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Watching and listening to a little Black girl
And a little Black boy playing a game of chess,
I overheard the little boy whisper to the little girl,
“I have the white pieces; therefore, I start the game.”
Despite axiomatic renderings, life is not
A game of chess and chess is not a game
Of life; yet, when correlated and juxtaposed,
They are phenomenal ideological links when
They are scripted in sweet metaphors. Consider
The chess-board as a world of the distinctive
Colorful beings—their identities—as those who
Makeup that world with its challenging interactions
In which all are seemingly equal in designated
Positions and seemingly endowed with democratic
Abilities—where gains and losses are the results
Of choices made—and in the game, the “Kings” and
“Queens” possess powers that can be viewed as being
Those of both Liberators and oppressors; interestingly,
A paralleling that is irrespective of color and is also true
Of knights, bishops, rooks, and pawns—each in their
Respective roles are subjected to elimination.
In the game, victory depends upon the choices made—
Offensive and defensive moves both made—to counteract
Each other; inclusive of focus on anticipated future moves.
In the end, the game terminates in either a stalemate or a
Checkmate: game starting over with the same enthusiasm.
In either case, players will have learned what did work and
What did not: games going on until players decide to quit.
And that is about as simple and difficult it gets—in chess.
So, what about life, you say? Oh, that’s easy! You see life
Is the most complicated endeavor in all reality; indeed!
In the world of life, the categories of people and their skin’s
Hue matters in the distribution of power and upward mobility.
And in this reality, Black Kings and Queens are dethroned;
Knights and Bishops are reduced to indentured servants; Rooks
Suffer PTSD, and Black Pawns are the new millennium’s slaves!
To make a long story short and clarify erroneous Assumptions
In the establishment of allegorical relationships between chess
And life, it must be understood that, unlike White lives, Black lives
Find it almost impossible to start over when all in their reality
Are moves to make their stalemates and checkmates permanent!
Indeed, while the game of chess just may enhance
Our critical thinking and teach warrior-like strategies
In the achievement of various victories, let no one try
To convince you that life is just like a game of chess.
Likewise, always be aware that the reality of life has
Never been and will never be just like a game of chess
Nor a box of chocolate either; for as a chocolate people,
We are well aware that this present life we live is holy hell!
There are no two ways about it—chess is a game—life is a reality.
Thus, as you read and ponder where this pen is going, let me
Suggest that tonight you should sit down to a game of chess;
And tomorrow, go out there and check the real-life survival
Moves you must daily make in efforts to avoid the present
Oppressive stalemate arresting hands and those present
Murderous checkmate knees they are now paired with.
