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.
Nothing is sacred under capitalism. Even hip hop, the genre which spoke to Black politics and culture is now just another commodity.
Any celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip hop must reference its worldwide political appeal.
The state of Georgia is using the RICO organized crime statute to crush Stop Cop City protests.
Socialists, organizers, and working class leaders in the United States describe the challenges the movement faces, and what is to be done to overcome them.
The petition process to put Cop City on the ballot in Atlanta continues, despite Atlanta public officials' insistence on building a so-called public safety training center that their constituents don…
