Sign of the Times...

He from Senegal by way of Harlem
Il est Africain but only when his parents are looking
Otherwise, he pulls his pants down more than some
Between leaving his building and heading back in
Cos he knows better to, if he doesn't wanna get picked on
He even learned to say 'nigga' cos he wants so badly to be Black

He from Senegal
But doesn't like it when you tell on him like that
Cos no one wants to be african
But everybody wanna be nigga!

You

You
fall in line
cos you don't mind
chains around your smile
are you hungry?
of course, you are
but you keep your pride down
pretend you like it raw
when they're drilling your backside
some say money comes before aspirations
while some aspirations are merely illusions
one thing for sure
if you can't see from this angle
everybody gotta do their dirt if they want that tv cable


You
go by the trends
cos you got nothing of your own
to make true friends
are you angry?
of course, you are
but you fake the fake
pretend you still know your name
when they're feeding your frontside
some say fame comes after the give up
while some give it up even after the wake up
one thing for sure
if no one's told you yet,
only the free know not to forget.



From my next book of poems, Throw

Marked Man

"You are a marked man ~ Kahlil Koromantee ~ your compassion and the conviction of these words are pure and penetrating. You are marked because you have the courage to put yourself out there in words and deeds for all to see. This is a singular gift and the fact that you are a teacher multiplies that gift exponentially. The world is a much more interesting place because of your presence in it. You are making a difference. Your mark is made in the hearts, minds, and lives of all your students, friends and people who know, respect, and love you. A humble observer."

And this is why I do what I do...Thank you!

Last Sketch In...

‎17yrld illustrator, Chris Carter saved the best for last. I wanted to add visuals this time around, especially for the male readers, and Chris came thru once again; just like Nchewu Akpoke and Rajiv Mahadeo came thru with their own sketches. (Rajiv, by the way, did the cover for my first book of poems, The Dredlocks Tree).Thank you, guys for your amazing input to this project!!!

And so the printing begins...

Chapters from My Books on Young Urban Black Girls...

Vol. 1:
So you think you're ready to party?
Boyfriends, and boy friends
What a high school freshman should never do!
Peer pressure/parent stress
Sex is good; it's timing that can be bad
Image and perception
Confidence: the ultimate form of self-defense
Assertive vs. aggressive (there is a difference)
Black men's perceptions of American Black women
When your hood is a war zone
Rewards and dangers of using the Internet
What most dads want from their teen daughters (what this dad wants)
So hard to say goodbye; even harder to say I'm sorry
I hate you, you hate me!
It's your life but,..

Vol. 2:
Check your self (and not just your accessories)
Your parents' baggage is not your handbag
Girl bullies
The skin color game
White boys who like to kick it with Black girls
Bisexual or dl boys, and why they'be frontin'
Developing a relationship with yourself first
Back to the weight thing
Love upside down
The 1-2-3's of communicating
Depression (the other mirror)
Tetimony: lunch with dad
How to be a stress-free parent?
When water is thicker than blood
Dear dad



Note: The male counterpart to these books is scheduled for release September 2011.

Get Out Their Way!

The youth don't trust us cos of our contradictions and they refuse to take advice from anyone who buys into a system that they know fails them. When we gripe over their use of the N word, we forget we're still using National Association of Colored People and United Negro Fund. The way they look at it, if we don't mind still calling ourselves 'colored' and 'negro' then 'nigga' should be the least of our problems. Cos they got much more important sht on their minds. Like being forced to find jobs under the table, since having a Black President turned out to be another scam. And so they hustle, like we hustle but without the fear of being themselves. Cos our tradtions are their restrictions. Our expectations are their tribulations. Our religions, mental slavery. And our preoccupation with sexuality is their comic book passtime. Are they angry? Sure you right. And they wear their rage like they flash their pant buckles and exaggerated eyelashes. So now we want their votes again cos without them there is no progress. But progress always has a price. Make some noise or get out their way!

For my young ones...

Black culture is not street culture, and street culture is what your music videos and the suit n ties who push them want you to believe Black culture is.

-- Excerpt from my next book of poems, Throw