Black Agenda Report
Black Agenda Report
News, commentary and analysis from the black left.

  • Home
  • Africa
  • African America
  • Education
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media and Culture
  • Political Economy
  • Radio
  • US Politics
  • War and Empire

They
Bill Quigley
20 Aug 2008
🖨️ Print Article

7_foot_poet_upright_250wideby 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.

Do you need and appreciate Black Agenda Report articles? Please click on the DONATE icon, and help us out, if you can.


More Stories


  • Freedom Rider: Forced Labor in the U.S.
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR senior columnist
    Freedom Rider: Forced Labor in the U.S.
    10 Feb 2021
    Forced labor of Uyghurs in China is questionable, but there is absolute proof that incarcerated people in this country are forced to work for little or no pay.
  • Black Citizenship Forum: Black Citizenship and the Problem of “Coloniality”
    Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    Black Citizenship Forum: Black Citizenship and the Problem of “Coloniality”
    10 Feb 2021
    Blacks subject as a stateless and rightless provider of cheap labor in a globalized and racial capitalist economy.
  • Ugandans Still Resisting Museveni’s Play to Stay in Power
    Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
    Ugandans Still Resisting Museveni’s Play to Stay in Power
    10 Feb 2021
    “Radically rude” poet Stella Nyanzi and opposition leader Kizza Besigye join Bobi Wine in rejecting Museveni’s claim to have been rightfully re-elected.
  • There is no Color-Blind Road to Socialism in the United States
    Danny Haiphong, BAR Contributing Editor
    There is no Color-Blind Road to Socialism in the United States
    10 Feb 2021
    The Democratic Party is not anti-racist because of its “diversity”; it is in fact becoming a more effective agent of a racist and imperialist state.
  • Black Lives Matter…
    Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    Black Lives Matter…
    10 Feb 2021
    B-B-B-Black Lives M-M-M-Matter… Unless you listening to loud music; shoveling snow; Or own a phone or car… B-B-B-Black Lives M-M-M-Matter…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us