if you are a dreamer come in if you are a dreamer a wisher a liar a hope or a
a dreamer a wisher a liar a hope or a
a dreamer a wisher a liar a hope or a prayer of magic being buyer if you are a
prayer of magic being buyer if you are a
prayer of magic being buyer if you are a pretender come sit by my fire but we
pretender come sit by my fire but we
pretender come sit by my fire but we have some flax golden tails to spin come
have some flax golden tails to spin come
have some flax golden tails to spin come in come in imagine if you will a world
in come in imagine if you will a world
in come in imagine if you will a world where shel Silverstein’s open invitation
where shel Silverstein’s open invitation
where shel Silverstein’s open invitation has been lost or stolen silenced or
has been lost or stolen silenced or
has been lost or stolen silenced or simply only extends to the affluent
simply only extends to the affluent
simply only extends to the affluent wander further into this world without
wander further into this world without
wander further into this world without the Arts this Neverland of lost hopes
the Arts this Neverland of lost hopes
the Arts this Neverland of lost hopes and gray dreams peer around the corner
and gray dreams peer around the corner
and gray dreams peer around the corner of that clean brick wall free of
of that clean brick wall free of
of that clean brick wall free of graffiti or messy murals impressionist
graffiti or messy murals impressionist
graffiti or messy murals impressionist store even impression for everyone walks
store even impression for everyone walks
store even impression for everyone walks the street and lives the narrow here in
the street and lives the narrow here in
the street and lives the narrow here in this color starved existence this world
this color starved existence this world
this color starved existence this world without access to the Arts oh look at
without access to the Arts oh look at
without access to the Arts oh look at your faces you don’t like it here do you
your faces you don’t like it here do you
your faces you don’t like it here do you you don’t like this world without arts
you don’t like this world without arts
you don’t like this world without arts no then let’s go home a mass exodus for
no then let’s go home a mass exodus for
no then let’s go home a mass exodus for the door I accept and here is the
the door I accept and here is the
the door I accept and here is the spoiler alert here is the devilish
spoiler alert here is the devilish
spoiler alert here is the devilish detail here is home for 16 million poor
detail here is home for 16 million poor
detail here is home for 16 million poor and impoverished kids in the United
and impoverished kids in the United
and impoverished kids in the United States without access to the Arts here
States without access to the Arts here
States without access to the Arts here is home for 25% of all children in North
is home for 25% of all children in North
is home for 25% of all children in North Carolina here is home it’s as home to
Carolina here is home it’s as home to
Carolina here is home it’s as home to them as zora neale hurston or Frank
them as zora neale hurston or Frank
them as zora neale hurston or Frank Lloyd Wright is to you but I’m here to
Lloyd Wright is to you but I’m here to
Lloyd Wright is to you but I’m here to assure you to bear witness as I was once
assure you to bear witness as I was once
assure you to bear witness as I was once one of the 25%
one of the 25%
one of the 25% I was once one of that 16 million that
I was once one of that 16 million that
I was once one of that 16 million that as Stephen Sondheim so aptly slipped
as Stephen Sondheim so aptly slipped
as Stephen Sondheim so aptly slipped into the score of West Side Story there
into the score of West Side Story there
into the score of West Side Story there was a place for us somewhere a place for
was a place for us somewhere a place for
was a place for us somewhere a place for us now ironically adults with our short
us now ironically adults with our short
us now ironically adults with our short term memories had to be reminded hmm had
term memories had to be reminded hmm had
term memories had to be reminded hmm had a reminder of that truth children on the
a reminder of that truth children on the
a reminder of that truth children on the other hand are born knowing it yearning
other hand are born knowing it yearning
other hand are born knowing it yearning for it and the only be guided to it
for it and the only be guided to it
for it and the only be guided to it sadly there were very few people willing
sadly there were very few people willing
sadly there were very few people willing to guide willing to shape willing to
to guide willing to shape willing to
to guide willing to shape willing to mold willing to point our children with
mold willing to point our children with
mold willing to point our children with smoldering artistic aspirations to that
smoldering artistic aspirations to that
smoldering artistic aspirations to that place my third-grade teacher was mrs.
place my third-grade teacher was mrs.
place my third-grade teacher was mrs. Dorothy darling of the Southwest
Dorothy darling of the Southwest
Dorothy darling of the Southwest Virginia diaries great-granddaughter of
Virginia diaries great-granddaughter of
Virginia diaries great-granddaughter of Colonel Andrew Jackson died early a girl
Colonel Andrew Jackson died early a girl
Colonel Andrew Jackson died early a girl raised in the south a grit a daughter of
raised in the south a grit a daughter of
raised in the south a grit a daughter of the Confederacy I was the lone black
the Confederacy I was the lone black
the Confederacy I was the lone black child in her class mmm shortly after
child in her class mmm shortly after
child in her class mmm shortly after integration have finally made its way
integration have finally made its way
integration have finally made its way into the southernmost regions of South
into the southernmost regions of South
into the southernmost regions of South West Virginia Virginia was a stronghold
West Virginia Virginia was a stronghold
West Virginia Virginia was a stronghold out in the fight for school integration
out in the fight for school integration
out in the fight for school integration mmm as a matter of fact Prince Edward
mmm as a matter of fact Prince Edward
mmm as a matter of fact Prince Edward County Virginia in 1959 voted to close
County Virginia in 1959 voted to close
County Virginia in 1959 voted to close all of its schools rather than to allow
all of its schools rather than to allow
all of its schools rather than to allow a single black child to darken school
a single black child to darken school
a single black child to darken school doorsteps every single public school
doorsteps every single public school
doorsteps every single public school closed for four years so there I was a
closed for four years so there I was a
closed for four years so there I was a product of Brown being bused some 30 45
product of Brown being bused some 30 45
product of Brown being bused some 30 45 minutes across town to the mostly if not
minutes across town to the mostly if not
minutes across town to the mostly if not all white neighborhoods of the city by
all white neighborhoods of the city by
all white neighborhoods of the city by the late 1970s 45% of all
the late 1970s 45% of all
the late 1970s 45% of all african-american children in the south
african-american children in the south
african-american children in the south were bused to predominantly white
were bused to predominantly white
were bused to predominantly white schools an early assignment I recall
schools an early assignment I recall
schools an early assignment I recall asked that we students pick out the
asked that we students pick out the
asked that we students pick out the Sunday comic strip we read and liked the
Sunday comic strip we read and liked the
Sunday comic strip we read and liked the most
most
most now I love cartoons what child doesn’t
now I love cartoons what child doesn’t
now I love cartoons what child doesn’t love art what child doesn’t look drawing
love art what child doesn’t look drawing
love art what child doesn’t look drawing what child doesn’t so while the other
what child doesn’t so while the other
what child doesn’t so while the other kids went with the peanuts or Beetle
kids went with the peanuts or Beetle
kids went with the peanuts or Beetle Bailey I went in a completely different
Bailey I went in a completely different
Bailey I went in a completely different direction
direction
direction we didn’t get the daily paper at our
we didn’t get the daily paper at our
we didn’t get the daily paper at our house let alone the Sunday edition that
house let alone the Sunday edition that
house let alone the Sunday edition that was 75 cents that could have gone
was 75 cents that could have gone
was 75 cents that could have gone towards milk or bread bus fare keeping
towards milk or bread bus fare keeping
towards milk or bread bus fare keeping the lights on or the bill collector at
the lights on or the bill collector at
the lights on or the bill collector at bay not the newspaper so outside of
bay not the newspaper so outside of
bay not the newspaper so outside of peering over the shoulder of someone who
peering over the shoulder of someone who
peering over the shoulder of someone who was reading the paper I rarely saw it
was reading the paper I rarely saw it
was reading the paper I rarely saw it but when I did when I did one particular
but when I did when I did one particular
but when I did when I did one particular comic strip jumped out at me and DK up
that’s your favorite comic strip Michael
that’s your favorite comic strip Michael Andy Capp mr. diary skepticism poured
Andy Capp mr. diary skepticism poured
Andy Capp mr. diary skepticism poured from her mouth like blackstrap molasses
from her mouth like blackstrap molasses
from her mouth like blackstrap molasses or the warm ray smoke from one of my
or the warm ray smoke from one of my
or the warm ray smoke from one of my grandmother’s Benson & Hedges menthols
grandmother’s Benson & Hedges menthols
grandmother’s Benson & Hedges menthols in a way that wasn’t a question it
in a way that wasn’t a question it
in a way that wasn’t a question it wasn’t even a statement it was an
wasn’t even a statement it was an
wasn’t even a statement it was an accusation an accusation that I must be
accusation an accusation that I must be
accusation an accusation that I must be lying what in my little poverty-stricken
lying what in my little poverty-stricken
lying what in my little poverty-stricken world could possibly give me an inkling
world could possibly give me an inkling
world could possibly give me an inkling of understanding the world of Andy Capp
of understanding the world of Andy Capp
of understanding the world of Andy Capp you see Andy was a working flat
you see Andy was a working flat
you see Andy was a working flat working-class figure who who had trouble
working-class figure who who had trouble
working-class figure who who had trouble finding work he lived with his life flow
finding work he lived with his life flow
finding work he lived with his life flow they argued they fought he drank he
they argued they fought he drank he
they argued they fought he drank he watched football and he was always on
watched football and he was always on
watched football and he was always on the verge of having his furniture
the verge of having his furniture
the verge of having his furniture repossessed if that wasn’t my little
repossessed if that wasn’t my little
repossessed if that wasn’t my little poverty-stricken world I don’t know what
poverty-stricken world I don’t know what
poverty-stricken world I don’t know what was what could you possibly understand
was what could you possibly understand
was what could you possibly understand about a handicapped December of that
about a handicapped December of that
about a handicapped December of that third grade year she wrote and directed
third grade year she wrote and directed
third grade year she wrote and directed the third grade Christmas pageant which
the third grade Christmas pageant which
the third grade Christmas pageant which he called it’s a small world after all
he called it’s a small world after all
he called it’s a small world after all so there are only two children of color
so there are only two children of color
so there are only two children of color in our entire class myself and whalen
in our entire class myself and whalen
in our entire class myself and whalen Vietnamese girl who spoke very little
Vietnamese girl who spoke very little
Vietnamese girl who spoke very little English so after mrs. direly cast the
English so after mrs. direly cast the
English so after mrs. direly cast the entire white section of the class as
entire white section of the class as
entire white section of the class as individual countries she then turned
individual countries she then turned
individual countries she then turned towards Whelan and myself and said
towards Whelan and myself and said
towards Whelan and myself and said Michael you’re gonna be Africa and whale
Michael you’re gonna be Africa and whale
Michael you’re gonna be Africa and whale and you don’t be a yeah
and you don’t be a yeah
and you don’t be a yeah practice a few years after that my
practice a few years after that my
practice a few years after that my mother finally broke the cycle and and
mother finally broke the cycle and and
mother finally broke the cycle and and when I say the cycle I mean that cycle
when I say the cycle I mean that cycle
when I say the cycle I mean that cycle of abuse and she moved us to a four room
of abuse and she moved us to a four room
of abuse and she moved us to a four room duplex not far away and though the
duplex not far away and though the
duplex not far away and though the physical move was simple the emotional
physical move was simple the emotional
physical move was simple the emotional journey was far more difficult you see I
journey was far more difficult you see I
journey was far more difficult you see I watched family members and neighbors and
watched family members and neighbors and
watched family members and neighbors and friends get arrested
friends get arrested
friends get arrested I watched fights break out in school
I watched fights break out in school
I watched fights break out in school that turned into shootouts on the street
that turned into shootouts on the street
that turned into shootouts on the street because I learned that alone a young age
because I learned that alone a young age
because I learned that alone a young age that you had to be ready to fight for
that you had to be ready to fight for
that you had to be ready to fight for what you believed in to stand up for it
what you believed in to stand up for it
what you believed in to stand up for it to throw down as we would call it she
to throw down as we would call it she
to throw down as we would call it she had to be ready to throw down Claude
had to be ready to throw down Claude
had to be ready to throw down Claude didn’t like his sister Lena dating
didn’t like his sister Lena dating
didn’t like his sister Lena dating Melvin so Claude pitha hell out of
Melvin so Claude pitha hell out of
Melvin so Claude pitha hell out of Melbourne one afternoon in the cafeteria
Melbourne one afternoon in the cafeteria
Melbourne one afternoon in the cafeteria now Melvin was a little guy could barely
now Melvin was a little guy could barely
now Melvin was a little guy could barely protect himself until a few weeks later
protect himself until a few weeks later
protect himself until a few weeks later when we were all getting off the school
when we were all getting off the school
when we were all getting off the school bus at 10th Street in Loudoun not far
bus at 10th Street in Loudoun not far
bus at 10th Street in Loudoun not far from the corner store where they had a
from the corner store where they had a
from the corner store where they had a flea infection a year before a flea
flea infection a year before a flea
flea infection a year before a flea infestation and that that we didn’t care
infestation and that that we didn’t care
infestation and that that we didn’t care about we’d ran in and get our cherry
about we’d ran in and get our cherry
about we’d ran in and get our cherry knee-highs and I’m Mike and Ikes and all
knee-highs and I’m Mike and Ikes and all
knee-highs and I’m Mike and Ikes and all of that well on that particular day
of that well on that particular day
of that well on that particular day Melvin stood waiting for Claude with a
Melvin stood waiting for Claude with a
Melvin stood waiting for Claude with a pistol as Claude descended the bus steps
pistol as Claude descended the bus steps
pistol as Claude descended the bus steps Melvin shot Claude point-blank in the
Melvin shot Claude point-blank in the
Melvin shot Claude point-blank in the face the bullet lodged in his cheek just
face the bullet lodged in his cheek just
face the bullet lodged in his cheek just inches from killing him just inches from
inches from killing him just inches from
inches from killing him just inches from killing one of us still through it all I
killing one of us still through it all I
killing one of us still through it all I knew there was a place for me somewhere
knew there was a place for me somewhere
knew there was a place for me somewhere somewhere there was a place for me so I
somewhere there was a place for me so I
somewhere there was a place for me so I secretly rode the city bus downtown
secretly rode the city bus downtown
secretly rode the city bus downtown where they were holding auditions for
where they were holding auditions for
where they were holding auditions for Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland there I was this skinny moon face black
there I was this skinny moon face black
there I was this skinny moon face black kid in a sea of punky Brewster’s and
kid in a sea of punky Brewster’s and
kid in a sea of punky Brewster’s and Ricky Schroeder’s
Ricky Schroeder’s
Ricky Schroeder’s what’s your name Mike Wiley and what
what’s your name Mike Wiley and what
what’s your name Mike Wiley and what role will you be reading the Queen of
role will you be reading the Queen of
role will you be reading the Queen of Hearts but the queen is a woman I know
Hearts but the queen is a woman I know
Hearts but the queen is a woman I know and you’d still like to read for it yes
and you’d still like to read for it yes
and you’d still like to read for it yes ma’am
ma’am
ma’am it’s the best part later that evening as
it’s the best part later that evening as
it’s the best part later that evening as I stood under the awning of a Woolworths
I stood under the awning of a Woolworths
I stood under the awning of a Woolworths as the rain poured down and I watched
as the rain poured down and I watched
as the rain poured down and I watched those kids get into his shiny Volvo’s
those kids get into his shiny Volvo’s
those kids get into his shiny Volvo’s and their warm
and their warm
and their warm BMWs a tall woman with beautiful brown
BMWs a tall woman with beautiful brown
BMWs a tall woman with beautiful brown skin and deep eyes and an Adam’s apple
look down at me and she said whose
look down at me and she said whose little boy are you now when I look back
little boy are you now when I look back
little boy are you now when I look back on that moment I realized what she was
on that moment I realized what she was
on that moment I realized what she was asking me who whose little boy Hugh was
asking me who whose little boy Hugh was
asking me who whose little boy Hugh was not who my parents were
not who my parents were
not who my parents were she was asking me where do I belong
where do you fit in now I wish I could
where do you fit in now I wish I could tell you that I bagged that audition and
tell you that I bagged that audition and
tell you that I bagged that audition and I got the role of the Queen of Hearts
I got the role of the Queen of Hearts
I got the role of the Queen of Hearts because they were just so taken with my
because they were just so taken with my
because they were just so taken with my gumption or that mr. diary and I became
gumption or that mr. diary and I became
gumption or that mr. diary and I became friends you know I called her mrs. Daisy
friends you know I called her mrs. Daisy
friends you know I called her mrs. Daisy and she called me Hoke and we had tea on
and she called me Hoke and we had tea on
and she called me Hoke and we had tea on Sundays although I always wonder what
Sundays although I always wonder what
Sundays although I always wonder what would have happened if we had a Latino
would have happened if we had a Latino
would have happened if we had a Latino kid in that class you know and Juan
kid in that class you know and Juan
kid in that class you know and Juan Pablo you get to be South America
Pablo you get to be South America
Pablo you get to be South America Central America Spain and the Bronx
Central America Spain and the Bronx
Central America Spain and the Bronx let’s practice no what I do recall is
let’s practice no what I do recall is
let’s practice no what I do recall is one teacher one teacher knowing that
one teacher one teacher knowing that
one teacher one teacher knowing that there was a place for me asking me to be
there was a place for me asking me to be
there was a place for me asking me to be Abraham Lincoln in our school play so I
Abraham Lincoln in our school play so I
Abraham Lincoln in our school play so I stood up onstage in our cafeteria that
stood up onstage in our cafeteria that
stood up onstage in our cafeteria that was also our gymnasium that was also our
was also our gymnasium that was also our
was also our gymnasium that was also our auditorium so it was a Kappa gymatorium
auditorium so it was a Kappa gymatorium
auditorium so it was a Kappa gymatorium and I said well sir the people of the
and I said well sir the people of the
and I said well sir the people of the North believed that there should not be
North believed that there should not be
North believed that there should not be any more slavery yet because of
any more slavery yet because of
any more slavery yet because of economics and selfish reasons the
economics and selfish reasons the
economics and selfish reasons the southern states wanted slavery to
southern states wanted slavery to
southern states wanted slavery to continue to help them raise crops and
continue to help them raise crops and
continue to help them raise crops and and and all the students cheered and my
and and all the students cheered and my
and and all the students cheered and my momma was on the front row because
momma was on the front row because
momma was on the front row because that’s what Mama’s like to sit right
that’s what Mama’s like to sit right
that’s what Mama’s like to sit right mm-hmm
mm-hmm
mm-hmm and she said y’all know what you said
and she said y’all know what you said
and she said y’all know what you said that’s my baby and from that day forward
that’s my baby and from that day forward
that’s my baby and from that day forward I knew there was a place for me the Arts
I knew there was a place for me the Arts
I knew there was a place for me the Arts in America the NEA taking guns out of
in America the NEA taking guns out of
in America the NEA taking guns out of the hands of young people and replacing
the hands of young people and replacing
the hands of young people and replacing them with paintbrushes play scripts film
them with paintbrushes play scripts film
them with paintbrushes play scripts film cameras play taking folks off the
cameras play taking folks off the
cameras play taking folks off the streets and putting them on stage in
streets and putting them on stage in
streets and putting them on stage in dark rooms giving them a brand new beat
dark rooms giving them a brand new beat
dark rooms giving them a brand new beat to walk and dance to that doesn’t end at
to walk and dance to that doesn’t end at
to walk and dance to that doesn’t end at the courthouse so I asked you if you
the courthouse so I asked you if you
the courthouse so I asked you if you believe in the arts and everything that
believe in the arts and everything that
believe in the arts and everything that the arts can do there is a place for you
the arts can do there is a place for you
the arts can do there is a place for you just like there was a place for me on
just like there was a place for me on
just like there was a place for me on the way here today I heard a song on the
the way here today I heard a song on the
the way here today I heard a song on the radio by David Bowie and now I’ve never
radio by David Bowie and now I’ve never
radio by David Bowie and now I’ve never been really
been really
been really good or particularly swell at
good or particularly swell at
good or particularly swell at deciphering lyrics and pretty terrible
deciphering lyrics and pretty terrible
deciphering lyrics and pretty terrible at it actually
at it actually
at it actually you know help me Rhonda help help me
you know help me Rhonda help help me
you know help me Rhonda help help me Rhonda get her out of my car or swing
Rhonda get her out of my car or swing
Rhonda get her out of my car or swing low Sweet Chariot ah well so I listened
low Sweet Chariot ah well so I listened
low Sweet Chariot ah well so I listened to it I thought yeah
to it I thought yeah
to it I thought yeah even though Bowie didn’t sing these
even though Bowie didn’t sing these
even though Bowie didn’t sing these lyrics this is what I hear I I won’t be
lyrics this is what I hear I I won’t be
lyrics this is what I hear I I won’t be king and you you won’t be queen but we
king and you you won’t be queen but we
king and you you won’t be queen but we can be heroes just for one day we can be
can be heroes just for one day we can be
can be heroes just for one day we can be artists so I ask you are you ready to
artists so I ask you are you ready to
artists so I ask you are you ready to fight for the arts are you ready to
fight for the arts are you ready to
fight for the arts are you ready to stand up for what you believe in
stand up for what you believe in
stand up for what you believe in are you ready to throw down thank you
”
Be First to Comment