Lake Henry July 6, 2020

album

declaration

People who were born into slavery 

Were still alive when I was born 

Not so very long ago

Not so far removed from current events. 

Native Americans with treaty rights to their land

Belonging to them by right in the first place 

Stolen even more recently 

Forced onto reservations to live in poverty. 

Abolition remains unfinished business 

Reparations yet another broken promise 

Slavery reconstructed through imprisonment 

Democracy deconstructed through disenfranchisement.

The way things are today has not changed really

The systemic racism behind the professed ideals

The ongoing history of genocide and betrayal 

White man speaks with forked tongue. 

Japanese immigrants sent to concentration camps 

Yesterday's news overtaken by the latest outrage 

Latinx immigrant children separated from their parents 

Placed in cages like dangerous animals. 

On the Fourth of July I do not celebrate 

Living in a place where freedom does not ring

Where people of color live in fear

There can be no truth and reconciliation possible.

Hanks Pond July 4, 2020

album

Laurelwood July 2, 2020

album