Poet's Corner: "Black Out Black Friday"

I'm seeing too many
Dead black bodies:
Oscar Grant,
Aiyana Jones;
And others beyond
My sight,
But I hear their screams
When I dream at night:

"BLACK OUT BLACK FRIDAY!"

Is what they say to me.
The power of the dollar;
Let's wield it like a sword.
Until the police stop
Seeing black skin as criminal,
Until supervisors and judges
Stop considering black life as minimal,
Until justice is stripped
From the gloved hands
Of bias minds;
Until all the unjustly slain find
Peace --

"BLACK OUT BLACK FRIDAY!"


Poem by A. Jarrell Hayes

In response to and in protest against the injustices and tragedies done upon Oscar Grant, Aiyana Jones, and centuries worth of others -- along with their families and communities -- on Black Friday, November 26, 2010, spend no money. The same system that treats black life with little worth values money; we can fight with our dollars! Whenever you pull our your wallet or purse or card to make a purchase, think about what you're buying, who you're buying it from and what impact they are making -- positive or negative -- on the community and the world. Are they taking your money, and then laughing at you behind your back, or worse? Think about it.

Tweet twitter.com/thebutmsdotcom facebook.com/theblackurbantimes

Poet's Corner: "Bang Bang"

*bang bang*

Hey, hey, let the shooters run
From the Motor City to Charm City
Your name on hot lead or cold steel.
The guns salute the different names,
But the epitaphs all read the same.

*bang bang*

Hey, hey, let the shooters run
From crime and justice.
The failure of due justice
Is the failure of justice for
Victim's survivors. No way to
Legislate from the bench the
Return of a slain father, and
Future grandfather. A generation's
Cycle is snipped prior to ever
Becoming aware.

*bang bang*

Hey, hey, let the shooters run!
A penny shackled and taken
Instead of the hundred dollar bill.
Wobbly king pins order you not
To snitch, because gangstas
Keep the streets safe, and drug
Lords keep the streets clean, right?

By A. Jarrell Hayes

Be the next poet featured on "Poet's Corner." Send 1 - 3 poems, name, short bio, and link to ajhayes@theblackurbantimes.com

Media Outlets must credit The Black Urban Times www.theblackurbantimes.com twitter.com/thebutmsdotcom facebook.com/theblackurbantimes

Poet's Corner: "America's Own (Tribute to Aiyana Jones)"

 I heard a song from Motown --
A Supreme ballad --
And my thoughts drift
To Aiyana Jones:
Shot by the police
In the middle of her home.
Detroit's own,
Aiyana Jones.

Just seven years old,
Sleeping with a princess
Dream in her head -- maybe.
We'll never know,
Because she was fatally
Shot in her home.
Detroit's own,
Aiyana Jones.

And the cameras were
Rolling. I'd like to see
The first 48 hours of
Her father, as he deals
With being pressed in
A puddle of his lil' girl's
Blood; in the middle
Of the home.
Detroit's own,
Aiyana Jones.

Now, memorialized in
Tragedy; immortalized
In poem.
America's own
Aiyana Jones.

By A. Jarrell Hayes

Aiyana Jones is a 7-year old girl that was shot and killed by police in the middle of her Detroit home. The police were looking for a murder suspect, but did not cared about any civilians in the home. In fact, the suspect was apprehended in the apartment above the one where Aiyana slept. The Detroit police used flashed grenades and stormed the apartment with guns ready. The scene was part of the reality TV show "The First 48 Hours." The Detroit police have yet to release the video of the encounter. Show your support and sign the petition for the release of the video at http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/aiyanajones. Thanks.

Media Outlets must credit The Black Urban Times www.theblackurbantimes.com twitter.com/thebutmsdotcom facebook.com/theblackurbantimes