By Gary Malone (Warning: Explicit Language)

                                                                         

This evening I'd like to post Alabama poet Gary Malone's "Young, Black, and Unarmed..." as part of the Mourning and Memory contest.  I've heard Gary read on Dr. Michael Anthony Ingram's BlogTalk Radio show, and the poem below adds much to the contest.

Young, Black and Unarmed…

Excuse me as I momentarily swallow my sorrow and

Redirect the energy of my pain

Having shifted my focus to blot out

The outpouring of mourning tears

After mornings of pouring down pouring rain

Parents grieving over their sons untimely demise

Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Eric Grander, Trayvon Martin, Sean Bell

While we wait on change

Tell me how and when a change is gonna come

Only through bluesy folk’s songs?

It’s difficult to not agree with 2Pac

And want to sodomize the police

Especially if grand juries keep on gang raping justice

No felony charges, misdemeanor or even probation, really?!

I understand all cops are not brutal

But police brutality does not seem

Impartial to the victims it choose

Young, black and unarmed

What must we do America to protect our

Young, gifted and black

We all are aware racism, inequality and injustice exits

Yet so does time, love and unity

Should we take the time to co-exist by

The commandment the Creator has already written

Love thy neighbor as you love thyself

Love is about unity and the advancement of spiritual health

War is about destruction and inevitable death

On this current battlefield

How do we honor our fallen comrades?

As victims of bias malice or as martyrs of change

To bring about equality within our judicial system

And an end to all police brutality 

When do we march, protest and react

Re-enact or implement new laws?

The day after witnessing another young victim

Of a wrongful police fatality.

By: Gary Malone Dec. 10, 2014 © 2014 

Gary's bio follows:

Gary L. Malone, l am a lifelong resident of Athens/Limestone County,  Alabama.  I have been writing since 2003. I write poetry, spoken words commentaries, short poetic stories on various topics,  social issues, religious,  love, comedy, etc. Along with writing,  I enjoy teaching the Word of God,  cooking, listening to music and spending time with family and friends. I also love to laugh. Two words to describe this Leo, creative and thoughtful. I thank God for my gift and every opportunity to share it.

To close this evening, I am going to post a video of "Miles Runs the Voodoo Down" from his Bitches Brew album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a1Ph-ioxoA

Although I've posted this video before, I want to include Ambrose Akinmusire's "My Name Is Oscar": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66fmwQShgYg

I'll conclude with Akinmusire's "As We Fight": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=093kCKk-Jcw