Poetry - BLACK AESTHETIC by Jake Webster (Sculpture Mother Feeding Her Baby at Bed Time )
Black painters and sculptors are devoid of existence
academics say our ancestral heritage doesn't matter
when you paint, or sculpt
where you come from doesn’t matter
where you live doesn’t matter
where you come from doesn’t influence
where you live doesn’t influence
when you paint, or sculpt
Black aesthetic
We do give credit about this influence in black culture
when we talk music
when we talk literature
when we talk intellectually
when we talk about sports
Black aesthetic
Black painters and sculptors - none or so little recognition
the questions that are often asked
what color – is this black aesthetic
what sounds does – this black aesthetic make
how do you measure - this black aesthetic?
How does the rhythm move - in this black aesthetic?
sometimes we seem to forget
the glorious past from whence we come
sometimes we seem to forget this wonderful dialect
sometimes we are too embarrassed about who we are
I am saying there is a black aesthetic and it is American just as much as
sweet potato pie (apple pie) and basketball (baseball)
Black aesthetic
is artistic growth
Black aesthetic
is artistic freedom
Black aesthetic
is finding your own voice
Black aesthetic
and that’s good
ask me when you want to know
the color of a black aesthetic
and I will tell you the color is
turnip green – mustard green – GREEN
and I will tell you
macaroni and cheese and lemon cake – YELLOW
and I will tell you
a three-layer Rex Jelly cake – RED
and I will tell you
pinto beans and ham hocks cooked really slowly
in a thick juicy pot of liquor – BROWN
and I will tell you
its chitterling bathed in hot sauce and catsup – WARM GRAY
And I will tell you
There are questions about the sound
about the sound of a black aesthetic
It’s the field holler of slavery
the sound of a black aesthetic
It’s the sound of the blues
the sound of a black aesthetic
It’s the sound of gospel
the sound of a black aesthetic
It’s the sound of jazz
the sound of a black aesthetic
the sound of do-wop and rhythms and blues
It’s the sound of a black aesthetic
the sound of rap
It’s the sound of a black aesthetic
I hear all of the spoken word performers screaming
because they too have been smothered in this love
we call black aesthetic
and all the other sounds that come from a people
that says too, I am America
and when you wade out into this shit called life
knee deep or chest high without hip boots
what other measuring stick do you need?
I will pay a premium right now
for a roll of toilet paper
Black aesthetic
only in America
does this question exist?
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
