©2018 E.R Smith as Michael Cleaves
Living The Dream
Got up from the Woolworth’s lunch counter, messy with condiments;
Used prints to create a dashiki
Marched all over the southern land, sight-saw strange fruit;
created jazz
Mixed in my education, like a Benetton ad;
uplifted my community
Wore black boots, with black caps, called myself a Panther;
hypnotized a world with Black Power
Unleashed my abundant hair, called myself Beautiful;
introduced a ‘fro
Police stomped my face, sent shepherds called German after me;
mainstreamed Rap
Threw my fist in the air like an Olympian, receiving gold;
started profiling
Remembering that dream hasn’t been easy, changing a klan cherished history;
Rap got gangsta’
Beaten even when one couldn’t breathe, now black lives matter;
Confused as to whether we are beginning anew, causes we forgot to remember?
I love it. It’s descriptive and touching.
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