Black Poet Quotes

“Sunshine

If it were possible
to place you in my brain
to let you roam around
in and out
my thought waves
you would never
have to ask
why do you love me?

This morning as you slept
I wanted to kiss you awake
say I love you till your brain
smiled and nodded yes
this woman does love me.

Each day the list grows
filled with the things that are you
things that make my heart jump
yet words would sound strange
become corny in utterance.

In the morning when I wake
I don’t look out my window
to see if the sun is shining.
I turn to you instead.”
― Pat Parker

“Love is a word, another kind of open.
As the diamond comes
into a knot of flame
I am Black
because I come from the earth's inside
take my word for jewel
in the open light.”
― Audre Lorde, Coal

“For the white person who wants to know how to be my friend
The first thing you do is to forget that i’m Black.
Second, you must never forget that i’m Black.
You should be able to dig Aretha,
but don’t play her every time i come over.
And if you decide to play Beethoven – don’t tell me
his life story. They made us take music appreciation too.
Eat soul food if you like it,
but don’t expect me to locate your restaurants
or cook it for you.
And if some Black person insults you,
mugs you, rapes your sister, rapes you,
rips your house, or is just being an ass –
please, do not apologize to me
for wanting to do them bodily harm.
It makes me wonder if you’re foolish.
And even if you really believe Blacks are better lovers than
whites – don’t tell me. I start thinking of charging stud fees.
In other words – if you really want to be my friend – don’t
make a labor of it. I’m lazy. Remember.”
― Pat Parker

“Free Your Mind

Be mindful of negativity
Negative thoughts become obsessions
Obsessions become deep emotions
Emotions become painful
Pain becomes cancerous to the body
Free the mind from poison”
― Janet Autherine, Island Mindfulness: How to Use the Transformational Power of Mindfulness to Create an Abundant Life