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Asante
Mage


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Posts: 87,002
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"Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. 2
#18856895 - 09/18/13 06:55 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Here's a poem I found on YouTube dealing with race and law enforcement. I'm going to post it here and put it up for discussion. Lets hope good will come of it.
Guys, please keep it civil and respectful.
Performed during the semifinals of the 2013 National Poetry Slam for Da Poetry Lounge.
Quote:
Javon Johnson - Cuz He's Black
"cuz he's black & poor he's disappeared the name waz lost" -Ntozake Shange
So I'm driving down the street with my 4-year-old nephew. He, knocking back a juice box, me, a Snapple, today y'all we are doing manly shit. I love watching the way his mind works. He asks a million questions. Uncle, why is the sky blue? Uncle, how do cars go? Uncle, why don't dogs talk? Uncle, uncle, uncle, he asks, uncle, uncle, uncle, he asks uncle uncle uncle as if his voice box is a warped record. I try my best to answer every question, I do. I say it's because the way the sun lights up the outer space. It's because engines make the wheels go. It's because their minds aren't quite like ours. I say Yes. No. No. Yes. No. Yes. No. I don't know. Who knows? Maybe. We laugh. He smiles at me, looks out the window, spots a cop car, drops his seat and says, "Oh man, Uncle, 5-0, we gotta hide." I'll be honest. I'm not happy with the way we raise our Black boys. Don't like the fact that he learned to hide from the cops before he knew how to read. Angrier that his survival depends more on his ability to deal with the "authorities" than it does his own literacy. "Get up," I yell at him. "In this car, in this family, we are not afraid of the law." I wonder if he can hear the uncertainty in my voice. Is today the day he learns that uncle is willing to lie to him, that I am more human than hero? We both know the truth is far more complex than do not hide. We both know too many Black boys who disappeared. Names lost. Know too many Trayvon Martins Oscar Grants and Abner Louimas, know too many Sean Bells, and Amadou Diallos Know too well that we are the hard-boiled sons of Emmett Till. Still, we both know it's not about whether or not the shooter is racist, it's about how poor Black boys are treated as problems well before we are treated as people. Black boys in this country cannot afford to play cops and robbers if we're always considered the latter, don't have the luxury of playing war when we're already in one. Where I'm from, seeing cop cars drive down the street feels a lot like low-flying planes in New York City. Where I'm from, routine traffic stops are more like mine fields, any wrong move could very well mean your life. And how do I look my nephew in his apple face and tell him to be strong when we both know black boys are murdered every day, simply for standing up for themselves? I take him by the hand, I say be strong. I say be smart. Be kind, and polite. Know your laws. Be aware of how quickly your hands move to pocket for wallet or ID, be more aware of how quickly the officer's hand moves to holster, for gun. Be Black. Be a boy and have fun, because this world will force you to become a man much quicker than you need to. "Uncle," he asks, "what happens if the cop is really mean?" And, it scares me to know that he, like so many Black boys, is getting ready for a war I can't prepare him for.
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Patlal
You ask too many questions



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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: Asante] 3
#18856926 - 09/18/13 07:24 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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That was touching. That was the truth
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Everlong
King of the Neckbeards


Registered: 03/24/08
Posts: 9,087
Loc: Poconos
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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: Patlal] 12
#18856933 - 09/18/13 07:28 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Had me until the Trayvon Martin part, then hard. Boo hoo poor young black males who attack people shouldn't be looked at as a problem! Oh wait.
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qman
Stranger

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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: Everlong] 9
#18857016 - 09/18/13 08:02 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Shouldn't black males be in more fear of other black males than of cops? Statistically speaking, they should fear people of their own culture much more than of law enforcement. The poem never addressed that truth.
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B_BOY
Phuck Ewe



Registered: 07/17/11
Posts: 2,819
Loc: O
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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: qman]
#18857039 - 09/18/13 08:17 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
qman said: Shouldn't black males be in more fear of other black males than of cops? Statistically speaking, they should fear people of their own culture much more than of law enforcement. The poem never addressed that truth.
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luvdemshrooms
Two inch dick..but it spins!?


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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: qman]
#18857047 - 09/18/13 08:22 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
qman said: Shouldn't black males be in more fear of other black males than of cops? Statistically speaking, they should fear people of their own culture much more than of law enforcement. The poem never addressed that truth.
That. Until that truth is addressed blacks are their own worst enemies.
-------------------- You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for that my dear friend is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. ~ Adrian Rogers
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Gilgamesh18
Herbivore Man

Registered: 03/01/12
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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: qman]
#18857096 - 09/18/13 08:47 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
qman said: Shouldn't black males be in more fear of other black males than of cops? Statistically speaking, they should fear people of their own culture much more than of law enforcement. The poem never addressed that truth.
No they should be afraid of racist whites trying to renslave them
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B_BOY
Phuck Ewe



Registered: 07/17/11
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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: Gilgamesh18] 1
#18857103 - 09/18/13 08:51 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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blacks used to have slaves also, but i am sure you wouldn't know that considering you bias opinion on white people.
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Gilgamesh18
Herbivore Man

Registered: 03/01/12
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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: B_BOY]
#18857106 - 09/18/13 08:53 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
B_BOY said: blacks used to have slaves also, but i am sure you wouldn't know that considering you bias opinion on white people.

False it was white corruption that caused this Africa was a UTOPIA before the white man came and raped the land
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Asante
Mage


Registered: 02/06/02
Posts: 87,002
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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: Asante]
#18857114 - 09/18/13 08:57 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Wiccan_Seeker said:
Guys, please keep it civil and respectful.
-------------------- Omnicyclion.org higher knowledge starts here
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zappaisgod
horrid asshole


Registered: 02/11/04
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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: qman]
#18857116 - 09/18/13 08:59 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Patlal said: That was touching. That was the truth
Another foreigner opining on the US race situation.
Quote:
qman said: Shouldn't black males be in more fear of other black males than of cops? Statistically speaking, they should fear people of their own culture much more than of law enforcement. The poem never addressed that truth.
Indeed they should.
Another far fetched aspect of that poem was that there was a Negro child with an involved father uncle. Not exactly the most common situation.
They persist in externalizing the causes of Negro crime and poverty when they would best be served by observing what they see in the mirror. The culture of dis and the permanent chip on the shoulder is not working out real well for them.
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Mr.PhilCybin
Master Baiter


Registered: 06/13/11
Posts: 11,642
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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: Gilgamesh18] 1
#18857131 - 09/18/13 09:05 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I liked it. Thanks for posting Wiccan
-------------------- I'm stupid, Falcon91Wolvrn03 is smart. I'm ugly, Falcon91Wolvrn03 is beautiful. I'm a loser, Falcon91Wolvrn03 is a winner. Someday, I hope to be like Falcon91Wolvrn03 but secretly know I never will.
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hidenseek1
Its got all the dinks.
Registered: 12/22/12
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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: luvdemshrooms] 1
#18857146 - 09/18/13 09:10 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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the poem was pretty good
Quote:
luvdemshrooms said:
Quote:
qman said: Shouldn't black males be in more fear of other black males than of cops? Statistically speaking, they should fear people of their own culture much more than of law enforcement. The poem never addressed that truth.
That. Until that truth is addressed blacks are their own worst enemies.
how so? because of the "gang banger" attitude? where did they learn this? rap? media? who pays for whats shown on the screen?
-------------------- You can drink at 7 A.M., because the Beastie Boys fought for that right -------------------------------------------------------------------------- pons asinorum -------------------------------------------------------------------------- lsd and the vietnam war changed music forever
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VivaLaMushie
RIP LS :(


Registered: 07/23/12
Posts: 15,711
Loc: Switzerland
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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: Mr.PhilCybin] 4
#18857152 - 09/18/13 09:12 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I stopped reading once I saw Trayvons name
IDK.
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qman
Stranger

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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: hidenseek1]
#18857158 - 09/18/13 09:17 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
hidenseek1 said: the poem was pretty good
Quote:
luvdemshrooms said:
Quote:
qman said: Shouldn't black males be in more fear of other black males than of cops? Statistically speaking, they should fear people of their own culture much more than of law enforcement. The poem never addressed that truth.
That. Until that truth is addressed blacks are their own worst enemies.
how so? because of the "gang banger" attitude? where did they learn this? rap? media? who pays for whats shown on the screen?
So Hollywood creates the senseless violence in the black culture? That assertion is very insulting, to imply that watching something on a screen can influence a culture into murdering their own people, what are they? Mindless robots in your opinion?
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hidenseek1
Its got all the dinks.
Registered: 12/22/12
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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: qman]
#18857187 - 09/18/13 09:26 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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if you want to emulate something, youll probably want to emulate something of your own heritage, and most black people on tv are badd ass dope selling, hoe banging, money flashing guys, belonging to some sorta gang or clique

EDIT: i dont think that black people are mindless robots, but the tv is there to spread propaganda, thats what it was invented for, so i would say that most people that watch tv regularly are, me included
i dont even get how its insulting, at least more or less than any reason for a culture killing eachother,
also Quote:
That assertion is very insulting, to imply that watching something on a screen can influence a culture into murdering their own people
i find kinda ironic, because hitler mass produced tv's to put into every pub/bar to brainwash people, again back to these things were invented to influence people watching
the only thing i find insulting is i managed to turn yet another thread into racist argument, kinda why i decided to edit this post instead of making a new post
the point i was trying to make with my original post is that the gang attitude gets alot of attention in media especially on music video channels, and its not black people who run those channels, its some rich guy, and a good way to stay rich is having poor people fighting amongst themselves
-------------------- You can drink at 7 A.M., because the Beastie Boys fought for that right -------------------------------------------------------------------------- pons asinorum -------------------------------------------------------------------------- lsd and the vietnam war changed music forever
Edited by hidenseek1 (09/18/13 09:40 AM)
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SoreSpore
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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: Asante] 2
#18857199 - 09/18/13 09:30 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Although the delivery made it heartfelt and alive, the speech begs the question of what oppression the speaker has felt. Also, why he is unable to prepare his young nephew for "the war" and what benefit is created by classifying it at such? Instead of enlightening him with the knowledge that law enforcements power ends when citizens are abiding within the law. Instead of instilling values on how to prepare for the inevitable situation dealing with law enforcement of any type, the speaker is focusing on popularizing the lesser of the wars African Americans face today in the US.
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zappaisgod
horrid asshole


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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: SoreSpore]
#18857203 - 09/18/13 09:32 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
SoreSpore said: Although the delivery made it heartfelt and alive, the speech begs the question of what oppression the speaker has felt. Also, why he is unable to prepare his young nephew for "the war" and what benefit is created by classifying it at such? Instead of enlightening him with the knowledge that law enforcements power ends when citizens are abiding within the law. Instead of instilling values on how to prepare for the inevitable situation dealing with law enforcement of any type, the speaker is focusing on popularizing the lesser of the wars African Americans face today in the US.
Quality post. 
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Lynnch
Strangerer



Registered: 04/29/09
Posts: 7,886
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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: VivaLaMushie] 5
#18857215 - 09/18/13 09:36 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Everlong, qman, luvdemshrooms, qman, Gilgamesh18, zappaisgod, VivaLaMushie said: I'm white and privileged so I don't even attempt to understand what it's like to be a person of a different race.
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Gilgamesh18
Herbivore Man

Registered: 03/01/12
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Re: "Cuz he's black" -- A poem I heard that moved me and that I'd like to share with The Pub. [Re: Lynnch]
#18857221 - 09/18/13 09:39 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Lynnch said:
Quote:
Everlong, qman, luvdemshrooms, qman, Gilgamesh18, zappaisgod, VivaLaMushie said: I'm white and privileged so I don't even attempt to understand what it's like to be a person of a different race.
I'm not privileged I come from a solid middle class area
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