[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
he has beautiful music and we’re gonna
he has beautiful music and we’re gonna make some for you right now
[Music]
[Music] Oh
have you been sleeping missing all the
have you been sleeping missing all the good things dreaming in
good things dreaming in
good things dreaming in say you’ve been thinking
teenagers with your demons asking for
teenagers with your demons asking for forgiveness
forgiveness
forgiveness [Music]
all day mistake
all day mistake [Music]
I wanna be the child of the slide one of
I wanna be the child of the slide one of the burden ones one of the world where
the burden ones one of the world where
the burden ones one of the world where you’re me taken
to a play it’s much simpler than they is
to a play it’s much simpler than they is not wrapped up in chaos
not wrapped up in chaos
not wrapped up in chaos [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] Oh
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
the child of the Sun the burn was one of
the child of the Sun the burn was one of the world today I will go and my room
the world today I will go and my room
the world today I will go and my room was empty
was empty
was empty ah can you expect finesse from a black
ah can you expect finesse from a black
ah can you expect finesse from a black woman
and when I opened my eyes there was
and when I opened my eyes there was nothing there to see just the concrete I
nothing there to see just the concrete I
nothing there to see just the concrete I [Music]
wanna be free
wanna be free they got me scared of myself looking at
they got me scared of myself looking at
they got me scared of myself looking at my reflection in not missing in time
my reflection in not missing in time
my reflection in not missing in time they told me that my brother my sister
they told me that my brother my sister
they told me that my brother my sister would die they said we would freeze and
would die they said we would freeze and
would die they said we would freeze and then come back to life and I said I want
then come back to life and I said I want
then come back to life and I said I want to be better I want to be a child of the
to be better I want to be a child of the
to be better I want to be a child of the Sun I want to be better I want to be one
Sun I want to be better I want to be one
Sun I want to be better I want to be one of the burn-in ones I want to be better
of the burn-in ones I want to be better
of the burn-in ones I want to be better I want to be a child of the Sun I want
I want to be a child of the Sun I want
I want to be a child of the Sun I want to be better
to be better
to be better [Music]
hello beautiful people beautiful
hello beautiful people beautiful beautiful beautiful children of the
beautiful beautiful children of the
beautiful beautiful children of the world hi you guys my name is Amy Lyon
world hi you guys my name is Amy Lyon
world hi you guys my name is Amy Lyon I’m so happy to be in this room with you
I’m so happy to be in this room with you
I’m so happy to be in this room with you I would like to acknowledge the miracle
I would like to acknowledge the miracle
I would like to acknowledge the miracle of our existence we all made it this far
of our existence we all made it this far
of our existence we all made it this far and that’s a miracle in these days let’s
and that’s a miracle in these days let’s
and that’s a miracle in these days let’s clap congratulations I know a lot of
clap congratulations I know a lot of
clap congratulations I know a lot of beautiful people who deserve to be here
beautiful people who deserve to be here
beautiful people who deserve to be here who got their lives stolen from them
who got their lives stolen from them
who got their lives stolen from them and I know a lot of people right now who
and I know a lot of people right now who
and I know a lot of people right now who are waiting in line trying to understand
are waiting in line trying to understand
are waiting in line trying to understand when their lives are gonna come back to
when their lives are gonna come back to
when their lives are gonna come back to them so we have to acknowledge the fact
them so we have to acknowledge the fact
them so we have to acknowledge the fact that we are here and it is miraculous
that we are here and it is miraculous
that we are here and it is miraculous and so to acknowledge that I would like
and so to acknowledge that I would like
and so to acknowledge that I would like us to take a deep breath together okay
us to take a deep breath together okay
us to take a deep breath together okay and I want you to exhale with me on the
and I want you to exhale with me on the
and I want you to exhale with me on the count of three you ready
alrighty I didn’t count
alrighty I didn’t count sometimes we got to go with the flow I
sometimes we got to go with the flow I
sometimes we got to go with the flow I would like to do another exhale you know
would like to do another exhale you know
would like to do another exhale you know because they taught us that uh cheap
because they taught us that uh cheap
because they taught us that uh cheap satisfaction when you take a breath I
satisfaction when you take a breath I
satisfaction when you take a breath I know it’s dark in here but I know half
know it’s dark in here but I know half
know it’s dark in here but I know half of us in the room did it we usually
of us in the room did it we usually
of us in the room did it we usually breathe with our shoulders and our
breathe with our shoulders and our
breathe with our shoulders and our shoulders have nothing to do with it
shoulders have nothing to do with it
shoulders have nothing to do with it all right you know society thrives on us
all right you know society thrives on us
all right you know society thrives on us believing that we are small okay so I
believing that we are small okay so I
believing that we are small okay so I would like us to combat that with every
would like us to combat that with every
would like us to combat that with every breath that we take and take up as much
breath that we take and take up as much
breath that we take and take up as much space as possible all right so we’re
space as possible all right so we’re
space as possible all right so we’re gonna digest this air and we’re gonna
gonna digest this air and we’re gonna
gonna digest this air and we’re gonna fill it here all right we don’t feel it
fill it here all right we don’t feel it
fill it here all right we don’t feel it here and then we’re gonna exhale loudly
here and then we’re gonna exhale loudly
here and then we’re gonna exhale loudly okay one two three
that sounded a lot better from up here
that sounded a lot better from up here and I would like to do it one more time
and I would like to do it one more time
and I would like to do it one more time you know because we are all here and
you know because we are all here and
you know because we are all here and aware of what is happening in the world
aware of what is happening in the world
aware of what is happening in the world and I think that it’s important that we
and I think that it’s important that we
and I think that it’s important that we acknowledge that as individuals we are
acknowledge that as individuals we are
acknowledge that as individuals we are capable of change we are capable of
capable of change we are capable of
capable of change we are capable of miracle we are capable of providing
miracle we are capable of providing
miracle we are capable of providing miracle and all of that begins with
miracle and all of that begins with
miracle and all of that begins with breath it is the most consistent thing
breath it is the most consistent thing
breath it is the most consistent thing we do in our lives it is literally the
we do in our lives it is literally the
we do in our lives it is literally the definition of life if when we are no
definition of life if when we are no
definition of life if when we are no longer we are other right so let’s take
longer we are other right so let’s take
longer we are other right so let’s take another deep breath and on this exhale I
another deep breath and on this exhale I
another deep breath and on this exhale I would like you all to release some
would like you all to release some
would like you all to release some whatever that doubt is whatever stopping
whatever that doubt is whatever stopping
whatever that doubt is whatever stopping you from you know get in that a that
you from you know get in that a that
you from you know get in that a that you’re being striving for for years or
you’re being striving for for years or
you’re being striving for for years or stopping you from joining that Club that
stopping you from joining that Club that
stopping you from joining that Club that you want to be in or telling you that
you want to be in or telling you that
you want to be in or telling you that you’re too young to do whatever or well
you’re too young to do whatever or well
you’re too young to do whatever or well if it’s wrong and we’re gonna scream
if it’s wrong and we’re gonna scream
if it’s wrong and we’re gonna scream okay we’re gonna scream on this next
okay we’re gonna scream on this next
okay we’re gonna scream on this next exhale and then we’re gonna move on
exhale and then we’re gonna move on
exhale and then we’re gonna move on together how much think to you alright
together how much think to you alright
together how much think to you alright you good you ready to scream with me and
you good you ready to scream with me and
you good you ready to scream with me and y’all go get rid of scream louder than
y’all go get rid of scream louder than
y’all go get rid of scream louder than me
me
me okay you ready on this next inhale we
okay you ready on this next inhale we
okay you ready on this next inhale we gonna get up tummy’s full right one two
gonna get up tummy’s full right one two
gonna get up tummy’s full right one two three
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
oh thank you guys you’re important
oh thank you guys you’re important you’re beautiful and this moment is
you’re beautiful and this moment is
you’re beautiful and this moment is really all that matters okay so when you
really all that matters okay so when you
really all that matters okay so when you struggling to look at your future I was
struggling to look at your future I was
struggling to look at your future I was raised in excruciating poverty and
raised in excruciating poverty and
raised in excruciating poverty and taught that looking at my future was a
taught that looking at my future was a
taught that looking at my future was a waste of time taught that if I if I were
waste of time taught that if I if I were
waste of time taught that if I if I were to waste my time in such a way I may
to waste my time in such a way I may
to waste my time in such a way I may just miss out an opportunity to get out
just miss out an opportunity to get out
just miss out an opportunity to get out of my situation and I am so honored to
of my situation and I am so honored to
of my situation and I am so honored to be here create dialogue because it’s
be here create dialogue because it’s
be here create dialogue because it’s create . dialogue period in creating you
create . dialogue period in creating you
create . dialogue period in creating you are inviting conversation you are the
are inviting conversation you are the
are inviting conversation you are the beginning and the end of the sentence
beginning and the end of the sentence
beginning and the end of the sentence you understand and so even if you don’t
you understand and so even if you don’t
you understand and so even if you don’t consider yourself an artist we are all
consider yourself an artist we are all
consider yourself an artist we are all creative math is creative it’s all in
creative math is creative it’s all in
creative math is creative it’s all in all of it all of it all of it all of it
all of it all of it all of it all of it
all of it all of it all of it all of it it’s so necessary for us to move forward
it’s so necessary for us to move forward
it’s so necessary for us to move forward so I would like to invite you guys to
so I would like to invite you guys to
so I would like to invite you guys to never forget that and to be patient with
never forget that and to be patient with
never forget that and to be patient with yourself and allow yourself to learn we
yourself and allow yourself to learn we
yourself and allow yourself to learn we always talk about like the end goal like
always talk about like the end goal like
always talk about like the end goal like I got the record deal or you know I I
I got the record deal or you know I I
I got the record deal or you know I I got the SAT score that I wanted or I got
got the SAT score that I wanted or I got
got the SAT score that I wanted or I got into the college that I wanted it’s like
into the college that I wanted it’s like
into the college that I wanted it’s like no also I worked my ass off to get into
no also I worked my ass off to get into
no also I worked my ass off to get into that college and to get in to get that
that college and to get in to get that
that college and to get in to get that record deal and to get you know so
record deal and to get you know so
record deal and to get you know so remind yourself of the hard work when
remind yourself of the hard work when
remind yourself of the hard work when you’re feeling out of it it’s a part of
you’re feeling out of it it’s a part of
you’re feeling out of it it’s a part of it okay
it okay
it okay we’re not here just for joy we’re here
we’re not here just for joy we’re here
we’re not here just for joy we’re here to digest all of it
to digest all of it
to digest all of it the earth in its blossom and its turmoil
the earth in its blossom and its turmoil
the earth in its blossom and its turmoil there is drought there is flood and we
there is drought there is flood and we
there is drought there is flood and we need to invite ourselves into that space
need to invite ourselves into that space
need to invite ourselves into that space okay and I’ve done that with my work I
okay and I’ve done that with my work I
okay and I’ve done that with my work I use music and poetry as a way of
use music and poetry as a way of
use music and poetry as a way of starting conversations whether you
starting conversations whether you
starting conversations whether you understand me or not we know what’s
understand me or not we know what’s
understand me or not we know what’s happening in the space because I am
happening in the space because I am
happening in the space because I am doing my best to be free up here and
doing my best to be free up here and
doing my best to be free up here and allow my voice to communicate that with
allow my voice to communicate that with
allow my voice to communicate that with you and as much as breath is real and as
you and as much as breath is real and as
you and as much as breath is real and as much as I have in my body I’m gonna keep
much as I have in my body I’m gonna keep
much as I have in my body I’m gonna keep doing that and I hope that you guys do
doing that and I hope that you guys do
doing that and I hope that you guys do too and to show you how quick and easy
too and to show you how quick and easy
too and to show you how quick and easy it could be I want to do a very very
it could be I want to do a very very
it could be I want to do a very very quick improvisation for you and then I’m
quick improvisation for you and then I’m
quick improvisation for you and then I’m gonna do a piece that’s meant a lot to
gonna do a piece that’s meant a lot to
gonna do a piece that’s meant a lot to me so I need a word from you guys so you
me so I need a word from you guys so you
me so I need a word from you guys so you can see how quickly we can start a
can see how quickly we can start a
can see how quickly we can start a conversation because Adam over here is
conversation because Adam over here is
conversation because Adam over here is playing guitar
playing guitar
playing guitar I’m about sick and y’all gonna give me a
I’m about sick and y’all gonna give me a
I’m about sick and y’all gonna give me a word and then we’re gonna be in
word and then we’re gonna be in
word and then we’re gonna be in conversation so give me some what what
conversation so give me some what what
conversation so give me some what what [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] okay why not time okay I heard positive
okay why not time okay I heard positive
okay why not time okay I heard positive [Music]
[Music]
[Music] energy oh my god I’ve lost my oh my god
energy oh my god I’ve lost my oh my god
energy oh my god I’ve lost my oh my god I lost my my my my my even though they
I lost my my my my my even though they
I lost my my my my my even though they say it isn’t mine they said it is my for
say it isn’t mine they said it is my for
say it isn’t mine they said it is my for you yeah we have to be you know we gotta
you yeah we have to be you know we gotta
you yeah we have to be you know we gotta be good we gotta be respectful of the
be good we gotta be respectful of the
be good we gotta be respectful of the time in the space this piece is very
time in the space this piece is very
time in the space this piece is very heavy so I’m gonna invite you to breathe
heavy so I’m gonna invite you to breathe
heavy so I’m gonna invite you to breathe with me one more time I was asked to do
with me one more time I was asked to do
with me one more time I was asked to do this piece to write a piece for an event
this piece to write a piece for an event
this piece to write a piece for an event where I spoke with Trayvon Martin’s
where I spoke with Trayvon Martin’s
where I spoke with Trayvon Martin’s mother and her name is Sabrina Fulton
mother and her name is Sabrina Fulton
mother and her name is Sabrina Fulton names are important y’all are young I
names are important y’all are young I
names are important y’all are young I need you to remember and often in school
need you to remember and often in school
need you to remember and often in school remember your name okay and let them say
remember your name okay and let them say
remember your name okay and let them say it correctly and if they have an issue
it correctly and if they have an issue
it correctly and if they have an issue they can learn it because as anything
they can learn it because as anything
they can learn it because as anything else we are all here and we learned how
else we are all here and we learned how
else we are all here and we learned how to be here so they can learn your name
to be here so they can learn your name
to be here so they can learn your name you don’t need to create a you know a
you don’t need to create a you know a
you don’t need to create a you know a nickname to make it easier for anyone
nickname to make it easier for anyone
nickname to make it easier for anyone else okay and I want to invite you to do
else okay and I want to invite you to do
else okay and I want to invite you to do that because my educators did not
that because my educators did not
that because my educators did not respect my name and they did not listen
respect my name and they did not listen
respect my name and they did not listen to me and I changed my name when I was
to me and I changed my name when I was
to me and I changed my name when I was 13 and it’s okay cuz I loved that but
13 and it’s okay cuz I loved that but
13 and it’s okay cuz I loved that but then when I looked back on my life and I
then when I looked back on my life and I
then when I looked back on my life and I said wow I could have just insisted
said wow I could have just insisted
said wow I could have just insisted persist for your respect okay you’re
persist for your respect okay you’re
persist for your respect okay you’re just because you’re young does not mean
just because you’re young does not mean
just because you’re young does not mean that your voice does not matter and your
that your voice does not matter and your
that your voice does not matter and your name matters so this piece is for
name matters so this piece is for
name matters so this piece is for Sybrina Fulton and her family and the
Sybrina Fulton and her family and the
Sybrina Fulton and her family and the impending revenue
impending revenue
impending revenue friends – my friends call me I would on
friends – my friends call me I would on
friends – my friends call me I would on my roots I wore making love to you
my roots I wore making love to you
my roots I wore making love to you broken spines down the line they say
we
we [Music]
we are
we are [Music]
[Music]
[Music] they say racism
they say racism
they say racism [Music]
we
we [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
oh dear God
oh dear God I’ve been here before this place is the
I’ve been here before this place is the
I’ve been here before this place is the opposite of light to love in a world
opposite of light to love in a world
opposite of light to love in a world like this is to love without breathing
like this is to love without breathing
like this is to love without breathing sometimes I love without breathing you
sometimes I love without breathing you
sometimes I love without breathing you know I heard somewhere that black women
know I heard somewhere that black women
know I heard somewhere that black women are impossible to love most likely to
are impossible to love most likely to
are impossible to love most likely to lead a single life unmarried the last of
lead a single life unmarried the last of
lead a single life unmarried the last of the crop in every season but black women
the crop in every season but black women
the crop in every season but black women are still pitch though when you touch
are still pitch though when you touch
are still pitch though when you touch them your hands they simply bleed from
them your hands they simply bleed from
them your hands they simply bleed from the thorns because they got caught in
the thorns because they got caught in
the thorns because they got caught in stick it to their hips like Genesis and
stick it to their hips like Genesis and
stick it to their hips like Genesis and they expect us to sit back and swallow
they expect us to sit back and swallow
they expect us to sit back and swallow sit back a dunes
sit back a dunes
sit back a dunes sit back and learn how to break every
sit back and learn how to break every
sit back and learn how to break every single bone in our bodies till we learn
single bone in our bodies till we learn
single bone in our bodies till we learn how to follow daily we always to some
how to follow daily we always to some
how to follow daily we always to some white man’s apology our children always
white man’s apology our children always
white man’s apology our children always second to some white man’s weak smoke
second to some white man’s weak smoke
second to some white man’s weak smoke and nod I am awake
and nod I am awake
and nod I am awake [Music]
like we do this already for them refuses
like we do this already for them refuses to acknowledge the history in my cryin
to acknowledge the history in my cryin
to acknowledge the history in my cryin ain’t nobody come and marry ain’t nobody
ain’t nobody come and marry ain’t nobody
ain’t nobody come and marry ain’t nobody coming Joseph well then what happens I
coming Joseph well then what happens I
coming Joseph well then what happens I need to know because this looks a whole
need to know because this looks a whole
need to know because this looks a whole lot like revelations and I can’t quite
lot like revelations and I can’t quite
lot like revelations and I can’t quite tell if we’re being killed or saved all
tell if we’re being killed or saved all
tell if we’re being killed or saved all I know is that I am blood-stained in
I know is that I am blood-stained in
I know is that I am blood-stained in these men these men keep telling me
these men these men keep telling me
these men these men keep telling me about my body they forced me to have a
about my body they forced me to have a
about my body they forced me to have a baby and then they simply kill it for me
baby and then they simply kill it for me
baby and then they simply kill it for me a different kind of pillaging I suppose
a different kind of pillaging I suppose
a different kind of pillaging I suppose but you know I heard somewhere that
but you know I heard somewhere that
but you know I heard somewhere that black women are impossible to love and I
black women are impossible to love and I
black women are impossible to love and I get that because once we start to love
get that because once we start to love
get that because once we start to love you your days are numbered and that
you your days are numbered and that
you your days are numbered and that eulogy that I wrote and memorized line
eulogy that I wrote and memorized line
eulogy that I wrote and memorized line by line will be delivered
”
Be First to Comment