Friday, April 17, 2015

POETRY FROM, ABOUT OR ALL: THE BLACK PANTHER MOVEMENT
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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 cowards heart
–but blame me not the sheepish me
for i have just awakened from a deep, deep, sleep
and 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 seige 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 lodged within my brain
if i were not to reach our goal
let bleeding cancer torment my soul.
__________ 
TPB's notes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunchy_Carter


TUPAC SHAKUR
Can You See The Pride In The Panther?
Can You See the Pride In the Panther
As he grows in splendor and grace 
Topling obstacles placed in the way,
of the progression of his race.
Can You See the Pride In the Panther
as she nurtures her young all alone
The seed must grow regardless
of the fact that it is planted in stone.
Can You See the Pride In the Panthers
as they unify as one.
The flower blooms with brilliance,
and outshines the rays of the sun.
_________ 
TPB's notes: born in New York City, New York on June 16, 1971, die a couple decades later.


LEROY F. MOORE JR.
Elderly Panthers on Wheels
(Play track 1)
Roll out the red carpet
Here comes the Queen
Regaining her thrown
Wait! Wait! Wait!
The pack turned on her
Black Panthers going gray
The human & Animal Kingdom
Eating their elders
Queen Mama Khandi, Malcolm Samuel, Brad Lomax and
Kiilu Nyasha
Black Panthers in their golden years
Fighting & dying alone
Panthers roaming the streets in wheelchairs
Looking for their brothers and sisters
Caught up in police sweeps
Snatched up by homeland security
Left to die in prisons and shelters
Look how we treat our seniors
Queen Mama Khandi stripped by the state
Like X, state barged in splitting up Khandi’s family
Son placed in foster care
Incarcerated because she is an activist
Came back home to find eviction notion
Section eight and disability income revoked
Same story for Malcolm Samuel in Berkeley
Sitting in his wheelchair on the avenue easy target
for police
Died in prison from lack of medical care
Listen to his message, play it play it (Play Track 2)
His CD, Brother Malcolm Speaks
Tore up wheelchair, sleeping in doorways
Talked about his days as a tailor for the Panthers
From homemade black suits to sweat shop salvation
army’s rags
Where is the file on Brother Brad Lomax (Play track 3)
Brought the Black Panthers into the disability
movement in the 70’s
Nobody seems to know about his work
His file is under secrecy
The Black community had its own Independent Living Center
Racism and capitalism ate away Lomax’s goal
Today the Oakland disabled Black community starving
for its own organizations
Brad Lomax left out of two histories
Thank God today we’ve independent film makers
Kevin Epps capturing the beautiful revolution of Kiilu Nyasha
The first Black panther on film in her wheelchair
(Play Track 4)
Listen to my advice, please take care of yourself,
cause you‘re important to us
__________
TPB's notes: n/a or found online

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