April 6, 2018
Not sure which weighs more heavily in today’s offering: the joy to see a fearless young man – the poet – on his way to recognition or the pain at the thoughts of a then 15-year old writing a poem about parents’ attempts to protect black children by beating conformity into them.
You judge for yourself.
But be sure to keep Malachi Jones on your radar.
Malachi Jones, 17, Wins Prestigious $10,000 Scholastic Art & Writing Award for 2018
Here is an excerpt – the whole poem can be found in the link attached below.
Steve Tilden
Another wonderful account. The images (on cement block walls no less) are perfect, that black on white that young man writes about.
I saw this recently, and thought it reaches to the core: “If you can convince the lowest white man that he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.” LBJ
Sara Lee Silberman
Read it three times. Takes my breath away….
Bob Hicks
Powerful.