Dedicated to my children, grandchildren, their friends associates and frenemies. I want to share something with you and it seems the only way to reach you is through social media, so here it is…
Marijuana: Hey my children of color, did you read about the legislation that was passed legalizing marijuana with restricted use in some states? That includes D.C., which used to be known as “The Chocolate City”, now better known as the “Oreo Cookie.” ……Say it isn’t so. Wait a minute, before you make weed your main source of happiness, did you read the FINE PRINT? Employers can still require a drug test to get a job; employees can still be randomly tested to keep a job. There again, you fell into the well-laid trap.
Guns: Hey my children of color, did you read how the NRA will never soften their stance on gun control? Better yet, do you remember when you talked yourself, or a “friend” talked you, into using a gun that was bought in the streets or a store and your fingerprints were left on it? ……Say it isn’t so. Did your friend explain the consequences of using that gun for wrong; or did he say, “I go your back man, go ahead, DO IT.” Did you know those juvenile cases can stack up like bricks that will give you the perfect foundation for a felony. There goes your job search. Again, Again, Again and Again you fall into the well-laid trap, because you forget to read the FINE PRINT!
Housing: Hey my children of color, do you know what “Gentrification” is or, better yet, do you know what “Assisted Gentrification” is? That’s when people of color leave the inner city, for whatever reason, to buy or rent homes in the far reaches of the surrounding suburbia just because the rent and homes are cheap. That’s instead of collectively protesting for affordable housing in your own communities. While those that stay alongside the new neighbors make ignorant statements like “our community is going to be better now,” the white folks are moving in. Well, the “20 and 30-something’s” of the majority race left those backwoods; unlike their parents, they were not going to endure long commutes just to get away from people of color. …….Say it isn’t so. If they didn’t put mass transportation out there for “them,” why in the hell do you think they’ll do it for you?! You forgot to read the FINE PRINT.
My children of color, my people of color…… Love me, love yourself. I love you. We as a people don’t even like each other. We stay angry enough just on an average day — add guns, marijuana, long commutes and the lack of affordable housing to the recipe and you have just created a cocktail of self-inflicted genocide. PLEASE READ THE FINE PRINT!
The poem was brought to Street Sense by Artist/Vendor Robert Williams, USMC. “The expressions of some carefully placed words can be like poetry in motion. Please allow me to share a writing with you from a special friend of mine. Carla writes with such a sense of awareness. Perhaps reading her work will enable some of you, who would otherwise remain asleep, to wake up! We are in the midst of a homeless epidemic which no one is guaranteed to avoid. Individuals and families are not being allowed the universal right to housing. Gentrification continues and we have an unlevel playing field in which profiling stereotypes and useless killings of African Americans still permeate our society. Yes, it is systemic. And yes, the system tries to play on your intelligence in order to continue being maintained. Don’t let yourself fuel it — read the fine print.
