SOUL Intermission

LIVING FOR THE CITY

For those of you quoting Dr. King’s non-violence movement as a solution to the burning streets, please remember how he died.   King’s hasty demise was accelerated by his moving the Other America speech.  That speech should be a mandatory requirement in every educational and financial institution.  The speech is also the inspiration to this literary sequel.   

When you turn your clocks back to the 21^st Century, what America do you see?   

What I see is one America that sits in the champagne-flowing V.I.P. section.  The other AmeriKKKa waits on a long rainy line with speeding cars splaishing dirty water from a puddle.   

One America is a constant green light of privilege, the other is a potholed street with high speedbumps.  One America has neighborhoods with Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, the other AmeriKKKa is a neighbohood filled with liquor stores and rib shacks. 

One America calls 911 when a white blonde feels threatened by a black bird watcher. The other AmeriKKKa believes that 911 is an unfunny joke.  One America sees gentrification as a neighborhood improvement project, the other sees gentrification as an unlawful eviction notice.  

In one America the crack epidemic could be resolved by “just saying no.”  In the other AmeriKKKa the crack epidemic could be resolved if the National Security Council wasn’t selling crack to fund the Iran-Conta affair.  

One America is Hurricane Sandy, the other AmeriKKKa is Hurricane Katrina. One America sees Clarence Thomas as supreme progress, the other sees Thomas as sarcasm. 

One America can't understand why you refuse to stand for the National Anthem?  The other AmeriKKKa can’t understand how a slave owner wrote your country’s theme song?

One America sees President Ronald Reagan as their savior and Jay-Z as a drug dealer, the other sees Ronald Reagan as a drug dealer and President Carter as their savior. Some people see corporate America as a ladder to climb with a glass ceiling, the other sees corporate AmeriKKKa as a ladder to climb with a ceiling fan attached.

In one America a white blonde named Dylann Roof murdered 9 people during a church service and the police were so saddened by his actions that they took the mass murderer to a burger spot for a happy meal.  In the other AmeriKKKa the unhappy families of the victims were so saddened by Dylann’s actions that they felt compelled to pray for the killer, under the same "roof" he terrorized.  

So…, if you are wondering why these buildings in America are burning to the ground – the answer is very simply…, just ask yourself...

Which America do you reside?   

1❤

Ray Lewis