What is Black August?
Black August is honored every year to commemorate the fallen freedom fighters of the Black Liberation Movement, and to renew the call for the release of political prisoners in the United States, condemn the oppressive conditions of U.S. prisons, and to emphasize the continued importance of the Black Liberation struggle. Observers of Black August commit to higher levels of discipline throughout the month. This can include fasting from food and drink, frequent physical exercise and political study, and engagement in political struggle. In short, the principles of Black August are: “study, fast, train, fight.”
In honor of Black August, I decided to share this poem dedicated to the cause.
Imagine That
Imagine walking up to a water fountain and reading colored only
Imagine That!Imagine getting on a bus and not being able to sit down after a long day of work
Imagine That!Imagine working for someone all day – washing their clothing, cleaning their house, taking care of their children, cooking their foods, and no wages for the tasks
Imagine That!Imagine getting your back lashed over and again for speaking up and speaking out for yourself
Imagine That!Imagine dogs being sent out after you to catch your black ass from running away from the tormentor
Imagine That!Imagine being stripped of all your culture and beliefs
Imagine That!Imagine walking into a hotel or restaurant and get no service or any acknowledgement of your presence
Imagine That!Imagine the lynching of your fellow sistahs and brothahs
Imagine That!Imagine not getting that job because you were not white enough
Imagine That!Imagine being black all day, every day
Imagine That!Imagine the opportunity of reparations and our 40-acre and a mule
Imagine That!Imagine what it was like back in the 1800’s and early to mid-1900’s being black
Imagine That!Can you imagine that: segregation, civil rights, jim crow laws, the willie lynch letter, and slavery
Can you imagine that?I cannot!
It is not my imagination, it is real
I live it every day, all day long.
Copyright © 2001 by cj
Until next time, take care….PEACE!
cj is an author, poet, educator, spoken word artist, writer, motivational speaker, and inspirational writer who resides in Philadelphia. If you were moved by this piece, shoot cj a “like” or comment at: [email protected].
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