APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

You can kill a REVOLUTIONARY

Lil Bobby, Sandra “Red” Pratt, Bunchy Carter, John Huggins, Denzil Dowell, Arthur Morris, Steve Bartholomew, Zayd Malik Shakur, Tommy Lewis, Robert Lawrence, Welton "Butch" Armstead, Sidney Miller, Franco "Capt. Franco" Diggs, Alex Rackley, John Savage, Sylvester Bell, Larry Robertson, Nathaniel Clark, Walter "Toure" Pope, Spurgeon "Jake" Winters, Fred Hampton, Mark Clark, Sterling Jones, Babatunde X Omowale, Arthur Glenn Carter, Carl Hampton, Jonathan Jackson, Fred Bennett, Samuel Napier, Clarence "Puddin" Smith, George Jackson, Jospeh "Joe-Dell" Waddell, Bruce "Deacon" Washington, Eugene Anderson, Robert Webb, Jimmy Carr, Twymon Myers, Rory Hithe, Kuwasi Balagoon, and Huey P. Newton.

But

You can't kill the REVOLUTION

April Is National Poetry Month!

This Brother was a Professional Revolutionary. Minister of Information of the Bronx Chapter. Zayd dedicated his life to the liberation of Black People. His work shall live on and on and on.

“A Revolutionary is a Professional, so you must be a Professional Revolutionary”

Zayd Malik Shakur
A Professional Revolutionary

I may – if you wish – lose my livelihood
I may sell my shirt and bed
I may work as a stone-cutter
A street sweeper
a porter
I may clean your stores
Or rummage your garbage for food
I may lay down hungry
O enemy of the Sun
But
I shall not compromise
And to the last pulse in my veins
I shall resist
You may take the last strip of my land
Feed my youth to prison cells
You may plunder my heritage
You may burn my books
my poems
Or feed my flesh to the dogs
You may spread a web of terror
On the roofs of my village
O Enemy of the Sun
But
I shall not compromise
And to the last pulse in my veins
I shall resist
You may put out the light in my eyes
You may deprive me of my mother’s kisses
You may curse my father
my People
You may distort my history
You may deprive my children of a smile
And of life’s necessities
You may fool my friends with a borrowed face
You may build walls of hatred around me
You may glue my eyes to humiliations
O Enemy of the Sun
But
I shall not compromise
And to the last pulse in my veins
I shall resist
O Enemy of the Sun
The decorations are raised at the port
The ejaculations fill the air
A glow in the hearts
And in the horizon
A sail is seen
Challenging the wind
And the depths
It is Field Marshall Dedan Kamathi (Mau Mau)
Returning home
From the sea of loss
It is the return of the Sun
Of my exiled ones
And for her sake
and his
I swear
I shall not compromise
And to the last pulse in my veins
I shall resist
Resist–and resist

 APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

Today, I present a Beautiful Black Revolutionary love poem written by a Beautiful Revolutionary Sister. A Political Activist, a former Black Panther of The New Orleans Chapter.

LINDA GREENE
PANTHER POWER TO THE VANGUARD

WE cannot dare love each other

But for a moment

We belong to our people.

But we have for this second

Is ours.

Let's trip for days and find

Many different ways

To make it deep within us.

Let's make these seconds our

Lifetime.

All the joys...

Dream of

7 kids, ours, bushy headed boys,

Blasting 44's through pigs car

doors-

O Panther ranks and files for miles

Of your strong thighs and mine

entwined

In marriage vows for all time.

All the dreams - let's dream!!

And in these few moments

Of loaded time

Make all them true

For our lives are so short

Bitter with sorrow, sharpened with

hate

Are not even our.

Let's crush a crowded lifetime into

our exclusive revolutionary years.

April is National Poetry Month!

FROM A REVOLUTIONARY SISTER TO A REVOLUTIONARY BROTHER

PAULETTE FRYE

All power to the people brother:
A love with no beginning
The warmth of friendship
The bond of comradeship
The understanding of brothers and sisters
And it blossomed and grew
But the essence did not change
You are my friend, my comrade, my brother
And a Revolutionary who has my highest respect
For a new Black woman loves a new Black man
You are not mine, for you belong to the people
I am not yours, for I must serve the people
Our bodies touch and move apart
You go to another
But together we struggle, and in struggle, we learn to love
And that cannot limit us
It encompasses the entire world
We struggle to be free, we struggle, we fight to love
That all people may love
Our children will be the children of the world
Fighting for our people and the people of the world
Fighting for the possibilities of Humanity
And loving, as we want to love
This is the beginning of a love that cannot end
Not the false love of a dying society
But a new love of a new people
Fighting for a new world
Wherever you are, my love
I'll be with you as you fight
And wherever I am, my love
I'll carry you in my heart as I fight
Together we'll learn to love and we'll teach the world
SHOOT TO KILL ALL THE HATE
“At the risk of seeming ridiculous, I will say
that the true revolutionary is guided by great
feeling of love.”

 April Is National Poetry Month!

Today I shine the spotlight on this Revolutionary Sister, a Rebel with a cause, a Political Activist, an Iconic Black Panther, and a former member of the Black Liberation Army (BLA). This Sister has written an autobiography entitled, “Assata: Autobiography,” detailing the events that unfolded on the New Jersey Turnpike and being granted political asylum in Cuba. Without further ado, let me drop this jewel.

ASSATA SHAKUR
Affirmation

I believe in living.

I believe in the spectrum

of Beta days and Gamma people.

I believe in sunshine.

In windmills and waterfalls,

tricycles and rocking chairs.

And I believe that seeds grow into sprouts.

And sprouts grow into trees.

I believe in the magic of the hands.

And in the wisdom of the eyes.

I believe in rain and tears.

And in the blood of infinity.

DDD

I believe in life.

And i have seen the death parade

march through the torso of the earth,

sculpting mud bodies in its path.

I have seen the destruction of the daylight,

and seen bloodthirsty maggots

prayed to and saluted.

DDD

I have seen the kind become the blind

and the blind become the bind

in one easy lesson.

I have walked on cut glass.

I have eaten crow and blunder bread

and breathed the stench of indifference.

DDD

I have been locked by the lawless.

Handcuffed by the haters.

Gagged by the greedy.

And, if i know any thing at all,

it’s that a wall is just a wall

and nothing more at all.

It can be broken down.

DDD

I believe in living.

I believe in birth.

I believe in the sweat of love

and in the fire of truth.

DDD

And i believe that a lost ship,

steered by tired, seasick sailors,

can still be guided home

to port.

 April Is National Poetry Month!

She's a Poet, an Activist, and Scholar! A recipient of numerous awards. Authored over 16 books including The American Book Award winner "Homegirls and Handgrenades." Her poems were featured in the Major Motion Picture "Love Jones." Former Black Panther...

SONIA SANCHEZ

IT'S A NEW DAY

We gon be

outa sight black/men

gon be part/

panther

gon be all Minister Farrakhan

gon rap like RAP

gonna teach like Elijah

gon rule like Nyerere

gon believe like King believed

gonna be TCB/ing black men

as we walk in our red/yellow/suns

We gon be some

beautiful/black/women

gon move like the queens we be

gon be full/

time MUSLIM woman

gon be strong as Sojourner

gon be as gentle as

sister Clotelle's smile

gon be the poetry of gwendolyn's words

gon be the green south of fannie lou hamer

gonna be as warm as an african nite

while walken like songs

we gon be some badddDDD people

just you wait and see

we gon be some badddDDD people

just you wait and see...

 APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius

This is the dawning of the Age of Revolution

SISTER ERICKA HUGGINS

This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius
The rise of the Black Man
The liberation of the Black Woman
The year of the Black Panther
This is the beginning of the end of the beginning of the
Revolutionary Struggle
This is the new world
The world of guns and political direction
And shouts of no more MURDER put an end to the terror
This dying has been done
For all of us--no crucifixion, no martyrdom
There is true understanding--no ignorance
But revolutionary arrogance
We will dare to struggle and dare to win
This head, this heart, this hand, this body
Will clean itself of
This filth
These Morals
These Ethics
This spirit will strike out against
Racism, Capitalism, Imperialism, Oppression and Brutality
Huey is free--he realizes--WE are jailed
This woman will fight to the end for Malcolm, for Bobby, Eldridge,
For Huey, for Jon, for Bunchy
For Mai and for the anonymous
Black man, black woman, black child
I am anonymous so I must FIGHT
This is the dawning of the age of
REV-O-LU-TION! GUNS! BLOODSHED?
BLOODSHED-No, this is the dawning of age of JUST war
Against unjust degradation, humiliation, starvation, castration,
Usurpation, abasement torture
If blood be shed for the future of the people.
LET IT BE DONE
Coldblooded-this is cold-blooded COLD BLOODED
Black man, Can you hear me?
We are being murdered S.O.SS.O.S
Black woman, your unborn baby is dying

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

BEING BLACK, AND WHAT IT REALLY MEANS

CAMILE OZAN

Black is beautiful and it's a fact

well known,

You black sisters and brothers

be proud and let the pride be

shown

Hip the other brothers to the news,

and the fact,

Not only are we proud, but we're

proud to be black

Tell them like it is we intend to

reach the top,

There's no looking back or turning

around cause we don't intend to

stop

So my black brothers and my

sisters too,

Let's get hip to our black history

cause the facts are true

Our black men and women have

done so much, and it's yet not

told,

As the young society moves on, we

know our leaders have grown old

But they have tried to make us what

we ought to be,

Which is being No.1 receiving freedom

and equality

But it's us who have to take the

stand,

Stop letting the credit be given to

the other man

We deserve it, let's try to get it,

It's the top we want to reach, black

people, let's admit it

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

An Iconic Revolutionary Sister, Political Prisoner, Political Activist. A Writer, an Author. A Mother. Singer. Former editor of the Black Panther Intercommunal News Service of the Southern California branch and the Central Committee Minister of Information. Founder of the Black Panther Party Liberation School. A City Council Candidate and former Interim Chairwoman of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense from 1974 to 1977.

Written as a poem but later accompanied with music and featured on the album "Listen, Whitey! Sounds of Black Power 1967 to 1974." Without further ado, I present this phenomenal sister.

ELAINE BROWN

UNTIL WE'RE FREE

Yes I remember
The yesterdays
The poverty that you and me survived
For we tried living on streets that weren't giving
I'd laugh and cried and [?]
And didn't know

Oh yes my friends
Our history
The memory shall carry me until we're free

The times we saw we didn't deserve
Hostility, we couldn't see it was absurd
But we gave joy, each girl and boy
So innocent
Our future bent against the wind

Oh yes my friends
Our history
The memory shall carry me until we're free

Desperate kisses in alleyways
The future days, they laid to waste our little lives
The concrete park
A stab in the dark
To rest our soul and we were old before we grew

Oh yes my friends
Our history
The memory shall carry me until we're free

Some friends forgotten, and some are gone
How dare they touch our little spot with what they've done
I miss them all, but the future calls
Demanding we set ourselves free as we should be

Oh yes my friends
Our history
The memory shall carry me until we're free

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

Today, I shine the spotlight on a Revolutionary Brother, Political Activist, a Comrade in the struggle for Black Power. Former Black Panther Akintunde A. Funso.

AKINTUNDE A. FUNSO

POEM FOR PANTHERS

Panthers are being

Bold, Black, Brown, light

skinned

Brothers and Sisters,

who are not intimidated

by thoughts of

the finite quality

of the Revolutionary life

cause

Panthers be seeing and singing

"You can kill a Revolutionary

but you can't kill the

Revolution"

And

the people for alleviances of a

myriad of grievances

is an inheritance

passed down

through generations

of Black and poor, and dispossessed

years, decades, centuries, even millenniums,

of resistance to repression

be knowing

that the inheritance must be

passed on

"Until we're Free"

"Until we're Free"

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

Today, I spotlight a Revolutionary Brother. A Political Activist and a Political Prisoner. A Black Panther Captain of the San Francisco Chapter. An Iconic Black Panther who worked closely with The Black Panther Party Free Breakfast for Children's Program. Brother Charles Bursey's work was captured through the photographic lens of Ruth-Marion Baruch and Pirkle Jones for a photo essay on The Black Panthers. The image is now iconic.

CHARLES BURSEY

TEARS OF JOYS

Tear of Joy

Tear of Horror

What makes these tears so

distinct?

Die today

Die tomorrow

What makes life so distinct,

Some men will be triumphant

Other men will die

There to fight,

There to struggle,

The Revolution and total Destruction

of this racist decadent

imperialist American society is

my battle cry.

 APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

Today, the spotlight shines on a Revolutionary Sister, a Political Activist, and a former Black Panther. This poem was featured in The Black Panther Intercommunal News Service.

EUNICE

AS A VOLCANO

My people are black

My people are blessed, blessed with a hue as deep

as a moonless night, as rich as the earth upon

which I walk

My people are black

My people are strong, stronger than an erupting

volcano that overflows with

lava and cover people and things

My people are black by birth, But the racist

white dog has attempted to make us black

And blue! That racist dog has tried every effort to

add a new color to our already beautiful skin. By

way of whips, he has torn our flesh from our

backs. By way of billy clubs, he has bruised our

bodies. By way of guns, he has pierced our

bodies with bullets.

My people are black. Black by birth. But the

racist white dog has tried to make us

black and blue.

But, I as a strong Black woman who

intends to replenish this black earth with

children of both sexes, say to you---

white man.

"F---you! My children will be black---so black

there won't be room for anything else."

My people are black as night. My people are as

strong as a volcano. And that volcano is

erupting, pig! That volcano is exploding and

is splirting something that is wild and untamed.

Something that is going to cover all traces of

racism. It is going to cover all traces of YOU!

My people are black as night,

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

Today, the spotlight shines on a Revolutionary Brother. An Iconic, Polarizing Panther, A Political Activist. The founder member of the Southern California Chapter of The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense and Leader of the Los Angeles Chapter. Mayor of the Ghetto. You can assassinate the Revolutionary, but you can't kill the revolution. Black Power! Rest in Power, Bunchy and John!

ALPRENTICE "BUNCHY" CARTER

BLACK MOTHER

I must confess that I still breathe

though you are not yet free

what could justify my crying start

forgive my coward's heart

--but blame me not the sheepish me

for i have just awakened from a deep, deep sleep

for i be hazed, and dazed, and scared

and vipers fester in my hair

Black Mother i curse your drudging years

the rapes, and heart-breaks, sweat and tears

--but this cannot redeem, the fact--

you cried in pain, i turned my back

and ran into the myers fog

and watched while you were dogged

and died a thousand deaths

but i swear on siege night dark and gloom

a rose I'll wear to honor you, and when i fall

the rose in hand

you'll be free and I a man

for a slave of natural death who dies

can't balance out to two dead flies

I'd rather be without the shame

a bullet lodge within my brain

If i were not to reach our goal

let bleeding cancer torment my soul.

 APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

Today, I feature a poem celebrating the majestic and exquisiteness of a Beautiful Black Sister, written by a Revolutionary Brother and former Black Panther.

OBATUNDE

REVOLUTIONARY BLACK SISTER

Soft Black skin

Radiant Brown eyes

wooly black hair

Black is Beautiful,

Beautiful black sister

Majestic

Standing strong and alone

when others give up hope and die,

Exquisite in design

Natural in form

Beautiful black sister,

eyes toward freedom

Agile mind

Determined soul

And in your eyes,

the twinkling of the universe.

Beautiful black sister.

For centuries carrying burdens of

heartbreak

sorrow

pain

Mama Africa proud of you

Afro-princess,

Black-strong-soulful.

Beautiful black sister.

Freedom's near

Sorrow be gone tomorrow,

Brothers gett'n together now

No time to mourn

Work to be done - Freedom's near

Beautiful black sister.

Mama heard you crying again last

night,

No one else saw

Dewdrops trickling down your

tender cheeks,

or heard your muffled moans,

Allah has answered

Freedom's near.

Mama saw freedom yesterday,

out there among the stars and stuff

Daring, dashing 'bout the

heavens.

Like Bobby

dodging, ducking cars, billy-

clubs, bullets

Freedom's near

Beautiful black sister.

Mama tasted some sweet freedom

today,

wonder if it taste like

Fried chicken

Potato salad

and collards?

or maybe like

limas

cornbread

and knuckles?

Velvety black skin

Moist lips

Determined soul

Beautiful black sister,

Freedom's coming

Keep on pushing, keep on

struggling

Freedom's coming:

by any means necessary

Revolutionary black sister

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

 TO THE WOMEN OF BABYLON

Listen Up!

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

Note: I could not verify if it's the Iconic Black Panther Marsha Lovelle Turner Taylor.

MARSHA

TO THE WOMEN OF BABYLON

You are not here as powder puff

bitches

The pig is oppressing you too!

So don't think you can Georgia your

way out

The amount of suffering we have

all been subjected to

Does not separate we females

The hog don't care who he beats

in the head

so remove your false eyelashes

so you can see that they will

suppress you too.

If you cannot remove your disguise

then young hoe you don't belong

here!

Cause a fat ass and silk stockings

don't create a bulletproof shield

And if a silk stud Daddy is your

goal

then you might as well watch a

rat run in his hole

cause a punk decorated in diamonds

and gators will leave you on your

fat ass.

You better get real slick, hop into

some big bens

and become a worker for the

people

Become a revolutionary woman and

have a revolutionary man.

To be the other half, you must be

strong and carry the love of your

people

Instead of mascara. Because I

know for a fact, mascara

runs when you cry.

 APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

WANTED

BLACK BROTHERS AND SISTERS

SHARON MOTT

REVOLUTION

There once was a Brother

who was Black and cool

But this one Brother didn't

know what was going on. Dig it!

Until I met this Black Brother

and told him the news, now this

Brother is in with the revolution

So find a Black Brother or

Sister,

and tell them the news.

So they can help you and me

tell the BLACK PEOPLE to get

with the groove.

Listen BLACK PEOPLE let's not

only lay down but

pick up our gun, and show the

world

what has to be done.

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

Today, I spotlight a Revolutionary Sister. A former Black Panther who's doing their due diligence, letting the people know what time it is! It's Revolution time! Power to the People!

REVOLUTION TIME

Carolyn Thomas

When the Man is after you, don't

run pick up the gun cause if

you don't you'll pay but if you

do blow him away

He murdered your Daddy exploited

your Mama and all you 

Do is sit on your ass and holla

but times have changed

So get to a shootin range

he kicked you and tricked you

So we've got the solution line

black people it's revolution time

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

Today, I shine the spotlight on a Revolutionary Sister, A Revolutionary Poet. The Student Editor of The Black Student Union News Service and a contributor of The Black Panther Party Intercommunal News Service.

Iris Wyse

THE TIME IS NOW

The time is now,

You had better

STOP

boo-ga-looin'

and START the

Revolution.

Stop this thing called

exploitation

all your doing is

building the devils

expectations

The time is now

Stand up and be the

true man you are

Pick up the gun and pow,

Blown away. You're the

best by far.

Shoot your shot,

and shoot to kill.

Then drag him off

and have your fill.

Remember this,

the only good pig

is a dead pig.

DIG!!

 April Is National Poetry Month!

Today, I shine the spotlight on an Iconic Revolutionary Sister, a Black Panther Party member of The Harlem Chapter, New York Black Panther 21. A Poet, Author, and Writer. A Teacher. An Entrepreneur. A Philanthropist. The mother of the late Tupac Shakur. Rest in Power!

AFENI SHAKUR

HOLINESS

I took a walk, the other day

Down the tormented streets of my community,

I saw a tree that grew broken wine bottles

I saw a flower that bloomed empty milk cartoons

I heard a bird that sang a funeral hymn

I felt contempt for the signs of Spring--

I saw a pig assault an old grandmother

(Honor thy mother and thy father that thy days

may be long)

I saw a church with a pepsi cola sign

I heard a deacon say, "I've been saved, sanctified

and filled with the Holy Ghost"

And I wondered why I had never seen him in

a Panther office.

I saw a wino with his head busted open

I took him to the church and told the deacon

to do unto others

The deacon told me I was dirtying the house

of the Lord

I wondered if he was an imposter

We left the deacon and went to the hospital

A nurse told us to go get sober

We left the hospital and went to the office

The Black Panther Office-

Where we found Jesus

He was disguised in nigger clothes

He spoke in the language of the ghetto

He walked like a war counselor for the Disciples

And he cleansed the wounds of those afflicted

Jesus, the Panther, gave food to the hungry

Jesus, the saviour gave comfort to the weary

Jesus, the merciful had mercy on the suffering

masses

He came again! To bring the message to the

world

To set an example of True love for all mankind

To uplift the poor, oppressed masses

He came with a gun and a shield

He used them for the salvation of mankind

He was betrayed time and time again

He was falsely accused at every opportunity

And yet, His people, the lumpen--the field

nigger

Never allowed him to be destroyed

They slept at his side, they ate when he ate

When he dropped his gun, They picked it up

They shared his spirit, his will to live

And together they defeated the devil of Humanity

They turned the liars out and opened a new book

This one began: "We want land, bread, housing,

education, clothing, justice and peace."

Fight on Jesus!

 APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

Today, the spotlight shines on an Iconic, Powerful, Revolutionary Sister. A Political Activist and Political Prisoner. The Former Communications Secretary of The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. Now, a Professor of Law. Without further ado, I present...

KATHLEEN CLEAVER

THE BLACK MASS NEEDS BUT ONE CRUCIFIXION

Malcolm X died for us

We will have no more religious executions

no more political assassinations

no more murdering of black man

in the streets of Babylon

The Black mass needs but one crucifixion

And in that death

On the cross of America

We all received a new birth

For in us awoke a new life

Set afire by the cry of

Black Power

That burned in Watts, that burned in Newark, that

burned in Detroit

And that burns in Huey's soul

Brought alive by Malcolm, brought awake by Stokely,

we will be brought to motion by Huey P. Newton

Move to defend ourselves against the massive onslaught

Of cracker killers who hate and fear us

Of coward white men with lynch mobs after us

Ritualizing their insanity and inhumanity

with castration and death by fire

By police squad

By unemployment and starvation

By white-only torture

In the black streets of stench and filth and mire

Up against a wall of fear and hatred and bloodshed

Chained to our blackness like slaves on a

plantation

And beaten in our blackness like slaves on a

plantation

Although we are supposedly free

To go to school and give birth and get married and

drive Cadillacs

But the pain involved and the struggle required

Just to live in this madness for just one more day

Is more than a man can say

He must just pick up the gun

Refuse to run

Stand on his feet

And act like a man

Demand that he be free

By any means necessary, demand that he be free

And take his freedom from those that own him

Take his freedom by any means necessary

If death in the gas chamber stare him in the face

Malcolm told us that he would be killed

And when he died his words came true

Huey told us to defend our lives

To stop the tide of genocide

The gas chamber will not be his fate

By any means necessary

HUEY P. NEWTON MUST BE SET FREE;

The black mass need but one

crucifixion