Yesterday I ordered the proof of my first collection of poetry The Musings of My Epic Mind. This book is the first poetry milestone in my writing career and the second after having published my first novel The Virgin Surgeon in December of 2011.
This particular poem was inspired by both a mild-loathing and love for the socially constructed “race” of people called black people that I am apart of. As well as from my conversations with people, especially a young man that I have mentored for the past 7 years, De’Quan Foster. I hope that you enjoy, but take from it what you will, such is the way of poems. The writing of this poem was also partly inspired by Emily Frankel’s article entitled Prejudice on her blog; as it pushed my hand to write. The article was very enjoyable for me because of the honesty with which it was written. That is something that I can always count on Em for on her blog and in the emails we share. You can surely read about her on her website but for a little background, Em is a dancer and writer of some acclaim. She is also the wife of actor John Cullum and the mother of actor JD Cullum who you may have seen on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and Wizards of Waverly Place respectively.
Black People
Often times they are hated in my brain
Ill tempered people quite uncouth
I see them without brakes, a running train
From idiocy and ignorance, they should refrain
Ever weary of words that pass the tooth
For in study the world can be gained
Reparations are a waste, thus forget the claim
Grab your coin of luck, call success in your booth
Since it cannot be erased, that old stain
Let it remain only as a memory on old plains
For the natives suffered as much in truth
It is for them to flush their crap down the drain
For they are all dead, nothing but books explain
The tyranny of those boats and those troops
Hold fast to education subdue anger and disdain
Greater things will come, blood is strong in your veins
Until next write…
Read my debut novel, The Virgin Surgeon and stayed tuned for The Musings of My Epic Mind
