Jeffree Skewes #109 Beautiful black

Lend an ear

your imagination no fear

hear the messages
our first peoples do

over and over again
without diminishing
the raging inequality
and even with respect

hear daily you're more likely
to die much younger
be incarcerated
no fair go

adverse health issues
10 to 100
times more
than the other mobs

what is it like to be
reminded every day?
walk in those shoes
and truly know

higher mental issues
disability rates
infant mortalities
lie ahead

reported in good faith
for who? spare a thought

well I heard it on the radio
and saw it on the television
in the news
it's all the same

domestic violence
drug and alcohol
diseases
homelessness

hand you're dealt
oh really?

a lifetime reminder
of inequity
inhumanity
injustice

walk in these shoes
listen to truly know

who hears
the ringing
in the ears
die young die poor

what's the point
quoting symptoms
negative messaging
salt to wounds

cruel profiling
news to who?

time for the Doing
share the good stories
tell the truth yes but
balance the books

walk in these shoes
and truly listen to know

Now it's time
better to Agitate
write a letter
activate democracy

Join sorry marches
Change the date
visit The embassy
change the Flag

Stop the profiling
most of all
get off the backs
make a new friend

Beautiful black





image: Ariadne (detail) synthetic polymer paint / collage / on paper on stretched canvas JMS