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[Rhymes/Poetry]
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To know yourself

by Narobi Äntari of United Struggle from Within November 2019
How can I be true to self, when I don’t even know myself?
I have all this knowledge, but it’s collecting dust on the shelf.
Man, I need some help,
But what’s the point when I have a teacher and I don’t value his wealth?
Am I conscience that I am in the belly of the beast?
Or did the imperialist induce me dumb and asleep?
Am I so far gone that I cannot be reached?
Is my third eye too calcified that I can not seek?
That New Afrikans can have better opportunities to increase?
And free all political prisoners plus the great sheiks?
Even if it cost me, my family to not deal with me when I am released?
These are the questions I ask myself to see if I’m still mentally deceased, and if I am; may the Allah in me drown me in the knowledge of self so I can be a valuable piece.
To aid & assist all my brothers and sisters in this beautiful struggle for New Afrikan peace.
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[Rhymes/Poetry]
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Darkness & Fire

by an Oklahoma prisoner October 2019
Fire is this time in solitary.
Outside my window — darkness.
Gaining strength at a fiery pace,
this knowledge I must harness.

Fire is this time in solitary,
burning me like a thousand suns.
But the swords are forged in the hottest fires,
so I sharpen my faith so it's compared to none.

Outside my window — darkness;
freedom can seem afar.
But we must always remember,
it takes a certain darkness to see the stars.
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[Rhymes/Poetry] [Florida] [ULK Issue 70]
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America, You Exposed the Line

by an Oklahoma prisoner October 2019
America, you exposed the line
Back in my younger days your judges had their axes to grind
You promised us that justice was really blind
But that is not what we would find
You just saw me as someone who was born to do time
Yeah, I’m from Florida, the sunshine state,
But you’ve sent me to prisons more times than I’ve made it across the sunshine gate
Unless i’m riding on the prison bus
Your green dollars all say “in God we trust”
But to you I’m worth about a hundred grand a year
And all the people that I know have all passed through here
It’s just how you keep the spirit cause it’s so strong-willed
So I turn on my TV and stare at the screen
and it’s a habitual liar named Trump
And he has big plans to buy a wall
But unfortunately that’s not all
He also wants to split the families apart
And stop the Black & Brown people from a better life and a fresh start
So I guess that the rumor is true
That the Black & Brown are not red, white or blue
But I guess that’s just america’s plan
The rise of the Ku Klux Klan
That’s spread all the way from the back woods
And the secret meetings wearing white hoods
And elevating them to become the police
Then the local judge, and even the mayor of the big city
And then a department of corrections union member
Funneling a percentage of their pay
To keep the disadvantaged people locked up all day
By paying politicians and telling them what to say
Like “we’re tough on crime”
And then they pass a thousand laws at a time
And have no respect for our civil rights
So we are doing lifetimes of wasted days and wasted nights
But now I can clearly see through your soulless eyes
And your great american white lies
But I vow to stop you from suppressing my kind
Because yes america, you exposed the line.
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[Rhymes/Poetry]
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Dark Place

by a North Carolina prisoner October 2019
I’ve been trapped inside this building, I've been in since I was little
It's a riddle, but the foundation to it is turning brittle
When you're walking up the stairs, down the hallway, look to the middle
On the left, you'll see my doorway is leaning and full of splinters
From taking it off the hinges, Memories back to prison
A victim to those that sentenced, their sinister ways of lynching
Distorted image, through torn prisms, praying the governments lifting
And shifting, its hand from the neck of the oppressed, to relieve some of this tension.
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[Rhymes/Poetry] [ULK Issue 69]
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Lock Up Your Mind

by a Florida prisoner August 2019
What makes a prison
Is it the walls and bars?
The guns and towers?

No prison is not that
Prison is for me
My mind lay to waste

When I was free
My mind was locked up
And took from me
By the world
That was before me

No you don't
Have to do a crime
To be locked up

The bad part
Is locking you mind up
That is the real crime
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[Rhymes/Poetry]
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When the Panthers Died

by K.A.G.E. Universal April 2019

scene: (United K.A.G.E. Brothers approached the csp-lac visiting room in Revolutionary Formation to perform a staged performance for Lost and Found part 2 with No-Joke Theatre).

(ACTING AS CADRE LEADER J. SOUNDS OFF) WHAT DO WE WANT?

(UNITED K.A.G.E. BROTHERS respond while marching to podium) FREEDOM, JUSTICE, EQUALITY,…

J: WHAT DO WE NEED?

All: FREEDOM, JUSTICE, EQUALITY,…

(while in military formation in front of the podium, the brothers sound off row call in honor of the fallen comrades)F: W.L.NOLEN, OSCAR GRANT…

J: SANDRA BLAND, MIKE BROWN…

A: ANDY LOPEZ, CHRISTIAN GOMEZ…

T: I CAN’T BREATHE…

K: GEORGE JACKSON,

When the panthers died I cried,
I tried to hold Back my tears,
While in my mothers womb I was consumed with fear,
I seen my people being killed by the police,
Through the Eyes of my Mother and father trembling feet,
Running fast from A billy club ass Whuppin,
Mugshot faces lookin crooked,
“WHEN THE PANTHERS DIED”,
I knew it wouldn’t be the same,
When the panthers died Everything Changed,
Gangs And Automatic Rifles came aimed at
The destruction in our Folks,
NOT to mention crack cocaine smoke,
BLK PEOPLE, Always had hope until then,
BLK PEOPLE, STOOD ORGANIZED AT ONE TIME,
UNIFIED By military STRIDES Made in the community,
I never knew the ideology of BOBBY SEAL and Huey P would elude me,
“WHEN THE PANTHERS DIED”,
Remember Afro-natural picks and a BLK fist raised high,
POWER TO THE PEOPLE was the slogan spoken LOUD,
JAMES BROWN had large Crowds Singing I’m BLK and I’m Proud,
It was a beautiful sight to behold,
But the TOTALITARIAN PARTY COINTELPRO,
Executed a plan of attack for control,
Manipulating BLK souls to turn cold on their OWN shade
Traitors and infiltrators; what a shame,
Pathetic lame cowardice was engraved
In their hearts,
Shouldn’t be able to breathe in presence of KINGS THAT ARE DARK,
“WHEN THE PANTHERS DIED”,
When ASSATA SHAKUR fled to CUBA the “WHITE MAN CRIED”,
They tried to make her A political prisoner,
They Wanted her to FRY but she suffered NEITHER,
NOW THAT WAS A SPECIAL VICTORY,
VICTORY Is LOVE, JOY, and PAIN,
WHEN THE PANTHERS DIED EVERYTHING CHANGED,
Many BLK brains became maimed by,
BLAXPLOITATION Movies and Drive-Bye’s,
“WE” dropped the ball and created a LIE,
Our Own Power “WE” denied,
“WHEN THE PANTHERS DIED”,
K.A.G.E. BROTHERS and SISTERS Grew Wings,
Then came the NEW RISE, HUGO,
“WHEN THE PANTHERS DIED”,
(All performers End Scene with a Revolutionary Clenched Fist Salute. While Exiting the stage chanting)
J: WHAT DO “WE” WANT?
K.A.G.E. BROTHERS: FREEDOM, JUSTICE, EQUALITY,…
END OF SCENE.

IN HONOR OF “BIG MAN HOWARD” and ALL OTHER BROTHERS and SISTERS WHO Dedicated their LIVES to OUR STRUGGLE and Died In GOOD STANDINGS…

Watch performance on Youtube.com
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[Rhymes/Poetry] [ULK Issue 68]
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Beaten Down But Never Broken

by a New York prisoner March 2019

You can put me in the jailhouse
But I'll look at it as a clubhouse
You can give me a violent shove
But in the end I'll rise above

You can call me an inmate
But I still won't show you hate
You can make me wear this ugly green
But when my bid is done and over I'll burn it with kerosene

You can show me disrespect
But I'll laugh and still show you respect
You can show me your rage
But I will not engage

You can violate my mail
But I'll remember I'm in jail
You can restrain me with your chain
But I will stay sane

I may be beaten down
But I'll never be broken

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[Rhymes/Poetry]
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The Goal

by a Florida prisoner February 2019
Democracy, Hypocrisy, the lies of the ruling class
Savery, bravery, attributes to the oppressed mass
We challenge what we're told
Because going hungry is getting old
They label us terrorists, trying to hold us down
But we communists will continue to gain ground
Every day 'til the trumpets sound
Then the continuous revolution will abound!
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[Rhymes/Poetry] [Police Brutality] [ULK Issue 73]
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Drop Your Weapon

by an Indiana prisoner January 2019
I hear the sirens, see the lights; I still ain’t putting’ down this mic.
No matter what we do we’re fucked, they’re shootin’ while our hands are up.
Our government’s a web of lies that offers no protection;
From these pigs, that’s killin’ kids and claimin’ “Drop Your Weapon”.

Every day its on the news – marches, rallies, different views.
Everybody’s talkin’, but nobody wants to face the truth:
“Protect and Serve”’s become the words that let a man destroy our youth.
No justice from the jury booth, all they do’s just cut em loose.
But kill the pig that shot your kid, they ain’t gon’ do the same for you.
The field we playin’ on ain’t level – you get life, he’ll get a medal.
Your protests ain’t been changin’ nothin’ – time to make them bury somethin’

I hear the sirens, see the light; an unarmed man done died tonight.
No matter what we do we’re fucked, they’re shootin’ while our hands are up.
Our government, a web of lies that offers no protection;
From these cops that’s bustin’ shots and claimin’ “Drop Your Weapon.”

Recognize the lies they spit; now realize the realest shit –
The problem’s not in the city hall, it’s in the things we teach our kids
We kill over bandanas. We’ll die about our banners.
But when the cops come through our block, we disappear like phantoms
Kill brothers over lit, the color of their Fit.
We stand our ground til sirens sound, then we get shook and dip.

I hear the sirens, see the lights; it’s time this dawg got in the fight.
When we come together they’re fucked; soon they’re the ones whose hands is up.
I’ll unravel all these lies, I don’t need protection.
I got my mic aimed at the pigs, I ain’t gon’ “Drop My Weapon.”
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[Rhymes/Poetry]
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Use Your Observation

by a California prisoner August 2018
A revolution
Our only solution
Of freeing us of
Media's pollution

From teachers
To preachers
To what's taught
In classes
Are intended
To neutralize the masses

We must be open minded
And not be blinded
By believing
Everything we're told

Evaluate the situation
Do not rely
On your education
Instead use your observation
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