dis-jointed dedicated 2 my brothers & siSt⭐rs

“dis-JOINTED”

I’ve been holding this in for awhile now
I think that it's time for us to have a sit down
a face to face a conversation
there are some things that need discussing
first, I miss you
I apologize for not standing up for you
for trying to hold it down on my own
but since you started to neglect yourself
and place blame on everyone else but yourself
I didn't know what to do
but to distance myself from you
now I see that it was wrong of me
to leave you in your time of need
we are made for each other
complimentary colors,
mixtures of different hues
the plight we share
as each generation grows
is the same
but the foundation
has crumbled and is beginning to fade

so I ask that we pitch in
and get to work
it's gonna get messy
and some feelings may get hurt
individually
we have been carrying a great weight
and the longer we allow this burden
to sink us further
I fear that there will be a day
we will not be able to reach each other

so today I ask
that we stop the disrespect
stop running and stand your ground
that we acknowledge each other
and not tear our spirits down
not give into meaningless
degradation
but that we work on
rebuilding this foundation
find the trust for one another again
that we come together
and stand united, brotha to sistah
friend to friend
arm in arm we not surrender
or give into the fears
that have been plaguing
our communities, our psyches
for so many years
let not another stake be wedged
between us
let's defend this
space that we have
between us
by bridging the gap
so tight, and enforcing
this connection
with all our might

so my brotha, my sistah
do you forgive me?
as I have forgiven you ...

© sharbi3 2006

Just Like Me

Some will say
why subject yourself
to so much pain?
Why let a tear fall,
it's their fault,
let it be
their downfall

When the levees broke,
I watched
from the comfort
of my home,
while bodies lay bloated
and afloat
on NOLA flooded streets
I cried loudly,
sobbing miserably
because all I could do
was make a donation
while people
in the Superdome
weeped

When Billie sang
of strange fruit
hanging from southern trees,
I wasn't born yet
but I could still smell the scent
of dead flesh
lingering in the breeze
Those colored folk,
people of great faith
And little means,
they don't mean
no-thing to me

I've glimpsed images
of festive gatherings,
smiling faces
while joyously cheering
the burning flesh
of a young black man
nailed to a cross

I've seen armored tanks,
with gas masked faced
police officers swarming
on a town
of peaceful protesters

Too many names
to list
of senseless murders
of unarmed men, women, boys and girls

Young black babies
used as bait for gators
Railcar porters smiling and cheesing
as they catered
Ms. Rosa Parks,
God rest her soul,
too tired to move any further

Garvey trying to make away
for us to get back
to the Motherland,
only to be stopped
by J Edgar's racist hand
Martin spoke
about a dream,
not yet realized
Even Malcolm
changed his outlook
to give peace a try

Bob's prophetic chants
so many years ago,
so much trouble in the world,
I still feel it
way down deep in my soul

We're always in the back,
behind closed doors
Masta rapin' and impregnatin'
young slave girls
Jefferson couldn't even deny his seed,
just like good ol' boy Strom did
indeed

See,
it's not that
I intentionally
set out to see
or hear
or be
in the midst
of these injustices
and atrocities

I cannot help
but to feel
the pain they feel,
hear what they hear,
see what they see,
I've got sons like them,
a daughter like them

See
Those theys'
and thems'
and us' are black,
... just like me

©Sharbi3 2014

There's No Justice, There's Just Us

It's not just about Trayvon. 
His murder was a catalyst. 
It's not just about Emmit Till. 
His murder was a catalyst. 
It's not just about the Jena 6 or Rosa Parks. 
It's not just about ...

Ramarley Graham, Arthur McDuffie, James Byrd, Amadou Diallo, Sean Bell, Yusef Hawkins, Oscar Grant, Willie Turks, George Jackson, Derrick Jones, Martin Luther King Jr, Corey Brown, Henry Glover, Alonzo Ashley, Reginald Doucet, Troy Davis, Kenneth B Walker, Michael Griffith, Bernard Monroe, Malcolm X, Khiel Coppin, James Craig Anderson, Roger and Dorothy Malcom, Henry Smith, Stephon Watts, Rekia Boyd, Shaima Alawadi. 

The list goes on and on and on. 

When will it END?

We don't need anymore catalysts, wake up calls, walking/driving while black, stop and frisk, 500 more years.

This is about disenfranchisement, economic inequality, sub-standard living, not receiving a quality education, higher rates of unemployment,  highest rate of incarcerated individuals, too many single-parent households.

Children in Chicago killing each other, for what? Yeah this is about that too.

It hurts. I'm tired.

We're all tired of fighting the same struggle day in and day out to be recognized ...

as H U M A N S

We haven't received reparations,  the Japanese did,  the Jews did, those in the Middle East have. I, we, they are just as human as everyone else. Wouldn't you be just as upset if all you hear and see are your brothers and sisters dying at your feet, down your street, in your city, their town, our world?

There is no justice,  there's Just Us.

- Sharmane 7/15/2013