My Black History Tribute

The Sacrificers
Dedicated to my mother, the remarkable Bobbie Jean Jones

 

This is the story about two generations.
One generation had sacrificed, protested, and strategized for systemic change.
And the others, the beneficiaries, who were born into an atmosphere of access and privilege, only knew strategy, through the beeps and tweets of digital systems.
The world of instant gratification made sacrifice seem a weak and empty notion.
And so, although there was so much that still needed to be changed and challenged; those next in line to move the tribe forward…
-knew of a movement, but didn’t know how to move past mobilization.
-knew of an elixir of hope, but didn’t thirst for renewal.
-knew the isolation of integration, but not the inherent protection that can come from being left alone.

And when the spirit of destruction came again, as it always does…
(for it takes all defeats as momentary set backs that reveal costly secrets of conquest)
That spirit of destruction was able to blow in new directions,
for this time there were few strong anchors to hold them back.
The winds of destruction blew and blew through their homes,
Through their bodies, unsettling their bones
And left a residue of self-loathing on their skin.
The atmosphere reeked of agony and distrust.
Lies stood tall over truth.
And decorum lay fading, mocked and bleeding .

The lessons of the Sacrificers not shared.
The climb they began up the mountain of respect and self-sufficiency;
The journey toward self-love and positive community
Now – On Pause
As the guides passed away
And the vision became blurred
…So many dreams again deferred.

The Sacrificers who fought for their humanity
Against the destroyers who once enslaved them and hung them from trees,

Now lived long enough to see
The spirit of destruction walk alongside them daily.
Bringing death to homes, blocks, and schools.
Dressed in faces that looked like them,
Killing mothers, fathers, babies.  

 

 

 

 

 

Modesty was mocked.
Porn was the norm.
You could take in in for free.
Hedonism ruled with a firm hand,
Broken relationships, abused, misused bodies scattered over the land.

And the Sacrificers
Now prey to the generation they hope to liberate
Wondered where they went wrong on the road to set us free.

Some tried to tell the story,
But no one wanted to listen.
So much other stuff to learn and
from the sages of crass commercialism.
And yet,
They still persevered,
Praying for and giving wisdom to those who would
Open themselves to the lessons, the knowledge, and the love
Gained through sacrifice.

——–

Let us not forget the sacrifices made on our behalf.