A Thought on the Issue of Race by a Young Black Man

The world tells me what like and dislike
The world tells me I how I act and think
I see those around me listening to the world and falling below the ground
And I wonder if this is due to a difference of style
The bullheadedness of youth
Or the harshness of the city
I can’t speak for the city
I do not live in it and I was not born in it
I can however discuss what I think and what I see
I wonder what of this culture should I accept as culture
And what of this culture I should accept as I, farce, and mockery
I can respect rap
I do
Tupac and Dre
But

50 cent and Lil John
I think they are fools
doing and saying nothing
And making it seem great
by having wealth and power
They don’t use
Nor do they use their own style but water down the styles of
those came before them

Enough of That
Once I doubted my own blackness
Because
The world does not tell us
that what we see on TV
and on the movie screen
and on MTV
is often a stereotype
easily identifiable
to sell
and gain our
our hard earned dollars

but now I realize
That as long as I take pride
in the strength courage and creativity
of those of my race that came before
I am doing all I can do to be black
That and try to make sure that my people do not become
what the world tells them they are

This country was built on the backs of my forbearers
for more than slavery
For more than war
For more than entertainment
For more than athletics
For more than manufacturing
For more than art
And even though we were its legs
We were treated as a canker
We were constantly told we were a problem
Then that we had problems
We do but we must believe we can rise above them
For my ancestors did time and time again

We must speak together
Work together
Laugh together
And cry together

My Dark Mask

My mind feels the anger long before it reaches my face.
Long before anyone ever thinks there is a trace.
And trust me its there.
Within a maelstrom of furious spite
I almost start fights
As my feelings of blight
Change my peaceful sight

The Day Dream

Another time
Another Place

Different Body
Different Face
Same Jacket
Same Jeans
Same Boots

Riding down a dusty long abandoned desert road on the back of
A metal two wheeled beast moving fast and hard
Land blazing in a blur
I turn quickly in a whir

I leap off because of a challenge
Head over legs
While in one quick motion
I unsheathe my mighty sword

Held in two hands
I swing it at my enemy’s lighter blade
She dodges and prepares to strike
I block and parry her attack
And strike again
Knocking her blade from her hands
We yield and sit on the sand

After the display of skill and might we talk
Of battle and tactics
Of the world as we know it
And finally
Of love

Escape the Fantasy

Beauty

In my dream I am in love
I see twin coco eyes of
An ebony goddess
Her eyes can lift me to heaven
Or mar my very soul and rip it into
A thousand pieces
My waking mind would hate such a love
But I know I am doomed to meet it
‘Cause in love I shall find my strength
And my weakness

Identity Crisis of my Youth

Who am I?
What will I become?
Am I black enough?
Do I work well with authority?
Do I let authority take a way my dignity?
Do I have maturity?
Do I have joviality?
Am I creative?
Am I realistic?
Am I lazy?
Am I determined?

A Day Wasted

Time Time
It's quarter to three
My work takes two hours
I’ve got nine
Rest a bit

It’s now five
Okay sevens fine
eight o wait

Time to work
a yawn comes out
I started but stopped
6o minutes is needed
can’t focus
can’t concentrate
can’t come up with an idea on the fly
nap some

What happened eleven oh sigh
I can stretch a half hour
but I’m so tired
Twelve thirty out like a light

Sliced Fight Scene

“Pick up your blade or I shall pull out you heart said Miunavia”

“I was trying to keep you from your death but, if you want to perish so be it!”

Max’s great sword instantly went from the ground into his hand and just as quickly went to the spot were, milliseconds previously Miunavia had been standing. Her katana was ready with a swift counterattack that Max had barely been able to block. He took his giant sword and laid its weight upon her blade. The world seemed to quake at the collision of metal and might. They pulled apart and began a new her blade on his, his blade on hers. She was as fast as he was strong and he was as strong as she was fast.

“Why did you do it?”

“I have done many things.”

“Why did you kill my father?!”

At that Minuavia reached into a rage she herself did not know she possessed. A rage that she did not know she had the capacity to possess. Her blade became as air. It was so quick that it could not be seen. It sliced threw air and then it touched flesh. It was a small wound but a wound all the same. Max decided to stop toying with the girl He then lifted his sword and cut her in twain.

Mind Conversation under Pressure

You know this stuff
I got this in the bag
Let’s do this
Man this easy

Ah man I don’t know this one
Skip it
But I studied this one
A few minutes then
I still don’t get it
Write the formulas on the back of your paper
Bump it

Know these
But the one before
Lets take a look at it
It’s obvious
Why didn’t I see it before

Crap only thirty minutes left
Don’t worry you have only ten problems left
Why did I spend so much time on that last one
Thirty divided by ten
Three minutes per problem
You can do that

Ah man class is almost over
Five problems oin ten minutes no prob

Shit! Five minutes three problems
time to just guess
Twenty minus 3 equals seventeen
Seventeen out of twenty that’s still a B right
What if I get more wrong
Don’t worry

Its finally over
Was worried for a sec
Think I did Okay
Yeah

Shit my mom is going to kill me when she sees this
So many stupid mistakes
Why didn’t I check

Look don’t beat yourself up
All you can do is learn from this mistake and try harder next time
But
But nothing