Gerald Lenoir (Courtesy photo)

“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

 

            Pastor Kelvin Sauls (Courtesy photo)

“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.