16, 18 and 21 for the Mother of the Black Male these are not the ages of time honored rites of passage. For her, these are time markers that the probability of her Black male child being racially profiled, targeted and destroyed.
16...marks the age that her Black male child becomes mobile and thus he may be found in neighborhoods that view him as a threat.
18...denotes the historical age of the right to participate in the Democratic process of voting. But for the Mother of a Black male, it signals the great possibility of her child being stopped, forced to be searched, stripped of his dignity by being made to sit on the curb with feet in the gutter. The unspoken belief that the gutter is where he belongs.
21...announces proudly that the entire world is available. But for the Mother of a Black male child this age marks when her child is no longer under her protection. It often brings the harbinger of of either harsh imprisonment or death.
For the Mother of a Black male child there is no age that she will be able to exhale. There will NEVER be an age that this Mother can relax. No matter where he may be found in this world, his life is never safe from the worry of the Mother of a Black male child.
jtj1982
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The Mother of The Black Male
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RonnieL says: Feet in gutter, unspoken belief were he belongs. Deep caption. Nice write. |
OTHER POEMS WRITTEN BY jtj1982
I'm Hold*En On To...
Whenever I am lonely, I'm Hold*En on to our joyful memories to keep me company. When I am weakened by circumstances, I'm Hold*En on to you for strength. When my windows to the soul are full with glistening tears, I'm Hold*En on to the times you made me laugh. When my travels take me away from you. I'm Hold*En on to the remembrance of the places we were most happy. When the day comes that brings me untold sorrow, I'm Hold*En on to you for comfort. When my body aches for your touch, I'm Hold*En on to the passion you created within my soul when you touched my skin. When life happens, I'm Hold*En on to everything that our love represents. Companionship, Strength, Laughter, Happiness, Memories, Comfort and Passion.  |
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The Ghost in My Heart My constant companion is a ghost. He sleeps and walks alongside of me and we dine in unison.
I'm never truly alone because he is ever-present. Though he is invisible, his presence is always acutely felt. I recall the many hours we lay in the wonder which is our love. He is my lover who brings me to that glorious conclusion of self satisfaction. My mind replaying the touch of his lips upon my flesh. His hands ravishing my body to exhaustion. My solitude and peace are found within him, people and places hold no interest. We never quarrel nor do we apologize. Our love is perfection. He is relegated to dwell solely within my heart. I am no longer permitted to trace his face with my finger. For his physical being lie within a bronze metallic enclosure deep within... |
Shattered“All I want is you†The bait which hid the barb of deceit, I engulfed in its entirety. Never once halting to consider the undertow swirling at the entrance to my heart. “I love youâ€. The canon which attested to the validity of the powerful verbal triad. How was I to know there were hidden agendas, subplots and treachery underneath the glassy reflection of the verbiage? “I would never hurt youâ€. The sharpened end of the hook which guaranteed that I would be distracted from the temporary sting of being impaled by the lured hook of dishonesty. “You're one of those who is all about you. Who's used to m******f####rs doing everything for you!!!â€. Began the barrage of words formed into sentences intended to wound but not kill, just yet. “This isn't working for me any longer because you're aren't who I thought you wereâ€. The explosive device used to oblit... |
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Forgive MeIf I seem too animated, forgive me; I'm passionate about my point.
If I seem to be in constant motion, forgive me; I have a lot to do on this Earth and little time to get it done. If I speak too loud or too fast, forgive me; I'm just excited. If I use too many words, forgive me; I just want to be understood. If I text you too much, forgive me; I just want you to know how often you cross my mind. If sometimes I don't make sense, forgive me; just the thought of you frazzles my nerves and ties my tongue. If I weep like now, forgive me; I've imagined a great future for us that you haven't seen. If I use your words, forgive me; they are too profound for my ears alone. If I push too hard, forgive me; I have had to fight for everything I've gained. If I resist, forgive me; I don't trust easily and need a gentle hand. Whatever I may do, forgive me; I only do it because of you. Tall, handsome enigm... |
And He SaidShe had once soared high above normalcy with the beautiful people. In fact, she had soared even higher than the beautiful people.
But as is often the case, one misadventure after another befell her until she no longer soared at all. Not above, not alongside but decidedly below the beautiful people. She was in a land of nightmares where haunting terrors lodged around every corner seeking to rob her. She lost...one by one...her beauty...her health and now threatening to go...her mind which contained her self esteem and assurance. Languishing days multiplied into years. Time spent in reclusive solitude. Rarely venturing into the sunlight to bask in its rejuvenating glow. Until one glorious day, she saw HIM. "WELL DAMN", she cried. In her eyes, he was stunning to behold. A flicker, was that a flicker? No, it was a glimmer. He was a ... |
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Disappointmen: Just A Definition Not A DefeatDisappointment will ALWAYS be a staple of life. It is conveyed by a myriad of vehicles. People not being who they claim to be. Situations that go South. Opportunities missed or never offered. Disappointment is only as powerful as you allow it to be. It is not a "force of nature" which tears through lives leaving folks physically broken and bleeding. Disappointment is a singularly fixed point in time and time ALWAYS marches on; as should we. Disappointment is a temporary state of being, don't allow it to become permanent. It is one of the best educators you will ever encounter. Use it as the impetus for becoming the King and Queen of all you survey!!!! |