The art of Kevin Blythe Sampson

THE ART OF
KEVIN BLYTHE SAMPSON

6/29/09

Lets talk about Micheal

Ok Lets talk about Michael

But first we have to talk about black people

I just posted an article titled

“In Jackson’s Death, Black Ambivalence Fades

Now what does this mean?

Firstly let talk about black folks

We talk about every one

And lord knows

When Michael started

Stripping his skin

He left us wondering

NO I don’t think

We wondered if he was still black

NO we are American

We know the one drop rule

We knew what this

Was all about

Michael

Was one of the first to pass into the world

Of white and more

He Stumbled

But, He took the collective Conscience

Of black America unto his self

He did this through his music

He did this through the physical vision

Of what he had become

Ok I am not speaking to all of us

I like my skin color

And thanks to

Stephen Sampson

My racial identity was more than just a bit fine

But Michael

He took straightening of the hair

To the extreme

He just did what Malcolm did

While in prison

When he put that lie in his hair

Then he did what many black were doing in the country

Anyway way

With natanolia, or nutanile

Bleaching their skin

My mother once told me that when

Black kids were born

That many of their mothers would

Take their babies

Young pliable noses

And squeeze them straight

Shape the nose with their fingers

Other mothers would take the babies urine

And spread it around on different

Body parts to lighten the skin

Urine has a bleaching element in it

And its sterile so don’t panic

Anyway

This is a true story for those of you too young

To remember

Yea Michael

Just became the public face

Of a systemically

Confused black America

He wasn’t listening too closely

To James Brown words

Another man who lived a troubled life

But whose blackness was never in dispute

Despite many of the things that he did

That seemed to be contrary to this

James also straightened his hair

But was black as tar baby

So he had no choice

So when Michael

Did all of this we were confused

But not really

We were shocked

But not really

And most of all

We knew he was ill

Knew that any one that hated their skin color

Enough to change it

Had some serious problems

Inside

And at a certain point

We thought that Michael

Was lost to us

But as a race

We know

Just like OJ

Just like Clarence Thomas

He and They will return to the fold before they die

And when they do

And I predict this for Clarence too

We will mourn them

Mourn what America did to them

Was Michael an Uncle Tom?

Not at all

Confused

Hurting inside

And fragile

Yes

Think about some of the crazy stuff Michael did

Look

I didn’t want to mention this

But I will

Michael loved them boys

Now he could have brought his own island

In some dark depressed country

And did what ever he wanted to

Like the Saudi sheiks and other rich crazy people

He could have done this

Out of the light of day

And the prying eyes of the press

But America left his mark

And nothing would do for Michael

But white boys

It was a tell tale sign

Of his perversion

But I think most of all

Of his need

His love of any thing American

How many black guys are dating white woman

Now not because they like them

Not because they found some one

Who they can care for

But because they are simply white

And that white skin renews them

Or feels better to them

So let’s not just talk about Michael

And it’s ok to date any one

Regardless of color

But when you choose a color

Over a sincere desire

You are a product of America

Anyway

I don’t know if this makes sense

But their were many times

That that Michael didn’t

But he was a genius

Stuff that legends are written about

And legends usually die badly

And alone

Like Captain Kirk said

He would did alone

And he did

Michael predicted much of the same thing

Michael was and is a black man

Who expressed more clearly than most

The hurtful reminders of slavery

And misdirection

And self hatred

If you couldn’t see the beauty of the violence in his dance

The transformation of Michael on stage

To the wimpy little creature

That spoke in public

You were missing it

Anyway

He was one of us

And although some may think that

This is not so

Michael never left the fold

He just took a short vacation

Black people talk about every one

Why would Michael be immune?

That’s what we do

We can say things that are really really racist

About ourselves and about others

But

Our intent is much different

It cultural I think

Sitting around with nothing to do

But play the dozens…………………

It’s what we do

Anyway

That black community has always

Welcomed

Any one who by default

Wanted to join it

So Michael

I can’t write a poem about you yet

I am still too stunned

Not by your death

But by what I want to say

Still to stunned by so many leaving at once

But ill get to it

Let me think on this for a minute

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