Sunday, February 21, 2021
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Monday, February 1, 2021
(02/01/2021) The Place of History
Historians and poets are called to serve no less than griots, prophets, those who can reveal, the unseen levels of truth surrounding events and lives. Because the accountability, process and substance they bring to market are priceless, seeking their wares requires deep humility, respect, and wisdom provided by the universe. The following original poem is offered in exchange during Black History Month 2021 and is titled, The Place of History. It is written: Ecclesiastes 7: 9-12, King James Version (KJV): 9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. 11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Acts 17: 23-31, King James Version (KJV): 23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: So Help Me GOD! (01/22/2021); The “History” Of Christ (10/08/2019); Black History Month, 2019 (02/24/2019); Arrayed In Sacred Favor (02/25/2018); Bloody Sunday -- Black History (02/14/2018); Black History -- Johannesburg Gold (02/05/2018); Secular History, Sacred Revelation? (01/11/2018); The American Covenant? (03/03/2015)
THE PLACE OF HISTORY
A Poem for Black History Month, February 2021
Talking History can not be cheap-talk and talking smack.
There are some who say the place of History
must be the mind, and not the heart. For the
heart is turned too easily by keys of feeling,
passion, archtypal hopes, and fantasies, the wisps
of legend and dream, all ancient power
magic, death, and lies. The mind engages knowing
as a firmament and platform to continue sacred order
and imparted consciousness. What is uttered
breathed as spirit, poured forth as word
the sound of many waters finds focus firm
direction, through desire, strength by action
with presence and fulfilment, and must explain itself
when historians and poets are no longer there to defend.
America cannot be the primary place for our History
for our trek has been like that of the Hottentots
who rose from the South of Continent exploring north to
east, east to south, and sowing Amazulu seed
and returned the way they came till times of Diaspora.
Ours has been a truth declared by drum,
right-knowing, and shared by foot, by tongue
by brighter minds, by stars that lead to freedom
by sorrow songs and chants of victory.
This place where Senates dripping shame
bitch-slap the Nation day-by-day
announce the verdict of impeachment trials
two months before any evidence is heard or the
Judge has banged the gavel to begin
can be no home of righteousness, where sin
called by its proper name is “sin”.
Should Black Americans endorse as truth
I’m right when I’m wrong, because...?
I’m Republican, I’m elected, I am wealthy, I am white.
The claim we’ve made is not to be dismissed,
ignored or perverted because some clearly have lost
their way, and more than ever stand in need of what
we have to say.
History does not dictate our purpose; we often err and may become misguided. Without our contribution there is no USA.
Our History is written into the life of every nation on the earth
speaking, yes, about our ancestors as well of
future daughters and our sons. Those claiming part
in this universe must acknowledge inseparable facts of
life. A single Creator, with no Big Bang or
expanding time and space void of genuine purpose.
We have pitied those in confusion whose maturity is not yet
come, yet we will not let their chaos reign. Black History continues
and the Chronicles of heaven must contain us until
all eternal purpose has been done.
There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, Ecclesiastes 3: 14-17. King James Version (KJV): 14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. 16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.). Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
Image downloaded 5:32 PM, January 31, 2021 @ https://talkingdrumsblog.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/african-diaspora_slave-trade.gif
©Michael Andrew Williams, 2021. All rights reserved.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC