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!

April Is National Poetry Month!

Today I shine the spotlight on an iconic Black Panther 21, a revolutionary sister, a poet, writer, Teacher, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, the mother of the late Tupac Shakur. Rest in Power!

AFENI SHAKUR
LESSON

Malcolm awoke and saw what appeared to be the mountain of liberation
Then he was murdered
Martin started up that mountain and found there was beauty and lasting peace – he was murdered
Huey went all the way up and came down again to speak to the world of the solidarity there – he was shot & kidnapped
Eldridge saw my desire to go up and showed me the rugged path – he was forced into exile
Bobby took my hand to lead me there and I found the way rough and exhilarating
and of course, he was gagged, beaten and chained
Fred overheard their directions and took to the hill for a closer look -
What he saw made him go back down to share the happiness
When he came back in the valley, all I can hear him say was –
I am a Revolutionary
But, it made no sense, and so I just sat and listened
The next day I heard him repeat this melody as he prepared the morning meal for my child
I heard the words and still
I was quiet; Fred didn't seem to mind
He just kept doing things and singing his song
And then one day the melody of his song was taken up by the evil winds of human destruction
They heard its message and handed to him, the salary of a people's servant
KA BOOM
The air that breathed his message to me was alive with urgency
The mountain became a reality
The tools became friends
The curves became mere objects of jest!
I could sit still no longer
I began to hum his song
As I climbed, as I felt and got up and felt again – I
sang the song of liberation
I AM A REVOLUTIONARY!
I AM A REVOLUTIONARY!