Department of Justice (DOJ) . NW WDC . Thursday . 2 March 2000
in connection with the project "When You've Spoken With My Tongue"
Elvert Xavier Barnes Protest Photography & Writings on the Wall
And though I can't remember Big Mama ever striking me with her bare hands there were a few occasions when she'd use a switch. And, as I recall, she'd often spout out that ole 'white lie' about "the holes in the black leather belt 'be eyes'" and that if we acted up the belt which hung from the parlor door would 'tell her'. To which I'd sarcastiscally ask "Where's the mouth?". And as we'd laugh she'd whisper, yet, scoldingly, "You be careful; with that tongue?". And not unlike the older but wiser and moire mature black men who at the rally chanted "Silence euuals consent!" I don't hold back my tongue.
And when Gregory jokeed about viagra but said "when a white man befriends or associates with a black man it be about drugs" and though I'd heard him speak similarly in '74 at the U of Maryland, this time, and as if he was speaking directly to, yet scolding me, I heard his every word ... so loud and so very clear. And as the crowd roarerd with laugher tears came to eyes because for more than 25 years but for all of my adult life when at work, home, or play and even as a nappy black boy in college specific white and black men and a few white as well black women with addiction disorders were staged specfically around me so as to implicate me in connection with that ole white lie "Guility by assocaition". At age 47 and wiser but more mature and in sharp contrast to Big Mama's rant "Sticks and stiones may break yoiur bones ..." I call up the souls to "rise up!" and take to the streets with sticks and stones and black leaather belts. Perhaps, for affect ...but if necessary .... And just as the words will fall from my lips, or tongue ... or my black mouth ...
Many, over the years, have commented "... at least its better than what it use to be ...!". Which I have heard ... so loud and so very clear ... at least, a billion and one times before. Some have suggested "You'd think he'd be conditioned by now!". To which I have responded ... so loud and so very clear ... "I am not your nigger!".
Some angry black men might would've put a gun in their hands. But, over the years, I've stood tall with cameras and pens in my hands. And, perhaps, an acid tongue ... believing that the change had already come. But, at age 47, and much wiser and more mature I have come to uinderstand, quite frankly, that such changes can only come by the touch, or stroke, and sometimes strike of black hands. Or, perhaps, and while dressed to kill, fashionably speaking, in hats, furs and diiamonds but long painted fingers, too, but as some mad black women might would chant, ebonically speaking "Talk to my hand!". Not unlike Oprah who told those old white men 'just where to stick their beef' but whispered in a controlled rage "you will not muzzle me!".
And with clenched fists caressing protest signs or some other paraphernalia in their hands the crowd mushroomed and in a controlled rage but so loud and so very clear began to chant "It's a wallet. Not a gun!" . Without missing a beat but in sync I stomped my feet so loud and so very clear so as to 'call up' the spirits but the souls of those that come but gone before me, ancestorally speaking, to "Rise up!".
And as the crowd roared with laughter Barry spoke louder, yet, and in a controlled rage joked "Don't think that because you hve that hat turned around backwards that they won't stop you. In their eyes you are still 'just a nigger!"
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