Haiku 4 Justice: a 365+ Day Commentary of (In)Justice In America and Abroad

By Khari B

“Haiku 4 Justice” is a collection of over 400 haiku written over in as many days around issues of social justice and influenced by the hashtag culture of social media news. The 17-syllable works range from the incendiary to the celebratory. The very format of haiku forces a frankness in Khari’s approach, known to those who have seen his live performances. The book is touched and co-signed by literary giant Sonia Sanchez and Haiku Fest founder, Regina Baiocchi with a foreword by poetic powerhouse and executive producer of Black WOMEN Rock!, jessica Care moore.

Author, Khari B. is an internationally received poet of three spoken word music albums and has taught the art at Purdue University since 2006. He’s known for explosively energetic live performances accompanied by renown musicians across genres. Khari B. is a steward of House music culture, climber of trees, an undercover vegan chef and health enthusiast/amateur shaman. He loves his people, travel and apples with peanut butter.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Discopoetry Publishing
• Release date: Jul 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781733554817

Book preview

Haiku 4 Justice: a 365+ Day Commentary of (In)Justice In America and Abroad

Haiku 4 Justice

A 365+ Day Commentary of (In)Justice

In America & Abroad

Poetry In the Age of Social Media

By

Discopoet

Khari B.

Discopoetry Publishing

Haiku 4 Justice

A 365+ Day Commentary on Social (In)Justice in America and Abroad

Poetry In the Age of Social Media

Copyright © 2019 by Khari B.

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be repro-duced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in book reviews or scholarly journals.

First printing: 2019

ISBN: 978-1-7335548-1-7

Discopoetry Publishing

Chicago, Illinois 60610

Edited by Dr. Tara Betts

Cover design by Khari B.

Direct ordering inquiries to [e-mail] Appearance/performance requests to [e-mail] Subject: Haiku 4 Justice

DEDICATION

2 the All.

2 the People.

2 my ancestors & spirits that watch over me: Thank U 4 leading me here.

2 my parents, Mwata and Judi Bowden who have been an unending source of support, love and education: Thank U.

2 my son: May U never B 2 comfortable 2 not work 4 your own betterment and that of the world around U. May U always B courageous enough 2 do that work.

2 my family: Your support and encouragement were necessary. Thank U 4 every bit of it.

2 my people, my elders, students, community, lovers & loved 1s: I hope I am doing U proud & using what U have given me. U have given me so much.

2 Philippe Gills, Cheryl Parks, Jasmine Blondie Morris, JLE & my Mama

4 being the largest contributors 2 making this book tangible: THANK U!

2 the fallen that inspired this book: I hope U hear us speak your name.

Thank U 4 the work U R doing on the other side.

2 Uncle Bill, Big Rob, Baba Sam, Mama Ann, Linda, Linda, Tony, Juanita, Baba Kwesi, Renada, Tiffany, Shelton, Brenda & Mike: I miss U.

2 the beasts that inspired this book: U will pay.

Contents

Forward/Foreword

Introduction

Timeline

April 2015

May 2015

June 2015

July 2015

Black August 2015

September 2015

October 2015

November 2015

December 2015

January 2016

February 2016

March 2016

April 2016

May 2016

June 2016

Afterworks

Haiku 4 Justice

A 365+ Day Commentary of (In)Justice In America & Abroad

Poetry In the Age of Social Media

Forward/Foreword

By jessica Care moore

One year of a black life is difficult to explain in 3 lines, 17 syllables. Somehow, Khari B has eloquently achieved this task. Haiku 4 Jus-tice Poems are a tremendously poignant, and absolutely necessary col-lection of Haiku from one of Chicago’s longtime voices of poetry.

In 4 Eric 2 the poet explains how black lives matter less than loose squares and speeches. The read is a consistent punch of jabs at the white supremacist construct of institutionalized racism. It also is a call to action to our own com-munity to self reflect on issues of self-love, self- preservation and economic empowerment. Getting free is the only ideology of these small, weighted poems. These 3 lines poems are bombs, unapologetically lighting up the page. Khari insists we must use what our ancestors left us, beneath our skin.

Like Haki Madhubuti’s Don’t Cry, Scream, published in 1969 Khari’s poems are screaming for justice, for the right to breathe in 2017 and beyond. The work resonates with the sound of resistance, a truth necessary for self worth and black empowerment. He challenges the power of simply praying without doing the on-the-ground work to make change in one’s city or global commu-nity. His poems are always strapped, and he suggests the reader stays ready too.

In G’Morning Brother and Sister Khari asks black people to stop being afraid of their own people. He insists that this is not the year, the time or place for devaluing our worth. My personal favorite is #72. Only Revolution Can Stop This Pain is the collective heartbreak of so many women, and the life and death of Sandra Bland in a Texas jail.

I’ve Avoided U

Sandra. My heart can only

Break so many times.

These poems are painful, and they also celebrate. They honor the victory, dominance and beauty of Serena and Venus Williams and the heart of Muhammed Ali.

Khari B. is