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This writing was accepted for publication in the 108 page perfect-bound ISSN#/ISBN# issue/book “Respect Our Existence or Expect Our Resistance” cc&d, v272 (the June 2017 issue - the 24 year anniversary issue) You can also order this 6"x9" issue as a paperback book:

Order this writing in the issue book Nothing Lasts the cc&d May-August 2017 collection book		get the 4 page May-August 2017 cc&d magazine issue collection 6" x 9" ISBN# paperback book:

Order this writing in the book Negative Space (the 2017 poetry, flash fiction & art collection anthology)		get the 298 page poem, flash fiction & art collection anthology as a 6" x 9" ISBN# paperback book:

This Just In

Natasha Hooper

The news say black people’s hair is trendy now.
Say black people’s bodies are trendy now.
Say black people’s skin is trendy now.
But only if it is not on black people.
The news say black on black crime is worse than police shootings.
Don’t say white on white crime is more prevalent.
The news say white is God.
Say black is gas leak.
Black is oil spill.
Black is something that needs to be cleaned up.
The news say black is guilty until proven ... questionable.
The news don’t say that this is another civil rights era.
It don’t say that this is history continuing itself.
The news don’t say they got a multi-purpose prison pipeline now. They can funnel you through it, beat you with it, hang you from it.
The news say “the cops took the mass murderer to Burger King, gave him a bullet proof vest to cage in all his anger.”
The news don’t say “the cops let the little black boy bleed on the ground for four minutes. They did not think he was worth the happy meal.”
The news say forgive and forget.
Say what is the point in remembering?
Say everything you need to know is already on the news.
The news say what elephant hanging in the middle of what room. Question mark.
Say what institutionalized racism and what white privilege. Question mark.
Say what slavery and why must you keep bringing up the past. Question mark.
The news say stop asking all those relevant questions. Period.
We are not here to give you any answers. Period.
We are not here to give you any justice. Period.
The news say sit down, stop all that rioting, stop being that black and that proud or you will get a bullet in the back, in the chest, in the neck, in the head, never in the leg.
We will keep broadcasting your dead bodies.
We will keep calling your people criminals.
We will keep showing your killers roaming free.
We will do anything to keep our views up.
We will do everything to keep your people down.
Don’t question the things that we feed you.
Don’t think about the parts you should pick through.
Believe everything you see, but formulate your opinions blindly.
Believe everything you see, but formulate your opinions blindly.
Believe everything you see, but formulate your opinions blindly.
The news don’t say that sometimes brainwashing is just a little repetition.
Don’t say that sometimes brainwashing is just a little too easy.
And the plans will always work out perfectly
As long as good people don’t intervene,
As long as everyone stays in front of their screens,
As long as they all just listen

And don’t stop watching.

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