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[Rhymes/Poetry] [ULK Issue 69]
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Lock Up Your Mind

by a Florida prisoner August 2019

What makes a prison
Is it the walls and bars?
The guns and towers?

No prison is not that
Prison is for me
My mind lay to waste

When I was free
My mind was locked up
And took from me
By the world
That was before me

No you don’t
Have to do a crime
To be locked up

The bad part
Is locking you mind up
That is the real crime
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[Rhymes/Poetry]
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When the Panthers Died

by K.A.G.E. Universal April 2019

scene: (United K.A.G.E. Brothers approached the csp-lac visiting room in Revolutionary Formation to perform a staged performance for Lost and Found part 2 with No-Joke Theatre).

(ACTING AS CADRE LEADER J. SOUNDS OFF) WHAT DO WE WANT?

(UNITED K.A.G.E. BROTHERS respond while marching to podium) FREEDOM, JUSTICE, EQUALITY,…

J: WHAT DO WE NEED?

All: FREEDOM, JUSTICE, EQUALITY,…

(while in military formation in front of the podium, the brothers sound off row call in honor of the fallen comrades)F: W.L.NOLEN, OSCAR GRANT…

J: SANDRA BLAND, MIKE BROWN…

A: ANDY LOPEZ, CHRISTIAN GOMEZ…

T: I CAN’T BREATHE…

K: GEORGE JACKSON,

When the panthers died I cried,
I tried to hold Back my tears,
While in my mothers womb I was consumed with fear,
I seen my people being killed by the police,
Through the Eyes of my Mother and father trembling feet,
Running fast from A billy club ass Whuppin,
Mugshot faces lookin crooked,
“WHEN THE PANTHERS DIED”,
I knew it wouldn’t be the same,
When the panthers died Everything Changed,
Gangs And Automatic Rifles came aimed at
The destruction in our Folks,
NOT to mention crack cocaine smoke,
BLK PEOPLE, Always had hope until then,
BLK PEOPLE, STOOD ORGANIZED AT ONE TIME,
UNIFIED By military STRIDES Made in the community,
I never knew the ideology of BOBBY SEAL and Huey P would elude me,
“WHEN THE PANTHERS DIED”,
Remember Afro-natural picks and a BLK fist raised high,
POWER TO THE PEOPLE was the slogan spoken LOUD,
JAMES BROWN had large Crowds Singing I’m BLK and I’m Proud,
It was a beautiful sight to behold,
But the TOTALITARIAN PARTY COINTELPRO,
Executed a plan of attack for control,
Manipulating BLK souls to turn cold on their OWN shade
Traitors and infiltrators; what a shame,
Pathetic lame cowardice was engraved
In their hearts,
Shouldn’t be able to breathe in presence of KINGS THAT ARE DARK,
“WHEN THE PANTHERS DIED”,
When ASSATA SHAKUR fled to CUBA the “WHITE MAN CRIED”,
They tried to make her A political prisoner,
They Wanted her to FRY but she suffered NEITHER,
NOW THAT WAS A SPECIAL VICTORY,
VICTORY Is LOVE, JOY, and PAIN,
WHEN THE PANTHERS DIED EVERYTHING CHANGED,
Many BLK brains became maimed by,
BLAXPLOITATION Movies and Drive-Bye’s,
“WE” dropped the ball and created a LIE,
Our Own Power “WE” denied,
“WHEN THE PANTHERS DIED”,
K.A.G.E. BROTHERS and SISTERS Grew Wings,
Then came the NEW RISE, HUGO,
“WHEN THE PANTHERS DIED”,
(All performers End Scene with a Revolutionary Clenched Fist Salute. While Exiting the stage chanting)
J: WHAT DO “WE” WANT?
K.A.G.E. BROTHERS: FREEDOM, JUSTICE, EQUALITY,…
END OF SCENE.

IN HONOR OF “BIG MAN HOWARD” and ALL OTHER BROTHERS and SISTERS WHO Dedicated their LIVES to OUR STRUGGLE and Died In GOOD STANDINGS…

Watch performance on Youtube.com
This article referenced in:
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[Rhymes/Poetry] [ULK Issue 68]
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Beaten Down But Never Broken

by a New York prisoner March 2019

You can put me in the jailhouse
But I’ll look at it as a clubhouse
You can give me a violent shove
But in the end I’ll rise above

You can call me an inmate
But I still won’t show you hate
You can make me wear this ugly green
But when my bid is done and over I’ll burn it with kerosene

You can show me disrespect
But I’ll laugh and still show you respect
You can show me your rage
But I will not engage

You can violate my mail
But I’ll remember I’m in jail
You can restrain me with your chain
But I will stay sane

I may be beaten down
But I’ll never be broken

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[Rhymes/Poetry]
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The Goal

by a Florida prisoner February 2019
Democracy, Hypocrisy, the lies of the ruling class
Savery, bravery, attributes to the oppressed mass
We challenge what we’re told
Because going hungry is getting old
They label us terrorists, trying to hold us down
But we communists will continue to gain ground
Every day ’til the trumpets sound
Then the continuous revolution will abound!
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[Rhymes/Poetry] [Police Brutality] [ULK Issue 73]
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Drop Your Weapon

by an Indiana prisoner January 2019
I hear the sirens, see the lights; I still ain’t putting’ down this mic.
No matter what we do we’re fucked, they’re shootin’ while our hands are up.
Our government’s a web of lies that offers no protection;
From these pigs, that’s killin’ kids and claimin’ “Drop Your Weapon”.

Every day its on the news – marches, rallies, different views.
Everybody’s talkin’, but nobody wants to face the truth:
“Protect and Serve”’s become the words that let a man destroy our youth.
No justice from the jury booth, all they do’s just cut em loose.
But kill the pig that shot your kid, they ain’t gon’ do the same for you.
The field we playin’ on ain’t level – you get life, he’ll get a medal.
Your protests ain’t been changin’ nothin’ – time to make them bury somethin’

I hear the sirens, see the light; an unarmed man done died tonight.
No matter what we do we’re fucked, they’re shootin’ while our hands are up.
Our government, a web of lies that offers no protection;
From these cops that’s bustin’ shots and claimin’ “Drop Your Weapon.”

Recognize the lies they spit; now realize the realest shit –
The problem’s not in the city hall, it’s in the things we teach our kids
We kill over bandanas. We’ll die about our banners.
But when the cops come through our block, we disappear like phantoms
Kill brothers over lit, the color of their Fit.
We stand our ground til sirens sound, then we get shook and dip.

I hear the sirens, see the lights; it’s time this dawg got in the fight.
When we come together they’re fucked; soon they’re the ones whose hands is up.
I’ll unravel all these lies, I don’t need protection.
I got my mic aimed at the pigs, I ain’t gon’ “Drop My Weapon.”
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[Rhymes/Poetry]
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Use Your Observation

by a California prisoner August 2018

A revolution
Our only solution
Of freeing us of
Media’s pollution

From teachers
To preachers
To what’s taught
In classes
Are intended
To neutralize the masses

We must be open minded
And not be blinded
By believing
Everything we’re told

Evaluate the situation
Do not rely
On your education
Instead use your observation
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[Rhymes/Poetry] [ULK Issue 64]
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The Power of Sound

by a Florida prisoner August 2018

The days: they pass without a sound
The guards: they come to make their rounds
The food: it comes, but no one eats
The prisoners: they stay within their seats

The warden: he wonders what went wrong
Yet still he thinks “they won’t last long”
They guards still come to make their rounds
But still we wait without a sound

The halls are quiet, the cell doors closed
The corruption conspired is surely exposed
The enemy soon gone to be tried and convicted
The power of sound, with not one finger lifted
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[Rhymes/Poetry] [Michael Unit] [Texas]
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For That Matter

by a Texas prisoner February 2018

The free, I see, living and existing, without me
They lock man away in a cage, while the birds fly free & away
In this kennel for days, awaiting my day to escape the chains
a long time coming, awaiting for change
deserted in a dry desert, awaiting the rain
to wash me away, back on my way, where the road is paved
This system can’t feel my pain
This system can’t understand my brain
My soul, my heart, nor my spirit, or mind for that matter

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[Rhymes/Poetry] [Michael Unit] [Texas] [ULK Issue 62]
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Yesterday

by a Texas prisoner February 2018

Yesterday, I was a sleeping victim
victimized by class segregation
Yesterday, I was comatose, to
those who inflicted economic degradation
These Imperialist weapon of mass Destruction
is capitalism smoked screened by spiritual materialism
The irony is that of a materialist in prison
Yesterday, I was unconscious, to the drugs
and guns that they sponsored
Yesterday, I was out cold, to the bold
manipulation, out-of-control of my own
Yesterday, I dreamed the Amerikkkan dream
thinking living free, was greed
Today I have awoken, Eyes wide open
Betita, Corky, Che, Zapata, and Poncho have spoken
The spell is broken

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[Rhymes/Poetry] [ULK Issue 60]
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For Liberty and Equality

by a Texas prisoner February 2018
By Us


Men form groups for wealth and power
Waging wars to feed their greed
Countless masses they devour
Causing world-wide misery
Turning free men into slaves
Starving children meet their graves
Yet the world is not amazed
Not many seek to make a change
The ruling class enslaves the masses
Dark-complexion people suffer
Socio-economic madness
All the world chaotic, tragic

Worn the shackles much too long
Too much time locked in the cage
All has turned to hate and rage
No longer will I be a slave
Spent my hours lost in pages
Of the books that educate
Any mind that seeks the answers
And the mind to liberate
The people of the planet suffer
All is in the name of greed
But it’s time to make a difference
No more shall I be deceived

The ruling class are merely men
Like you and I they cry and bleed
They’re also prone to make mistakes
And they can fail like they succeed
The rulers are all small in number
We are their real source of power
Let us liberate ourselves
Unite so all alive are free
Snatch the kingdom from the kings
Throw the tyrants off their thrones
For liberty and equality
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