Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The Charles Blockson Reception


Charles L. Blockson has distinguished himself as a historian dedicated to black history. His commitment to black history extended to genealogy, and he published the seminal Black Genealogy with Ron Fry in 1977. Blockson also amassed one of the largest private collections of African-American history in the United States, a collection he donated to Temple University in 1984. In the mid-to-late 1980s, he compiled a number of African-American narratives in The Underground Railroad, and created an illustrated map of the railroad for National Geographic. He has likewise worked diligently to promote the preservation of landmarks central to African-American history. Blockson continues to lecture internationally and is considered one of the foremost experts on the Underground Railroad.

Maurice contacted me and told me that I had to arrive at a Literary reception in honor of Charles Blockson a Icon in the Philadelphia black literary circle in preservation of black writing. This place was amazing poets and vendors of black art and jewelry were stationed throughout the hall. Maurice lois and I were setting up our books and getting ready for the reception to begin. A reporter of an independent news paper began to interview us about Ralph Ellison and his impact on black literature with his book "The Invisible Man" Lois answered his question with shear precision and eloquence. Maurice turned the question into a small conversation just as a professor would and expounded on the importance of his work. Well when it came to him asking me the same question I had to be honest and tell him that I did not read Ellison's book. The report looked puzzled being as though I was in the midst of some of Philadelphia's most learned writers. How could I not have read this book?
Being polite he ask me what did I think of the state of black writing today?
I told him that I felt that black writing today is at stand still when it comes to
passing the history to our children. There is no knowledge of men like Charles Blockson who dedicates his entire life to it's preservation single handedly.
I feel we need to do a better job in promoting and reading old and new literature
to our children to give them a much better since of identity.

This satified tha reports and he smiled and moved on to someone else. Maurice on the other hand told me that I should have not stated that I didn't read the book but should have asked for a diffrent question all together. The moral I quess was to not look ignorant in a circle of intellectuals. Now you know I went out and bought his book right away and began turning pages immediately. I was not going to get caught up like that ever again. A list a poets were called upon to make a small comment
on black writing and read a poem. My speech was about the black education system and the need for African American history to be taught in schools. I then began to read this poem entitled "Black Destruction"

The destruction of a black civilization
is now the focal point of the nation
drugs crimes incarceration
the exploitation of explosive situations
drug dealing senseless killings of youths
the lives we're stealing
the graves we're filling
we to save our race
now who is willing
constantly striving always surviving another day
to make a better way
bureaucrats plot and scheme placing poison
in the black mainstream
beating us down, locking us down in cells
man made hell.
Thousands strong gone too long
for a society in which they once belonged
We must stop the destruction and demoralization
of a black nation and preserve our civilization.

This was my signature poem and it went over good with the many who attended.
After the reception I got a chance to meet the man of the hour. I was impressed
with his love for black books rare and out of print. This is what made me a collector
and inspired reader to this day.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Reflections of A Battlefield


It was Ten thounsand of us or more
sent to fight a blood war
in the middle of the night
we engaged in a fire fight
as the battle rose an fell
I felt the blazing heat of hell
I tried to keep calm and cool
and not to act just like a fool
an to myself I wondered why
as all around I saw men die
and on that blood soaked battle sod
I thought about my lord my God
and on that battlefield of pain
I felt that I was born again
Now I'm home safe and sound
with my family all around
and when I think about that day
I fall upon my knees and pray
to end the battlefield of strife
an to save another soldiers life.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Osayimwese Offers Music to Cease Fire Org

We are working on donating music to the Chiacago based group Cease Fire who is presently trying to stop violence amongst young black boys. "In the Killing Feilds of America" is a song that depicts the ungoing struggle violence in the black community. Help us fund good organizations that is trying to stop the genocide in our communities.

Buy a the MP3 @ www.cdbaby.com/cd/osayimwese

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Poetic Ventures Site closed

Due to the Recession another business has to close. No Poetic Ventures is not over but It's time to move on from paid websites. It served me well for the last 15 or so years but now I will place all info in this blog. so follow me in a new direction.