forget us little people. Seriously though, the brother is an experience. I bring to the stage Monte Smith. Show some love, people, show some love,” chimed the emcee to the small cheering crowd.
Everyone except Tamika applauded. Nina nudged her with her elbow.
“Stop wit’ your bony elbow,” Tamika said, sipping her drink. Nina loved the atmosphere of Club Paradise. The mellow lighting matched the mellow mood. For her, poetry seemed to have a euphoric effect. There was nothing more relaxing for her than to kick off her shoes, sip an apple martini, and feel the deep thrust of powerful words massage her mind.
Monte Smith, a slim, light-skinned brother, stepped to the mic. The applause died away, then he began:
I don’t know about you, but it’s funny to hear
Bush and Ridge on TV
Telling me to keep my eyes open
For the enemy at home.
If that’s the case, I’ll be watching the police.
They’re the only enemy I got.
The crowd laughed softly.
It’s been time to show
The propaganda machine. It’ll
Remain impossible to reach us
As long as his story’s in pieces
It doesn’t make sense like Mary and Jesus.
How many victims of police brutality
Do we have in the place to be?
Individuals silently acknowledged there were some in attendance.
Who remembers
Tompkins Square Park
Kent State
Or Howard Beach?
I debate.
We can’t wait on man’s laws to
Manifest justice for humanity’s sake.
These past acts
Of protectin’ and servin’
Prove the scales will remain unbalanced
Until the pigs find their rights
Burnin’ in the same fire
That’s cookin’ ours in broad daylight.
I’m tellin’ ya,
They’ll bomb ya like MOVE in Philadelphia.
Monte stepped down from the slightly raised stage, mic in hand.
Who remembers
Shaka Sankofa
The massacre at Waco
Talkin’ blues?
Sorry Bob.
Slave driver caught in the fire and threw it back
With plenty of matches, pipes, and crack
All wrapped up in a CIA party pack
With a little tag attached
Reading die blacks.
Nina’s mind pictured her brother, Trick, and then Dutch. Caught up in a game designed for their failure.
So to all the rich fraternities and sororities
Soon to be judges and DAs
Stop booking reggae bands at your keg parties.
It’s a slap in the face of the starving.
For real
Think about that the next time you’re
“jamming” till the game is through.
Off the record smoking herb with the band
But in five years you’ll be responsible
For building more death camps
To imprison the youth.
Thank you.
The crowd erupted with applause, except for Tamika, again.
“Whack! The shit ain’t even rhyme,” she criticized.
Monte caught her disapproving body language. Her style of dress expressed her state of mind, so Monte crossed the room to address it.
“I see we have some very beautiful sisters in attendance. Give yourself a hand.”
It was the first time Tamika clapped all night.
“And you, you are definitely beautiful.”
Tamika blushed.
Then Monte recited:
Hey beautiful.
I was just looking for someone to screw
When I first met you
And your preabused blues.
And I mean…
Blue like the bruise underneath the black tattoo
Of a past lover’s name
Who came to show you shame and solitude
Rhymes with pain and attitude
And believe me I do strain to understand you
When you scream
LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!
The crowd laughed hard, but Tamika subtly shifted in her chair because his words had killed her softly, singing her life with his words.
Monte winked, then walked away.
“Don’t lie, you were feelin’ that one,” Nina said, nudging her friend once again with her elbow.
“At least it rhymed,” Tamika replied, trying to brush it off.
Next, it was time for Nina to fulfill her end of the deal.
Brick City was the club, formerly known as Zanzibar, the infamous Newark nightclub that made Tony Humphrey and Chef Pettibone famous.
Nina hated clubs, but Tamika wouldn’t let her back out.
The spot was unusually packed for a Thursday, which only made it worse for Nina. She hated the loud, blaring music, the bumping and touching people did to make their way through the crowd, and the way men thought every woman was an easy fuck for the night.
Now it was Nina with an attitude while Tamika was amped.
“Hell, yeah! Now this is what I’m talkin’ about. Look at these niggas going up in there. Girrrrrrl, hurry up and
