Lamont Lilly is a writer, activist, and father whose work echoes the struggles for justice and ambitions of our generation.  These four poems push us to think differently about blackness in the contemporary moment.
From the author:
“Each piece is a reflection of the people, places and experiences of struggle that have shaped who I am–The Movement, the Black Aesthetic, strong Black women, our continued pursuit of Black Liberation. I just hope the people can receive it.”
 His forthcoming debut, Honor in the Ghetto was edited by Shahida Muhammad and will be out this fall.

tell the black girls

 

tell the black girls

we believe in their magic.

 

tell the black girls

how they were born

from a long tradition

of black woman dream merchants

miracle makers

and super heroes.

 

tell the black girls

how special powers

are interwoven

in their braids and cornrows.

god gifted

in the tips

of their twists and locs.

 

tell the black girls

how the others

can only dream

and imagine their powers.

 

tell the black girls

we believe in their magic

and it’s real.

 

letter to pam africa

 

you have lifted our wings

and armed them with resistance.

stirring the pot

standing in the face of winter.

truth speaker

fire breather

living and brewing the revolution.

keeping the seat warm

where harriet tubman once sat.

training soldiers

saving souls

daring us to keep up.

keeping the seat warm

where harriet tubman once sat.

on a move.

on a move. 

 

night of the uprising

 

there was free milk and bread

for the homeless.

free nap mats

to replace

their cardboard mattresses.

there was free fruit

fish, beans and rice

so the ghetto can eat good tonight.

fine sofas

and free love seats

for the recently married.

free shoes, free sweaters

and free socks

for all the poor kids

on our block.

after all these years

of being in need

we didn’t mind

bleeding for liberation.

it was our duty.

we didn’t mind at all.

 

all natural

 

I like the kind of hair

that will stand up for its rights

the kind that kicks

screams and protests.

the kind that resists

and boycotts with every coil

the kind that fights

riots and rebels.

the kind that won’t

be quiet for nobody.

the kind that won’t

be anything but black.

the kind that refuses

to relax.

 

Copyright © 2016 by Lamont Lilly. All rights reserved.

 

Lamont Lilly is a NC based journalist, activist and community organizer.  The presented selections are from his forthcoming debut Honor in the Ghetto (Fall 2016).  Plain but poignant, his poetry directly derives from the marginalized, from the streets of mass struggle, freedom fighting and the continued pursuit of Black Liberation.