Nikki Giovanni

(for Harlem Magic) The laws of science teach us a pound of gold weighs as much as a pound of flour though if dropped from any undetermined height in their natural state one would reach bottom and one would fly away Laws of motion tell us an inert object is more difficult to propel than an object heading in the wrong direction is to turn around. Motion being energy—inertia—apathy. Apathy equals hostility. Hostility—violence. Violence being energy is its own virtue. Laws of motion teach us Black people are no less confused because of our Blackness than we are diffused because of our powerlessness. Man we are told is the only animal who smiles with his lips. The eyes however are the mirror of the soul The problem with love is not what we feel but what we wish we felt when we began to feel we should feel something. Just as publicity is not production: seduction is not seductive If I could make a wish I’d wish for all the knowledge of all the world. Black may be beautiful Professor Micheau says but knowledge is power. Any desirable object is bought and sold—any neglected object declines in value. It is against man’s nature to be in either category If white defines Black and good defines evil then men define women or women scientifically speaking describe men. If sweet is the opposite of sour and heat the absence of cold then love is the contradiction of pain and beauty is in the eye of the beheld Sometimes I want to touch you and be touched in return. But you think I’m grabbing and I think you’re shirking and Mama always said to look out for men like you So I go to the streets with my lips painted red and my eyes carefully shielded to seduce the world my reluctant lover And you go to your men slapping fives feeling good posing as a man because you know as long as you sit very very still the laws of motion will be in effect

(For Barbara Crosby) While it is true (though only in a factual sense) That in the wake of a Her-I-can comes a Shower Surely I am not The gravitating force that keeps this house full of panthers Why, LBJ has made it quite clear to me He doesn’t give a Good goddamn what I think (else why would he continue to masterbate in public?) Rhythm and Blues is not The downfall of a great civilization And I expect you to Realize That the Temptations have no connection with The CIA We must move on to the true issues of Our time like the mini-skirt Rebellion And perhaps take a Closer look at Flour power It is for Us to lead our people out of the Wein-Bars into the streets into the streets (for safety reasons only) Lord knows we don’t Want to lose the support of our Jewish friends So let us work for our day of Presence When Stokely is in The Black House And all will be right with Our World

In the beginning was the word And the word was Death And the word was nigger And the word was death to all niggers And the word was death to all life And the word was death to all peace be still The genesis was life The genesis was death In the genesis of death Was the genesis of war be still peace be still In the name of peace They waged the wars ain’t they got no shame In the name of peace Lot’s wife is now a product of the Morton company nah, they ain’t got no shame Noah packing his wife and kiddies up for a holiday row row row your boat But why’d you leave the unicorns, noah Huh? why’d you leave them While our Black Madonna stood there Eighteen feet high holding Him in her arms Listening to the rumblings of peace be still be still CAN I GET A WITNESS? WITNESS? WITNESS? He wanted to know And peter only asked who is that dude? Who is that Black dude? Looks like a troublemaker to me And the foundations of the mighty mighty Ro Man Cat holic church were laid hallelujah Jesus nah, they ain’t got no shame Cause they killed the Carthaginians in the great appian way And they killed the Moors “to civilize a nation” And they just killed the earth And blew out the sun In the name of a god Whose genesis was white And war wooed god And america was born Where war became peace And genocide patriotism And honor is a happy slave cause all god’s chillun need rhythm And glory hallelujah why can’t peace be still The great emancipator was a bigot ain’t they got no shame And making the world safe for democracy Were twenty millon slaves nah, they ain’t got no shame And they barbecued six million To raise the price of beef And crossed the 38th parallel To control the price of rice ain’t we never gonna see the light And champagne was shipped out of the East While kosher pork was introduced To Africa Only the torch can show the way In the beginning was the deed And the deed was death And the honkies are getting confused peace be still So the great white prince Was shot like a nigger in texas And our Black shining prince was murdered like that thug in his cathedral While our nigger in memphis was shot like their prince in dallas And my lord ain’t we never gonna see the light The rumblings of this peace must be stilled be stilled be still ahh Black people ain’t we got no pride?

in my younger years before i learned black people aren’t suppose to dream i wanted to be a raelet and say “dr o wn d in my youn tears” or “tal kin bout tal kin bout” or marjorie hendricks and grind all up against the mic and scream “baaaaaby nightandday baaaaaby nightandday” then as i grew and matured i became more sensible and decided i would settle down and just become a sweet inspiration

If Black History Month is not viable then wind does not carry the seeds and drop them on fertile ground rain does not dampen the land and encourage the seeds to root sun does not warm the earth and kiss the seedlings and tell them plain: You’re As Good As Anybody Else You’ve Got A Place Here, Too