History Lessons

I am Oscar Grant
They chant, I cried when I spied
KTVU news cell telecasting
Johannes Seabass blasting

Knee on his neck
Taking last breaths
Hit the lung
Now among other

Who’s brother unknown
Not yet grown
Fighting devils of their own

Devon Brown gunned down at thirteen
Timothy Thomas, nineteen
Neither made it out their teens

Police killed men unarmed
Just alarmed but they harmed

Gary King is why I sing
Sean Bell is why I tell

Nathaniel Jones moans
Life gone from skin and bones
Police violence grim tombstone

I still cry as I write
But it doesn’t dim my sight
Everyday brothers fight
Mothers light the candles

Trite Caucasian National News scandal
Late in
Stations rating win
Debatin’ the merit of their statements

Abetments of their faith
Media wraith with no taste
Wasted place to tell the truth
About murdered youth

Hayward and Fruitvale
Are not for sale
Bay Area writes endings to this tale