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The Poetry of Paradise Freejahlove

Review

I Love Everything About You, But You!

They want the black spirit
They want the black mind
they want the black soul
they want the black behind

they want the black muscle
they want the black heart
they want the black music
they want the black art

they want the black rhythm
they want the black hips
they want the black power
they want the black lips

they want the black style
they want the black talk
they want the black skill
they want the black walk

they want the black rod
they want the black meat
they want the black coffee
they want the black heat

they want the black land
they want the black gold
they want the black diamonds
they want the black coal

they want the black oil
they want the black race
they want the black earth
they want the black space

they want the black dollars
they want the black gods
they want the black everything
but me and you--now that's odd

they want the black neighborhood
but not the black neighbor?
how could this be true?
I love everything about you, but you!

I Love Everything About You, But You! (Part Two)

they want the black seeds
they want the black roots
they want the black trees
they want the black fruit

they want the black jazz
they want the black rap
they want the black reggae
they want the black dap

they want the black chocolate
they want the black bread
they want the black flava
they want the black dreds

they want the black body
they want the black tan
........cuz black don't crack
they want the black skin

they want the black clothes
they want the black labor
they want the black nanny
........and the black entertainer

they want the black fans
they want the black vote
they want the black genius
they want the black poet

they want the black warriors
they want the black thrones
they want the black kingdoms
they want the black tombs

they want the black mummies
........buried treasures and bones
........cuz they can't stand you when you living
........but THEY DIG YOU WHEN YOU GONE

they want the black madonna
they want the black savior
they want the black neighborhood
.........but not the black neighbor?

now how that sound?
not profound!
it's like they trying to say what?
I love everything about you...but you!

Excerpt from "Black and True:
The best and worst of the AfroSolo Arts Festival"
by Michael Scott Moore
Copyright 2003 SFWeekly.com

Easily the strongest solo performer was a poet called Paradise Freejahlove, who did three subtle, musical pieces: one about love, one about white appropriation of black culture, and a "Black State of the Union Address."

"Beloved: A loveletter to the goddess in every woman" was a singsong, minor-toned poem rising to a rolling, garrulous, minutes-long string of giddy words in divine and sexual praise of a woman.

"I Love Everything About You, But You" was a smooth, jazzy rap about contemporary racism: "They want the black muscles, they want the black heart/ They want the black body, they want the black art/ ... They want the black neighborhoods, but not the black neighbor."

And in "State of the Union" he made an odd modern observation: "The No. 1 golfer is a black man, and the No. 1 rapper is a white man."

Freejahlove wore a loose jumble of clothes, a leopard-print shirt under a leopard-print hat, and kept his eyes closed most of the time; he seemed almost shy, but his delivery was open, vulnerable, and witty.

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