Enjoy these poems and please email the poets (where applicable) and give them some feedback!

the occasional black person
(inspired by Kenny)

Oh, my,
Is it that time of year already?
Yes!
I'd better get out my checkbook
(with Genuine Afro-American Lifestyle checks)
 [made in Taiwan]
in support of The Cause.
Hey, Millicent, what's The Cause today?
Heck, what does it matter?
It's another photo-op for me!
I hear they have Kawansa stamps now too,
goody!

Now now, Millicent darling.
We just have to make it through
a precious few days of this;
then we won't have to be black anymore
until They need us for
black history month.

     "Oh, I'mmmmm/
      putting on my Black-ness/
      strapping on my Kin-te/
      winding up my Tail!"

Rose "bams" Cooper (c) cooper@acm.cse.msu.edu

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MAKE ME WANNA HOLLA!

As I traverse this campus I inspire fear,
Dreaded in the hearts of those far and near,
Without companion in the land of my foes,
They despise my dark skin and my large nose.

Whose eyes unhindered can see my heart?
If not for ignorance, their worlds would fall apart.
Whose feet will follow the path that I tread? 
For by their ignorance, my forefathers lay dead.

I try to speak, but my voice gets swallowed,
By their deaf ears and their hearts hollowed.
The water that quenches my burning pain,
Is the laugh and smile that keeps me sane.

But why deny a fellow his rights?
To seize the days and sleep the nights.
But why infringe a brother's liberty?
To walk about the campus and know that he's free.

My thoughts then turn savage to express my misery,
But that I can't because I know they expected that of me.
Quarrels and perils, lies and deceit, heart aches and strife,
Hard to earn a dollar, "make me want to holla the way they do my life."

Jerod Frazier (c) jerodf@clemson.edu

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COLORS OF THE SOUL

In a majestic rainbow, what color would be chosen for blacks
What color would represent our accomplishments, culture, and set backs
Would it be yellow since we make any darkness into rays of sun
Anytime there's a problem, we figure it out and overcome
Would it be red for all of our blood that was shed
The anger we feel for not being able to get ahead
Would it be green for other people who's full of spite
Who wants to be my color instead of being pale and white
Would it be blue because my soul is aching inside
The beating my spirit took because people tried to strip my pride
Could it be purple to try and ease the hurting in my soul
To ease our mind and put it in a calm relaxed mode
Could it be orange like the sunset in our missed homeland
A place where life started; home of the original man
If you put the colors together, it will make the rainbow diverse
Some will bring you joy; other colors will be much worse
But no matter what  color you are just remember be strong and fight
Things will not always be good and some people won't treat you right
So if you see a rainbow just think of what color you are
No matter if it brings you joy or pain, you're still a shining star

Shawn Goins (c) sagg@methode.com

==============================================

PERCEPTIONS 

What's your perception of my conception?
Because I wear sandals and 'Too-tight' jeans,
Do you think of me as a 'porno queen?
If I come to church, and my stockings are black,
Do you assume I have sinned, and can't turn back?

If  I'm a young black man, with a youthful look,
Do you automatically assume that I am a crook?
I earned my Masters, and my Ph.D., but I still suffer, 
because of what you see.

If I'm a young white male, hanging with my boys,
Do you assume we want to 'jack' you,
because we make a lot of noise?

If I'm a young white woman, who doesn't 
buy into what you believe, 
Is it only your scorn, and disdain I receive?
Because I see color, as an unimportant thing,
Does that make me less of a human being?

If I'm a black woman, and I'm a little overweight,
Do you automatically assume it's from what I ate?
After I suffered from your prejudice and scorn,
weren't you surprised to learn, that I suffer 
from a congenital disease?
That I need steroid treatments to be able to breathe,
and that steroid treatments causes one to swell,
and I didn't ask for a 'fat girl's hell.
If I'm a middle-aged woman, either white or black,
do you assume I am always looking back?
Do you think I don't know about biggie or snoop,
and that I can't dance to a 'Hip-Hop' group?

I can enjoy 'Jah', or 'Dead-Head Red',
Listen to 'Marilyn-Manson' and shake my head.
So before you kick me with your One-Glance boot,
Remember even Jeffrey Dahmer, Once wore a suit.

Rose Ford (c) roseforms@aol.com

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Atonement  - First Anniversary: 
1995 Million Man March Washington, D.C.   
   
O Eternal One,    
from whom we seek forgiveness and comfort.    

Forgive us our multiple sins against self,    
our women, our children and our community.   

Forgive us for unmet promises    
made in the heat of passion.    

Forgive us for our inability to be the PEOPLE    
that you desired us to be.    

Help us to forgive ourselves for   
the missed opportunities we daily ignore.   

Eternal One,    
please in THY MAJESTY,   
help us to understand ourselves.    
Help us to know why we are as we are.   

Ignore our petty disagreements,   
superficial and self-destructive egos.    
Help us to mend the hurts    
that we have inflicted upon our own    
and distant strangers.  

Help us to reaffirm our ancestral roots   
and commitment to our homeland.   

Eternal One,    
in THY INFINITE MERCY,    
help us to learn to love who we are.   

For all too long we have despised    
the blessing of Blackness    
that you bestowed upon us as a gift.    

Teach us, GREAT SPIRIT,    
the secrets of wisdom known to our ancestors.    
Teach us how to respect our mothers and fathers    
who have given so much to our being.    
Teach us to respect our children    
whom we have ignored for all to long.   

Eternal One,    
on this day - one year latter,    
let our journey toward atonement commence.    
Let it be one of self reflection,    
proaction, and commitment to our wives and 
soul mates, sisters and children, mothers and fathers.    

Eternal One,    
help us to atone forsaking our righteous path    
toward self-identity, awareness and accomplishment.    

Eternal One,    
help us to atone for forsaking our true purpose   
for existence - achievement by any means.    

Eternal One, help us to atone    
for forsaking the teachings of our elders and 
prophets, and ignoring the wisdom of our children.   

And finally,   
Eternal One, help us to be.    
Please hear our prayer.  

Rodney Coates (c) coatesrd@casmail. muohio.edu

==============================================

LITTLE BLACK GIRL

This too is your world, you're more
precious than diamonds or pearls, so
wipe those eyes, don't you cry, everything's
gonna be just fine, remember you have a good
heart, you were born smart, you will win if you
believe in yourself, if you don't neither will 
anyone else.

Hold back your tears find solutions instead, when 
walking hold high your head, focus on achieving 
don't be afraid, be proud of your color, which is 
never second to any other!

For you are a supreme being, hold tight to your 
dreams, if by this world you are never spoiled
you're already blessed to be 
A Little Black Girl!

Tina Marie Clark (c) lryicist@bellsouth.net