Newspaper Page Text
February/March 1985
The Wolverine Observer
Page 5
POET'S CORNER
CONVENTION DEMOCRACY ’84
This year it was the same game only this
time the rules changed. Where are the
delegates? On the way to Frisco perhaps
Fritz bought a few, with the PAC money
he said he was going to give back, you know.
The problem was that this year they didn’t
expect Farrakhan to take a position on the
presidency, least of all make an‘endorsement.
But then again, they didn’t expect Jesse either.
They must have been scared to death with
a Muslim making endorsements and providing
security. It did make the chance of an
unfortunate incident less likely didn’t it?
No, this year wouldn’t resemble '65 or ’68
the real assasination took place in San Francisco
where they shot the rainbow down with
apologies and repudiations. We forgot we were
playing politics - a game of power - You can’t be powerful
and sorry at the same time.
BLACK WOMEN
Young and beautiful, old and wise.
Can help the Black men to overcome, to rise.
To be his backbone, to keep him strong.
Preserving his strength, to maintain his home.
Black women, God’s gift to Black men.
Not to be accepted as a little thing.
She must do her part and so must he.
To obtain a life of quality!
.—Roger "Sugar” Moore
Black Pride
I am Black and I am proud,
That’s why I’m saying it and saying it loud.
Black is a color that is
represented throughout the world,
Black is beautiful such as the pearl.
Black is Stevie Wonder jamming to the sound.
Black is Martin and Malcolm equality bound.
Many of my people have been brainwashed
as they betray.
But this won’t happen to me because Black
is the way.
I can’t think of no other color
I would rather be.
Because Black is Beautiful and Black is me.
So when someone says black,
I don’t try to hide.
I stand up and show them my pride.
-Sloan
SEARCHING
Today I went hunting
But nothing I could find
I really don’t know what I was
looking for
I guess I'm out of my mind
Tomorrow I'll keep on searching
What I'll find I’m not sure
But I hope it will be the understanding
Of the things already here.
Rev. Phillip B. Griffin
power of thought
politics
nas its audience
but
profundity
elicits applause.
speechmakers
stay up late
brainstorming strategies
by which to entrap
profundity;
lace it with delicate
bits of conscience.
humor does not fail
but
runs not the gamut
of human emotion
fundamental to mankind.
the heart must be touched,
anger must be tried,
the soul stirred and
truth
becomes light
even as dark is
profound.
—S. Grisham
subtleties of civilization
an outdoor basketball court/definition:
a block of cement
designated for the expulsion of
hot air//
high energy//
pent up emotions//
JUST AROUND THE CORNER SITS
a commission of three to judge the phalangists
guilty; of crimes against humanity when
they murdered women and children in beirut.
a commission of three to judge
the general and the minister of defense
guilty; like the germans who never realized.
time magazine told the story while
the judges ate a quiet meal
the phalangists ate a hearty meal
the general and the minister are
general and minister still
//the murdered women and children are
dead.
someone told our president
he pointed to a sign that read
KEEP OFF THE GRASS
black and white in bold print
designating someone else’s space
indoor plumbing/definition:
hot and cold running water
in every universal household
His - Story (THE WHITEMAN)
Well, not long ago, still in many lands.
The fight continues for the freedom of man,
To establish truth, freedom, and justice for all
And rise above the struggle, to fight the fall.
Many rumors and many tales have been told,
To keep us in our shells like we're nothing,
Dogs or fools, even taking over of our black schools.
His-story is what has been told.
Many believed, many were shut cold.
From the reality of life and ideal progress
His-story is to keep us in distress.
—Roger "Sugar" Moore
A Creed For The Children
do not sympathize with your brother's plight
abhor it.
do not condone civilized oppression
resist it.
do not accept an uncontrollable situation
change it.
do not hide from injustice
challenge it.
do not let your culture die
preserve it.
a metaphor
and upon learning that white
was not necessarily right
the negroes were taken aback
and most of them
advanced to black.
—S. Grisham
Brother Reaganite
Say Brothers, while you’re out
here existing each and every
day. Have you been listening to
what the voices of awareness
have been trying to say?
I know your answer is a question
because you don’t even know
Well listen brothers and sisters,
this is the way the voices go:
Black people when will you
learn. If you don’t wake up in
the fire you know you gon’ burn.
I know you can see that Reagan is
the President man, and that
cut, cut, cut, is his number one
plan.
Well, the voices out here have
been continually saying, that
it’s time to get serious and
discontinue playing.
While you’re feeding your egos
and rusting your mind, this
system is doing something to us
and its not very kind.
Yeah, I know, you’ve heard all
this stuff about our position.
And yeah, I know that not
realizing has become our tradi
tion.
Well this time you’ll realize as
this prophecy comes to be.
Once Reagan cuts GSL, NDSL,
AND SEOG.
You’ll be out in the streets,
saying man, it’s much too tight!
And the voices will be saying,
now you realize that you’ve
become a REAGANITE!
William Tanks
do not oversleep
the time is now.
-S. Grisham
The Animal
an indication of our civilized desire
to be clean
to wash away
the dirt
the grime
and
the blood.
I’m an animal locked in his cage,
Running seeking freedom in a desperate rage.
Yes I’m an animal encarcerated in America
and equality is the key,
So I'll do whatever is necessary to
obtain it to once rome free.
If my abductor steps in the way
I’ll throw him to the side,
For I'm no longer the horse; always
being exploited and giving up a ride.
I'm the head wolf that leads the pack,
I’m the panther in the night vicious and Black.
Yes I possess all these characteristics
which are net too complex to comprehend,
For it is I an animal known as the RADICAL BLACK MANI
-S. Grishar
(BEING BLACK)
Added pressure from all sides.
Being taken for little joy rides.
Turning our women against the man.
Brainwashing us, to explore material things.
Mostly, being black, is wonderful and true.
Learning what’s for real, learning about you.
Being Black, a most precious gift. Not a commodity, that’s
sold in a store of thrift.
Being black and what it really means.
Is to be free, and treated as equal as human beings.
—Roger “Sugar” Moore
"Always bear in mind that the people are not fighting for ideals, for the things in anyone’s head.
They-are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward,
to guarantee the future of their children....
Amilcar Cabral
—Sloan •