TREK ON THE JASPER TRAIL
On June 7, 1998 in Jasper, Texas a Black man, James Byrd Jr. was severely beaten, chained to a pick-up truck and dragged to his dismemberment and death. His head was severed after one mile while his torso was dragged for an additional two miles. Three crackers with links to the KKK and Aryan nation were held responsible. Dr. Daniel Kunene (Emeritus Prof. U.W. Madison) author of Heroic Poetry of the Basotho, Chaka (translation of the famous novel by Thomas Mofolo). Pirates Have Become Our Kings, From the Pit of Hell to the Spring of Life, The Zulu Novels of C.L.S. Nyembezi and The Rock at the Corner of My Heart wrote the following poem in memory of this horrific event.
On June 7, 1998 in Jasper, Texas a Black man, James Byrd Jr. was severely beaten, chained to a pick-up truck and dragged to his dismemberment and death. His head was severed after one mile while his torso was dragged for an additional two miles. Three crackers with links to the KKK and Aryan nation were held responsible. Dr. Daniel Kunene (Emeritus Prof. U.W. Madison) author of Heroic Poetry of the Basotho, Chaka (translation of the famous novel by Thomas Mofolo). Pirates Have Become Our Kings, From the Pit of Hell to the Spring of Life, The Zulu Novels of C.L.S. Nyembezi and The Rock at the Corner of My Heart wrote the following poem in memory of this horrific event.
Dr. Daniel Kunene, poet
In the first mile of the Jasper trail
the texas sun shines uncommonly bright
does not once blink
while the truck rattles on
in the cabin:
“do you still
go out with annie mcguire?”
“O ya! nice lass
nice ass”
In the second mile of the Jasper trail
the sun listens
a cow bellows
a rancher cracks his whip
behind the truck
HE sees sparks and a million stars
lighting up the endless firmament
MY GOD! MY GOD! WHY DO YOU FORSAKE ME?
then
darkness
inside the cabin
annie mcguire has come alive
and a young man besmears his pants
at the mere thought of annie mcguire
In the third mile of the Jasper trail
the shooting stars have died into their ashes
and the shadows around the sun
have crowded together to cover its face
from the shame
inside the cabin:
“I wonder how the nigger is doing back there”
A crow caws
and instantly the air is choked with cawing crows
that have suddenly filled the sky
for midnight has descended on the Jasper trail
yet the young men in the truck fail to see
the eclipse
the chaos
they stop
they come out
“I feel sick Bob!”
“don’t be a squeam Ricky
aren’t you a Texan?”
“what’s a squeam Bob?
I’m going to throw up Bob!”
“ah, go puke you jellybelly
I’ll go empty my bladder over him”
Somewhere
a Spirit that escaped
in the moment of decapitation
at the last crossroad
cries
“Forgive them
for they know not what they do”
(c) 1999 by Daniel P. Kunene
Berkeley Juneteenth Slave Apology Proclamation
Supervisor Keith Carson and President Nate Miley are authors of a Slave Apology Proclamation,scheduled to be adopted on Tuesday, June 7, 2011, at approximately 10:45am at the regularlyscheduled Board of Supervisors meeting, at 1221 Oak Street, 5th floor, Oakland, CA.
The resolution recommends that the Board adopt a resolution apologizing for the enslavement andracial segregation of African Americans, and calls for economic reparations benefiting African Americans, in health, education and housing programs.
The proclamation acknowledges the brutality of slavery, described as “involuntary servitude,” and the resulting disparities it created. The “separate but equal” Jim Crow era was described as “the lingering after effect of slavery” which created enormous tangible and intangible damage and loss of dignity and liberty. The resolution also recommends that state and federal governments issue a similar formal policy and recommit to bringing an end to racial prejudices, disparities and injustices in our society, and says that in order to promote healing and reconciliation, the injustices need to be identified.
The resolution will be accepted by Delores Cooper Edwards, representing Berkeley Juneteenth Association, Inc. (BJAI), an organization who for the past 24 years has held Freedom Day celebrations which honor African American heritage and commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery.
Edwards says she initially had reservations about the resolution, saying: “How can this apology undo the impact slavery had on the entire fabric of America?” But says the apology should serve as “a reminder that the fight for freedom and equality is continuous.” Edwards say she will accept the apology not only for African American citizens, “but for all citizens of Alameda County, regardless of complexion, group, or language,” quoting President John Kennedy: “Freedom is indivisible, and when one man is enslaved, all are not free.”
BJAI will read the resolution in its entirety at its annual Juneteenth celebration scheduled for Sunday, June 26, 2011, 10am-6pm on Alcatraz @ Adeline, in the city of Berkeley. After the Festival, the resolution will be placed in the organization’s historical archives.
the texas sun shines uncommonly bright
does not once blink
while the truck rattles on
in the cabin:
“do you still
go out with annie mcguire?”
“O ya! nice lass
nice ass”
In the second mile of the Jasper trail
the sun listens
a cow bellows
a rancher cracks his whip
behind the truck
HE sees sparks and a million stars
lighting up the endless firmament
MY GOD! MY GOD! WHY DO YOU FORSAKE ME?
then
darkness
inside the cabin
annie mcguire has come alive
and a young man besmears his pants
at the mere thought of annie mcguire
In the third mile of the Jasper trail
the shooting stars have died into their ashes
and the shadows around the sun
have crowded together to cover its face
from the shame
inside the cabin:
“I wonder how the nigger is doing back there”
A crow caws
and instantly the air is choked with cawing crows
that have suddenly filled the sky
for midnight has descended on the Jasper trail
yet the young men in the truck fail to see
the eclipse
the chaos
they stop
they come out
“I feel sick Bob!”
“don’t be a squeam Ricky
aren’t you a Texan?”
“what’s a squeam Bob?
I’m going to throw up Bob!”
“ah, go puke you jellybelly
I’ll go empty my bladder over him”
Somewhere
a Spirit that escaped
in the moment of decapitation
at the last crossroad
cries
“Forgive them
for they know not what they do”
(c) 1999 by Daniel P. Kunene
Berkeley Juneteenth Slave Apology Proclamation
Supervisor Keith Carson and President Nate Miley are authors of a Slave Apology Proclamation,scheduled to be adopted on Tuesday, June 7, 2011, at approximately 10:45am at the regularlyscheduled Board of Supervisors meeting, at 1221 Oak Street, 5th floor, Oakland, CA.
The resolution recommends that the Board adopt a resolution apologizing for the enslavement andracial segregation of African Americans, and calls for economic reparations benefiting African Americans, in health, education and housing programs.
The proclamation acknowledges the brutality of slavery, described as “involuntary servitude,” and the resulting disparities it created. The “separate but equal” Jim Crow era was described as “the lingering after effect of slavery” which created enormous tangible and intangible damage and loss of dignity and liberty. The resolution also recommends that state and federal governments issue a similar formal policy and recommit to bringing an end to racial prejudices, disparities and injustices in our society, and says that in order to promote healing and reconciliation, the injustices need to be identified.
The resolution will be accepted by Delores Cooper Edwards, representing Berkeley Juneteenth Association, Inc. (BJAI), an organization who for the past 24 years has held Freedom Day celebrations which honor African American heritage and commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery.
Edwards says she initially had reservations about the resolution, saying: “How can this apology undo the impact slavery had on the entire fabric of America?” But says the apology should serve as “a reminder that the fight for freedom and equality is continuous.” Edwards say she will accept the apology not only for African American citizens, “but for all citizens of Alameda County, regardless of complexion, group, or language,” quoting President John Kennedy: “Freedom is indivisible, and when one man is enslaved, all are not free.”
BJAI will read the resolution in its entirety at its annual Juneteenth celebration scheduled for Sunday, June 26, 2011, 10am-6pm on Alcatraz @ Adeline, in the city of Berkeley. After the Festival, the resolution will be placed in the organization’s historical archives.
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