they say “believe half of what you see.”
I don’t know why psychoanalysis suggest: IMAGINATION can change the perceptions of reality.
What I know for sure is the surrealists invite us to look at the world differently;
even if it’s only in the mind,
even if it’s only in the mind.

–@StevieStreets #surrealism | Ode to a Surrealist

Interpolations of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Tags

black lives matter, expletive the police, good cop - bad cop, good cops don't cop out, hands off of our people, police brutality, the revolution will not be televised

Well, I don’t know if the riots is wrong
But whitey’s been kickin’ my ass for too long.

-Gil Scott-Heron #blacklivesmatter | Small Talk at 125th & Lenox

#codeofthestreets:
“The revolution will not be televised.
There will be no pictures of pigs shooting down brothers in instant replay.”

Brother Gil tried to sound the alarm;
it’s been decades,
since he dropped words for the wise.
I wonder…
Why does his words resonate so well today?

Lady Justice!
OPEN YOUR EYES!
I wonder…
Why do we have to combat the social injustices of the 50s and the 60s in present day?
Dear #goodcop, #badcop… It’s 2016!
Why are the freedom cries of my grandparents and great-grandparents still relevant, today?

Sometimes,
I wonder…
Why the police don’t police the police?!
I wonder…
What’s it gonna take for the good cops to stop copping out?

I wonder…
How do they consider themselves good cops,
when they’re afraid to stand up
and call the bad cops out?

Truth be told…
We won’t see the so called “good cops” speaking out;
until the police brutality hits home,
they will continue to cop out.

Truth be told…
There will be no slow motion or still life of your sons and daughters getting executed by the few bad police;
when your fellow officers kill your loved ones,
it will be live – it will be live – it will be live.
When the blind eyes you keep turning
finally see that your Black Life Doesn’t Matter either,
it will be live – it will be live – it will be live.
When the revolution gets rolling,
you will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out.

–@StevieStreets #handsoffofourpeople | Interpolations of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: a no more copping out poem

I Wonder Too

Tags

sociology

Remember the groups that planned picnics to lynch,
burn,
sodomize,
and/or mutilate a life?

They now have conservative values:
they propose opportunity school districts
and privatize the prisons,
they propose anti-gay laws
and sport bumper stickers that claim pro-life.

I wonder…
Why is there never a good ol’ boy in the systems
that they call the good ol’ boy system?

I wonder…
Why do they expect me to believe the Governor can see a failing educational system,
when he turns a blind eye to a failing prison system?

I wonder…
Why are equal rights and justice so hard to obtain?
Why is it so hard to see that the DNC and the GOP are one in the same?

During election season, they all seem to know your name.
When it comes to seeing that justice is served,
their eyes are all blinded the same.

I wonder…
Why do the politicians all preach change?
Do they really want change?!

After election season, they continue to speak change;
but they don’t wanna see change.
They just wanna see change;
they just want a piece of change.

Some do it for the money and the power,
some do it for the fame.
They get a few titles behind their name
and they never act the same.

When egos begin to change,
those that are appointed to protect the best interest of the people
tend to forget about the best interest of the people.
I wonder…
How can one expect equal rights and justice,
when the proponents of justice are given free rein?

They cover up corruption
with subsequent remedial measures
and more corruption;
they’ll throw dirt on your name
until your left out in the rain.

All these laws on the books
and aint a damn thing change.
Obama did the best he could
but aint a damn thing change.
The prisons are still filled with Blacks and Latinos,
aint a damn thing change.

I wonder…
Why is it a rarity to see someone appointed to do the right thing
that actually does the right thing?

It’s getting hard to do the right thing;
it seems like doing wrong is the new right thing.

I just want to fast and pray to the east;
they just want me to fall prey to the right-wing.

Some days, I’d like to fly far away;
but I’m a poet not a pilot
and I’m rooted and grounded
so I guess I’ll write wings.

Brother Marvin sang about flying high through the friendly skies
without ever leaving the ground.

I wonder…
“Why are you surprised to see them blatantly stepping on toes?
Hell; they step over veterans asleep on the ground.”

They say, “Let’s Make America Great Again!”
For the life of me,
I can’t see the pictures they are painting:
Maybe, their propaganda is too colorful.
Maybe, my perspective is off;
maybe, I remember different hues.
Maybe, they didn’t stretch the truth;
maybe, they gallery wrapped the art of storytelling,
maybe, they want those that fall by the wayside to have better views.
I wonder… if the sharp symbolisms of hate
and the impressionisms of injustice
are the fabrics that they are speaking of,
when they say America was great.
I wonder…
Why do they feel so entitled in America?
They stole the land,
made fortunes off of those they stole from foreign land,
then they wrote laws to impose the perpetual divide in America.
They want me to pray to a merciful god
that shows no mercy,
while these so called political pundits walk imaginary lines of faith:
the so called “good Christians” wear hoods
and burn crosses neath the bible belt,
they kill children for whistling dixie neath the bible belt,
brown-skin children can’t even walk the streets with a pack of Skittles neath the bible belt.
I wonder…
Why do those that state they wanna keep America great
tend to tip the scales of justice
and misappropriate diplomacy?
I wonder…
Why do they consistently claim to not see the great divide in America?
I’m appalled at the newscasts in America.
It’s getting hard to tell the reruns from the world premieres in America.
I wonder…
How long must we see the same ol’ story in America?
I see church bombings,
I see bigotry,
I see brown-skin people being brutalized in America.
No! I’m not referring to the “Great History,”
I’m talking about modern day America.

Banksy illustrated:
“I SEE HUMANS
BUT NO HUMANITY”
I love street art!
Do you see the pictures they are painting?
Maybe, I’m too radiant… for America.
I tend to mix with the outliers in this world where white is right.
They wanna dim my light;
but they will never whitewash me.
Oh No! Not Me!
They try to blackball the coloreds like me, in America.
They will never bring me down…
Oh No! I will never let ’em bring me down.
No! They won’t bring me down.
They may try to keep a foot on my throat
but I’m standing on higher ground.
I’m standing on the shoulders of those who dared to say:
“I Too America!”
I vividly remember Langston Hughes;
I think of his views,
whenever I’m under attack by America.
I hold my head up high,
I look ’em in the eye;
cause I know
I too, sing, America.
I am the darker brother.
I am standing on the shoulders of those that got spat at in America.
I am standing on the shoulders of those that got hosed down in America.
I am standing on the shoulders of those that were attacked by German Shepherds in America.
I am standing on the shoulders of those that rescued slaves in America.
I am standing on the shoulders of those that fought and died so I could read a book in America.
I am standing on the shoulders of those that fought and died so I could cast a vote in America.
Yes, I am the darker bother.
I am standing on the shoulders of those brave souls that spoke up for equal rights and justice in America.
I am representing for the feeling that made sister Maya write:
“I rise
I rise
I rise”
when they tried to write her down.
I am representing for the feeling that made brother Langston write:
“I, too, am America”
when Jim Crow laws tried to keep him down.
Sometimes, I wonder…
Exactly, what is or what was so great about America?

–@StevieStreets #iWonder part two, the #sociology #poem | from THE BOOK OF QUESTIONS: I Wonder Too

Shooting Records: America’s Best Shooters, Chef Curry & The Police

Tags

epidemic, police brutality, police officers, shoot hoops not people, stephen curry

Wake Up and Wise Up…
records are being broken:
#howmanyshots… will it take to be considered an #epidemic?

#codeofthestreets:

Dear Police:
#shoothoopsnotpeople;
be like Steph Curry,
take it to the court…
Literally, let justice by decided in the court.
Do not hold court in the streets!

Mister Police Brutality;
your foot was on the scales of justice,
those shots don’t count…
You have to take a step back
and really look at the Justice System.

HANDS UP! DONT SHOOT!
I’m not taking shots,
I’m taking shots;
no pun intended…
And NO, I won’t apologize;
I don’t care if you’re offended.
If you’re a good Officer
and you stand by silently watching,
you’re a no good Officer.

Respectfully,

Stevie Streets

–@StevieStreets | Shooting Records: America’s Best Shooters, Chef Curry & The Police