by Kemet Mawakana, a.k.a. the Seven Foot Poet
How many times have we heard that "they" control your hood, your head and sometimes your heart, to hear some tell it. You know "how they do us", right?" The Seven Foot Poet wants you to ask the next question.
Just who are "They"?
“THEY”
The audio for this poem is temporarily unavailable.
“Aberrant behavior is shaped by its consequences”
The mysterious “they” are everywhere
“they” did that to me
“they” did this to them
“they” did that too
“they” hurt my family and friends
“they” are going to get theirs
“they” better get back
“they” allowed it to happen
“they” strategically set up that
“they” thrive and continue to hide
When you refer to them as “they”
“they” lose effectiveness and get more resistance
When “they” is stripped away
Name the names
Tell me the addresses
Show me their pictures
I want their parents’ and their children’s identities too
I want “they” to consider immediate retribution upon them and their loved ones
Before “they” do what “they” do
Then “they” will reconsider
Sick the paparazzi on the board members
Publish the policy makers
Advertise the advisors
Broadcast the manipulators
Don’t show me reality shows that could hardly be any faker
Because it is consequences that shape behavior.
By Kemit Mawakana (aka The Seven-Foot Poet)
Peace (when appropriate) War (when necessary)
Copyright 2008.
Kemet Mawakana (aka “The Seven-Foot Poet”) is a highly acclaimed spoken-word artist, and has published two books A . . . Z . . . Infinity and Crucifixion of My Soul. The collective body of his works presented weekly in BAR are in tribute to Listervelt Middleton, Dr. John Henrik Clarke, and “For The People”. Currently, he is a facilitator at AYA Educational Institute (www.ayaed.com) and can be reached at sevenfootpoet@gmail.com.
In this series, we ask acclaimed authors to answer five questions about their book. This week’s featured authors are Tracy Rosenthal and Leonardo Vilchis. Their book is Abolish Rent: How Tenants Can…
for Aiyana, for Tommie, for Jordan.
In excerpts from a speech given in Accra, Ghana, BAR editor and contributor Dr. Jemima Pierre highlights the United Nations’ involvement in the 2004 coup d'état and the subsequent…
Washington, D.C., is implementing a new campaign intended to crack down on fare evasion. This bill, like many others of its kind, will serve as a tool deployed in the ongoing war against the…
Mozambique is experiencing a period of unrest provoked by recent elections. After unending suffering under neoliberal austerity measures and the encroachment of AFRICOM, the …
