by BAR poet-in-residence Raymond Nat Turner
BAR's poet in residence reminds us that Cleveland has been taking shots as well as making shots for a long time now...
Cleveland Championship?
by BAR poet-in-residence Raymond Nat Turner
âThe power to kill compounds the need to killâ
-Judith Wright
LeBron shot 38 times,
Scored 44, needing 11
More shots to out shoot
One Cleveland pig; 107
More to out shoot the
Pigâs shoot-around, firing
Squad, fearing-for-their-
Lives, âFlash Brothersââ
Red-hot muzzles blazing,
Pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-
Pop-pop popcorn cordite,
Awful thud-thud-thud-thud-
Thud of their bullets burrowing,
Pock marking thin night skin of
The old baby blue Malibu Malissa
Williamsâ and Timothy Russellâs
Disfigured faces and heads lay,
Blooming crimson on the Chevyâs
Steering wheel and dashboard
Clevelandâs âFlash Brothers,â
Cavalier killers of Black folk,
Out shot Sean Bellâs, Amadou
Dialloâs Big Apple shooters,
Out shot Mike Brownâs murderer
Walter Scottâs South Carolina
Killer, out shot olâ Thronberry,
âRidersâ from âTha Town,â out
Shot Oaktown shooters of Gary
King, Melvin Black, Charles
Briscoe, Casper Banjo, but no
Championship for Cleveland
Two seconds on the clock
Clevelandâs âFlash Brothers,â
Cavalier killers of Black folk,
Shoot a 12-year-old boy, tackle
His 14-year-old sister, threaten
His mom with arrest; flagrantly
Fouling out of the human raceâ
Like Philly pigs bombing, barbequing
11 MOVE children and adults,
Razing 60 homes, no championship
For Cleveland
So, why am I so slow to share bliss
Blanketing âTha Townâ like morning
Fog? Oaktown earned it olâ fashioned
Ways: Oscar Grant, Occupy Oakland,
âGeneral Strikeâ street heat, port shut-
Downs âgainst apartheid states near/far!
So, why am I so conflicted, digging
Young cats, Ali-less, Russell-less,
Kareem-less, Brown-less, Coltrane-
Like, working craft, remaining humble?
Is it because of the âbigs,â
Backing us down, running set plays,
Serial wars, making us settleâ low
Percentage shots every two/four years?
Is it because of the âbigs,â
Swatting Black lives away through thin blue
Lines, high fructose corn syrup food deserts,
Chicken colonies of poverty and obesity?
Is it because of the âbigsââ
Grubb, Coldwell, Wells Fargo banksters,
Remax Red Oak, and their sneering FOR
SALE/SOLD signs, dominating down low?
Is it because of the âbigsââ
Boarding up houses, shuttering schools,
Libraries, parks, rec centers and erecting
Ever grander play palaces to themselves?
Is it because of the âbigsâ
Off-shoring jobs and subbing
Arrogant settlers, upturned noses, barking
Dogs, for Caterpillar, Peterbilt, Postal, GM,
Highland Hospital, Naval Shipyard, starters?
Is it because of the âbigsâ
Bounce passes to haters of Blacks,
FOX-box trolls, disguised as fans
Standing âtheirâ ground, 2nd place
âWinnersâ with the1%!
Overseer tones to 55-inch screens,
Commanding Black bodies: âcut,â
âStop dribbling,â âdrive,â âshoot,â
âCome out aggressive,â âgo strong
To the hole,â âplay hurt,â donât holler
âI canât breathe,â âHands up, donât
Shoot,â donât âbulk up like Hulk
Hogan,â ârun through shots,â donât
Take off running, make âeye contact,â
Or resist âarrestâ from fetal positionsâ
500lbs of knees in your backâŚ
Is it because of the âbigsâ
Finding ways to win, sweeping stats mattering
Mostâtriple-doubles, Dr. King drew up â67â
No matter who hoists trophies, lines parades as
Kings, for a day?
Raymond Nat Turner Š 2015 All Rights Reserved
Remembering the 1989 US invasion of Panama as a racist attack on Black people.
Malcolm X was a legendary revolutionary who is still loved by millions of people. The anniversary of his assassination is an opportunity to reflect on his impact.
Rwanda and Israel reinforce each other's license to kill based on past victimization, and Rwanda supports Israel at the African Union.
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This weekâs featured author is Kemi Adeyemi. Adeyemi is an Associate Professor of Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies and Director of The Black Embodiments Studio at the University of Washington.âŚ
