Young Brother/Young Man
By Larry Ukali Johnson-Redd
Listen to “Your World
And Mine” by Luciano
Check out Mutabaruka
And Brother Baraka
Forget Condi Rice
Checkout Paradise
Open the door, listen to
Old School by Terry Moore
Get some wisdom and pride
You ought to
Listen to Sundiata
Use your mind to save our kind
Get some love
In your heart
Let us have
A brand new start
Listen to Malcolm X
Listen to Marvin X
Project
giving a brother respect
Stand proud
My young brother
Please don’t kill
Any other
Seek wisdom and truth
Uncover our Black root
Show you are aware
Stop Black on Black warfare
Check out
Linton Kwesi Johnson
Chuck D
And the Jr. Fred Hampton
Read Chancellor B Williams
And John Hedrick Clark
Marcus Garvey
And read some Ukali
Your road is harder
We can all see
But the sweeter
The victory
When we stop
Killing we
And work together
For our destiny
Get some education or training
To find a way to survive
Then we can all thrive
Get respect
so we can reject
The murder of a brother
By another brother
Listen to the voices
advising you
There is more than 1 way
To do what you must do
Our life is too valuable
To die like a fool in a fable
Live for our maker/ancestors
Live because we are able
Live a meaningful life
Marry a beautiful wife
Learn how to survive
So we can thrive
Listen to Sanchez
And progressive reggae
Let peace breakout
United we do have clout
Linking strong Black Arms
And strong Black Hands
So we can make it better
For all Africans
Young brother
Young man
Be a lover man
And friend
How nice it will be
Show love my young brother
No more bloody war
Among each other
Hear the drumbeat
Of our reality
Ignore insanity
Accept maturity
Think before you shout
Why should we beat our brains out?
This is wisdom, the freedom route
Divided we have no clout
United we will conquer without a doubt
Get some wisdom in your head
Make sure you are spiritually fed
No more standing in our own blood
Show your young brothers real love
Wise up stay tough
Ease up stay rough
Prepare your mind
Self-love we must find!!!
It’s not easy
From a boy to a man
But can you make
If you don’t understand
We cannot survive
without peace in our hood
When our blood runs
You know that’s no good
Find some knowledge
To hold on to
If not,
We are through
As long as you
are a young man
Find self-love
Please understand
May you live long
Peace upon the land
Mature and grow up
Powerful young Black Man
Today’s boy is
Tomorrow’s Black Man
Please develop your mind
And grow old in this time!!!
I challenge all young brothers between 15 to 24 years to memorize this long spoken word piece as a part of making a smooth transition from boyhood to manhood. Please look up the books, media and authors mentioned and you will obtain an even deeper understanding of this piece. And please explore journeytothemotherland.com. I hope you enjoyed this piece and I hope you and your family will read my books and view or listen to my media. All of my books and media can be viewed, reviewed and purchased on my website by clicking on the media ordering button on this website’s web page. May all young men read, understand and grow old in this time.
Sincerely,
Larry Ukali Johnson-Redd
http://www.geocities.com/journeytothemotherland/index.html