MARCH 6 2004

A Letter to Kinté (June 29, 1993)

Related Categories: Poetry

Dear Kinte,

What's going down Kintecious?

Ain't shit, Ain't shit

What's going on?

Keepn strong! Keepn on!

How goes it at your chocolate city white institution-
did they impeach the president?

Up hare things ain't no better-
the politics still don't apply to us.

Somehow they just don't get the gist
of what diversification truly means;
in any case do what you can
to keep the walls from remaining
white.

Picture this...

hey said a black man couldn't play Othello--yeah, right--
so I rode elephantback to Mecca with Hannibal;

They wouldn't let my lady sing the blues in front of the bus,
so we caught the Blue Train to sweet Georgia instead;

they wanted me, a dominant Black man, to Step
but I wasn't Fetch'n-It.

So watch your step but don't be incognegro.

Oh yeah, make mine the P-Funk
and hit me back

Later...

P.S.
Keep dressing like Buckwheat and remember,
your name ain't Toby!