Welcome back, readers! Happy 2023.
Thank you for stopping by today. As we embark upon a new year, aspire to new goals and gear up for greater progress and prosperity, let us be mindful of our collective past history as well.
Accordingly, Pen & Prosper invites you to honor and celebrate National Black History Month. Initially established in 1976, it's a time to recognize and pay tribute to the many contributions to our nation from people of color. From music, to literature, to medicine, to sports, to entertainment, Blacks have enriched us all, without question.
Read more about Black History Month here:
https://blackhistorymonth.gov/about/
And yet, even now, the fight for equality, inclusivity, and respect continues. Dr. King's dream it seems, remains just that: a dream.
Though there have been some changes over the decades, we still have far to go.
If there is ever a doubt, you need only tune into the evening news. My heart goes out to Tyre Nichols and his family, in the wake of his recent death.
Today' I'd like to share a few poems to reflect upon.
BLACK MEN YOU WON’T SEE ON THE 10 P.M. NEWS
By: JENNIFER BROWN BANKS
The fitness enthusiast
At the gym
Taking care of his body
For those
That rely on him,
The doting dad
Transporting his little ones
To school
Driver of the neighborhood car pool,
The local entrepreneur
Creating jobs and opportunity
For members of the community,
The pastor of the
Corner church
Shepherding lost souls,
Both young and old,
And other role models--
Truth be told
Not all Black men
Are deadbeat dads
Or criminals,
Even so
On the nightly news
We get myopic views--
Are mostly exposed
To violent images
Or those
Of Black male celebrities
Endorsing athletic gym shoes,
When it comes to representation
Of colored men
The media needs to extend
A broader lens
4 GEORGE FLOYD
By: Jennifer Brown Banks
Nobody wins,
When the injustice
We seek to avenge
Is overshadowed
With a victory that’s
Shallow,
A war waged
With looting,
Shooting,
Senseless violence
Disorderly protests
And civil unrest,
Nobody wins---
Nobody wins,
When history’s former lessons
Go unheeded
And progress impeded--
By ghosts
Of yesteryears,
unresolved fears,
And a
broken system,
With a pathology
Yet to be
Remedied,
Nobody wins,
With hatred
And an
“Eye for an eye” mentality,
For the inescapable reality
Is violence
Begets violence
Plain
And simply
For in the end
LOVE. ALWAYS. WINS.
Wishing you a peaceful and joyous Black History Month. Until next time...
Thoughts? Comments?
Image credits: Pixabay.com
Welcome back, Jen! Good to see you back at it and welcoming February in style. As always, your "poetic thoughts" run deep. Wishing you and your readers all the best in 2023! :)
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, Jen! Good to see you back at it and welcoming February in style. As always, your "poetic thoughts" run deep. Wishing you and your readers all the best in 2023!
ReplyDeleteHi Karen, Good to be back on the scene. Thanks for stopping by and starting us off here. Wishing u the same.
DeleteOh my goodness your poetry is beautiful and spot on. Welcome back and enjoy February.
ReplyDeleteYou continue to inspire me, Lin. Thanks so kindly. I'm blessed to have you as a loyal reader. :-)
ReplyDelete