by El David
How to make
hostile people
Trample their motherlands
with white feet
that crack the spines
of downtrodden backs
Burn the deeds to their lives,
package them
in shackles and chains,
then wrap your guilt
in fragrant flowers and lace
Rip centuries of culture
from their hearts
and water board them
with Roman Holy Water
until they kneel
before ceramic Gods that...
down to the eyes...
look nothing like them
Condition them
to wait in silence
for the resurrection
of savior
who will come with invitations
to a grand ball
that they will not be invited to
Cram them into the bellies
of floating beasts,
stockpiled in pools
of defecation and blood
Line the Atlantic
with Black lives
discarded for convenience
Plant your flags on their
ancient dirt
Salt the earth
that their golden hands
forever cultivated
Declare yours, the land
their toes were dug into
for centuries,
and christen that
long-standing terrain
The New World
Make invisible...
Make exploitable...
Make disposable...
human lives
whose skin is any shade
darker than pink
Have a nation built
on their lacerated backs
and claim that nation yours
Force them to die in your wars
but deny them a voice...
a vote...
a right...
Dehumanize them
Slander their existence
Declare them cursed
Decree your image beautiful
and theirs grotesque
Whitewash their self love
Deprive them of justice
at every turn
Watch their assassinations
by beasts behind badges,
and grant no redemption
Bury them in disadvantages
and blame them
for the inability to rise
Take these instructions
and teach them
to their children
Paint greatness white
and make ivory flesh
the key to success
and when they rise
with weapon in hand
Call them evil...
Call them rioters ...
Call them terrorists...
Call them hostile
as if hostility is not
the God given right
of a persecuted
people
About the Author
El Davíd is a NuYorican poet, writer from the Bronx, NY and author of the new poetry collection “Growing Up Rican.” He is the NY Taino Awards 2016 "Areito Poet of the Year".
He is also the author of poetry collections, “Growing Up Rican,” “Hip Hop Made,” “The Outlaw of Poetry," and a collaboration with author Manuel A. Meléndez titled, “Outbursts of Horror."
His works have been published in the anthologies, "Me No Hablo With Acento" edited by Emanuel Xavier, "The Bandana Republic" edited by Luis Reyes Rivera and the August 2019 “Acentos Review: Performance of Breath” edited by Lupe Mendez & Peggy Robles-Alvarado.
El is the founder of Urban Beat Poet Society, a non-profit organization whose mission is to create platforms for writers and artists through workshops, performances, music productions and publications.
As a curator, El David hosted the “Smokin’ Word Open Mic Series,” the most celebrated Open Mic series in the Bronx, NY. He has had featured readings at the National Black Theatre, Nuyorican Poet's Cafe, Bowery Poetry Club, Bronx Museum for the Arts, Great Weather for Media, Hostos College, La Tea, Capicu Cultural Showcase, El Museo Del Barrio, and Stevens Institute of Technology.
