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Monthly Archives: July 2019

I, Too by Langston Hughes

July 24, 2019 Poetry Comments Off on I, Too by Langston Hughes
I, Too by Langston Hughes

I, Too

by Langston Hughes 

I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.
Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—
I, too, am America.
NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED 

I LIKE – I HATE by Lorraine Hansberry

July 24, 2019 Poetry Comments Off on I LIKE – I HATE by Lorraine Hansberry
I LIKE – I HATE by Lorraine Hansberry

Lorraine Hansberry singing. Photograph by Molly Malone Cook, circa 1957-1958.

 

I LIKE

Mahalia Jackson’s music
My husband — most of the time
dressed up
being admired for my looks
Dorothy Secules eyes
Dorothy Secules
Shakespeare
Having an appetite
Slacks
My homosexuality
Being alone
Eartha Kitt’s looks
Eartha Kitt
That first drink of Scotch
To feel like working
The little boy in “400 Blows”
The way I look
Certain flowers
The way Dorothy Talks
Older Women
Miranda D’Corona’s accent
Charming women
And/or intelligent women

I HATE

Being asked to speak
Speaking getting
Too much mail
My loneliness
My homosexuality
Stupidity
Most television programs
What has happened to Sidney Poitier
Racism
People who defend it
Seeing my picture
Reading my interviews
Jean Genet’s plays
Jean Paul Sartre’s writing
Not being able to work
Death
Pain Cramps
Being hung over
Silly women
As silly men
David Suskind’s pretensions  
Sneaky love affairs.

 

Lorraine Hansberry, 1959. Photograph by David Attie. (National Portrait Gallery)

 

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED 

My PRESIDENT

July 18, 2019 Poetry Comments Off on My PRESIDENT
My PRESIDENT

I listened as they called my President a Muslim.
I listened as they called him and his family a pack of monkeys.

I listened as they said he wasn’t born here.
I watched as they blocked every single path to progress that they could.

I saw the pictures of him as Hitler.
I watched them shut down the government and hurt the entire nation twice.
I watched them turn their backs on every opportunity to open worthwhile dialog.
I watched them say that they would not even listen to any choice for Supreme Court no matter who the nominee was.

I listened as they openly said that they will oppose him at every turn.
I watched as they did just that.
I listened.
I watched.
I paid attention.

Now, I’m being called on to be tolerant.
To move forward.
To denounce protesters.
To “Get over it.”
To accept this…

{Author Unknown}

*

“Let’s all take a moment to remember those Presidents who carried out their duties even when water fell from the sky.”

 

“You Matter. You Count.” – President Barack Obama walks with mentees on the South Lawn of the White House, Oct. 14, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)