April Is National Poetry Month!

April Is National Poetry Month!

Today I shine the spotlight on a poem written by a student at Northeastern University, that appeared in the historic “Northeastern Onyx: The Black Student Voice of Northeastern University,” student newspaper.

CLEARLY BLACK
(Author Unknown/published in 1976)

Clearly Black
Is
Loving Black people
Each and every one
From the depths of an understanding that
African people have a cultural mission to
Carry on together
Undying love for Black People

Clearly Black
Is
Respecting Black people
Each and every one
Because respect is due
Our potential for struggle which we must
Wage together

Clearly Black
Is
Making a commitment
To some individual Black folks
Which you seriously maintain
So the nation can be built
From family
Real and strong

Clearly Black
Is
Profoundly enjoying Black People
Who wears our culture on their faces
Explain it
In their movement
Illuminate it
Through their creative genius
Protect it
Through their righteousness in struggle
Caress it
With their laughter

Clearly Black
Is
Knowing well our teachings
Which extends backwards now until
Antiquity
Using our ancestors' and elders' great
Wisdom
Practicing our accepted ideology
Every day

Clearly Black
Is
Mutual accountability
A sacred responsibility
To maintain values and standards and ideals
Together
To identify and correct those of our group together
Who do not

Clearly Black
Is
Victimization
Everywhere
Whether Colonial
Or neocolonial
Bringing death
Whether violent
Or slow
Everywhere
Whether that
Triggers
Knows it or not
Everywhere
Death

Clearly Black
Is
Understanding our cultural evolution
Through struggle
Will make greater human evolution possible
Clearly Black
Is
Nguzo Saba
Through which we achieve solidarity and
Strength
Before the containment
Our culture we must
Achieve solidarity and strength
We will know our victory when we see it

Clearly Black
Is
Sitting down with those who
Love respect and enjoy Black
To define and develop our culture

Clearly Black
Is
Our service
Our style
Our music
Our realness
Our art
Our understanding
Our fashion
Our genius
Our sorrow
Our humility
Our faith
Our joy
Our sacrifice
Our humanity
Our labor
Our goodness
Our loving
Pure as they remain
No matter who exploits them

Clearly Black
is
Being clear
About living for our people
And through us for the all