#TransmenWeSeeUAndHearU

An MKR poem (photo credit-Rebecca Jackson)

I believe Black trans men and Black trans women are indivisible
It hurt to hear you say you feel invisible
It's something you've been saying and it's nothing new
#TransmenWeSeeUAndHearU

Black trans men exist, that's no lie
It's a fact no one can deny
You face anti-trans violence on your trans journey
And deal with unique issues we're just beginning to see

Brothers like Marcelle, Alexander and Kylar paved the \way
You're trailblazing kings we see every day
Brother Carter who is unapologetically Black
Had the vision to found what became BTAC 

Acknowledging more transmasculine history
James McHarris and Wilmer Broadnax on our trans family tree
Shedding tears for too soon departed sons
Like the amazing Blake Brockington 

Can't forget the brothers who are nondisclosed
They keep me on point and on my activist toes
My trans military brothers on foreign shores
Fighting for freedom, mine and yours

Kortney blazing trails in movies and high tech
Dezjorn and Laith ripping runways among other projects
You're husbands, businessmen, gentlemen and scholars
So proud of you transmen it makes we wanna holler

I see you transmen running for political seats
Trying to become the next Phillipe
Snatch those seats at the political table
And run trans brothers run as soon as you're able

Can't forget the trans brothers that I'm increasingly seeing,
In Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean
While we share these connections across the Diaspora, too
Your unique stories are what we need to hear from you

Some of y'all are nonbinary
Chill out peeps, that concept isn't that scary
All it means is they don't wanna be
Tied to simply using the pronoun he

Time for me end this poetic 'ejumacation'
And show some love for my transbrothers across the nation
Your sisters all have mad love for you
#TransmenWeSeeYou AndHearU

Pink Crayons

This is an amazing spoken word poem courtesy of the Asia Project.

The poet is talking about his transgender sister living her truth in a world that wants to deny she exists and hate on her for doing so.

Enjoy

Another Statistic

TransGriot Note:  From time to time I like posting my own creative writing on the blog since I talk about so many serious subjects here.  This post is the first time I've featured someone else's creative writing on TransGriot, and it's one of my longtime readers in Ace Ramirez.    I liked his poem and felt it needed to be shared with the world.  

And now, here's Ace's poem

Another Statistic

There's a fire burning right outside my door
I can feel its heartbeat rattling the floor
Every time I leave, I'm scared of what's in store
Makes me wonder what's the point of living for

I could turn a blind eye, maybe I won't see
All the hate-filled stares that are watching me
I could catch a bullet if moved suddenly
Or detained & tasered, if I get lucky


Can you hear the striking of the mission bell?
That heralds the right to send me straight to hell
When or where it comes from I can never tell
Drinking deeply from the poison in the well


I'm a demon even if I am a saint
To protect myself, my image it would taint
Seen as a thug even if my dress is quaint
In my death, the ugly picture they would paint

Is it so wrong for me to sing the blues? 
Is it my fault for poring over all the news? 
If I ignore the violence will I change my views? 
Can I forget the threat of this unjust abuse? 

I can pretend I'm fine, business casual 
I could resume my life, all as usual 
Just shut up and ride, my fear irrational 
Or stand up & fight, perceived as animal 

The answer is unclear, what can turn the tide? 
Would it be easier for you if I lied?
And said I'm safe because of where I reside.
Too bad. I'm black. Hence I am terrified.

ALR 8/30/2014

Poetic Posts II

From time to time I flex my creative writing side and write short stories or poetry. 

Most of the time I usually write poems when I'm highly pissed off and motivated to write about an issue.  

As I told the DiverseWorks crowd befroe I started reading a few of them last night, there are times when you don't need a 500-800 word essay to let the world know you're pissed off about an issue. 

That poetry I write sometimes finds its way to TransGriot.   This is the initial compilation post for some of my earlier works, and I've written a few more of them since the Poetic Post compilation was added to the blog. 

Here's the link to my next round of recent poems including the one that's gaining legendary status here called 'That Cursed Pipe' that I wrote in less than 20 minutes and performed at a local poetry slam. 

Don't Hate

Bathroom Trans Hate

Shouldn't Need To Show ID To Pee

Bathroom Trans Hate

Decided to write a new poem for the SpeakOUT Poetry Slam that's happening at the Clayton Library at 5300 Caroline St from now until 5 PM.    For those of y'all in the Houston area y'all do have time to get over to this event if you want to check it out and FYI  the Clayton Library is on the METRORail Red Line near the Museum District station.  

The poems performed by Koomah, Tye and Scott will have TBLG themes.  I decided to write this one last night slamming the bathroom meme and the use of it by right-wing haters, Christofascists and TERF's to oppose needed trans human rights laws.

So for all the hatin' you do, this poem's for you.

Bathroom Trans Hate
An MKR Poem.

One thing I am tired of seeing
When it's time to legislate
Is certain cisgender peeps tripping
When trans human rights it's time to contemplate

It's hell out here for transpeople
That subject is not up for debate
Anti-trans violence and 26% unemployment
For non-discrimination laws we can't wait

Conservafools don't want that to happen
They'll do anything to obfuscate
So what do they do to stop it?
They deploy the bathroom trans hate

Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists
Cry the same white women's tears
I'm sick and tired of their transphobia
And disco era sneers

Have to deal to with christofascists
Letting their trans hatred flow
But God made transpeople, too
Because the Bible I read tells me so

They'll say we'll sexually assault you
Molest your kids in the stalls as they cry
But I'm here to tell you cis people
That's a baldfaced transphobic lie.

For six decades none of that's happened
From sea to shining sea
The only things transpeeps do in the bathroom
Is poop, piss and wash our hands after we pee

So let me say this succinctly
Here is my bathroom plan
I'm handling my bodily functions
And getting out as fast as I can

Yeah, I'll check myself out in the mirror
To see if I'm still looking fly
Once I've finished my beauty business
Hasta la vista, see you later, buh-bye

GOP politicians have no logical reason
To oppose trans human rights in our state
So the only tool they have to oppose it
Is to 'scurr' you with bathroom trans hate

So don't be fooled, tricked or bamboozled
All us transpeeps sure will appreciate
That you peeps do whatever you can possibly do
To flush all of the bathroom trans hate

That Cursed Pipe

Ever since I read one of my TransGriot poems during the BTMI event,  I've wanted to do more poetry slams if I can find the time and the venues that fit my schedule.

I do need to write and post more of my poetry on the blog in the future for those slow news days and weekends and to keep those skills sharp.

I needed to get out of the house last night, and with Carter making another trip down I-45, I got to hang out at Club ISIS in downtown Houston with him, Tye West and two more BTMI members for a few hours. 

Club ISIS back in the early 20th century was the original silent movie theater and three level performance venue space in H-town that has been renovated and can be (and is) rented to host a wide range of events.

One of the things that was going on there last night was a poetry slam entitled 'The Vagina Monologues' which wasn't even close to the Eve Ensler play that has an all trans version BTW, but in which the vagina was the central theme of many of the poems performed by the African descended people in the room. 

There was also a vendor area when you entered Club ISIS with several female entrepreneurs selling goods and services.  BTMI had an information table there that I kept Tye and Carter company at as the DJ played a nice mix of music.

The poetry slam got started around 7:30 PM.  Tye read one of his poems and I was so inspired by him and some of the other people reading at the event I pulled out a mini notepad and pen I keep in my purse,  scribbled this poem in 20 minutes, then stepped to the mic and performed it to an appreciative audience judging by the post performance feedback I got.

Hey, I'm blessed with mad writing skills like that.   Unfortunately it wasn't recorded.  It didn't occur to Carter and Tye to tape it until I was done.   

After I stepped away from the mic, the poetry slam concluded.   I sat down at the BTMI table and ended up being approached by several cis women in the audience who wanted to know what life was like for me and other transwomen.   Since they graciously asked, I took the time to do a Trans 101 segment and break it down for them as Tye did so from the transmasculine spectrum.

I also ended up with a few business cards for the organizer and other folks who want me at the next poetry slam they organize.

But here's the new for the 2K13 MKR poem I performed at Club ISIS, entitled 'That Cursed Pipe'  

***

That Cursed Pipe
An MKR Poem

Doctor slapped me on the butt
Mom's bundle of joy
Then he announced, "It's a boy!"
Dude, stop lying
I'm a girl with a stick for a vagina

Fighting for my femininity
They still can't see
Phenomenal transwoman
Too many of us dying
Because we want to trade the stick in for a vagina

Kunaporn, Menard, Brassard
Bowers, McGinn
Have the skills to turn the stick
from an out to an in

But I don't have 20K
For that trip to Thailand
And get the snip and tuck
And y'all fail to understand

Not all women have vaginas
Some of us aren't born with one
Femininity is way more
Than what's between your legs, hon

Don't call me he/she
Shemale, shim
Can't control the fact
I was not born a she but a him

But I got here as fast as I could
I got the snip and tuck
It's paid for with the blood
Of all the transwomen who didn't have my luck

To thrive, survive and stay alive
And know what it's like
To have a new vagina
Instead of that cursed pipe

Shouldn't Need To Show ID To Pee

TransGriot Note:  When I'm upset or pissed about something, I express it sometimes with my poetry.  Been a while since I've written one about an issue that deeply angered me enough to get to the point I'm spitting rhyming lines. 

SB 1432, the Arizona unjust 'Papers to Pee' bill qualifies as a catalyst for this latest poetic creation.

An MKR Poem

For sixty years we've been free
As transpeople to go and pee
In the bathroom that matches our identity
And this wasn't a problem until recently

Now you haters wanna jack with that tranquility
Because we're gaining trans human rights equality
Used a tactic from the white supremacist dustbin of history
And attacked trans people's humanity

Radical feminist fools and sacrilegious right wing shills
Labeling trans rights laws 'bathroom bills'
Heaping upon transpeeps around the nation
A massive helping of discrimination.

Arizona legislator John Kavanagh
Took the trans hate one step too far
With the unjust bill that's cis tyranny
And would force trans people to show papers to pee

Whether you're a trans mister or miss
All we need to do in the bathroom is poop or piss
So Kavanagh please explain to me
Why transpeople need to show an ID to pee?


As is being trans isn't a big enough life stressor
Now comes this GOP legislative oppressor
Six months in jail and a $2,500 fine
For using the bathroom?  Are you out of your mind?

Is this the way the GOP wields legislative clout?
Is this the 'small government' you rail about?
Seems like conservatives aren't having fun
Unless they're actively hating and oppressing someone

Kavanagh needs to step back and chill
And spike this oppressive and unjust bill
Because it's obvious to everyone who yearns to be free
That you shouldn't need to show ID to pee    
 

Our Special Show With Poet Staceyann Chin

Tune in to a special BlogTalkRadio show Renee and I will conduct at 8 PM EDT in which our guest will be performance poet Staceyann Chin!

We'll be 'telling you something good' as we talk about various issues with her. The online chat room for our site as always will be active and you can call in with your own questions to ask her as well.

So once again you can hear the show live starting at 8 PM EDT. If you're busy that evening you can always download it from the Womanist Musings show website.

So tune in to hear our special show with Staceyann Chin.

Don't Hate

An MKR poem


Don't hate
Because the world thinks it's great
That we have a Black president after a 200 year wait
With Michelle as his loving mate
And from the Oval Office he'll administrate

Don't hate
Because Obama can enunciate
His campaign was first-rate
Change was the theme Barack articulates
In January we'll have a prez that can communicate

Don't hate
Because America wants to repudiate
Our race-based tendency to segregate
And racism we need to obliterate
For y'all who wanna trip please emigrate

Don't hate
Because conservatism lies prostrate
You're the fools that chose to concentrate
On GLBT civil rights to eradicate
And the undemocratic agenda you pontificate

Don't hate
Because the world did celebrate
McCain and Palin's losing fate
The DC House Bush soon has to vacate
Our troops from Iraq we can extricate

Don't hate
Because 'We the people' gave them a mandate
It's time to stop bickering and cooperate
Now the Dems will get to legislate
To clean up the eight year mess we didn't create

Don't hate
Because with the planet we'll collaborate
On science and technology we'll innovate
Our children we'll recommit to educate
That's why Barack's the winning candidate

So don't hate

Poetic Posts

TransGriot Note: I love creative writing, and from time to time I like writing short stories, novels and poetry.

Some of them I've posted on TransGriot, and since there are over 900 plus posts for you to peruse, thought I'd make it easy for y'all and consolidate the poetry links in one easy to find post.

photo and video-Maya Angelou reading her poem 'On The Pulse Of Morning' during the 1993 inauguration of President Bill Clinton.



Silly Rabbit


Ebony


Batty Boys


I Am She


Fracked Up


Don't Disrespect Me



They Don't Want No Sissy Church


Phenomenal Transwoman


Houston Blues


I Am A Houston Sistah

Silly Rabbit

TransGriot Note: Was motivated to write this poem after seeing a young male wearing this anti gay slogan on a t-shirt.

An MKR Poem


Saw you on the street the other day
Wearing a shirt that was anti gay
It read, 'silly faggot, dicks are for chicks'
Thanks for the warning you're a bigoted prick

Did you know there are chicks
That don't like dicks?
And there are chicks
That possess dicks?

There are handsome Dicks
Who used to be chicks
And there are Dicks
Who are now cute chicks

So, silly rabbit
Are you in the habit
Of showing the world that in your brain
Ignorance, transphobia and homophobia reign?

And that you're immature
And insecure
In your sexuality
And gender identity?

Think about this silly rabbit, if you can
Did that shirt make you feel more like a man?
If hating gay and trans peeps makes you feel okay
You're a pathetic waste of DNA

You keep hatin' on peeps who are transgender or gay
We ain't gonna go away
'Tudes like yours cause us stress and strife
But won't keep us from living a quality life
Silly rabbit

Ebony

TransGriot Note: It's been a while since I've been motivated to write a poem about something. I started writing the first draft of this one about Ebony Whitaker the day she was buried.

An MKR Poem


Ebony
Died violently
At age twenty
Because she was T

Tossed out at sixteen
Onto Memphis streets too mean
With pockets very lean
Because of her gender dream

So this lovely teen
To make her green
And fulfill her gender dream
Strut her stuff for sex fiends

Living a street life
Full of torment and strife
While evolving to be
Ebony

She died painfully and quick
At the hands of a horny trick
Out of hatred and pure meanness
'Cause he discovered she had a penis

No vagina between her legs
Was the reason he shot her dead
Thought that was enough justification
To facilitate her short life's termination

This beautiful young woman
The world didn't understand
That although she was born Rodney
She was never a man

Thank you HRC,
And Barney
Because you don't care about transgender me
There's no Ebony

To the Memphis media who refused to look
Inside their AP stylebook
Did these peeps even go to journalism school?
'Cause the coverage of Ebony and Tiffany definitely wasn't cool

And to the cowardly waste of DNA
Who callously took your life away
This monstrous crime will not stand
Justice for you we'll always demand

My dearest Ebony
Now your femme spirit's flying free
Wonder how your life would've turned out to be
With unconditional love from your family

I Am She

An MKR poem

I am she
Was never he
May not agree
But here I be

Whoopee
I'm a divorcee
From masculinity
I'm so happy

Femininity
Is my cup of tea
But society
Questions my sanity

Fortunately
I'm not a devotee
Of your whacked ideology
And let my femme spirit free

Take a look and see
The curvy femme body
Matching the femme personality
Residing in me

Born a he
Theoretically
Ain't easy being T
But I love myself unconditonally

I am she
Was never he
I say it with glee
For eternity

Fracked Up

An MKR Poem



photo-actress Kandyse McClure as Battlestar Galactica's Lt. Anastasia Dualla-Adama














Fracked up
Jacked up
Makes me wanna act up
To keep me from blowing up

'Bout how you hate me
Berate me
Constantly denigrate me
My African-American family

There's other transpeeps like me
Out and proud as can be
From sea to shining sea
Sharing your DNA history

Praying to be free
To match mind and body
With our gender identity
That's our reality

Want to live our lives
Without the shuck and jive
Not struggle to survive
Ready and eager to thrive

Sick of your jealousy
Your faith-based hypocrisy
Taking out your anger on me
About our jacked up society

Just because I changed gender
Doesn't make me a pretender
I'm a phenomenal contender
My Blackness I refuse to surrender

Don't care if you think
It's fracked up
Jacked up
Or I just need to shut up

Because you think I should be
In my birth body
Deny my true identity
To make your insecure azz happy

Keep chomping on the Hater Tots
Ashamed of being transgender I'm not
No more tears, anguish and strife
Cause I'm honestly living a life

That's not fracked up

Don't Disrespect Me

An MKR Poem

Don't disrespect me
Because you won't see
My evolving femininity
That overrides my transsexuality

Won't let your fear
Label me as queer
I'm a woman, my dear
Hope that's crystal clear

I'm Black and proud
Opinionated and loud
Ain't just a pretty face in a crowd
Praise be to God

My inner diva is finally free
So respect my gender identity
And my humanity
From sea to shining sea

They Don't Want No Sissy Church

An MKR Poem

Faith brought us through the Middle Passage
Helped us survive slavery
It emboldened us to take out Jim Crow
And build community

Our ministers led us all those years
Had dreams like Dr. King
They ran for public office
And still dried our salty tears

But now they're on cable TV
Leaving some peeps in the lurch
Shufflin' for the GOP
'Cause they don't want no sissy church

Thought y'all were called by God
To take care of all your flock
When it comes to your GLBT children
It's them you demonize and mock

Adulterer, drug dealer or hooker
If you're straight then that's okay
If you're gay and wanna get married
You wanna ride with the KKK

The sermons in front of arena-sized crowds
Chock full of hate and bile
Dividing our community
Making white fundamentalists smile


You flap your gums on Faux News
Repeating the 'gay agenda' lie
But y'all were strangely silent
When Katrina caused our peeps to die


You're a fool for the GOP
Groveling for every faith-based cent
Not caring what you do to Black gay peeps
For that you'll have to repent

You Christopimps disgust me
You designer suit wearing sellout jerks
God and history will determine
Who the sissies are in the Black church

I Am A Houston Sistah

An MKR Poem

I am a Houston sistah that’s strong, proud and free
I am a Houston sistah that’s as fly as she can be
I am a Houston sistah cognizant of her history
And striving to live up to that powerful legacy

The ’Yellow Rose of Texas’ song is legendary
Cause Emily Morgan’s beauty changed the course of history
She mesmerized Santa Anna, let the historical record show
Just before the decisive battle at San Jacinto

Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad are the sistahs that we see
In front and behind the cameras doing quality TV
They both have style and grace, shoot they were born that way
They’re homegirls that grew up in the ward that we know as The Tre’

Barbara Jordan has her roots planted in H-town, too
She moved from Wheatley High school to the campus of TSU
Her distinctive speaking voice rang out so eloquently
On a political journey from the Nickel to DC

There’s another sistah that hails from the 7-1-3
Moved on from teaching ‘cause her heart is grounded spiritually
For this statuesque woman it really ain’t no thang
But people sho’ love to hear Yolanda Adams sang

Oops, there’s another sistah that I almost failed to mention
She has Jay-Z’s and many peeps undivided attention
My comments about sistah girl will definitely be non-malicious
Beyonce Knowles is a beauty that puts the booty in bootylicious

To all the Houston transplants, on y’all I’m not gonna hate
Cause some of y’all weren’t blessed to be born inside of Beltway 8
Mad props to our congresssistah who was born in NYC
What up to the Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee

Before I go gotta send some love the Houston Comets way
The first dynasty that dominated the WNBA
Much love to our evacuee sistahs who are moving here to stay
From New Orleans L-O-U-I-S-I-A-N-A

I am a Houston sistah, too that’s strong, proud and free
I am a Houston sistah that’s as fly as she can be
I am a Houston sistah cognizant of her history
And always striving to live up to this powerful legacy

Y’all Love Madea But Hate on Me

An MKR Poem

Black America, I hate the hypocrisy
Of you loving Madea but hating on me
It’s clear for the whole wide world to see
How you treat your transgender family

Spending the cash to see a drag show
But if your child’s transgender, out the door they go
To a cruel and tragic street way of life
Filled with anguish, torment and strife

Homies riffing on transwomen every day
Then roll into gay nightclubs and wanna play
Desiring the gurls with something extra
And begging and pleading for her to sex ya

Black churchgoers sending love Tyler Perry’s way
How much love would they show him if he were gay?
RuPaul’s already answered your question, silly
Miss Thang’s reception has been quite chilly

You Black gay peeps ain’t off the hook
Time to read y’all like a discount book
We’re not mocking gender roles, boo
Wanna honestly live our lives just like you

Whether you’re butch, femme or SGL
We’re Black, proud and all catching hell
Our enemies think we’re all lower than maggots
And just like you they call me faggot

Taking a moment to shed a tear
For my sistahs that are no longer here
For many reasons they met an untimely demise
My transsistahs be happy, be careful, be wise

We ain’t asking for much, don’t want any pity
Just show us some love in all the chocolate cities
Now run tell this to your daddy and mama
We’re sick and tired of all the ignorance and the drama

Black America, please don’t be so mean
Y’all show Madea much love on the silver screen
Your transgender brothers and sistahs hope and pray
You’ll show us the same level of love someday.

I pray that I live long enough to see
The day y’all love Madea
And unconditionally love me

Hateration

An MKR Poem


What's up with the hateration
Discrimination, segregation
Obsfucation and miseducation
Heaped upon the African nation?

What's up with the powers that be
Lip service to democracy
When it applies to me
From sea to shining sea?

Even folks who are GLBT
Express their animosity towards me
And my African-American community
How can this be?

Bump y'all haters, I can only be me
Enveloped in spiritual positivity
Beautiful brothers and sisters you're too blind to see
And still we rise for all eternity

Houston Blues

An MKR Poem

I got the 'I miss Houston' blues
Leaving was an option I didn't wanna choose
Ever since I moved away
I miss my hometown more every day

This Is It and Pappadeaux's
Blue Bell ice cream tickling my nose
Chocolate Factory at the Galleria, too
Miss chowing down on real barbecue

Rolling down 45 to Galveston Bay
Let the Gulf breeze take my troubles away
Spirit shouldn't be left in the lurch
Say your prayers at your favorite neighborhood church

Astros, Rockets, Texans, Comets
Bud Adams Oilers made me wanna vomit
When he betrayed loyal fans like me
And moved the team to Tennessee

Archie Bell, Geto Boys, children of Destiny
Making Houston music history
The soundtracks of my Houston days
Played on Majic, KCOH and KYOK

JJ, JY, James Madison
Soulful high school bands playing with passion
They rocked the Dome so give 'em their due
The Ocean of Soul from TSU

3rd Ward, the Nickel, Hiram Clarke
What up to the peeps in South Park
Alief, Sunnyside, Mo City, hey!
Montrose flipped the rainbow way

Mattress Mac saving me money
You know I'm fiending for the hometown, honey
Just before I get ready to snooze
I miss Marrrrrrrrrrvinnnn Zindler
Eyyyyyyyeewitness News

So I'm closing out this long lament
About the city where my childhood was spent
Goodbye old friend, see 'ya around
On my next sojourn to mighty H-Town.