A Black Man's Walk

Have you ever heard a black man Walk? It's like jazz and wisdom got up off the page and decided to move and glide with Spirit.
Have you ever heard a black man Walk? like soldiers talk and he tap dancing to a beat, a whisper, a cry all his own and here lies our hope.
You see when a black man walk you have to listen carefully as slavery hymns whisper to the American grounds sounding like 47 rounds of hollow point shells and Reggie anthems reintroducing themselves.
When a black man walk the Winds of the 50 States flag changes Direction and it becomes victim to his own erection. There are prayers in a black man's walk. They trying to kill me. Don't stop and frisk me. Don't let the white chalk lines find me. I'm a man! I swear I'm a man!
When a black man walk a generation lives to see Another day, another mouth to feed, another seed, another mother able to breathe easy for another night.
Doesn't matter if he's 16 or 60 when a black man walks, he must fight
For his place on the chessboard
Hear the Discord of those walking behind him?
When a black man walk wait for it.
Listen to the orchestra play beneath his feet
Pay attention to the shock waves of vibration when he steps in a room to take his seat
That ugly 2/3 human being
that next-to-nothing black dot.
That useless prison black spot.
When a black man walk. He's an apology, a contradiction. He's Jesus paranoia of crucifixion
When a black man walks. He's illegal dreams in ghetto schoolyards and battleships with scars
You listen when a black man walks, his feet has a mind of its own. A compass, a homing device, 400 years of directions so find your way home safely. Don't let the Jim Crow steal your soul.
Don't let racism lose your memory.
Don't let police brutality. I mean profiling castrate you
Do what your mama said to do.
Run run run
when your teeth are already covered in blood and they challenge your masculinity Run run run.
But when a black man walks the sun shines a little brighter as the pressure creates diamonds and buried seeds start to grow
The black man's walk is the strongest but the most fragile. It's the calm and the storm. Death warmed over
When a black man walks think of it as a masterpiece. A beautiful song that you may only here once. Cherish it. You may never hear it again

Reviews

[alanwgraham]

This is an inspirational piece of writing Latoria laying bare the litany of racist injustice. Your use of the repeated, when a black man walks, has the power of 'i have a dream'. Having said that I believe you could edit the nuts and bolts of this write to improve but keep its raw bite.
Well done.
Alan