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Try as devils might To change the look of The big picture Passing itself off as a democracy, THEY CAN'T REMOVE US ALL. For the longest time, They have used
Abandonment Brutality Criminalisation Displacement Enslavement Force-fed false history Gentrification Harassment Intoxication Jokes told—spite in disguise Ku Klux flaming cross night-rides Lust towards our grrrls & women Mass murder Negation of our views Or Police intimidation Queens' African beauty devalued Religion—Christianity passed down by Pilgrims Sterilisation Terrorism Unity broken Vicious discrimination White imperialism X out credit for our contributions Youth killed before age 25 Z—last letter—last considered, 1st targeted All the tricks implemented On us & yet Our people are still mating. Our women are still breeding. Our people are still here. Our culture is still here.
WE HAVE OVERCOME Endeavours by devils To whittle our number To nothing— WE HAVE OVERCOME. It's been a long, arduous walk On the road to progress. Reacting to muscle memory, Hurtling over Obstacles we didn't design Over time— We look forward To thriving in The next 400 yrs. & what they may bring. We look forward To days of joy, seeking pleasure we deserve Not to forget about oppression, But to surmount oppression Before it regains ground To conquer spirit By having The best times of our lives. Be loud, Be lively, Be talented Because THEY CAN'T SILENCE US ALL. WE HAVE OVERCOME. & whenever possible, We'll do it again.
W: Martin Luther King Birthday 2023 [ For Rawle James, Lantern Carrier, S'phongo, Zomkhonto, Elemen2al, Midnight, Rosegold, Stacy Ardis Dyson and Zita Holbourne. ]
Dee Allen is an African-Italian performance poet based in Oakland, California. Author of 7 books and 67 anthology appearances. Currently seeking a new publisher to transform his finished manuscript into a finished, printed 8th book. View more of his work at dee allen.
A compelling poem that encapsulates the spirit of endurance by naming myriad schemes of oppression while exalting the capacity to conquer them all!
Tremendous work that looks at the endless attempts to keep a proud people enslaved to a brutal system of White supremacy and enslavement yet fails in the face of their raised voices and solidarity. Kudos to Dee Allen a great poet!