Ginned Truth 

I'm always amazed at the strength, dignity, and hope of a people who were misnamed, categorized by misnomers, and killed with no mercy. I've struggled to reconcile the images of it with the history taught in convenient truths, filled with holes lacking any Swiss appeal because of the time that elapsed before a reset of infrastructure, understanding, and soul. I can't get passed perpendicular lines that crossed tracks on flesh inflamed by resistance on backs supporting hearts hollowed by reality, but still beating, and still hoping. I sat and cried loud dry tears at the site of slave tags, and impending lashes for literacy fighting ignorance to redefine God, and what it meant to matter, and not just be matter. I wept for the devil in men made white not be ethnicity or purity, but by the absence of love, who took pleasure in killing those living with the reflection of sunsets on their skin, and soon, on their lives. Sovereign men, women, and children were forbidden to be human, and taught to deny themselves in the hopes of surviving. I wept for our grandmothers, and my grandfathers. I wept for our ancestors, made nothing short of moon rock, or some other substance out of this world. I'm reverencing and respecting my history, and I'm overwhelmed by its richness. Though appreciative, I weep because of my wealth.

Just a Pretty Boy (For Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc)

He walks tall among the Greeks on the yard,
greeting the people that he sees.
Some watched and saw just a nice and courteous pretty boy,
but I watched and saw me.

He works on University projects,
helps organize community outreach,
and gives friends his uplifting “press on” speech.
Some only heard a pretty boy, but I heard me.

His reputation is honorable and good,
though some cannot recall,
the reasons why his goodwill echoes throughout Kinard Hall.
Some saw just a pretty boy doing too much,
but I saw me.

His clothes were classic prep and pressed; his
khakis were made to crease.
The ladies saw just a well-dressed desirable
pretty boy, but I saw me.

His pledges were hidden in plain sight,
just awful scrollers to see.
Some said they were paying the “pretty boy” cost,
and I saw that cost, one day, being paid by me.

His achievements are high. His fraternity was
founded by attorneys, educators, and doctors you see.
Some saw just a pretty boy studying too hard,
but I saw me.

He cares deeply about his chapter brothers,
and stays close to his LBs.
Some saw a pretty boy hanging with just his brothers,
but I saw me.

He never cares what others are doing,
he keeps his focus, stays the course, and plans his future
carefully you see. His peers saw an overachieving pretty boy,
destined to do great things, and I watched with
admiration and hope, because I saw me.

Tell Me

Firing shots seem to be an acceptable
pastime in our neighborhoods.
Their echoes have rocked houses
and stolen lives ever since I can remember.

These shadow darts are known
to harden hearts, and call all to stand,
but no one is ever willing
unless it’s the police that’s killing.

Everyone has an excuse
unless it’s Zimmerman on the loose.
Isn’t Black life alive and hot like the Florida Strains, or
is it only a legitimate life source when taken by white hands?

For Joy

The combination of attributes
that encapsulate your womanhood
is simply deadly!
Beauty, poise, intelligence, and
charisma, there need not be anymore
collisions of the mind and vexed spirit
in your life unless it's in a Kaleidoscope,
the only thing known to man
that truly can capture the colors
of your spirit,
warm hues of orange, royal purples, yellows, and
golds that typically adorn heavenly hosts.
And yes, now you're included because
of the Holy Ghost.
Ghost, not because you're dead
or something that others see through.
A ghost because of the Jesus, the Lord Thy God,
that lives in you.
This is just a short retort
to remind you of your strutting days,
the people you've helped are always
willing to remind you of it when you've
lost your way.
So smile sista, sing sista,
and dance a mile high.
There's a place waiting for you
beyond this tangible sky.
You are the rainbow's symphony,
 a divine grace for heaven's sake.
The future is at hand, and you've got its
intellectual and spiritual real estate.