Draft, A BLACK MILITANT POEM SPEAKS

Resource added
Poem begun at Le Barry, 1 Aug. 1985, 11:20 a.m.—12:37; 4:40 p.m.—5:05

A BLACK MILITANT POEM SPEAKS
by J. A. Emanuel

I was born militant,
screamed 
when the world first     [*leave 5 spaces*] touched me, 
slapped me into life.

Measles, mumps, and scarlet fever
dug [was like trenches to my bedroom door,]
foxholes near my schoolyard, 
[tried an tough tested me at fighting back,]
[blood tested
[while words my father hated]
[toughened my hands]
[to the schoolyard,] to my inkwell, 
[sank] dragged me home
to [for] test[s at] my fighting back.

Retilo Remos taught me how to [swear curse
like Mexicans pushed [who had to live] in boxcars homes [across the] across [beyond] the railroad tracks,
while words my father always hated
[toughened my hands, like cracked marbles toughening gripped] toughened my hands
like the grip of cracked marbles.

Full description

Draft poem written by Emanuel in 1985, handwritten with annotations, embedded with notions of militarianism and survival.

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  • type
    Image
  • created on
  • file format
    jpg
  • file size
    683 kB
  • creator
    James A. Emanuel
  • rights
    James A. Emanuel Estate
  • rights holder
    James A. Emanuel Estate