An African-American Air Soldier Story

[MENT]

I was not born to shoot
I was trained to shoot
Did not get no boots...
But all God's children need traveling shoes
I fought in every man's war
On every man's tour
On every man's shore
Til' I could fight no more
And when I died...
I died alone
In a foreign country
I died unknown
AND WHEN I DIED...
I died alone
In my own damxed country
I died two-toned
Proud but hurt Black and red
Uniform bloody, from where I bled
MY EYES BULGING UPWARD!!!
FROM BEING HUNG IN THE STREET!!!
Black skin raw, from being beat to the white meat
Or to the color purple
And still I rise
Proud to ascend
from a black woman's thighs (Lil' Teenie)
Proud Tuskegee Airman
Flying high into the sun
Proud Dr. Ronald McNair
Proud Dr. Mae Jamison
Proud buffalo soldier
Caught Billy the Kid in all of his splendor
Caught Geronimo too
Made his whole team surrender
Now you tell me...
Why in the helx does a caged bird sing?
Maybe he's preaching, "do the right thing"
Maybe he's pleading, " bring back Dr. King"
Maybe he's screaming, "give me back my wings"
Maybe he's screeching, "let freedom ring"
Maybe he's screeching, " Let Freedom Ring"
Maybe he's screeching, "LET FREEDOM RING"



MENT

[MENT]

k. Maybe it did. Operator error. (lol).

[MENT]

I left a reply to this earlier, however I guess it did not post. I was born in South Jamaica, Queens. I have lived in most corners of Queens though. I know Harlem, actually that is where my friend lives now. He is off of 110th on the west side. There are a couple of places we frequent on that side of town. Lenox Lounge is still there, but is not nearly as popular as it once was. A jazz pianist named Danny Mixon plays there every now and then, and he is excellent.

[White Lion]

"110th and something...I just know how to get there". Damn you sound like me, screw the exact details!!! LOL

[MENT]

I was born and raised in Queens. South Jamaica, and Corona mostly. I presently live in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn. I stomped around Harlem for a little while. Ironically, that is where my homie lives now, in Harlem around 110th and something... I just know how to get there... don't actually remember exact street. We both left Queens, and became Kings (lol).

I actually love Philly, it is such a cool city. I like the Jazz spots that you have there. I remember going to Warmdaddy's and Zansabar Blue (sp). If you guys like Jazz and are coming to NYC, I can definitely let you know where its at.

[Shaman]

Ah yes...the origins of friendship are a complicated thing. And it sounds like yours was an unlikely bond but now worth its weight in gold. And it may be that friendships born from hardships are built like ships.

What part of NYC are you from Ment? Although Philly is my birthplace, I spent about 3 years living in Harlem (126th & Lenox, near Sylvia's Soul Food) and Washington Heights (near 168th & Broadway).

[MENT]

You guys must have memories to share... or not to share (lol). I have one friend that I have stayed in touch with since the age of about eight. We HATED each other when we first met. He even sucker punched me when I had a fight with another nemesis after school (not that this person was his friend, but that I was an enemy). That was not enough for him, so he tried to get some of his gang members to kick my rubberbonkas! (friendly version) And those same dudes (which included his cousin-a big burly juggernaut) met up with me after school to convince me to find humility. When they got me outside, the influential one knew me from class, thought I was pretty funny and took a liking to me (why I have no idea). Most of his crew kind of jumped on the band wagon and said that they did not want to beat me up, but wanted me to be part of the crew. Now my friend is livid!!! Not only does he not get to beat me up (he was a warmonger) but now had to tolerate my existence in the crew. Today, he still has that spirit, although no longer directed at me... and I have come to understand, and forgive his aggression. We are the best of friends now.

PS- I know it sounds like I was the warmonger from the looks of the story, but this should clear things up. I grew up in the streets of NYC, and moved schools often. During this time I had just started going to a new school. In the streets, the new guy is the one that gets the wrath until he proves himself. It sucx, but that's just one of the laws of the streetz.

[White Lion]

Well stated my oldest and dearest crazy ass friend. Oh how I'd like to relive some of the 70's

Peace!

[Shaman]

Peace Brother Ment. Much gratitude for your comments. True to form as a Griot, you let me know that you ain't feelin' everything that I write LOL! Keep it real Griot.

As far as this White Lion fellow... Who is this guy? Is he like a deranged albino feline or something? LMAO! Okay fine, I'll admit it: we met at the age of 4 or 5 and we've endured the thick and thin of life. When my bumpy childhood was kicking my butt, I virtually lived at his house where he and his gracious family embraced me like a kid brother (even though I was probably a lot more obnoxious back then LOL). But I ate there, laughed there, cried there, learned big lessons on life there.

You'd best believe unbreakable friendships like this are the rarest of wines! Sure, politically we kick each others ass. But whenever I think about the contrast between our politics and our friendship, I recall the poem:

"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow.
Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.
Walk beside me and be my friend."

White Lion and I have lived this sacred creed for nearly a half-century of our earthly sojourn. We've got another half-century to go and then we'll rendezvous on the other side...

[White Lion]

Thanks Bruh, and oh yeah, i can be somewhat of a nut case also. It's all good.

I'm sure he'll chime in once his ears start to burn, but I believe it was 1st grade, can't be sure.

[MENT]

(LOL) That's cool and it is such a blessing to have a friend that you go so far back that you forget the years... the best friends are those where you ascend together, mature together, and can have differences and still be brothers. That is rare to come across, but when attained worth more than its weight in gold. May The Great Architect always Illuminate your pathway.