This piece comes to us from an intelligent young brother who is concerned about not only himself but the world around him. With a critical eye, he looks at the Sean Bell situation from the perspective that he too is Sean Bell. We must continue to encourage our youth to be brave and valiant in their efforts to speak out about injustices and to challenge the status quo. I AM VERY HAPPY TO SHARE THIS GENTLEMEN’S WORK WITH YOU.

THE CASKET

This casket I’m in.. Old and tarnished..

Made just for me…

Sun creeping away. My eyes now at the ends of my fingerprints..

The walls weak from holding my mass.

Patruly, pipe tobacco and camphor ripping my nostrils, leaking from these old worn out walls the stifling smell whispers to me..

Remember those old guys you used to call pop, uncle, grandpa..

Dead and gone…

Soon u might be comin’ along.

The world u livin in is da world they got killed in.

Life taken; stolen, buried and rewritten…

Jumped out he had a gun.  50 shots den he is done..

Blood spillin’ on dees brown hands screaming peace. Holding, white flags in the air.. Waving, screaming, PEACE..

Life taken stolen buried and rewritten..

See dis casket dat u in…. its drowned in da system.

Submerged in…. bleach, washing away the truth..

In waters subjective enough to leave not one speck of brown skin above it..

Suffocating……

Your head only sinks.

Ever wonder why the water is so black.

Can’t see past your brother. Your sister your pops.  ©ÙzzØ we all trapped in dis casket.. Dis one big box..

Tags tatted on da walls.. Olu  A.k.a…….

But what does your Aka stand for when I might not breathe another day.

What does your aka stand for in this casket of marked men?

Your aka is just a joke to them.

Its like smearing I’m a loser on a wall to them.

A marked man can’t speak.

And u are marked man. So pleaze believe.

Dat Ur word. Is powerful. If only in numbers.

If life gives u lemons den u have to make limes.

©ÙzzØ a marked mans words… Don’t fit between the lines.

A marked mans words don’t fit into the system.

©ÙzzØ a marked mans words come from a different tradition.

Pleaze listen cuzz a man will never be forgiven.

For changing a system. Dat da whole globe is livin’ in.

Oludare Bernard

Today’s Photo of the day is Sean Bell and his beautiful family. Like I said, give it a few weeks and the hype would die down but the truth remains that in today’s world a black man can be gunned down by those who are supposed to serve and protect him and they can walk away scott free. We all should still be outraged by this hypocrisy disguised as American Justice. So not only can we “NEVER FORGET”, but we have to educate ourselves about our rights and the system so that we can effectively combat these atrocities. NEVER FORGET, SEAN BELL REST IN PEACE!

Photo courtesy of Bossip

The NYPD should be ashamed of themselves. Photos have surfaced on the internet showing Nicole Paultre - Bell in handcuffs next to Al Sharpton after being arrested yesterday for a peaceful protest in memory of the late Sean Bell. I’m worried that these protests are not exactly the action we need to allow the disgusting powers that be to see that we mean business over the NYPD’s police brutality towards black males. I don’t have the answer, I really don’t but I am more than willing to work on the solution with like minded people.

Photo courtesy of http://www.bossip.com

According to Allhiphop.com Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter is in the process of establishing a trust fund for the children of our fallen soldier Sean bell, who was brutally murdered by the New York Police Department.

I am thankful for this news and pray that other entertainers follow suit not just in the case of Sean Bell but in other cases of injustice for young men and women of color. It is important that i note that support for the struggles of our people are not necessarily always meant to be in a monetary form. Often people who have a voice can utilize their platform and speak for many on the ground whose voices often go unheard. Shout out to Jay and all of the other brothers in Hip-Hop who are standing up for their communities. It is crucial that in times like this we band together to create change rather than chopping each other down.

For more information check out:
http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2008/05/02/19773445.aspx

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