"So instead, I took your finger, swirled it around the cup, drank every last drop, told you it only needed a little more brown sugar. Remember how big you smiled." This bit really got me. Beautiful.
I've seen Javon Johnsons poems more than maybe 30 times, and each time I cry with goosebumps all over my skin. His voice is so powerful and his words are ringing so truthfully.
'It is your job to show them how they murdered a human being.' The media and government dehumanises 'terrorists' .. That line just rams the whole poem home :c
I'm 59 years old. I remember X's murder, briefly mentioned (and editorially justified) on my TV "news". Over the decades, I've seen the text in African American history books. But, until hearing this piece, I never grieved for him. Thank you.
"Today, there are men who are coming to hunt me with rope and shotgun, just as it is your job to show the world how they murdered a human being." Javon is always on point addressing issues like this!
Another great Javon Johnson piece. I am that behind the computer nerd, who spent a day smiling after Mr.Johnson responded to a brief compliment I gave his art. Please people, spread this. I can't imagine black boys dropping like flies in a world where we hoist real empathetic art onto our stages and keep it there.
Baby girl, today there are men with serrated faces and callous smiles who will come for me. These men, with their half-chewed hearts, are the same men who’ve been watching me. They tap our phones, check our mail, illegally look at our finances- hell, they even called your mother personally to tell her they are to kill me, and baby girl, they will kill me. You are to act like I’ve always taught you to. You are to smile, you are to be happy, know your history. You are to love, remember me as I am, because these men, who speak in creative truths, will try and convince you I’m a monster. Like I never held you. Like I never hugged you. Like I never looked you in the face and promised you the sky. Like I never sat there with these clumsy hands and braided your hair, or kissed you beautiful. Like I never told you a bedtime story. Like I’m not a father. Like I don’t have a mother. Like I don’t smile. Like I don’t know God. Baby girl, today these men, with their shrapnel for hands, will try and convince you that they did this because I’m Malcolm Little turn Detroit Red; because I’m Malcolm X turn el-hajj Malik el-Shabazz. Because I’m bad. Oh baby girl, I’m a bad mother-. These men, the same men who brought you the deaths of Patrice Lumumba, of Medgar Evers, and JFK, and Laser Quality, will try to convince you that no one man should have all this power. They will try and convince you I am a monster; like I never held you. Like I never hugged you. Like I never taught you to fly a kite. Like I never took you downtown to see a moving picture. Like I never checked underneath your bed for monsters, or behind closet doors. Like I’m not a father. Like I’m not a father. Like I’m not a father. Like I’m not your father. Baby girl, remember that morning about two weeks back, when you had made me breakfast? Your eyes were so brown. You had asked, “Daddy, how come you didn’t drink all the coffee I made for you?” I didn’t want to tell you it was because it had gotten cold, so instead I took your finger, swirled it around the cup, drank every last drop, told you it only needed a little more brown sugar. Remember how big you smiled? Baby girl, today these men will try and take your smile. They will say they assassinated Malcolm X, a Muslim extremist, a card-carrying commie, an unpatriotic threat to the nation; you will say they murdered your father, who will never get to see you grow old, who will never get to see you graduate, who won’t be there if they ask “Who gives this woman away?” Baby girl, I don’t want to give you away. I’m sorry I don’t know the joys of holding my grand-babies; will never know their names. I am sorry I won’t be there, because today there are men who are coming to hunt me with rope and shotgun justice. It is your job to show the world how they murdered a human being.
A friend's father recently died. They cast his ashes in the waters off Puerto Rico today. My friend posted about it on Facebook, with a photo. My friend is not there. I sent my friend this poem.
@awbemobbin it isn't a Kanye West reference exactly; it was actually said about malcolm x by a police officer when he dismissed a crowd by waving his hand
People like to ask the hypothetical question. "If you could have lunch with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?" For me? Easily, Malcolm. A nation was damaged in ways we will never know by his murder. Thank you Mr. Javon. This one means something.
"So instead, I took your finger, swirled it around the cup, drank every last drop, told you it only needed a little more brown sugar.
Remember how big you smiled."
This bit really got me. Beautiful.
yesss im in tears! such a beautiful, and deep poet.
"Like I'm not a father"
"Like I'm not a father"
"Like I'm not a father"
Shit hit me hard
I felt like i just travelled back in time and witnessed Malcolm himself say this. this is sooooo powerful
I just discovered Javon Johnson...damn. Ridiculously powerful.
Holy. Shit. "like im not your father." That hit me so hard
I've seen Javon Johnsons poems more than maybe 30 times, and each time I cry with goosebumps all over my skin. His voice is so powerful and his words are ringing so truthfully.
He was my professor at San Francisco State. I learned so much from this man. forever grateful
'It is your job to show them how they murdered a human being.'
The media and government dehumanises 'terrorists' ..
That line just rams the whole poem home :c
God...just...I have no words. This was incredible. Javon Johnson, you truly are one powerful poet. Applause.
I'm 59 years old. I remember X's murder, briefly mentioned (and editorially justified) on my TV "news". Over the decades, I've seen the text in African American history books.
But, until hearing this piece, I never grieved for him. Thank you.
Thank yall for watching. Peace.
This was wild brother. 5 years later and I'm still getting goosebumps. The truth and soul is felt. I appreciate you.
"Today, there are men
who are coming to hunt me
with rope and shotgun, just as it is your job to
show the world how they murdered a human being."
Javon is always on point addressing issues like this!
Watched him perform this live too. I freaking love this guy!
Another great Javon Johnson piece. I am that behind the computer nerd, who spent a day smiling after Mr.Johnson responded to a brief compliment I gave his art. Please people, spread this. I can't imagine black boys dropping like flies in a world where we hoist real empathetic art onto our stages and keep it there.
This is so beautiful man, it makes me want to cry to be honest..
One of the most passionate poets I have ever heard.
Can't stop listening to this poem. So obsessed with this poem and the delivery.
Absolutely brilliant speech.. gave me Goosebumps!
Man... I've always loved his poetry but this one just became my favorite.
oh my gosh i don't think i can like this video enough
You delivered that with such power, it was beautiful.
Baby girl, today there are men with serrated faces and callous smiles who will come for me.
These men, with their half-chewed hearts, are the same men who’ve been watching me.
They tap our phones, check our mail, illegally look at our finances- hell, they even called your mother personally to tell her they are to kill me, and baby girl, they will kill me.
You are to act like I’ve always taught you to. You are to smile, you are to be happy, know your history. You are to love, remember me as I am,
because these men, who speak in creative truths, will try and convince you I’m a monster. Like I never held you. Like I never hugged you. Like I never looked you in the face and promised you the sky. Like I never sat there with these clumsy hands and braided your hair, or kissed you beautiful. Like I never told you a bedtime story. Like I’m not a father. Like I don’t have a mother. Like I don’t smile. Like I don’t know God.
Baby girl, today these men, with their shrapnel for hands, will try and convince you that they did this because I’m Malcolm Little turn Detroit Red; because I’m Malcolm X turn el-hajj Malik el-Shabazz. Because I’m bad. Oh baby girl, I’m a bad mother-.
These men, the same men who brought you the deaths of Patrice Lumumba, of Medgar Evers, and JFK, and Laser Quality, will try to convince you that no one man should have all this power. They will try and convince you I am a monster; like I never held you. Like I never hugged you. Like I never taught you to fly a kite. Like I never took you downtown to see a moving picture. Like I never checked underneath your bed for monsters, or behind closet doors. Like I’m not a father. Like I’m not a father. Like I’m not a father. Like I’m not your father.
Baby girl, remember that morning about two weeks back, when you had made me breakfast? Your eyes were so brown. You had asked, “Daddy, how come you didn’t drink all the coffee I made for you?” I didn’t want to tell you it was because it had gotten cold, so instead I took your finger, swirled it around the cup, drank every last drop, told you it only needed a little more brown sugar. Remember how big you smiled?
Baby girl, today these men will try and take your smile.
They will say they assassinated Malcolm X, a Muslim extremist, a card-carrying commie, an unpatriotic threat to the nation; you will say they murdered your father, who will never get to see you grow old, who will never get to see you graduate, who won’t be there if they ask “Who gives this woman away?”
Baby girl, I don’t want to give you away.
I’m sorry I don’t know the joys of holding my grand-babies; will never know their names. I am sorry I won’t be there, because today there are men who are coming to hunt me with rope and shotgun justice. It is your job to show the world how they murdered a human being.
After reading his autobiography I found this very powerful.
I’ve watched this like 5 times! Need this I’m times like these
Amazing, thank so much for this. It moved me to tears, so beautiful!!!
"baby girl, I don't want to give you away -
I'm sorry"
*sobs*
literally cried watching this
A friend's father recently died. They cast his ashes in the waters off Puerto Rico today. My friend posted about it on Facebook, with a photo. My friend is not there. I sent my friend this poem.
I cried. javon is now my favorite slam poet.
This layed heavy on my heart
This brought tears to my eyes...
Javon has always been a favorite.
I hope to one day come to these events and see to him
this was amazing I'm in tears right now
Oh my god. This is beautiful.
This was so heartbreaking to me
I cried
Alyssa Wilson Me too
Wow. This is incredibly powerful
wow that is powerful!
genuinely cried at this
So beautiful 👏👏❤️
Wow powerful
It gave me chills 😨
Absolutely incredible x
So amazing 🙌💝💝💝✊
This poem made me miss my dad😭😭
I'm my God I cried
Yesssssssss
How does he keep writing this stuff?! Every one of his poems is insanely good.
My god that was powerful.
@awbemobbin it isn't a Kanye West reference exactly; it was actually said about malcolm x by a police officer when he dismissed a crowd by waving his hand
People like to ask the hypothetical question. "If you could have lunch with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?" For me? Easily, Malcolm. A nation was damaged in ways we will never know by his murder. Thank you Mr. Javon. This one means something.
Wow.
I would like to do this piece for Forensics. Could anyone give me info on a document of this.
Woah...
whoa, got me breathing heavy
💖
HI, does anyone know where i can get the script of this poem?
“ Like I’m not your father “
Damn....
My favorite poet better than rap
The man who assassinated him has been granted parole as well I think.
❤❤❤
رحم الله الحج مالك شباز
Oh my god. This is beautiful.
genuinely cried at this
Woah...
Courtez Hill BEAUTIFUL!