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Good People
“This Civil Rights work is not about those white
people. It is about you; just you.”--Layla F. Saad.
Let us join them, those
bastards, declaring MLK/JFK/KKK
Day. Cleve our nation right down
the middle; exist in separate
dominions.--Glenn Buttkus.
To be white, straight, or
male or middle class is to be
simultaneously ubiquitous and
invisible.--S.K. Minel.
Next up we could honor
George Washington/Jefferson Davis
on the same day; a two-headed
snake battle flag.--Glenn Buttkus.
Our police force was not
created to serve black Americans;
it was created
to serve white Americans and
police black Americans.--Ijeoma Auo.
We might consider
a Lincoln/Hitler Day, a top hat
with a swastika on it.--Glenn Buttkus.
White entitlement
means Black Americans have to
thank Whitey for
not being as fucked up
as they could be.--Kiese Laymon.
We must not forget
Labor/Auschwitz Day; Arbeit
Macht Frei mother fuckers.
--Glenn Buttkus.
Admit that White is
more than a color. The world is
an amusement park, and your
white skin buys your way into it.
--A.S. Ting.
It’s time to celebrate
Christmas/9-11, where we honor
both the Crusades
and the Crucifixion.--Glenn Buttkus.
When you have only
experienced privilege, then equality
feels like oppression.--Adam Rutherford.
We need to create
Valentine’s/Holocaust Day, exchanging
hearts with ashes in them.--Glenn Buttkus.
If the problem of
racism is ever solved
where will future
politicians get the fodder for
the masses that brought them to power?
--Lonis Yako.
How about we go for
Thanksgiving/Appomattox Day,
where re-enactors can portray
Lee & Grant splitting a turkey.
--Glenn Buttkus.
It’s a terrible thing
to hide your racism in order
to stay safe, be liked
and comfortable while black people
are suffering and dying.--Glennon Doyle.
And hell, let’s do
Hanukkah/Easter on which
the Easter Bunny
could be crucified and eaten.
--Glenn Buttkus.
Glenn Buttkus
Renga
Posted over at d'Verse Poet's Pub
9 comments:
Great piece Glenn - and wonderful 'renga' or 'found' poetry - your flame burns bright, white hot in this - just what great poetry is all about.
What a wild ride, Glenn. I like this renga form where you alternate with other people, all on a theme. Your holidays have me laughing but also feeling a little surreal. How do we find ourselves in this mess? I would be in support of a separate nation for the racists as long as they would honor the borders and do their trading elsewhere. You know that would never happen. They'd link up with some of these other oppressive regimes then try to attack us.
I think this form is perfect for the message you have so beautifully gifted us. (I would love to see read this on the Bill Maher show.) A rant worth hearing, over and over and over.
This was SO good!
-David
Brilliant, Glenn: you highlighted some thorny issues while still making me laugh! A lot to think about here. A favourite:
How about we go for
Thanksgiving/Appomattox Day,
where re-enactors can portray
Lee & Grant splitting a turkey.
--Glenn Buttkus.
That I would love to see!
These are provocative, hard hitting, and caustically humorous — good shit dude! If I get some time brother, I may come back and propose names for your hybrid holidays!? Kicked ass here my friend!
This is an incredibly powerful write, Glenn! Especially resonate with; "If the problem of racism is ever solved where will future politicians get the fodder for the masses that brought them to power?" If left to their own devices I fear they would never let us be one. So yes, I agree with you; We need to create Valentine’s/Holocaust Day, exchanging hearts with ashes in them."💝
Wow, Glenn! The interweaving of yourself and other poets really gave this
a jolt of power. Love it!
How about Columbus day... we must be able to find someone who enslaved and killed the native Americans... o.. of course maybe we don't need to pair him.
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