I gotta get focused...I have much that I've set before myself, and haven't made any real head way in the matter. (sigh) Really have to get focused. I am at least making small steps, although turtelish they may be. I have finally begun the revamp process for leethepoet.com, which will pretty much shrink the site a great deal, but make it betterto look at. One would never guess that the same person designed thissite and illpoets.com. Oh, wrote a new joint the other day (Tuesday); I planned on spittin' it at Mango's but I forgot to print it up before I left work. It was basically inspired by an "incident" at work where a co-worker (and friend) asked me to perform "Wait Till Mornig" at a book discussion being held for black history month by one of the interest groups at my job. The interest book is an african-american interest group, and the book is entitled "Fear of a "Black" America". The young lady who asked me to perform my poem was cool with me, so I agreed. However, her co-chair within the interest group felt it may have been inappropriate for the event. Now, I wholly understand both sides f the argument, and I probably wouldn't have been folks favorite brother after that, but the truth IS THE TRUTH! Everything in that poem is factual...but some folks still don't like the truth being said to loudly, or self-assuredly, or firmly, etc. So, I wrote a piece called "Pardon the Interruption", a poem that attacks the frame of mind that we can only celebrate the parts of black history that all american's can approve of. Also makes arguments for and against Black History Month in its own way, and the negative ramifications. Dope piece. Hope to spit it really soon.
Which kinda begs the question, by the way: Where are we going? Do people, especially black people even care about black history anymore. Seriously. I feel that as a people, we are just sick and tired of being sick and tired. Think about how educated our parents generation is; my mom's has a PhD, as well as her sister. Their other sister has two master's degrees. My pops just got his third master's degree, and his brother is in the field of medicine. I know folks that were full-time sophomores and junior's when I was a freshman in college, and had the same status damn near when I graduated four years later. The value system isn't the same; our generation is spoiled and is slacking. Part of that can be put on the shoulders of our parents, because they got complacent after the civil rights era began to die down, figuring they had truly gotten what generations had fought and died for. And I'll be the one to make the unpopular statement, if our generation doesn't step up soon, we're heading back to the days of Jim Crow. Ya'll actin like it can't happen, but these youngyin's comin' up now are getting more and more out of control. Eventually, someone is going to try to make sanctions to handle things and lock folks down. Stop bullshittin' and raise your kids right!! Old school worked for centuries, stop trying to act brand new and play your position! Ya'll may discuss amongst yourselve or leave your comments below.
"Now is never the time to be apathetic or complacent"~ Lee (the Poet)