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Showing posts with label Opal Tometi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Opal Tometi. Show all posts

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Matres Tribus (Three Mothers): Imaginary Biopics in Meter & Rhyme by Ulysses Poe with Images by the Author

Below's deploy'd a trio of socio activists -- all actual or
potential moms -- whom you ought to know a lot more
about. But you will need to research them yourself. In
the meantime, here are three thumbnail portraits -- 
and this reminder: there are many more than three BL
maters(And plenty of paters, too: cf last line of poem.)
 
Sing out, "How-DEE!" 
to Opal T.,
the well-known Black Lives mater.
Tometi fights
for human rights
as writer, educator,
as agitator, 
organizer...
(More 'bout Opal later.)

Now meet Ali-
cia Garza. She...?
Another Black Lives mater,
who strives to teach
the soul of each
'n' ev'ry woman-hater
to "apogee"
their enmity:
one BLM creator.

One more: Patrisse
Kahn-Cullors, peace-
ful envoy, Black Lives mater --
fine artisan. 
(Me...? I'm a fan.
My cousin wants to date 'er.)
Three Black Lives Matter 
matriarchs.
There protest no "moms" greater.

But ask your housemaid or your waiter:
Harriet...?* A Black Lives mater.
      Ask calypso's Lord Invader:
Fannie Lou...?** A Black Lives mater.
     Ask James Banning, aviator:
Rosa Parks...? A Black Lives mater.
     Ask the Pequod's navigator:
Daisy Bates...? A Black Lives mater.
     Ask your fire pit's excavator:
Dorothy Height...? A Black Lives mater.
     Ask that quiz show moderator:
Diane Nash...? A Black Lives mater.
     Ask each Tot you're sure's a Tater:
S. P. Clark...? A Black Lives mater.

     John R. Lewis...? Advocator,
freedom fighter, Black Lives pater!

     * Harriet Tubman   
     ** Fannie Lou Hamer


     Notes on Opal, Alicia and Patrisse 

When but a second grader, young Opal hops a freighter,
one bound for the equator -- nor do her bros dissuade her.
     Garza's radish grater's deploy'd for Shabbat seder --
all so she need not cater that meal...nor none upbraid her.
     A Marxist incubator, a former Oakland Raider
and honorary 'Gator, Patrisse once plump'd for Nader.

Friday, July 3, 2020

Current Events Q&A: It's a Grand New Flag

     

"Bracken, Chive 'n' Madder"
chemical marker and colored pencil
on copy paper, digitally modified,
by Ulysses Poe

Hooray for the Red White and Blue!
  
  Which 
hues imbue brave battle flags 
unfurl'd by Black Lives
Matter...?     
     Tri-colors only Opal* wags, 
dyed bracken,** chive*** 'n'
madder.****

     * Opal Tometi, one of three
co-founders of the movement.
     ** Bracken is a dark orange.
     *** Chive (PMS 19-0323) is
medium-dark yellow-green.
     **** Madder (PMS 19-
1331) is a red-brown hue.

Wednesday Wave Protest Signs