The Color of the Pages

The Color of the Pages

 

that African American teacher

taught us of the Black writers

back when those authors were integrated

into our curriculum...

and we found out the gold that would have remained 

 

undiscovered

if unread

 

We had to take Black American Writers as a course

and when I read these authors

I pondered why they weren't just included

with the White writers

all merited the same values we put to any

classic author.

 

in the middle of the week, a White author

would lecture us

on these Black writers as if he knew

what it was like to be them

 

he had no clue really

and we had less of a clue

when we completed the course

 

but we did get introduced to some great novels and poetry

and understood a culture different from ours

just a little more succinctly

 

I just finished a book by a woman author

a Black poet

and I identified with many of the poems

even though I am stark raving White

 

and stark raving mad 

I wasn't educated sooner.

 

 

erin-cilberto

11/5/24

Reviews

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

this was an interesting satire. you bring up many good points about race relations, espescially concerning the world of literature. the ending was particularly an important point. reading allows us to imagine what it's like to be someone very different. across race, culture, or history, while it's not the same as walking in another's shoes, we can still feel some degree of empathy. i believe the publishing industry today has come a long way, this progress helped by such courses as the one you took, and i hope we do see more harmonious world not just in books but in our daily lives.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for what you said here, Ern,
j.

[Eilis]

What was the book you read, Jacob? I love to have contact with writers from varying backgrounds. It enriches my encounter with poetry and literature immensely. I especially like to read works by authors that force me to confront historical pain and legacy. Being from the south, there is a lot of baggage to be carried.

I was lucky to grow up in a multicultural community and learned so much about different cultures just going to school. It makes me sad and frustrated to read about the suppression of literature in schools today for dubious reasons. History should not be buried because it makes us uncomfortable. It should be confronted so we can learn to understand it and hope to be better moving forward. I appreciate the honesty of this.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Confessions of a Barefaced Woman by Allison Joseph.
I have met her. She is part of SIU's creative writing department. Quite the poet. That book moved me a lot. I put a review up on amazon after reading it.

[Eilis]

Great, thanks, Jacob. I’ll look for the book.

[Andra Davis]

Racism is as real as air. Maybe not seen but felt in air water and words.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, felt in all those things....still very real.
j.

[Ken Simm.]

I find myself nodding in so much agreement when I read your wonderfully penned and empathic writes.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I appreciate those kind words from you, Ken.
I always am taken by the beautiful imagery in your works...they always get me to the spot you write about.
j.

[Perdition]

You know the wonderful part of this poem is that it brings awareness and reminds me of a time I can remember when culture WAS the classroom and the sharing of ideas no matter how outrageous. Surrounded with every nationality and theories swirling in a hopeful non- fluorescent atmosphere. “Apocalypse Then” was the title of a paper I wrote about Conrad’s Kurtz being ill. This damn “Congo” can be endlessly evil as cruel and I don’t think we have that same dynamic in our universities unless we demand it, and even then, who are we demanding it from? Sounds like a wonderful experience, course and curriculum J.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Ah yes, Kurtz....remember him well.
Thank you for your kind review,
j.

[Amy R]

What a powerful poem, so very true...
I grew up with people distinguishing us all by skin color, something I will not do.
Everyone makes the world what we are, just people as Chris said, are to narrow minded.
I love the rich cultures our world has to offer and wish everyone were kinda the same.
World would've been a better place.
Thanks for sharing. Nicely penned..
-Amy...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words. I grew up in an unyielding environment...rebelled...just didn't think those color tainted thoughts were the right thing. we all have the same color hearts.
j.

[Amy R]

Yes, very true, we're all the same regardless the color, skin etc

[Chris Shaw]

How narrow minded we have been. What richness there is in diversity. Learning about different cultures and creeds. Colour doesn’t come into it, human emotions do. Education is key. Thank you dear J.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Very much the key...thank you for your words, Chris.
j.

[John the Baptist]

The power class has always dictated what is valued. Hopefully, evolution is taking us beyond this narrow view.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, that is true...
j.

[Vol]

Erin,
Boy, do I understand what you are saying! Why has race ever been a qualifier? Or gender? Had we just been human, Socrates could have had a talk show, the Indians still in charge of their continent, Jesus could have taught on the moon... We have what we deserve based on the darkness in our hearts. And we would be stark raving sane...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, just human. Thank you for your words, Vol,
j.

[Ted Kniffen]

Funny thing ... in all the boks I've read or studied and all the various musical styles I've enjoyedfor over three-quarters of a century now, I don't think there was ever a time that I considered skin colour as a defining quality of the words read and the tunes heard.
Good writing is good writing ... colour is irrelevant.

Good one j.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes. precisely....good writing is good writing...
thank you, Ted,
j.