Not Being Black Enough
Unlike whites,
I can not use blacks as an excuse.
I once tried that long ago.
And I was accused of not being black,
Enough.
By those accustomed to the abuse!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
I am a man of black and white
I am a man of black and white,
my name is written on the gates of the sky.
i am a man of black and white
my origin is united, yet two apart.
I speak the language of the whites,
but lost in the language of the blacks.
i am a man of black and white,
my resemblance is same with the blacks.
I am a man of black and white,
i was brought up in the land of the whites.
i am a man of black and white,
my home is in the south-east, in the abode of my black dad.
I am a man of black and white,
i love the aspirations of life.
i am a man of black and white,
although two apart, we are united as one.
poem by Randy Micheal
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Prejudiced? Who? Me? ? .....[Personal; Human Nature; Racial Prejudice]
I'm a white guy, aged 64, raised in a small town way up north.
Do some thoughts I have about blacks signal prejudice coming forth?
First I'd say NO, but then again I'd say YES.
But such thoughts, by both whites and blacks, are normal I would guess.
What thoughts am I now referring to you will probably ask.
To answer that sensible question will put my mind to task.
My interactions with blacks, I think, no prejudice does reveal.
And the rare times I have 'prejudice' thoughts, I think they're no big deal.
Do you wish to know of what my 'pre-judged' thoughts consist?
I'd almost rather not tell you. But, if you insist.
I sometimes think 'nigger'; when and where I grew up that was a 'bad' name.
I also think of them as different though people are the 'same'.
And here is where I say 'I don't like generalization'.
By 'same' I mean neither all blacks nor all whites are 'the same' in this nation.
So whites and blacks can both be smart or stupid, mean or kind;
within each 'race' criminals and 'saints' you'll find.
I wasn't raised to either love or hate blacks. My parents seemed not to judge.
And I've changed my mind again; I'm NOT prejudiced. From that opinion I shall not budge!
Then why you ask do I sometimes think 'nigger' when I think of a black?
I think it's due to both a primeval urge to break society's rules, and to thought-control I lack.
Luckily I don't act out my 'bad' thoughts. I might be in jail now if I had.
When in grade school, a boy said I called him 'nigger'. The accusation made me sad.
poem by Bri Edwards
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Racial Conflict
I, Yellow.
No different
Than others.
Whites on Whites...
Blacks on Blacks...
Browns on Browns...
Racism.
How will it be
When the tie
Binds
Diverging colors?
What Is It That Is Wished
Why are 'whites' in constant dialogue,
About their superiority over 'blacks'?
What insecurities are needing to be fed,
To address those issues and put them to bed?
Allowing needs to feel 'better than'...
Air that does not entrap.
What is it that is wished...
That could be hidden and not contradict this?
Is that why 'black' folks are enforced...
To be multi-cultural,
With a tolerance of others embraced and endorsed?
And 'whites' have a need to keep their pets on a leash.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Soulja'z Story
[Tupac Talking]
They cuttin off welfare
Think they crime is risin' now
You got whites killin blacks
Cops killin blacks
And blacks killin blacks
Shit just gonna get worse
They just gonna become souljas
Straight souljas
Chorus
All you wanted ta be
song performed by by Tupac
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Across The Lines
Across the lines
Who would dare to go
Under the bridge
Over the tracks
That seperates whites from blacks
Choose sides
Or run for your life
Tonight the riots begin
On the back streets of America
They kill the dream of America
Little black girl gets assaulted
Ain't no reason why
Newspaper prints the story
And racist tempers fly
Next day it starts a riot
Knives and guns are drawn
Two black boys get killed
One white boy goes blind
Across the lines
Who would dare to go
Under the bridge
Over the tracks
That seperates whites from blacks
Choose sides
Or run for your life
Tonight the riots begin
On the back streets of America
They kill the dream of America
Little black girl gets assaulted
Don't no one know her name
Lots of people hurt and angry
She's the one to blame
Across the lines
Who would dare to go
Under the bridge
Over the tracks
That seperates whites from blacks
Choose sides
Or run for your life
Tonight the riots begin
On the back streets of America
They kill the dream of America
song performed by by Tracy Chapman from Tracy Chapman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Blacks have traditionally had to operate in a situation where whites have set themselves up as the custodians of the black experience.
quote by August Wilson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Black And Whites
So many choices in my life these days
So much confusion, so many shades of gray
That sometimes I don't know
My left from my right
But I've got these old black and whites
Well, I'm every color that you can paint
A father, a lover, a mother, a sinner and a saint
From Sunday morning, to Saturday night
I've got these old black and whites
Under the spotlight or all alone at midnight
I know I'm right where I belong
It always unwinds me, it finds me then reminds me
That life is as simple as a song
Lovers, they come and surely they go
They fly you so high, say hello, say goodbye
And they leave you low
But that's all right here in these songs that I write
Right here on these old black and whites
So roll over Beethoven
Cause ol' Phil could use some room
I may be out of time and may be out of tune
But you know how it feels to pour out your life
Right here on these old black and whites
Livin life in black and white
song performed by by Phil Vassar
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Black & Whites
So many choices in my life these days
So much confusion, so many shades of gray
That sometimes I don't know
My left from my right
But I've got these old black and whites
Well, I'm every color that you can paint
A father, a lover, a mother, a sinner and a saint
From Sunday morning, to Saturday night
I've got these old black and whites
Under the spotlight or all alone at midnight
I know I'm right where I belong
It always unwinds me, it finds me then reminds me
That life is as simple as a song
Lovers, they come and surely they go
They fly you so high, say hello, say goodbye
And they leave you low
But that's all right here in these songs that I write
Right here on these old black and whites
So roll over Beethoven
Cause ol' Phil could use some room
I may be out of time and may be out of tune
But you know how it feels to pour out your life
Right here on these old black and whites
Livin life in black and white
song performed by by Phil Vassar
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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PRETTY'S NO EXCUSE...by Talile Ali
SEEN ALL KINDS OF UGLINESS DONE BY FOLKS THESE DAYS
JUST CAUSE THEY'RE PRETTY THEY SEEM TO THINK IT'S OK
TO RUN AROUND WRECKLESSLY AND DESTROY WHAT THEY MAY
FOR SOME REASON NO ONE WILL PUT THEM IN THEIR PLACE
THEY LET THEM RUN AROUND AND RUIN THE SPACE
BEING PRETTY IS THEIR LICENCE TO DEFACE
PRETTY IS NO EXCUSE
FOR PERPETUATING SELF-SERVING ABUSE
RAGING BULL ON THE LOOSE
PRETTY IS NO
PRETTY IS NO EXCUSE
WHEN AN ARGUEMENT COMES WALKIN THRU THAT FRONT DOOR
PRETTY WILL BE USED TO SHUT IT DOWN AND WHATS MORE
IT NEVER GIVES A DAMN OR WHAT THE HELL FOR
SAD TRUTH ABOUT IT IS THAT WE ALL PLAY
AROUND WITH PRETTY HOPING TO BE RUBBED RIGHT THAT DAY
BUT PRETTY ALWAYS HAS IT DONE JUST ONE WAY-ITS WAY
PRETTY IS NO EXCUSE
FOR PERPETUATING SELF-SERVING ABUSE
RAGING BULL ON THE LOOSE
PRETTY IS NO
PRETTY IS NO EXCUSE
SO IF YOU FIND YOUR SELF BEING DRAWN UPON SOME DAY
BY SOMEONE PRETTY, THEN IT'S BEST YOU RUN AWAY
CAUSE IF YOU DON'T YOU WILL BE CHEWED UP AND THROWN AWAY
AS YOU WATCH YOUR WORLD SPIN OUT OF CONTROL
YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH A FOOL YOU'VE BEEN SHOWED
YOUR IMAGE CORRUPTED AS IT APPEARS WHEN IT SO WITH
PRETTY PEOPLE
PRETTY IS NO EXCUSE
FOR PERPETUATING SELF-SERVING ABUSE
RAGING BULL ON THE LOOSE
PRETTY IS NO
PRETTY IS NO EXCUSE
poem by Talile Ali
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PRETTY IS NO EXCUSE...by Talile Ali
IVE SEEN ALL KINDS OF UGLINESS PRACTICED BY FOLKS THESE DAYS
BECAUSE THEY'RE PRETTY THEY SEEM TO THINK IT'S OK
TO RUN AROUND WRECKLESSLY AND DESTROY ALL THEY MAY
FOR SOME REASON NO ONE WILL PUT THEM IN PLACE
THEY LET THEM RUN AROUND AND RUIN A SPACE
AS IF BEING PRETTY WAS A LICENCE TO DEFACE
PRETTY IS NO EXCUSE
FOR PERPETUATING ABUSE
RAGING BULL ON THE LOOSE
PRETTY IS NO
PRETTY IS NO EXCUSE
WHEN AN ARGUEMENT COMES WALKIN THRU THAT FRONT DOOR
PRETTY WILL BE USED TO SHUT IT DOWN AND WHATS MORE
IT NEVER UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE HELL FOR
THE SAD TRUTH ABOUT HOW ALL OF US PLAY
AROUND WITH PRETTY HOPING TO BE RUBBED THE RIGHT WAY
PRETTY ALWAYS ONLY HAS IT ONE WAY-IT'S DAY!
PRETTY IS NO EXCUSE
FOR PERPETUATING ABUSE
RAGING BULL ON THE LOOSE
PRETTY IS NO
PRETTY IS NO EXCUSE
SO IF YOU FIND YOUR SELF BEING DRAWN UPON SOME DAY
GY SOMEONE PRETTY, THEN IT'S BEST RUN AWAY
CAUSE IF YOU DON'T YOU WILL BE THOROUGHLY PLAYED
AS YOU WATCH YOUR WORLD SPIN OUT OF CONTROL
YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH OF A FOOL YOU'VE BEEN SHOWED
YOUR IMAGE CORRUPTED AS IT APPEARS WHEN IT SO NEAR
PRETTY PEOPLE
FOR PERPETUATING ABUSE
RAGING BULL ON THE LOOSE
PRETTY IS NO
PRETTY IS NO EXCUSE
poem by Talile Ali
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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In fact, there is clear evidence of black intellectual superiority: in 1984, 92 percent of blacks voted to retire Ronald Reagan, compared to only 36 percent of whites.
quote by Barbara Ehrenreich
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Too Proud Of It I Have Been
It was never discouraging to me,
When at a time I had been accused...
Of not having an identity.
And I was breaking down barriers,
Blocked and barricaded...
By those who 'still' do not understand,
The purpose and extent of my creativity.
I do not exist to represent a cause or a group.
To spin circles around insecurities some pursue.
I am here to challenge those who make excuses,
For themselves to use.
And...
To state my talents are not ethnic based.
With limitations others may be accustomed to,
That allows them to continue their own self hate.
Seeking to be accepted and approved...
Has never been the shoes I walked comfortably in.
I remember being told I was not 'black'.
Because I dared to cross assorted boundaries...
At a time judgemental 'blacks' were uncomfortable to do that.
And sat unadventured around and behind walls,
Closing in upon their backs.
I remember being told I had 'sold out'!
By the very same folks...
Who today prance and dance about,
In places they once pointed me out as not being 'Afrocentric'.
And they wonder why more people like them,
Are not going to those places with a paying of their visits.
Only to arrive to announce their indifference.
Not to learn.
Not to accept.
But to reject,
The experience.
It was never discouraging to me,
When at a time I had been accused...
Of not having an identity.
Because I've always knew who it 'is' I am.
And for sixty-four years I've never tried to hide that fact.
Too proud of it I have been.
And comfortable in my skin.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Primer For Blacks
Blackness
is a title,
is a preoccupation,
is a commitment Blacks
are to comprehend—
and in which you are
to perceive your Glory.
The conscious shout
of all that is white is
“It’s Great to be white.”
The conscious shout
of the slack in Black is
'It's Great to be white.'
Thus all that is white
has white strength and yours.
The word Black
has geographic power,
pulls everybody in:
Blacks here—
Blacks there—
Blacks wherever they may be.
And remember, you Blacks, what they told you—
remember your Education:
“one Drop—one Drop
maketh a brand new Black.”
Oh mighty Drop.
______And because they have given us kindly
so many more of our people
Blackness
stretches over the land.
Blackness—
the Black of it,
the rust-red of it,
the milk and cream of it,
the tan and yellow-tan of it,
the deep-brown middle-brown high-brown of it,
the “olive” and ochre of it—
Blackness
marches on.
The huge, the pungent object of our prime out-ride
is to Comprehend,
to salute and to Love the fact that we are Black,
which is our “ultimate Reality,”
which is the lone ground
from which our meaningful metamorphosis,
from which our prosperous staccato,
group or individual, can rise.
Self-shriveled Blacks.
Begin with gaunt and marvelous concession:
YOU are our costume and our fundamental bone.
All of you—
you COLORED ones,
you NEGRO ones,
those of you who proudly cry
“I’m half INDian”—
those of you who proudly screech
“I’VE got the blood of George WASHington in MY veins”
ALL of you—
you proper Blacks,
you half-Blacks,
you wish-I-weren’t Blacks,
Niggeroes and Niggerenes.
You.
poem by Gwendolyn Brooks
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Crazy - a Filk Song
Yes. I. Am. Crazy crazy crazy and I’m winter
I wear the blacks and whites and reds and greens and blue.
They. Say. You're. Crazy crazy crazy and I love you
And now I’m wond’ring just exactly what to do.
They say the crazy ones are always, somehow, better.
They say I’m crazy. Well how about you?
I say the people who can say that they are crazy
Give me the crazies and I don’t know what to do!
They. Say. You’re. Crazy crazy crazy and you love me!
‘Cause I wear blacks and whites and reds and greens and blue.
Yes. I. Am. Crazy crazy crazy and I love you!
And now I know that you are crazy for me too!
poem by S. Amina Sackinger
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The Slipping of Meet Notes
Accustomed to lies.
What does the truth really mean?
Accustomed to lies laying low on the scene!
Accustomed to tell them...
And protect when told.
Accustomed to lies,
Whether fresh released or old held on hold!
Accustomed to lies...
Without a bat of an eyelash moving!
Accustomed to lies.
Dishonesty is accepted and shown.
At the work place
Where the slipping of meet notes,
Does not provoke disdain.
Accustomed to lies...
And that's how our lives remain!
In heated sex away from home!
Regardless of who spies on another,
Both buffer their suffering by what's condoned.
Accustomed to lies...
And what is taught is always known!
Accustomed to lies.
Accustomed to holding on to them,
Until time flys!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Too many whites still see blacks as a group apart.
quote by Constance Baker Motley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The unemployment rate is still twice as high for blacks as for whites.
quote by William Weld
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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On a B4 Real Express
Apologizing those 'mistakes' made,
To erase an accountability...
Compromised and gone unrecognized,
Is often your excuse.
I'm not here to experience,
That kind of repeated abuse.
You believe I should be accustomed to?
Because you see a mirage of a fool before you?
Only one of us is on that bus!
And guess what?
There is no more 'us', boo!
A fool is a fool.
And you've betrayed that trust.
Guess what?
There is no more 'us', boo!
A fool is a fool.
And only one of us is on that bus!
I am on a different track.
Waiting for a train...
To go in another direction.
On a B4 Real Express.
And I aint looking back!
Only one of us is on that bus!
And guess what?
There is no more 'us', boo!
A fool is a fool.
And you've betrayed that trust.
Guess what?
There is no more 'us', boo!
A fool is a fool.
And only one of us is on that bus!
Apologizing those 'mistakes' made,
To erase an accountability...
Compromised and gone unrecognized,
Is often your excuse.
I'm not here to experience,
That kind of repeated abuse.
You believe I should be accustomed to?
Because you see a mirage of a fool before you?
Guess what?
There is no more 'us', boo!
A fool is a fool.
And only one of us is on that bus!
I am on a different track.
Waiting for a train...
To go in another direction.
On a B4 Real Express.
And I aint looking back!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Blacks are about seven times more likely to live in neighborhoods of concentrated poverty than whites.
quote by John Powell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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