Before you learn how to shoot better learn how to aim
Theirs already enough of our people that's dyin from AIDS
I try and remain calm but it's fryin my brain
And I am ashamed my generation's dyin over chains
Lyin on the pavement red leakin out the side of they brains
Tell me when will this environment change
We need new leaders but all we get is new heaters
And divas and two-seaters as soon as that loot see us
-Termtanology, "Watch How It Go Down"
Every January, I start the new year with sedated jitters; my head and heart hopeful for a improvement from the revious year. Yet, my mind always darts quickly to 1994 and Durant Avenue. And I don't think Charlton Heston and I would get along too well. Locally, more people become desensitized to violence with each successive body that sprawls out on cold concrete. I was going to start my own words by saying how futile it can be when you feel as though you are preaching to the choir. And then, I realized there was a recent movie of the same name (since renamed), and it seemed more apropos to just go with the flow and let that stream of consciousness just roll out.
So anyways, a new year and not too much writing going taking place on my end. My creative juices are zapped, my pockets are tapped, and my brain is sapped. On some bone dry ish, son. I use to get annoyed at people who incessantly went on and on about needing a vacation. Mind you, these bums were fellow classmates. We were all bums back then. Not to say we aren't still bums, but you can be the judge of that. We used to connect.politic.ditto with each other on the daily. Whether it was in the library at 2 in the morning, in the computer lab at 4pm, at lunch, over email, at the gym, or over dinner. Mind you, dinner time is still not a set-in-stone ime for me. "Dinner" could mean anything eaten between 6pm and 3am. And yes, sometmes there are more than one dinners in a given night. One of our main hangouts was this spot near Harvard Square in Cambridge called Hong Kong. We used to go there, get the corner booth and our favorite waitress, Julie, would greet the crew as we setlled in for a night of food, laughs, talk, and food (duh).
Invariably, we'd talk about everything under the sun. From classes and women, to current events and music, to sports and business ideas. One of the things that stands out the most was the passion we all brought to the table. As casual and informal as we were with each other, we held our own discussing and debating all sorts of topics. Being black men at an HWCU, it was natural that we made every effort to bring up sensitive issues that impacted our peoples. We had our own little rainbow coaliion of varying family, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, yet the common bond we shared was a love for our peoples.
In comparison, I look back at old news articles and can recall us having talks about them at their height of media hype. Naturally, seeing the dramatic demise the streets of Boston have taken in the last 24 months has caused us to discuss the issue more recently in much greater detail. And unfortunatly some times, with much more greater personl attachmen to the discussion. Yet, the arallel that I can draw from all of that "building with the brothers" that we had, was a sense of camaraderie that is essential to building community. The group dynamics and composition have changed a bit over the years, but the game ain't changed that much. Communal unity is what we achieved. I could spit a verse on the spot for any given situation and someone else would chime in with the next two lines.
Some folks say to keep your enemies closer than your friends, but I ain't buying that bull. I've met a lot of awe-insiring brothers (and sisters) the last few years who have moved me tremendously. So here's a belated new year's prayer for guidance and favor over their spirits in hopes that a tidal wave of activism will overflow from the role models out there. Like Term said, the ghetto is microcopic. The biological web of life will either empower or eat you alive. But I ain't with that asexual reproduction, son.
It's gonna take the man in me to conquer this insanity
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