Posthumously

A modern spin on the I Have A Dream Speech

I Still Have A Dream although now
Assimilation and stratification
Are the tools that blind and cripple
The Negro’s mind
Making him think
That the playing field is equal
I am here to tell you that it is not

Although a few us and I mean a few have been
Blessed to own one or two professional teams
The Negro is still treated as second-class
Only to be ousted from that lofty place by our
Hispanic brothers who may not realize that they
Have brought out such an anger in White America
That they are the now the "New Negroes"
They are experiencing what we have been experiencing
And still are experiencing
For over the last 500 hundred years
I am here to tell you that nothing has changed

Ignorance continues to blossom in the garden
Of Humanity and we have to pluck out the
Weeds of racism, sexism, materialism, separatism
We have to toil the soil and make the ground fertile
So we can plant the seeds of change that will
Grow and anchor itself in America’s Garden
I am still holding fast to that dream

Now this new generation sings the praises of
Wealth and yet have not learned the value of
Self
Rap stars and movie stars are the heros
That Negro children now look up to
The exploitation of the Negro continues as
The contributions to the pop culture are all now
Influenced by my people, black people

Yet we still are in bondage because
The economics dictate that White America
Is still keeping the Negro bound in chains
Standing at the very table that we have built
We have our hands out
Asking for scraps knowing that the recipes
Came from the souls of our ancestors
America thinks that by changing a few
Ingredients that we will not notice that
What we are eating is in fact from our own design
Yet we are treated like this
Because we have allowed it to happen
I still believe that America can change
Even though little black kids in Columbia South Carolina
don't know who I am, all they can tell you about me is that "I Had A Dream"
Well, they are correct
I Still Have A Dream even
When our kids are constantly made to feel inferior
When in fact they are superior
This puts their dreams and my dreams in grave danger
But I will not give up
I Still Have A Dream!

When men are dragged
To their death behind pick up trucks
In Texas because of the color of their skin
I Still Dream of Equality!

Even when the LAPD and NYPD are
Killing at will and hiding under the skirt of the law
I Still Dream of Justice!

See, the violence of yesterday continues today
Although it was lynchings in the 60’s
Lynchings are still being carried out differently today

In our government and in corporate America
The so educated Negro has thought he has arrived
But I am here to tell him that he has not
And if he believes that at the end of the day
That he does not have a rope at the end of his
Neck like the rest of us
Let his usefulness disappear and he will
Return to the back door and assume the role
That has not changed

I am still holding fast to that dream
Where people will be judged on
Principles and character and not the
Color of skin

Reviews

[Rene Salinas]

The intensity in this words it's really what makes the writing go beyond the meaning of the words and beyond the formality and even beyond technicalities. The theme is developed to a point were the issues of conciousness v/s unconciousness are brough to the fore. First the realm of the dreams and idealisms which some still carry dearly within. The writing acknwoeledges that. Then the semi - reality well truly there are more stereotypes than ever and of course they do matter and of course we are judge, even further even tatoos are a job decider here nevermind the colour of your skin.

But at the end the remainder that things around may be crumbling but somewhere in there the dream still alive.

Beauty.

Thankyou

[Jerome F Knox III pseudonym Nefarious J. Dorsey]

thanks my friend for taking the time out to review this piece...it holds a special place in my heart since we did the collabo together.....

[Rene Salinas]

No worries Rico I will be reading some more as soon as I am able to great words here thank you.

[Tate Morgan]

We may be a melting pot of cultures but racism will never seem to go away.However having lived through the 60s i can say it has changed for the better and lets sure hope it continues in that direction

[Dara]

Passionate, powerful, and poignant. We must continue to hope and hold on to that dream. So very well said, Rico.

[Jerome F Knox III pseudonym Nefarious J. Dorsey]

Thanks Dara for taking the time out to read and comment. I am humbled by your words.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

the playing field is still not equal...the game goes on, and some have that illusion---but we still don't just look at each other as people---and that is the saddest---because inside, there is no difference---
well said, Rico.