Morphological Confetti

Frederick Douglass (c. 1817-1895) "Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe." -Frederick Douglass Harriet Tubman (1820(?)-l913) "I grew up like a neglected weed -- ignorant of liberty, having no experience of it." Bethune, Mary McLeod (1875-1955) "The whole world opened to me when I learned to read." Vick (198_-2006) Teddy Reads: Rest In Peace (RIP) Vick, we love u. Note: The teddy bear is a makeshift memorial to someone who was killed near or on that very spot. I've never met Vick, but he represents so many young black men who are murdered on the streets everyday of any city, USA.

Sinners It was 11:48pm on Thursday two lovers abandoned a home on a quest for something new he drove like a hungry lion she waited like a baby bird Leaving the city behind them she caught a glimpse of a cross he drove straight into the backyard of the church he tore her dress with his claws she turned him to the way he was born it was a long journey into the clouds aided by sweat, pants and screams the car felt like a manger happy to host a new hero bouncing up and down on the church soil she looked guilty with sweat all over her he looked dumbfounded like a trespasser she saw a statue with a hand stretched forth he read “come unto me o ye sinners” © Abiodun Koya Excerpt from her poetry collection: The Words of a Princess Short Bio: Ms. Abiodun Koya is an accomplished lyric soprano from the Southwestern part of Nigeria.  Read more about Abiodun on her website:  Abiodunkoya.com

Ausi Maria I imagine a place in the Sun I look to the east where I can see her reflection in the south African drums... Rhythms, tapping rhythms -- beating hearts of student protest. Artwork: "Biko '78" oil on board by Stephen Bess

On this day, June 2, 1899, Black Americans observed a day of fasting.  This day of fasting and prayer was called by the National Afro-American Council in protest of the lynching and racial massacres occurring in the United States.  Unfortunately, these lynchings carried on through the 20th Century, and there are still reports of hate crimes in this 21st century.  Music/spoken word on subject:    Strange Fruit  by Billie Holiday, and Black Baby Tears by Stephen Earley Jordan. Book on subject:   Strange Fruit: Plays on Lynching by American Women , and Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II Info source:   blackfacts.com Photo source:  latina.com