"Required reading" for today's smart writer.

"Required reading" for today's smart writer.
Information & inspiration to hone your craft and increase your cash...Since 2009

Sunday, February 5, 2023

Pen & Prosper Celebrates National Black History Month

 


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

5 comments:

  1. 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! :)

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  2. 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!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Karen, Good to be back on the scene. Thanks for stopping by and starting us off here. Wishing u the same.

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  3. Oh my goodness your poetry is beautiful and spot on. Welcome back and enjoy February.

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  4. You continue to inspire me, Lin. Thanks so kindly. I'm blessed to have you as a loyal reader. :-)

    ReplyDelete