Often when I perform people ask if my text is published -- a book of my writing is in the works.  The following is the words to one of my favorite poems... 

By Daniel Beaty from his play Emergence-See!

Currently playing at The Public Theater www.publictheater.org

Connect Reconnect

I was born in the ghetto

In a cold violent town

And just like the ghetto

My soul is feeling worn down,

It's been a long, a long time comin'

But I know a change is gonna come--

When we connect disconnect connect reconnect connect connect connect.

As I teach my students in class, we hear a loud Bang!

They immediately duck and I stand in shock as a man lies slain

On the block in front of our school.

And I think to myself...

As our superstars bling bling our children dodge bullets

Inside of schools too old and worn down for their brilliance

So they embrace a life that's all their own

Full of the beat that's beating them down

Unconscious of the truth that it's an ancient beat that's been passed down

Full of the pain and promise of their progenitors

Pulsating through their blood and feet as they walk.

Connect disconnect connect reconnect

As I stare into my student's faces and I see the past,

A past too brilliant for them to even comprehend but true nonetheless. 

As thirteen year-old LaDre tell LaQuisha to move bitch get out the way

I tell them of the architectural genius of those definitively dark-skinned Egyptians who gave astronomy, mathematics, literature long before classical Greece started training for the Olympics.

But can they hear me? 

'Cause Disney, he's been lying to our children,

Prince of Egypt got it wrong.

Put some chocolate in those crayons, Walt, and we can all get along.

But this poem is not about blaming the man

Black Superstar, tell me, where do you stand?

Are you standing at all as our children fall

Into the depths of despair?  Are you there?

Bling bling?  Oh, now I've got your attention.

I hold you in poetic detention until you learn this lesson:

Our children will watch BET and buy your CD

Before they will ever think of reading a book

So as you sip Alize think of the knowledge you took

Out of a brilliant young mind, you know it's a crime

And you ought to be fined on every dollar you make

Make no mistake as you sit and chew steak--a starving black child paid for it

You are profiting off our children's neglect

Put some thought in your lyrics and show some respect

Words are powerful, you have endless effect

So get over yourself and choose to connect

To something greater than your own ego

And let our children know you care, I swear

I wish I could sell all your gold chains, diamond rings, and big cars

And build better schools in the ghetto and make our children our stars

You are a suspect disconnect and you need reconnect reconnect

It's your job; it's your sacred duty

To do more than bling bling and shake your booty.

'Cause we are more than Hot in Here, this is hell we are livin'

And it's little black boys and girls you are killin'--Villain--

Watch what your killin' fillin' killin' with

'Cause they're all full of holes

And their skin is wearing thin

And their souls need some repairin'

'Cause their core's been devastated

By the lies that they've been told, by the lies we all inherit.

Artist? you are blessed with an ancient gift

You have hearts to inspire and souls to lift

Heal the psychic scars festering on the minds of our people.

Say it from the mic, from the court, from the highest church steeple:

We are more than some think we are!

We are more than we think we are!

Besides the b-ball and the football,

Now the tennis and the golf balls,

In education and finances they done cut off our--

And in case you want to file my words under bitter pessimist

Let me take a moment to suggest

None of us is free when our babies be oppressed.

And though some of us might make it,

Can we collectively succeed

When our future's being devastated,

When our children can hardly read? 

When most of them have no idea

Or worse the wrong idea

Of who we were

And therefore are

And might be.

Give MacDaddy some trigonometry,

Teach Hoochie some French,

Make Bebe and Shenene attorneys for the Defense,

For the defense of our dignity,

For the defense our pride,

Get crunk with the truth

'cause His-Story is a lie!

It's been a long time comin'

But a change is gonna come

But a change is gonna come

But a change is gonna come

When we connect disconnect

Connect reconnect reconnect

Reconnect

Reconnect

For our children!