how you guys doing good my name is uh Malcolm London I’m a poet educator
Malcolm London I’m a poet educator
Malcolm London I’m a poet educator activist organizer and am not a
activist organizer and am not a
activist organizer and am not a scientist but I come from the west side
scientist but I come from the west side
scientist but I come from the west side of Chicago which I love and it’s dear in
of Chicago which I love and it’s dear in
of Chicago which I love and it’s dear in the air to my heart
the air to my heart
the air to my heart my name is lived in the mouth of Cornel
my name is lived in the mouth of Cornel
my name is lived in the mouth of Cornel West knighting me the Gil scott-heron in
West knighting me the Gil scott-heron in
West knighting me the Gil scott-heron in my generation while simultaneously and
my generation while simultaneously and
my generation while simultaneously and my high-pitched fussing of my mother
my high-pitched fussing of my mother
my high-pitched fussing of my mother were not caught living up to my name
were not caught living up to my name
were not caught living up to my name today I am swarmed by sixth graders who
today I am swarmed by sixth graders who
today I am swarmed by sixth graders who are adorable and asked me for autographs
are adorable and asked me for autographs
are adorable and asked me for autographs today I am in and out of television
today I am in and out of television
today I am in and out of television debuts in and out of YouTube videos
debuts in and out of YouTube videos
debuts in and out of YouTube videos today I am one of many young people who
today I am one of many young people who
today I am one of many young people who helped develop a curriculum at
helped develop a curriculum at
helped develop a curriculum at Northwestern law school today I am a UN
Northwestern law school today I am a UN
Northwestern law school today I am a UN speaker and a a rapper and a poet and I
speaker and a a rapper and a poet and I
speaker and a a rapper and a poet and I received tons of accolades I am known by
received tons of accolades I am known by
received tons of accolades I am known by both my first and last names but on the
both my first and last names but on the
both my first and last names but on the west side of Chicago I’m still one
west side of Chicago I’m still one
west side of Chicago I’m still one bullet hole away from anything but an
bullet hole away from anything but an
bullet hole away from anything but an exception I’m still one of many
exception I’m still one of many
exception I’m still one of many grandsons being waited for it by the by
grandsons being waited for it by the by
grandsons being waited for it by the by the window and the Sun Goes Down and
the window and the Sun Goes Down and
the window and the Sun Goes Down and this talk could be a story of rags to
this talk could be a story of rags to
this talk could be a story of rags to riches how I made it from vacant lots
riches how I made it from vacant lots
riches how I made it from vacant lots and and foreclosed homes instead it is a
and and foreclosed homes instead it is a
and and foreclosed homes instead it is a perspective of how I fit it all into my
perspective of how I fit it all into my
perspective of how I fit it all into my suitcase on 5 a.m. flights and how I
suitcase on 5 a.m. flights and how I
suitcase on 5 a.m. flights and how I never forget about where I come from
never forget about where I come from
never forget about where I come from here on Street & lavergne Avenue
here on Street & lavergne Avenue
here on Street & lavergne Avenue intersect like a baseball diamond
intersect like a baseball diamond
intersect like a baseball diamond southeast corner first base of police
southeast corner first base of police
southeast corner first base of police cameras it’s like an announcer’s booth a
cameras it’s like an announcer’s booth a
cameras it’s like an announcer’s booth a throne flashing blue overseeing
throne flashing blue overseeing
throne flashing blue overseeing everything here as if it is foul play
everything here as if it is foul play
everything here as if it is foul play southeast corner second base are boarded
southeast corner second base are boarded
southeast corner second base are boarded up buildings serving more coke to more
up buildings serving more coke to more
up buildings serving more coke to more patrons than a world
patrons than a world
patrons than a world his game fast balls black mothers into
his game fast balls black mothers into
his game fast balls black mothers into aging guitars strung out on street
aging guitars strung out on street
aging guitars strung out on street corners their own sons standing on the
corners their own sons standing on the
corners their own sons standing on the pitcher’s mound with no hope of being
pitcher’s mound with no hope of being
pitcher’s mound with no hope of being dug out northeast corner third base
dug out northeast corner third base
dug out northeast corner third base third baseman uniform and hoodies Pelley
third baseman uniform and hoodies Pelley
third baseman uniform and hoodies Pelley jackets and timberland boots our court
jackets and timberland boots our court
jackets and timberland boots our court that’s ready to strike out at anyone who
that’s ready to strike out at anyone who
that’s ready to strike out at anyone who stares too long walks to boldly or
stares too long walks to boldly or
stares too long walks to boldly or throws the wrong curve of fingers
throws the wrong curve of fingers
throws the wrong curve of fingers dreadlocks beneath the fitted caps on
dreadlocks beneath the fitted caps on
dreadlocks beneath the fitted caps on swivel for any woman
swivel for any woman
swivel for any woman swinging hips or batting and I do
swinging hips or batting and I do
swinging hips or batting and I do anything and everything illegal just to
anything and everything illegal just to
anything and everything illegal just to score food on their plates Yankee
score food on their plates Yankee
score food on their plates Yankee mascots taught anyone in a brown-skinned
mascots taught anyone in a brown-skinned
mascots taught anyone in a brown-skinned jersey this small Negro league cracker
jersey this small Negro league cracker
jersey this small Negro league cracker jack’d by an empire controlled by white
jack’d by an empire controlled by white
jack’d by an empire controlled by white umpires
umpires
umpires northwest corner fourth base my
northwest corner fourth base my
northwest corner fourth base my grandmother makes a living or her living
grandmother makes a living or her living
grandmother makes a living or her living room window a bleacher watching
room window a bleacher watching
room window a bleacher watching America’s favorite pastime with the
America’s favorite pastime with the
America’s favorite pastime with the bases loaded with her offspring who have
bases loaded with her offspring who have
bases loaded with her offspring who have never made it to the majors or studied
never made it to the majors or studied
never made it to the majors or studied one because most of us
one because most of us
one because most of us I’ve stopped short of coming home
[Applause]
[Applause] when black boys I killed on the Westside
when black boys I killed on the Westside
when black boys I killed on the Westside the first responder is late the first
the first responder is late the first
the first responder is late the first response isn’t anger no protests no one
response isn’t anger no protests no one
response isn’t anger no protests no one to be an opposition of only the UNCHR um
to be an opposition of only the UNCHR um
to be an opposition of only the UNCHR um polling of hollow no black Paul Revere
polling of hollow no black Paul Revere
polling of hollow no black Paul Revere shouting the Klan is coming the Klan is
shouting the Klan is coming the Klan is
shouting the Klan is coming the Klan is coming no right foot or grab or curtain
coming no right foot or grab or curtain
coming no right foot or grab or curtain a peek through no icebucketchallenge
a peek through no icebucketchallenge
a peek through no icebucketchallenge only bucket boys sounding another
only bucket boys sounding another
only bucket boys sounding another funeral possession when a black boy is
funeral possession when a black boy is
funeral possession when a black boy is killed on the south side there is no
killed on the south side there is no
killed on the south side there is no time to waste cleaning up the blood when
time to waste cleaning up the blood when
time to waste cleaning up the blood when you are building trauma senses in your
you are building trauma senses in your
you are building trauma senses in your own living rooms the windows drilled
own living rooms the windows drilled
own living rooms the windows drilled shut trying to repair what is already
shut trying to repair what is already
shut trying to repair what is already gone there is no time to waste finding
gone there is no time to waste finding
gone there is no time to waste finding out who done it your grandma will have
out who done it your grandma will have
out who done it your grandma will have her suspicions she will suspect whom she
her suspicions she will suspect whom she
her suspicions she will suspect whom she always does the devil and throw her
always does the devil and throw her
always does the devil and throw her hands up to God and whisper worship into
hands up to God and whisper worship into
hands up to God and whisper worship into her pot of greens that she cooked for
her pot of greens that she cooked for
her pot of greens that she cooked for the repast the teleprompter won’t
the repast the teleprompter won’t
the repast the teleprompter won’t mention how she stacked memorials in her
mention how she stacked memorials in her
mention how she stacked memorials in her apron won’t call this activism when a
apron won’t call this activism when a
apron won’t call this activism when a black boy is killed on the Westside
black boy is killed on the Westside
black boy is killed on the Westside we won’t blame a loose bootstrap when
we won’t blame a loose bootstrap when
we won’t blame a loose bootstrap when America sold the boot when I T still
America sold the boot when I T still
America sold the boot when I T still sell food stamps for winter shoes when a
sell food stamps for winter shoes when a
sell food stamps for winter shoes when a black boy is killed on the west side
black boy is killed on the west side
black boy is killed on the west side there are no marching orders no
there are no marching orders no
there are no marching orders no camouflage to wear in a neighborhood of
camouflage to wear in a neighborhood of
camouflage to wear in a neighborhood of mirrors no revenge to claim no
mirrors no revenge to claim no
mirrors no revenge to claim no class-action suit only organizing for
class-action suit only organizing for
class-action suit only organizing for class action when a black boy is killed
class action when a black boy is killed
class action when a black boy is killed on the Westside there is in always the
on the Westside there is in always the
on the Westside there is in always the police when a black boy is killed on the
police when a black boy is killed on the
police when a black boy is killed on the Westside and conjure up a shredding of
Westside and conjure up a shredding of
Westside and conjure up a shredding of King replenish the pan she ransacked
King replenish the pan she ransacked
King replenish the pan she ransacked since the days our granddaddy’s were
since the days our granddaddy’s were
since the days our granddaddy’s were sharecroppers
sharecroppers
sharecroppers we plant seeds of a shared prop when a
we plant seeds of a shared prop when a
we plant seeds of a shared prop when a black boy is killed on the Westside the
black boy is killed on the Westside the
black boy is killed on the Westside the first response is the forests trying to
first response is the forests trying to
first response is the forests trying to convince the axe it is wood it is the
convince the axe it is wood it is the
convince the axe it is wood it is the pot calling the kettle black it is the
pot calling the kettle black it is the
pot calling the kettle black it is the pot calling screaming stop we are both
pot calling screaming stop we are both
pot calling screaming stop we are both burning so so quickly I’ve made a
burning so so quickly I’ve made a
burning so so quickly I’ve made a transition to my career as a rapper of a
transition to my career as a rapper of a
transition to my career as a rapper of a new project I was called Opia which
new project I was called Opia which
new project I was called Opia which means the ambiguous intensity of looking
means the ambiguous intensity of looking
means the ambiguous intensity of looking someone in the eye which can feel both
someone in the eye which can feel both
someone in the eye which can feel both invasive and vulnerable and so I’ll
invasive and vulnerable and so I’ll
invasive and vulnerable and so I’ll leave it with this I believe that
leave it with this I believe that
leave it with this I believe that justice is what love looks like in
justice is what love looks like in
justice is what love looks like in public and although our origins are
public and although our origins are
public and although our origins are complicated and that this country is
complicated and that this country is
complicated and that this country is both assignees twins of idealism and
both assignees twins of idealism and
both assignees twins of idealism and freedom it is it is also built upon
freedom it is it is also built upon
freedom it is it is also built upon genocide and slavery and so that is just
genocide and slavery and so that is just
genocide and slavery and so that is just a simple poet that story needs to be
a simple poet that story needs to be
a simple poet that story needs to be changed and needs to be challenged so I
changed and needs to be challenged so I
changed and needs to be challenged so I shot a video doing that as rappers do
shot a video doing that as rappers do
shot a video doing that as rappers do relational videos and so this is a look
relational videos and so this is a look
relational videos and so this is a look into the west side of Chicago that you
into the west side of Chicago that you
into the west side of Chicago that you don’t often see on 9 o’clock news or
don’t often see on 9 o’clock news or
don’t often see on 9 o’clock news or hear about if you’ve never been there
hear about if you’ve never been there
hear about if you’ve never been there thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
Westside and I know part of a hardball
Westside and I know part of a hardball plate the way that baby see dreaming in
plate the way that baby see dreaming in
plate the way that baby see dreaming in the valley ways believe it in the right
the valley ways believe it in the right
the valley ways believe it in the right a day just to see Kensie without caution
a day just to see Kensie without caution
a day just to see Kensie without caution tape Westside and right no pun trust pay
tape Westside and right no pun trust pay
tape Westside and right no pun trust pay hardball plate away their baby sing
hardball plate away their baby sing
hardball plate away their baby sing dreaming in the pathways believing in
dreaming in the pathways believing in
dreaming in the pathways believing in the right a day just to see Kensie
the right a day just to see Kensie
the right a day just to see Kensie without caution tape
without caution tape
without caution tape all of my exes live on the south side
all of my exes live on the south side
all of my exes live on the south side we’ll only have two homicide make the
we’ll only have two homicide make the
we’ll only have two homicide make the headline mama begging me to hear I spent
headline mama begging me to hear I spent
headline mama begging me to hear I spent so many nights with the same clothes I
so many nights with the same clothes I
so many nights with the same clothes I hear don’t worry Billy got my little but
hear don’t worry Billy got my little but
hear don’t worry Billy got my little but I take it little fly in the cloud I am a
I take it little fly in the cloud I am a
I take it little fly in the cloud I am a sound I am a pony fel-pro black program
sound I am a pony fel-pro black program
sound I am a pony fel-pro black program now go back sprays doing that straight
now go back sprays doing that straight
now go back sprays doing that straight Pulaski be my letter Cicero alpha hugger
Pulaski be my letter Cicero alpha hugger
Pulaski be my letter Cicero alpha hugger jump in caution tape like checkers mama
jump in caution tape like checkers mama
jump in caution tape like checkers mama to me when I mess up let’s say we ain’t
to me when I mess up let’s say we ain’t
to me when I mess up let’s say we ain’t got grass leaving Caesar down a half not
got grass leaving Caesar down a half not
got grass leaving Caesar down a half not a preacher I’m just praying now for
a preacher I’m just praying now for
a preacher I’m just praying now for muster
muster
muster I saw a lot of pace of change with these
I saw a lot of pace of change with these
I saw a lot of pace of change with these days on my brain to my son right I’m
days on my brain to my son right I’m
days on my brain to my son right I’m willing to show y’all the place where I
willing to show y’all the place where I
willing to show y’all the place where I curled up over your shoulder my city
curled up over your shoulder my city
curled up over your shoulder my city like
take the green light rain to the west
take the green light rain to the west side in the rain no punch also pay
side in the rain no punch also pay
side in the rain no punch also pay hardball plate the way de berry sings
hardball plate the way de berry sings
hardball plate the way de berry sings dreaming in the alleyways no pain
dreaming in the alleyways no pain
dreaming in the alleyways no pain hard ball like the waiting baby safe
hard ball like the waiting baby safe
hard ball like the waiting baby safe treatment evaluations believing in a
treatment evaluations believing in a
treatment evaluations believing in a brighter day just
brighter day just
brighter day just can see without caution tape
can see without caution tape
can see without caution tape [Music]
”
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