say: word

The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property, between former masters and slaves and the connection heretofore existing between them, becomes that between employer and hired labor. The Freedmen are advised to remain at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts; and they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.

General Order No. 3 as read by Union Major-General Gordon Granger to the people of Galveston, Texas. June 19, 1865.

6/18/11 — 9:04am Short URL: http://tmblr.co/ZB7FFy6CbJIQ

juneteenth weekend: remember your ancestors; celebrate your freedom.

High-res 6/18/11 — 9:00am Short URL: http://tmblr.co/ZB7FFy6Cb48E

nigga, please

pull up your pants. cripwalk and dance your ass off the corner. coroners got your chalk outline memorized. bullets got they eyes on you. du-rag yourself an imagination. imagine a nation afraid of your brilliance. remember your grandma’s resilience. her dreams: charred bits sludged in chicken grease. piece yourself back together. get your dreams outta pawn. break dawn like babymama promises. remix the lyrics breakdancing on your tongue. and play another slow jam. slam dunk your way out the projects. consider yourself post-racial. facial hair and funk don’t make you a man, but it might make you a punk. play dead when you body hits the concrete like kerplunk. hip-hop ain’t your savior. stop praising lil’ wayne like jesus. nigga, please. that fog ain’t the weather it’s the weed. bleed on the sidewalk and call it graffiti. warn the youth with your reckless release. police know the sound of your stereo-type. don’t believe the hype. your mans and them will snitch if pressed. and your bitch hair is a weave. and Ralph Lauren is a pimp. limp your ass back to school, nigga. triggers get foolish in your presence. remember that your essence is golden. prison is not your birthright. nor sagging pants your birthmark. know you are the last dragon. catch bullets with your teeth and glow.

©t’ai freedom ford 2011

PRINT THIS POST WORDS: 6/18/11 — 3:06am Short URL: http://tmblr.co/ZB7FFy6CJEJ0

saggin = niggas = inspiration

Notes: 6 6/18/11 — 3:05am Short URL: http://tmblr.co/ZB7FFy6CJ8WA Filed under: #nigga please #saggin #pull ya damn pants up

synchronicity

eventually the two will get it
together
in the meantime, light
floods your open mouth

thoughts
scatter like roaches
cross the kitchen floor
of your brain

the word: a pointy-toed shoe
you can’t find thru
struggle, bug spray and strangle
your tongue tangled with spit

PRINT THIS POST WORDS: Notes: 1 6/14/11 — 1:47am Short URL: http://tmblr.co/ZB7FFy64G_JC

cuz sometimes you wanna say shit that don’t really need to be said and that’s why it remains all jumbled in your head… still there is this frustration i get from wanting to articulate feeling but the words fail me or complicate shit even further… sometimes the remedy is space… silence.

t’ai freedom ford

6/14/11 — 1:13am Short URL: http://tmblr.co/ZB7FFy64ENlf Filed under: #shuthefuckup #say: word

summon electric from the socket. strip brilliance down to a buzz. stuff it in your pocket. let it feed on lint and indigo. grow it til it shines hot in your jeans. toss it skyward. trace the trajectory with your finger. allow your eyes to linger til it glows.

Notes: 3 12/28/10 — 1:49pm Short URL: http://tmblr.co/ZB7FFy2L1_jl Filed under: #how to make a star