Melanin Mocha

As many of you may know I am not just a blogger but also an aspiring novelist, poet and avid reader. In my free time I perform and work with an amazing group of poets, known as iSPIT, at my beloved university. In November we did a show called "Riot Reconstruction: Coming to Amerikka" where we addressed our views and opinions of the state of black people in this country. There were many recollections of Mike Brown, police brutality, racism and other topics relating to this issue. I wrote Melanin Mocha for all men of African descent, assuring them that they are loved and supported by women of African descent. In a time where the brown body is being singled out for acts of terror, acts of racism and hate, acts of ignorance, and an abundance of other unfortunate forms of discrimination, I felt that it was necessary to remind both the black man and the black woman of their pedestal. Shortly after the November performance, the murder of Micheal Brown of Ferguson, Missouri was NOT indicted. There was an uproar and a continuous need for the campus to hear our perspectives.

Earlier last month I was allotted another opportunity to perform my piece, "Melanin Mocha", at a Black History Convocation that I, along with my wonderful Court of Royalty and Excellence, had the opportunity to organize for the campus. Earlier that same morning, the campus was awakened to find that the insult "NIGGER" was spray painted on our University's sign for all those who passed by to see. Being that The Lincoln University is the nation's first historically Black college and university and my HOME, it was imperative that our Black History convocation was memorable for those who attended. For that performance I changed some of the words to depict that incident by saying "...and so they write nigger on the Lincoln University sign" rather than the original phrase.

This poem means so much to me because I was birthed by a melanin mocha woman and man, who were raised by melanin mocha parents, who all birthed melanin mocha children. I stand by my community and my people because I stand by humanity and love for all. I hope that my words are inspiring and that all are reminded of the great contributions to this world by people of color and that our presence is to be respected just as any other human being would. Check out both performances.

Melanin Mocha, February 2015 performance.

Melanin Mocha, November 2014 performance.