It Took Me Back

    

Today I found myself back on the plantation,

Some fail to see the correlation.

They argue that one thing has nothing to do with the other,

But, they aren't a grieving black mothers.

I can hear them thinking, how dare I go there?

The division becomes so thick it cuts the air.

It’s as if I can read their minds.

It happens every time.

So, here we are in the same place again.

In times like these, there is a visible division among men.

As I sat looking at the television with a mindless stare,

I thought, "How can I not believe that this was unfair?"

It seems to be something

Only another black person can understand.

No matter how hard you try to explain.

You are accused of mindlessly placing blame.

It’s the same thing over and over again.

Once again, the message sent is that it’s okay to kill a black man.

Once again,  I was reminded that nothing has changed,

That when it comes to black men, justice in our courts is feigned.

It took me back.

It took me back to the days when I watched our people

being beaten and thrown to the ground

Simply for marching to obtain equal rights.

It took me back to those dark nights

when my ancestors took flight;

Running away in fear

As the barks of the search dogs grew near.

It took me back to that day

when Rosa Parks was asked to stand to her feet.

When there was an empty seat.

It took me back.

It took me back

It took me back to the nights of the flaming crosses.

and masked faces doggedly trying to remind us who was boss.

It took me back, back to the days when slavery began.

That’s why I choose to state, "Here we are again."

What I witnessed today was wrong.

It sent a message loud and strong.

So, I stand and state to all that argue otherwise, there is a correlation.

That’s why I say it took me back to the plantation.

It took me back.

It took me back.

Regardless of what anyone says, it took me back.

It took me back.

   

copyright Patricia Newman-Harris

As Stevie would say, "What time is it?"

Dedication to Travon Martin's Family--and to all the young men who died before their time

I didn't know Trayvon Martin personally, but to me he represents many young black men of his age.  He was a young man who was needlessly struck down in the prime of his life.  I cannot look at this situation objectively, I can only look at it from the point of view of a black woman who has young nephews, cousins and god children.  If the same had happened to one of them, I would have been just as devastated as Trayvon's parents.   The fact that George Zimmerman just walked away from such a crime bothers me.  As a black American, I will never see eye to eye with anyone who believes that race did not play a part in the outcome of Zimmerman's actions.  Had Trayvon been a white young male wearing a hoodie, would he even have been on Zimmerman's radar?  He made a hasty decision that Trayvon was up to no good simply on the basis that he was a young black male.  We can go over the details of what happened again and again,  but to me, the outcome will always be the same.  Trayvon's reaction to his approach has no bearing on the outcome at all. The fact of the matter is, Trayvon would still be alive today if Zimmerman had not passed judgement on him on the basis of his color.

I know how this unexpected loss has devastated the family and friends of Trayvon Martin.   The Martin's are a Christian family and, no doubt, this is what is keeping them strong through this ordeal.  I admire their strength and their courage in light of the outcome of the trial.

One last comment, every time I write, I encourage young black men to be the best, to seize every opportunity, I tell them that they can survive the hood if they live their life for the greater good,   I encourage them to stand on their feet and  to not surrender to defeat, but what can I  say to the young black men who strive to do all these things and are cut down unjustly.  What do I say?

I dedicate this song to the Martin family.

My sister's response to my comments:

Well and truly stated, Pat.  I share your sentiments.  Trayvon is an unwitting martyr, whose life and death, have mobilized a long overdue move to recognize the need to address race relations in America.

Having work in the criminal justice system, both from the side of the prosecution and the side of the defense, I know that race is ALWAYS a factor.  I had an unforgettable experience as a juror in a case in which a young Black college student was accused of assaulting a Los Angeles police officer.  I got on the jury because another black engineer was so frustrated after days of having been rejected as a juror on all cases involving Black defendants.  He and I were the only Blacks in that jury pool.  He challenged the prosecutor for systematically rejecting all Blacks telling him to, “get on with it and stop wasting time.”  That challenge resulted in the both us of being put on the jury.  On the first vote, everyone voted “guilty,” except he and I.  We successfully persuaded the other jurors to an ultimate vote of “not guilty by focusing on the evidence, not the profile of a very tall, young Black man.  Several years later, I heard someone yell my name across CSULA campus.  It was the young man, who thanked me.  His life would never have been the same had he been convicted of even a “first offense.”

That said, young people are now on board with the serious problem of race in America.  Evangelist Billy Graham, a White man, once said this:   “The number one problem in America is race.”  Thank you Trayvon for your life and thank you 6 White women, for your rose colored view of life and the decision that has exposed justice for what it isn’t (blind)!

Virginia

”Right temporarily defeated is better than evil triumphant.”

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

So What!

        

So what if it ain’t cool.

Stay in school!

  

So what if you say no to gangs.

It ain’t no thang.

You produce your own act.

What anyone else thinks has nothing to do with that.

There will always be nay-sayers

And player-haters.

Telling you that you ain’t ghetto enough,

You ain’t black enough,

You ain’t, you ain’t.

That will always be the complaint.

No matter what you do, it won’t be right.

Just continue to keep your goals in sight.

Being black

Doesn’t’ mean you have to stay back.

Nobody can tell you who you ought to be.

Live like you are free.

Stand tall.

That’s all.

Do your best.

Forget about the rest.

Accentuate the positive

Eliminate the negative.

That applies to people too.

You don’t need people who hinder you.

Don’t let anyone steal your dignity.

Don’t allow them that opportunity.

Don’t be afraid of originality

And individuality

Life offers an infinite amount of possibilities.

You have to be willing to strive above the ordinary.

Explore.

Open doors.

You are in the driver’s seat.

When it comes to learning, never surrender to defeat.

Be the student your teacher loves to teach.

Don’t be the one she can’t reach.

To not make use of your mind is a disgrace.

For it is well said, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”

So what if it ain’t cool.

Stay in school!

copyright Patricia Newman-Harris

I am concerned about a trend among young people to downplay the importance of learning.  At an early age, they are simply occupying space in our nation’s schools.  This really bothers me, considering there are places in the world where children would die for the opportunities we take for granted.  I pray that our children will begin to see the importance in seizing, with a vengeance, the opportunities that are afforded them.

Back in the Day....Sometimes I look Back and Remember

To all of us who can related to the way it was back in the day...

Back in the day,
We lived a different way
There was responsibility
And accountability
One to another
We genuinely cared for each other.
Our neighbors had our back
And no one thought that was whack.
If you showed at a friend's house to play
Someone wanted to know
whether your parents said it was okay.
Otherwise, you couldn't stay
We weren't allowed to stay out all day.
Now, children are on the streets till  all hours.
My parents would have had the neighborhood scoured
Until we were back where we were supposed to be.
They would  ask if I was okay after they whipped me
It wasn't enough that they kept us in line.
The entire neighborhood kept us in line.
Whatever we did around the corner got home before we did.
Nothing was hid.
People we didn't know would point out our wrong
If they saw you in the wrong place,
they told you, "git" back where you belong.
You knew not to talk back
Because what you said beat you back.
Your parents knew everything you said
My grandmother was quick to say,
Next time we acted up, she'd whop us upside our head
We were never allowed to forget
To treat others with respect
There were all kinds of manners,
Visiting manners,
Church manners
And school manners
We were expected  not to act out.
If we did, we got knocked out.
When you acted a fool in school,
News got home fast.
Parents weren't ashamed to whip you in front of the entire class
They didn't come to school to kick the teacher's butt
Like someone nuts.
Teachers were held in high esteem.
Parents and teachers were a team.
That's how it used to be.
Now, teachers put up with the unnecessary
Fingers swinging in their face and stuff.
They have it rough.
Too much time is spent on keeping children in line.
We went to school in line.
You knew what not to do,
Because your parents taught you.
Unruly, rude kids are not cute to anyone but you.
No one should have to deal with their attitude but you.
Maybe we need to go back to the old way
The way it was back in the day.
Maybe there would be no more Timothy McVey's,
no more Sandy Hook, and no more Columbines.
Maybe we would see an end to these violent times.

Copyright Patricia Newman-Harris

Celebrating Independence Day--Happy 4th of July

Living the Dream

In every land,

Every kingdom

Every corridor

Across the world

Someone died

Making the world

Better for you and I

For the cause of freedom

Men fought until nothing

Was left.

Some went to their death.

We are the seed they bore,

The fruit of their labor.

We are living their visions,

Manifesting their dreams.

We are flesh of their flesh,

Bone of their bone,

As we will be for our children

And our children’s children.

It is our duty to live with purpose

And with pride

Honoring those ancestral spirits

As if we were kin

To every man that died;

Every woman that cried,

Suffered loss,

Paid the cost.

They were not of different fiber than we.

We are made from the same tapestry.

To our ancestors we must remain true

By doing whatever we must do

To assure that their dreams of peace

Will never cease

Let every heart determine,

“Let there be peace on earth

And let it begin with me.”

copyright Patricia Newman-Harris
This poem is part of a collection of poems entitled Living the Dream
Soon to be published by Create Space.com

The rights that are ours were bought by the blood, sweat and tears of our ancestors on whose backs we ride.   Those rights and privileges should never be taken for granted or cast aside without thought, because they came at great cost to someone else.  Someone who thought enough of us to sacrifice to give us the opportunity to experience what they never could experience.   If we could just get this one thing we would live in a continuous state of gratitude.