“Once Again” – A Poem for George Floyd
By Gerald Lenoir
Once again, a brother lies dead in the street
Once again, he screams, “I can’t breathe” with no relief
Once again, policemen stand idly by while
Once again, a man in blue condemns a Black man to die.
Once again, Black lives really don’t matter
Once again, a Black body is crushed and shattered
Once again, Black lives are under attack
Once again, a man dies because he’s Black.
Once again, we pray, we march, we dissent
Once again, we rage, we cry, we vent
Once again, we ask: how can this still be?
Once again, we answer: white supremacy.
Once again, Black lives really don’t matter
Once again, a Black body is crushed and shattered
Once again, Black lives are under attack
Once again, a man dies because he’s Black.
America has never paid for its original sin
Not for what is or what has always been
So, we continue to pay for the color of our skin
Not once, but again, and again, and again.
Gerald Lenoir is the former Executive Director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI). He currently serves as the Strategy Analyst at the Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley
“Once Again” – A Poem for George (Inspired by Gerald Lenoir)
By Pastor Kelvin Sauls
Once again, white supremacy violated black divinity
Once again, white superiority displays contempt for black divinity
Once again, police culture culminated in a public lynching activity
Once again, police immunity justified murder with impunity
Once again, America’s knee is on full display on the neck of Black bodies
Once again, America stood idly by watching the annihilation of Black bodies
Once again, America choose not to hear, “I can’t breath” from Black bodies
Once again, America engaged in what it does best, destroying Black bodies
Once again, we are dismayed, but not discouraged
Once again, we are angry, but will not succumb to acquiescence
Once again, we are devalued, but not destroyed
Once again, we will rise with raised voices and fists
America, lack of accountability will always undermine your sincerity and dignity
America, lack of repentance will always infect your humanity and integrity
America, lack of departure from the blasphemous white supremacy will always infect your humanity and divinity
America, lack of restitution for your sins will always threaten your destiny, security, ability, not once, but again, and again, and again.
Pastor Kelvin Sauls is the Co-Founder of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) and currently serve as the Board Chair Emeritus. A faith-rooted leader and Fellow with the Atlantic Fellowship for Racial Equity (AFRE), he currently serves as the Network Strategist at the Community Health Councils in Los Angeles.