Hand-in-Hand Ministries of Connecticut
Introduction
The poem presented here is the work of Priscilla A. Black. I was visiting her father, Bishop Emeritus Eugene Redd of Connecticut, when she read it to him two days after she presented it at Webster CI. I was moved by the power of this Heart Cry and asked her for permission to publish it on this web site. It is a copyrighted work and she was kind enough to give her permission. I ask you to respect her copyright. Requests for permission may be sent to one(usual symbol)hihministries.org. The usual symbol is created by keying shift-2.
Priscilla Black wrote: Just a little history behind the creation/composition of the poem: I have godsons who are caught up in the prison cycle and as of the date of the program, I did not truly know where they were — in prison, dead or alive, I did not know. As I was preparing the material for the program, I was pondering the whereabouts of my godsons and why is it so difficult for them to stay out of prison and move on in their lives after all these years. The more I pondered, I began to write down my thoughts, and as a result, a poem was composed. It is unfinished, and I do plan on working on it more as I have time.
Where Are You, Black Man? Where Are You?
by Priscilla A. Black
Composed Tuesday, February 20, 2007
In honor of the Black History Month Program Sponsored by Webster Correctional Institution
Cheshire, Connecticut, Friday, February 23, 2007
Copyright © 2007 Priscilla A. Black. All Rights Reserved.
Where are you, Black man?
Tall, distinguished, and proud,
You know we need you,
To stand out in a crowd...,
You great..., wonderful..., genius...
Of a Black man!
What happened, Black man?
Who's black and proud,
Sayin' it loud,
What happened that you ended up here,
In this kind of crowd?
Where are you, Black man?
Now looka' here,
Share with us, share with us,
Where can you be found?
Are you free and sound,
Or are you listed in a facility
Called "Abscond -er"?
What you been doin', Black man,
With all of your time—time in, time out, time in, again? !
Have you been playin' around in sin?
Have you lost all sense of Whose you are
In order to win?
What you been doin', while we been out here,
Makin' it happen,
Sometimes in fear,
Many times shedding a tear!
How'd you get here, Black man?
Tall, distinguished and proud,
Did you follow the errors and ways
Of the wrong crowd?
How'd you get here,
You don't belong here,
No one cares,
You're just a snare,
In someone's hair!
Where you goin', Black man?
Leaving us behind,
Fending for ourselves,
Sometimes no food on our shelves,
Where you goin',
The path's been laid,
You have a choice,
Take the left or the right,
The price has been paid!
Where you been, Black man?
Haven't seen you around,
The town,
Not a sound,
Nowhere to be found,
Where you been,
I need you, they need you, we need you,
Take charge, now!
Who you tryin' to fool, Black man?
Freedom, you know, comes by
Education,
Going to school,
Follow the rules,
Learning is the tool,
By which you'll be no fool!
Gonna' come out soon, Black man?
Find your way,
Mend the wounds,
Find a church, real soon,
Get a job? !
Gonna' come out soon,
We want you back,
Yeah, gonna come out soon...?
Look at what we've been doing,
While you've been in here all this time,
Yes, we've been angry and we've been sad,
Yet, in our anger, we have hope
One day to be glad,
Waiting to receive you,
In forgiveness and much preparation,
It's a hard thing
To feel this separation!
Who's in control, Black man?
You're the head of your household,
Jesus Christ being the head of every man,
Who's in control?
Take your place in this life,
Be the head and not the tail,
Not the tail,
Not the tail,
It's not a fight,
'cause it can't be your plight!
Be the head and not the tail!
Where are you, Black man?
Come out from among them,
And be ye separated,
Saith the Lord,
Come out from among them,
Come out, now!
Freedom is in the power,
In the power of your hand!
Where are you, Black man?
Tall, distinguished and proud,
Standing out in the crowd,
Sayin' it loud,
Being black and proud,
Where are you?
Where are you? ...
...We love you!