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once again,
in the tradition 
in the african american
tradition
open us
yet bind us
let all that is positive
find
us
we go into the future
carrying a world
of blackness
yet we have been in the world
and we have gained all of what there
is and was, since the highest expression
of the world, is its total

& the universal
is the entire collection
of particulars

ours is one particular
one tradition
of love and suffering truth over lies
and now we find ourselves in chains
the tradition says plainly to us fight plainly to us
fight, that's in it, clearly, we are not meant to be slaves
it is a detour we have gone through and about to come out
in the tradition of gorgeous africa blackness
says to us fight, its all right, you beautiful
as night, the tradition
thank you langston/arthur
says sing
says fight
in the tradition, always clarifying, always new and centuries old
says
Sing!
Fight!
Sing!
Fight!&c.&c.
Boosheee dooooo doo dooo dee dooo
doooooooooo!
DEATH TO THE KLAN!!

Amiri B
Mar 1980

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The cover is a painting by noted artist Vincent D. Smith.  It is part of the Crotona Social Service Center collection, Bronx, New York.