FF0043

New Year's and play Nina Simone in the bedroom while we twirl like conductors batons and point to where the notes should have been.

New Year's and play Nina Simone in the bedroom while we twirl like conductors batons and point to where the notes should have been.

We sometimes cry in corners and curse the air for its lack of affection.

We sometimes cry in corners and curse the air for its lack of affection.

Our womb pleads for us to take notice while we crush the past underneath our heels and condemn ourselves to the fire next time.

Our womb pleads for us to take notice while we crush the past underneath our heels and condemn ourselves to the fire next time.

We sometimes punctuate the earth with our beauty.

We sometimes punctuate the earth with our beauty.

And challenge the galaxy with our smiles we sometimes transform.

And challenge the galaxy with our smiles we sometimes transform.

Because evolution is in us all.

Because evolution is in us all.

And to prove Satan a liar.

And to prove Satan a liar.

And

And

we sometimes take life by the hand and peel her like an orange.

we sometimes take life by the hand and peel her like an orange.

Slowly, slowly.

Slowly, slowly.

Wendell Otley, followed by Yapet Brinson.

Wendell Otley, followed by Yapet Brinson.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

My name is Wendell Otley, and um, I want to thank you first before I start, since I won't when I'm finished.

My name is Wendell Otley, and um, I want to thank you first before I start, since I won't when I'm finished.

Um, my poem is Damnation.

Um, my poem is Damnation.

Come from behind the protection of the white sheets you've worn, the piles of the ashes of the crosses you've burned, the

Come from behind the protection of the white sheets you've worn, the piles of the ashes of the crosses you've burned, the

stinking rotting corpses of the niggers you've lynched, and face your damnation.

stinking rotting corpses of the niggers you've lynched, and face your damnation.

Pretend that my problems don't exist, that I'm just bitching for no reason in particular.

Pretend that my problems don't exist, that I'm just bitching for no reason in particular.

That I'm full of shit, and you will face damnation.

That I'm full of shit, and you will face damnation.

Continue to show an abundance of my negative side, without giving equal weight to my positive.

Continue to show an abundance of my negative side, without giving equal weight to my positive.

To show me as a menace to society, but find no faults in the society I menace.

To show me as a menace to society, but find no faults in the society I menace.

To arrest me for committing a blue collar crime, but acquit yourself of white collar crimes.

To arrest me for committing a blue collar crime, but acquit yourself of white collar crimes.

And you will suffer damnation.

And you will suffer damnation.

Ask, why am I not happy being a lower case letter in your capitalistic system?

Ask, why am I not happy being a lower case letter in your capitalistic system?

Why am I not satisfied with the rats and roaches that come with low income housing?

Why am I not satisfied with the rats and roaches that come with low income housing?

Why am I not filled from head to toe with hot dog and apple pie chanting USA every four years patriotism?

Why am I not filled from head to toe with hot dog and apple pie chanting USA every four years patriotism?

And I will say, because I didn't ask to come to this damn nation.

And I will say, because I didn't ask to come to this damn nation.

Yafet

Yafet

Brinson, followed by DJ Renegade.

Brinson, followed by DJ Renegade.

Hey, what up?

Hey, what up?

How's it going?

How's it going?

My name is Yafet.

My name is Yafet.

The poem is called Roman Catholic Hit and Run.

The poem is called Roman Catholic Hit and Run.

Yesterday, a black cop, while crossing the street, was hit and killed by two black nuns on a mountain bike.

Yesterday, a black cop, while crossing the street, was hit and killed by two black nuns on a mountain bike.

The cop dude didn't have a chance to pull his trigger, call for backup, down that day old donut, or polish his plastic badge.

The cop dude didn't have a chance to pull his trigger, call for backup, down that day old donut, or polish his plastic badge.

You see, the cop wasn't paying attention.

You see, the cop wasn't paying attention.

He crossed in between, not at the green, saw nothing at all of oncoming traffic, didn't even look before stepping off the curb.

He crossed in between, not at the green, saw nothing at all of oncoming traffic, didn't even look before stepping off the curb.

Besides, the nuns had right of way anyway.

Besides, the nuns had right of way anyway.

And no, no funeral was given, no investigation was done.

And no, no funeral was given, no investigation was done.

All that remained were the skid marks of the Roman Catholic nigger nuns.

All that remained were the skid marks of the Roman Catholic nigger nuns.

D.

J.

D.

J.

Renegade, followed by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Renegade, followed by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Somebody go wake up Shakespeare and tell him DJ Renegade's in the house.

Somebody go wake up Shakespeare and tell him DJ Renegade's in the house.

Subterranean night colored magi, three moods in the mode of Miles.

Subterranean night colored magi, three moods in the mode of Miles.

Subterranean means underground.

Subterranean means underground.

Deep, profound, and Miles was one deep brother.

Deep, profound, and Miles was one deep brother.

Miles deep like a shaft, descending to the mother load, blowing undersongs.

Miles deep like a shaft, descending to the mother load, blowing undersongs.

Miles on tenor trumpet, tenor eleven levels deeper than the next cat.

Miles on tenor trumpet, tenor eleven levels deeper than the next cat.

Painting all up under the canvas, making it blue bleed out the other side.

Painting all up under the canvas, making it blue bleed out the other side.

Blowing solo, only we hear his bedrock blues.

Blowing solo, only we hear his bedrock blues.

Underground cultural resistance.

Underground cultural resistance.

A virtual virtuoso battling musical mafiosos burrowing under their skin.

A virtual virtuoso battling musical mafiosos burrowing under their skin.

Miles, the son of a dentist doing root work with a hoodoo horn hollering bebop toast like he was Petey

Miles, the son of a dentist doing root work with a hoodoo horn hollering bebop toast like he was Petey

Wheatstraw, Satchmo's son in law, or Stagger Lee stabbing mediocrity with a sharpened fifth, or a signifying

Wheatstraw, Satchmo's son in law, or Stagger Lee stabbing mediocrity with a sharpened fifth, or a signifying

junkie jumping cold turkey out the lion's mouth, or shine below the deck of the Titanic, bluing up the boilers.

junkie jumping cold turkey out the lion's mouth, or shine below the deck of the Titanic, bluing up the boilers.

You see, Miles could blue like bird and freight like train, early like bird and night like train, wing like bird and rail like train, tunneling underground.

You see, Miles could blue like bird and freight like train, early like bird and night like train, wing like bird and rail like train, tunneling underground.

A night color is blacker than a thousand asphalts and Miles was one deep black brother.

A night color is blacker than a thousand asphalts and Miles was one deep black brother.

Black and mysterious as smoke.

Black and mysterious as smoke.

Black as the sky, round midnight, round midnight.

Black as the sky, round midnight, round midnight.

Black as the pot that stewed a bitch's brood.

Black as the pot that stewed a bitch's brood.

Black and turning like a tire, treadmarking musical notation on the asphalt of life.

Black and turning like a tire, treadmarking musical notation on the asphalt of life.

Miles was slick as black ice, cool as black snow, sweet as black cherries, hitting harder A black Jack Hammer, black Jack Johnson, or a black Jack Daniels.

Miles was slick as black ice, cool as black snow, sweet as black cherries, hitting harder A black Jack Hammer, black Jack Johnson, or a black Jack Daniels.

See, Miles was a Jack of spades, but an ace at his trade, blowing night colors.

See, Miles was a Jack of spades, but an ace at his trade, blowing night colors.

Like deep black, triple black, shiny black, cinder black, ashy black, quarter black, mega black, multi black, all shades of Miles.

Like deep black, triple black, shiny black, cinder black, ashy black, quarter black, mega black, multi black, all shades of Miles.

Shifting harmonic gears in his chromatic Ferrari.

Shifting harmonic gears in his chromatic Ferrari.

Blowing with his black turn to the audience.

Blowing with his black turn to the audience.

Speaking coolly Magi are priests, wailing wizards, soloing sorcerers.

Speaking coolly Magi are priests, wailing wizards, soloing sorcerers.

And Miles was one deep black magic brother.

And Miles was one deep black magic brother.

Miles, conjuring in the key of we.

Miles, conjuring in the key of we.

Magi, Magi, that's the confused ones.

Magi, Magi, that's the confused ones.

Miles is singular, they say.

Miles is singular, they say.

But Miles, we know you plural, you y'all.

But Miles, we know you plural, you y'all.

You be bop miles, hard bop miles, cool miles, fusion miles.

You be bop miles, hard bop miles, cool miles, fusion miles.

Lord, Lord, Lord, you reverend miles, tonally testifying from the book of the blues.

Lord, Lord, Lord, you reverend miles, tonally testifying from the book of the blues.

Blowing muted magic like chapter and verse, making a joyful noise unto the Lord.

Blowing muted magic like chapter and verse, making a joyful noise unto the Lord.

And anybody else hip enough to dig the scene?

And anybody else hip enough to dig the scene?

Magi Miles with crazy styles, even sported a tutu.

Magi Miles with crazy styles, even sported a tutu.

Miles, 1.

Miles, 1.

6 kilometers of cool.

6 kilometers of cool.

Miles, 5, 280 dancing feet.

Miles, 5, 280 dancing feet.

Miles, too much distance for their musical rulers, pouring decades of music like vintage wine.

Miles, too much distance for their musical rulers, pouring decades of music like vintage wine.

Miles, wily, never smiley, too quick to hit and took no shit.

Miles, wily, never smiley, too quick to hit and took no shit.

Nobody's fool, sleek, satin, cool, anciently new, kind of blue.

Nobody's fool, sleek, satin, cool, anciently new, kind of blue.

Our subterranean, night colored magic.

Our subterranean, night colored magic.

Ta-Nehisi

Ta-Nehisi

Coates, followed by Dorothy Marie Wright.

Coates, followed by Dorothy Marie Wright.

Um, I am Ta Nehisi Coates.

Um, I am Ta Nehisi Coates.

That's alright, everybody do it.

That's alright, everybody do it.

Um, and I'm from Baltimore.

Um, and I'm from Baltimore.

Um, but I came down here, I guess, with the DCP, because that's where I go to school.

Um, but I came down here, I guess, with the DCP, because that's where I go to school.

I'm gonna read a piece entitled, Last Night.

I'm gonna read a piece entitled, Last Night.

It goes like this.

It goes like this.

On this dark of bottomless night, She returns, touching, quiet, making us Silhouette swimmers in an ocean of sheets.

On this dark of bottomless night, She returns, touching, quiet, making us Silhouette swimmers in an ocean of sheets.

What I have missed is my hand gracing tender up the arc of her back and her whispering music before the tune escapes my lips.

What I have missed is my hand gracing tender up the arc of her back and her whispering music before the tune escapes my lips.

What I have wanted is her so nuclear with wanting that she melts sun and paints the sky plum purple with passion.

What I have wanted is her so nuclear with wanting that she melts sun and paints the sky plum purple with passion.

And the stroke is so good that I jump crazy at the sudden of my alarm as it screams reality across the mess of a lonely room.

And the stroke is so good that I jump crazy at the sudden of my alarm as it screams reality across the mess of a lonely room.

I peep the digital demon whose red eyes wail six o'clock.

I peep the digital demon whose red eyes wail six o'clock.

And now I know why I hate mornings.

And now I know why I hate mornings.

They always leave me holding pillows like lovers.

They always leave me holding pillows like lovers.

Dorothy Marie Rice followed by Michael Collins.

Dorothy Marie Rice followed by Michael Collins.

As I read this poem, well, before I read this poem, I want to make a comment to Bert, my friend, and say, I won't explain.

As I read this poem, well, before I read this poem, I want to make a comment to Bert, my friend, and say, I won't explain.

He understands.

He understands.

And also give homage to Gwendolyn Brooks, who said, it's okay to have a poem that's not crafted.

And also give homage to Gwendolyn Brooks, who said, it's okay to have a poem that's not crafted.

This was written this morning.

This was written this morning.

Ambrosia.

Ambrosia.

Hush.

Hush.

Somebody's calling your name.

Somebody's calling your name.

The first buzz you hear, tiny as a raindrop, is the Scout.

The first buzz you hear, tiny as a raindrop, is the Scout.

She travels miles on sturdy wings, thin as mica.

She travels miles on sturdy wings, thin as mica.

Miles through ozone drenched currents.

Miles through ozone drenched currents.

Miles past housing projects.

Miles past housing projects.

Miles.

Miles.

Miles past bald headed little boys, pot bellied little girls, and weary grandmothers.

Miles past bald headed little boys, pot bellied little girls, and weary grandmothers.

Finally, a field, wild flowers, clover, she tongues the purple sweetness, baptizes herself, returns to her kin, miles and miles away.

Finally, a field, wild flowers, clover, she tongues the purple sweetness, baptizes herself, returns to her kin, miles and miles away.

Children, go where I send thee.

Children, go where I send thee.

We swarm, nestle ourselves in the bosom of mountains.

We swarm, nestle ourselves in the bosom of mountains.

Our hymns, a chorus, reverberating, breaking sound barriers.

Our hymns, a chorus, reverberating, breaking sound barriers.

Michael Collins, followed by Tony Blackman.

Michael Collins, followed by Tony Blackman.

My name is Michael L.

My name is Michael L.

L.

Collins.

L.

Collins.

I'm from Indianapolis, Indiana.

I'm from Indianapolis, Indiana.

I'm a jazz poet, and I love reading jazz poems, and I love the fact that out there there are not only other

I'm a jazz poet, and I love reading jazz poems, and I love the fact that out there there are not only other

poets, but poets out there with books, and poets out there teaching.

poets, but poets out there with books, and poets out there teaching.

So it means also that I have, there's an audience that listens, it's not just waiting here to read.

So it means also that I have, there's an audience that listens, it's not just waiting here to read.

But anyway, I read one time, and I, like I said, I love doing my jazz poems, I read one time in Indianapolis,

But anyway, I read one time, and I, like I said, I love doing my jazz poems, I read one time in Indianapolis,

I read one of my jazz poems, and Mari was out in the audience, and uh, You know, I thought I did pretty good.

I read one of my jazz poems, and Mari was out in the audience, and uh, You know, I thought I did pretty good.

She said what you did wasn't of any substance.

She said what you did wasn't of any substance.

I said, damn, you're right.

I said, damn, you're right.

Because I had read back to it and it wasn't of any substance.

Because I had read back to it and it wasn't of any substance.

She said it didn't address any issues in the community.

She said it didn't address any issues in the community.

I said, damn, you're right.

I said, damn, you're right.

I said, uh, got to do a little bit more writing.

I said, uh, got to do a little bit more writing.

And there were some important issues in the community and important issues where I was at.

And there were some important issues in the community and important issues where I was at.

And I was going to church at the time.

And I was going to church at the time.

So I thought I'd write a little bit about the church, and uh, I wanted to say, there's one important question when you go to church that you need to ask.

So I thought I'd write a little bit about the church, and uh, I wanted to say, there's one important question when you go to church that you need to ask.

That is, ask, who gave the money?

That is, ask, who gave the money?

Ask, where does the money go?

Ask, where does the money go?

Now, sisters, ask the preacher.

Now, sisters, ask the preacher.

To read with you from the book of Mark.

To read with you from the book of Mark.

Now ask if the Bible is opened when he opens the finance books.

Now ask if the Bible is opened when he opens the finance books.

Ask if the message in one book can answer the message in the other.

Ask if the message in one book can answer the message in the other.

Ask him to turn to chapter 12, verse 38 through 44.

Ask him to turn to chapter 12, verse 38 through 44.

Ask him to preach from that passage.

Ask him to preach from that passage.

Ask them to preach it's meaning.

Ask them to preach it's meaning.

Now ask,

Now ask,

why are there no women trustees?

why are there no women trustees?

Ask, why no sisters sit on the deacon board?

Ask, why no sisters sit on the deacon board?

Ask, why brothers ask sisters not to ask?

Ask, why brothers ask sisters not to ask?

Where does the money go?

Where does the money go?

Then, counter him.

Then, counter him.

ount to him the number of sisters in the church.

ount to him the number of sisters in the church.

Count to him the sisters who serve on the usher board, who sing in the choir, and tell him not to forget those who teach in the Sunday schools.

Count to him the sisters who serve on the usher board, who sing in the choir, and tell him not to forget those who teach in the Sunday schools.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Count to him the small number of men in the church.

Count to him the small number of men in the church.

Count to him the number of times you've heard that only brothers can count the money.

Count to him the number of times you've heard that only brothers can count the money.

They have to count the money early in the afternoon.

They have to count the money early in the afternoon.

Because baseball, basketball, football, boxing.

Because baseball, basketball, football, boxing.

I said boxing.

I said boxing.

They create conflicts.

They create conflicts.

And they just can't stay late.

And they just can't stay late.

Except,

Except,

oh yeah, except.

oh yeah, except.

Except if there's a special service.

Except if there's a special service.

Like that time the champ was called.

Like that time the champ was called.

Yeah, it was that special Sunday.

Yeah, it was that special Sunday.

The champ, Iron Mike Tyson was called to walk down the aisle.

The champ, Iron Mike Tyson was called to walk down the aisle.

And he gave an exceptional donation.

And he gave an exceptional donation.

All the brothers were there.

All the brothers were there.

Preacher was there.

Preacher was there.

You should have been there

You should have been there

to ask.

to ask.

Ask him to open that book again.

Ask him to open that book again.

Yeah, ask him to read that message again.

Yeah, ask him to read that message again.

Ask him to read the part about when the collection was taken.

Ask him to read the part about when the collection was taken.

Ask him to read the part about when that multi multi millionaire gave that multi multi money.

Ask him to read the part about when that multi multi millionaire gave that multi multi money.

And that little itty bitty woman.

And that little itty bitty woman.

Oh, she gave a little itty bitty bit.

Oh, she gave a little itty bitty bit.

Read your Bible now.

Read your Bible now.

Ask who the Bible said gave the most.

Ask who the Bible said gave the most.

Now, then ask.

Now, then ask.

Ask if the church's Sunday school teacher says that she's been raped.

Ask if the church's Sunday school teacher says that she's been raped.

Raped by that same sports hero,

Raped by that same sports hero,

Iron Mike Tyson.

Iron Mike Tyson.

That same Seventh Commandment breaking sports hero.

That same Seventh Commandment breaking sports hero.

Ask, who will the church believe?

Ask, who will the church believe?

Ask, if his book is still open.

Ask, if his book is still open.

Finance book

Finance book

or Bible book.

or Bible book.

Ask, who gave the money?

Ask, who gave the money?

Ask, where does that money go?

Ask, where does that money go?

Toni Blackman, followed by Jonathan Gray.

Toni Blackman, followed by Jonathan Gray.

Toni Blackman, followed by Jonathan Gray.

Toni Blackman, followed by Jonathan Gray.

The black woman's struggle.

The black woman's struggle.

Her head swings low like Sweet's chariot, but she ain't coming forth to carry you home.

Her head swings low like Sweet's chariot, but she ain't coming forth to carry you home.

She and her sister, carrying too much as it is.

She and her sister, carrying too much as it is.

Hello, my name is Toni Blackman.

Hello, my name is Toni Blackman.

I want to give a shout out to E.

I want to give a shout out to E.

Ethelbert Miller.

Ethelbert Miller.

One of the reasons that I've been writing for so long.

One of the reasons that I've been writing for so long.

Irving G.

Irving G.

Russell.

He's a very helpful brother.

Russell.

He's a very helpful brother.

I write a lot of four poems that have maybe seven words in them at the most.

I write a lot of four poems that have maybe seven words in them at the most.

So, um, I think today that's what I feel like reading.

So, um, I think today that's what I feel like reading.

And this one is called Accident at the Church.

And this one is called Accident at the Church.

The steeple toppled into the parking lot, causing the parishioners to scream, to actually care about one another.

The steeple toppled into the parking lot, causing the parishioners to scream, to actually care about one another.

Spell number three.

Spell number three.

I tried to write a poem about your eyes, but you kept staring at me.

I tried to write a poem about your eyes, but you kept staring at me.

Intercourse.

Intercourse.

Last night I made love to myself for the very first time.

Last night I made love to myself for the very first time.

There was absolutely nothing painful about it.

There was absolutely nothing painful about it.

Every Sunday.

Every Sunday.

Miss Lucy in that old tired red velvet hat struts the avenue as if it were the night.

Miss Lucy in that old tired red velvet hat struts the avenue as if it were the night.

And my final piece is written for my brothers who chant the pussy song.

And my final piece is written for my brothers who chant the pussy song.

Obsessed with vaginal chants of regions of acts of nonsense.

Obsessed with vaginal chants of regions of acts of nonsense.

Not moving us forward, stagnant we remain.

Not moving us forward, stagnant we remain.

Clutching to those concepts with which they have brainwashed us, with which they have controlled us.

Clutching to those concepts with which they have brainwashed us, with which they have controlled us.

Sex can be hypnotic if you allow it to be.

Sex can be hypnotic if you allow it to be.

Sex can be an escape if you allow it to be.

Sex can be an escape if you allow it to be.

The only true escape from reality is death.

The only true escape from reality is death.

And we are allowing it to happen one by one by one by one.

And we are allowing it to happen one by one by one by one.

We are an endangered species.

We are an endangered species.

Sex is not for our people, no.

Sex is not for our people, no.

We cannot allow it to happen.

We cannot allow it to happen.

For we, we must make love.

For we, we must make love.

Applause

Applause

Next we have Jonathan Gray, followed by Kwame Alexander.

Next we have Jonathan Gray, followed by Kwame Alexander.

Jonathan

Jonathan

from Howard University.

from Howard University.

Peace to all the brothers from 8 Rock.

Peace to all the brothers from 8 Rock.

Um, if you think this poem applies to you, then it probably does.

Um, if you think this poem applies to you, then it probably does.

What?

What?

You don't really want to battle.

You don't really want to battle.