The Voice Of Philadelphia: Between The Sheets: Poems for Trayvon Martin

Poems for Trayvon Martin
Words by Cierra Farquarshon

I recently attended an event organized by Mr. Ewuare Osayande and Dr. Joyce, the first female African American chair of Temple University’s English Department, on Temple’s campus called ‘Poems for Trayvon Martin’. Upon speaking with both Osayande and Dr. Joyce, both praised the other for the event and Dr. Joyce went as far as to say she would have, “assisted [Ewuare] where he asked to hold an event”. She says she “would like to see more Temple University students exposed to Black intellectuals whose aesthetics [are] a merger of history, politics… as well as [a] realistic use of language”.

The event was held in honor of both Trayvon Martin and Marissa Alexander, two Floridians on seemingly opposite sides of the ‘Stand your Ground’ Law. In short, the law states, if a person fears death or bodily harm said person may react with deadly force against the aggressor. Martin, as many may know, was gunned down in February of 2012 and his killer, George Zimmerman, has invoked the now infamous law in his defense. In 2010, Marissa Alexander fired a warning shot into the ceiling of her home after enduring years of abuse from her husband. Alexander is facing a mandatory 20 years in prison and her use of the Stand your Ground defense was rejected. The event was held to promote an anthology compiled by Osayande featuring compositions from poets across the globe speaking on topics ranging from gun violence, to police brutality to marriage equality, and everything in between. All proceeds from the book sales will go to the families of both Martin and Alexander.

As a poet raised on “performance” poetry and avid open mic attendee I realize I expect to see huge and grand performances at every open mic or poetry event I attend. I can say this was not the kind of poetry I saw that night and I was pleasantly surprised at the content and delivery of the pieces. The messages were delivered in a calm and matter of fact tone, but it was that calm that made the underlying truths all the more potent. Some well known and nationally recognized poets were in the building and a few “attended” virtually calling in via Skype. Some notable folks in attendance included teacher/educator Shahn L. Franko, educator Elizabeth Bass, local community organizer, Yolanda Wisher, nationally recognized poet, Lamont B. Steptoe, and Rutgers-Camden alum, Amir Taron.

The content of the pieces ranged from intergalactic travels, to teaching one how to be a victim that will actually receive justice: “if killed/you had better been perfect”. The piece by San Francisco State University student, Malaka Green(e) implores future victims to wear a suit before being killed, to not wear braids, own a hoodie, and if you’re going to be raped or abused it had better be the first time, and you better be docile, white, fully covered, a virgin, rich, light skinned and/or thin, and if not “you deserved it”. While clearly written to be tongue in cheek Greene’s piece, as were all the others, was one of many sad truths of a marginalized existence.

Educator Elizabeth Bass’ and community organizer, Yolanda Wisher, had different takes on the issue, but both were very much relevant. While Wisher’s poem, “For Harriet (Tubman)” a six part piece chronicling the life of the famous escaped slave, gave us a history lesson and revealed some lesser known information about Ms. Araminta Ross. A teacher in the Camden area, Elizabeth Bass’ poem brought the struggle closer to home. Her piece entitled, “Concerning Michael Vanderhurst” told from her teacher’s perspective of a young man who never made it to the first day of class as he was killed just before the school year began. She touched hearts with lines like, “[I wonder if you could] switch codes from street to straight without losing your voice” and wonders aloud at the possibilities of a boy whom she never had the chance to meet and who’s potential will never fully be realized.

All of the poems heard that night shed light on issues that have long since been ignored in the media and discussed openly with no easy answers in minority communities. There was talk of Malcolm X, four little girls, and 16^th Street Baptist churches, all things I learned of in high school. These were topics in history class that were relevant, but not quite relatable and eventually became “just stories” to me because I did not live them. It occurred to me that all too soon our future generations will be reading the stories of Trayvon Martin and Marissa Alexander and they may be just as unable to relate. We can only hope, with events such as this, our children will be more aware and this time around the ‘stories’ will have better endings.

Or perhaps Lamont B. Steptoe said it best with his piece ‘Hatred’: Hatred/throws bleach balloons at Black and Asian students in the state of the Alamo/ It is 2012/Nothing has changed.

*The anthology, Stand Our Ground: Poems for Trayvon Martin and Marissa Alexander, can be purchased at standourgroundbook.com and is the only place the book can be located to ensure that ALL proceeds go to the Martin and Alexander families. Please show your support

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About The Writer

Cierra Farquharson is  an aspiring therapist and graduate student at La Salle University majoring in Clinical Counseling Psychology. She interns at a behavioral health clinic by day and is an all around creative person by night. Cierra dabbles in painting, crafting, fashion, upcycling clothes, and any other DIY project you can think of while writing and performing poetry on the weekends. Can you say twenty first century Wonder Woman?

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Between The Sheets Is a Voice Of Philadelphia and AC Beat Page Discussing Books, Book Signings, and Author Interviews.

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