Black Lives Matter, Still

Tags

art is activism, black lives matter, black youth, emmett till, mamie till, peaceful protest

We’d like to take a moment to pay homage to the life of Emmett Till…

Sixty-three years later we’re chanting Black Lives Matter still?!

Peace to the mothers that had to bury a son.

Peace to the photographer that captured the harrowing image of a stoic Mamie Till peering at her son.

When will the impunity enjoyed by Make America Great Again extremists come to an end?

Why do tough on crime conservatives fail to prosecute when the plaintiff has pale skin?

It’s been sixty-three years to date and America continues to fail the Black Youth.

Peace to the Emmett Till Generation and organizations that empower the Black Youth.

Let us never forget brother Emmett nor the brothers and sisters slain neath the blind eye of society.

Question: How can one afford a peaceful protest, while our brothers and sisters are dying violently?

–@StevieStreets #artisactivism #poem | Black Lives Matter, Still

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More Malcolm than Martin

Tags

black lives matter, i have a dream, i too am america, more malcolm than martin, public holiday

Concerning nonviolence, it is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks. -Malcolm X

#codeofthestreets:
I TOO SING AMERICA…
I am the darker brother,
exclaimed Langston
Hughes.

Listen, Black America…
I’m more MALCOLM than MARTIN
same color, different hues.

AIN’T THAT AMERICA…
They killed both brothers;
albeit different views.

The nonviolent
died violently.

The Jim Crow defiant
died violently.

COINTELPRO
couldn’t silence me.

Ghandi was a bigot,
Malcolm had a little more faith,
y’all better stop dreaming and stay woke.

I don’t want no pie in the sky,
the all-seeing eye won’t seal my fate;
the only God they trust is inscribed Federal Notes.

Thee American Dream is a hoax,
they still don’t want me to vote;
my neighborhood consists of liquor store – traphouse – storefront church,
I guess hope is the new dope.

Why they wanna sell me inebriate dreams of tomorrow,
while they live their dreams today
and I succumb to sorrow?

Explain to me why is it so easy for society to witness injustice everyday,
yet equal rights and justice are always coming on the morrow?

I wonder how people that look like me
are considered to be the minority
yet somehow we comprise the incarcerated majority?

I wonder why MLK day is the only public holiday dedicated to a minority?

Why we don’t dedicate holidays to the El-Hajj Malik’s and Fannie Lou’s of society?

Why do they extract brothers like Mumia and Dr. York from society?

I have a dream… and I pray I live to see the day when Sundiata, Mutulu, and Jamil Abdullah are paid retributions and returned to society.

I have a dream… that one day Assata, Kathleen, and Angela will be awarded for their contributions to society.

I have a dream… that one day names like Herman Wallace, Fred Hampton, and Mark Clark will resonate with society.

I have a dream… that women like Afeni, Mary Johnson Lowe, and Ruby Bridges are celebrated for their contributions to society.

I mean…
Why is Malcolm hated?
Why is Martin celebrated?
Why is the alpha Black Male castrated?
Where would we be if Harriet never made it?

–@StevieStreets #publicholiday #poem | More Malcolm than Martin

Thank You Georgia Power!

Tags

blackout, Georgia Power, green technology, tropical storm irma

Thank You Georgia Power!
A few seconds after stepping out of the cold shower,
the lights came on.
I’s got power now,
thee lights are back on;
but memories of Irma still linger, I shall remember the storm.
As for now, I just wanna extend my gratitude to Georgia Power
for getting our power back on.
That tropical storm had it’s pro’s and its con’s,
it provided me with the much needed time to think and plan
but I’m too much of a modern man to ever lie on the the lamb.
They can save that prehistoric living for the history books;
I am one to admit I love technology.
I love the simple things…
like hot water; I love technology.
After a few nights without lights,
I am thankful for those that have the insight to invest in green technology.
If STEM and STEAM can teach us to power a radio with a potato,
imagine the world when electricity is powered by green technology.
But until then, I’ll stand with the dreamers
until the American Dream becomes more than a dream.
As for now, I’d like to thank Georgia Power
in advance for my next hot shower.

–@StevieStreets #blackout #poem vi | Thank You Georgia Power!

Pamombeau

Tags

final respects, homage, salutations

Pamombeau…

’cause a person’s name is the sweetest sound in any language,

as Dale Carnegie would say.
Pamombeau…

’cause whenever I said your name

you would smile brighter than a sunray.
Pamombeau…

’cause I know you wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
Pamombeau…

my dear friend, I will always remember the last time we spoke;

you were so happy, you said your headaches have finally gone away.
Pamombeau…

my dear friend, I’ll always hold onto to that day;

’cause when I said Pamombeau you smiled then asked if we could pray.
A few days later I got the call stating that you were in ICU 

and didn’t know what to say.
However, when Kristie told me to talk to you in ICU,

I knew exactly what to say.
I held your hand and said Pamombeau,

hoping that you would respond in some way.
You moved your legs, Kristie exclaimed “SHE RESPONDED,”

as I fought through a panic attack, thinking “no way.”
Pamombeau…

You taught me to always be mindful of what I say.
Thank you for being a friend,

thank you for always having kind words to say.
Thank you for telling Mr. John that I was kind to you at the library;

I still can’t believe how he hired me the next day.
Thank you for bringing me into the fold at Kohl’s;

I still live the “Yes We Can” mantra everyday.
Thank you for joining the chicken biscuit club on Saturdays;

I’ll never forget when you nonchalantly told me 

“I know you, Lydia, and Jan usually get Bojangles but… 

I bought Chick-fil-A 

and Chick-fil-A is better than Bojangles anway.”
Farewell Pamombeau…

I’m so glad that the last time we spoke you asked if we could pray.
Farewell Pamombeau…

’cause a person’s name is the sweetest sound in any language,

as Dale Carnegie would say.
Although, you were most affectionately known as Beau…

I think this one’s gonna be entitled Pamombeau 

’cause whenever I said your name

you would smile brighter than a sunray.
Farewell Pamombeau…

your name will always be an ode to Pam and Beau,

as you used to say.
As I bid my final Farewell, Pamombeau…

I think we’ll call this one Pamombeau,

as an ode to you today.
–@StevieStreets #homage #poem | Pamombeau

Farewell to my Matriarch

Tags

final respects, homage, salutations

Head in my hands… holding back these tears,
thinking about the woman who taught me to always face my fears.

It’s kind of funny cause I was told the first years of my life I wouldn’t cry…
I remember everyone thinking there was something wrong with me cause I wouldn’t cry;
but as long as I remember, I remember sitting next to my Aunt Elsie so I wouldn’t cry.
I remember the times she would let me spend the day with her so I wouldn’t cry.

I don’t know where I got the wisdom to tell her people are like piranhas and tears are like blood,
when she asked why I wouldn’t cry.
To this day I could hear her voice when she said it’s okay baby you’re with me go on an’ cry.

She taught me the value of family, in my troubled youth she kept me by her side.
She told me to keep my brother by my side,
she’s the reason why people still call me Stephen and Kai;
even when I’m by myself… and they don’t see Kai.

Head in my hands… tryin’ not to cry,
thinking ‘bout how she always made me my own pan of cornbread;
the last time I seen her she made me a few pans of pie.

Today as I bid farewell to my matriarch,
I find comfort in knowing she made everyone think they were special
when she gave them the gift of a pie.

I know they’re having a soul food Sunday in heaven,
I know Aunt Elsie gon’ show ‘em how to make macaroni and cheese,
cornbread, and sweet potato pie.

Today as I bid farewell to my matriarch,
yet I find comfort in knowing my heritage;
uncle Donald told me you were named after my Great Grandmother, I now know why.

Aunt Elsie… you were more than my Great Aunt;
you were everything to the boy that wouldn’t cry.
I know grandma Nancy saved a Pokeno board for you and aunt Pee Wee in the sky.

–@StevieStreets #homage #poem | Farewell to my Matriarch

Johnnie Walker & Joog Joint Music

Tags

homage, last respects, salutations

​I bid farewell to my main man today..
there was so much joy, so much pain today.
I’m ​​quite certain, they had a blues festival in heaven today.
I’m quite certain, it’s gon’ be a Johnnie Walker & Joog Joint kind of day.

I bid farewell to my main man today…
I just wanna listen to the guitar chords from The Thrill Is Gone today;
yet, I’m quite certain, you wouldn’t have wanted it that way.
So like beads of moonshine, these big tears instantly went away.

I bid farewell to my main man today…
He was a traveling man yet he was called home the other day.
Although, I’ll still live on, the thrill is gone away from me today.
I think it’s gon’ be a Johnnie Walker & Joog Joint Music kind of day.

I had to bid farewell to my main man today…
I got that stop and listen blues in my veins today.
In the catacombs of my mind, I could hear all the things my main man used to say.
His words resonated like Little Walter on the harmonica as Muddy Waters sang today.

I could hear my main man singing,
“I love the life I live and I live the life I love” today.
It’s been a Johnnie Walker & Joog Joint Music kind of day.
I understood why they said there’s no good in goodbye today.
I had to bid farewell to my main man today.

I had to bid farewell to my main man today…
there was so much pain, so much joy today.
I’m quite certain, they had a blues festival in heaven today.
It’s been a Johnnie Walker & Joog Joint Music kind of day.

I had to bid farewell to my main man today…
Like a broken record, I just want this broken heart of mine to repeat The Thrill Is Gone today.
Yet, I know you wouldn’t have wanted it that way.
So like beads of moonshine, I need these big tears to quickly fade away.

Like beads of moonshine, I need these big tears to quickly fade away.
Like beads of moonshine, I need these big tears to quickly fade away.
Although, I’ll live on, the thrill is gone away from me today.
I had to bid farewell to my main man today.

–@StevieStreets #ponderosa #poem | Johnnie Walker & Joog Joint Music (I Bid Farewell To My Main Man)

CAFE SOCIETY

Tags

cafe society, coffeehouse love, harlem renaissance

I am standing on the shoulders of giants…

This month I salute BARNEY JOSEPHSON who in October 1940 took his 1938 groundbreaking super club called “CAFE SOCIETY” and opened an uptown location. 21 GUN SALUTE to Barney Josephson for his admiration of the Harlem Renaissance and his audacity to change America’s Nightlife.

–@StevieStreets | Cafe Society

© 2009 by Stevie Streets, All rights reserved