Assata Olugbala Shakur

“Our desire to be free has got to manifest itself in everything we are and do.” ~ Ancestor Assata Olugbala Shakur POEM: Half-mast for Ancestor Assata Wherever there is red, black and green Where sunsets can be seen Liberation flags fly, at half-mast For Ancestor Assata's forever free at last Now, She can roam the earth as ether Lifting our heavy hearts, light as a feather Long since stopped running to hide Protected by freedom’s strong stride Reminding us to forward revolutionary change Starting with rebuilding the love of our people, as we rearrange Painful patterns of behavior that still rip us apart Into ripples of reflections shining like ancient art Using the fire of love and the sweat of truth Manifesting our desire to be free in everything we do She who struggles for the people, is the thankful one He who responds proactively, knows the work ain’t yet done She said and still says: “Our situation right now is critical. We can't run from it or hide from it. We're going to have to get down to the nitty gritty. We've got to determine who We are.” Using the fire of love, and the sweat of truth Manifesting our desire, to be free, in everything we do She who struggles for the people is, the thankful one He who responds, proactively, knows the work ain’t yet done Reminding us to forward-ever-revolutionary change Starting with rebuilding, the love of our people, as we rearrange Painful patterns of behavior, that still rip us apart Into ripples of reflections shining, like ancient art NOW! She can roam the earth as Ether Lifting our heavy hearts light as feather Stop running to hide We’re protected, by Her freedom’s strong stride Wherever there is Red, Black and Green And sunsets can be seen Let our Liberation flags fly, at half-mast For Ancestor Assata's Forever, free at last. ©DaraMonifah® Cooper Listen to HALF-MAST FOR ANCESTOR ASSATA_DMCpoem.mp3 by DaraMonifah® on #SoundCloud CLICK HERE TO LISTEN: https://on.soundcloud.com/w7YiOlYvlC2TXNhjTb