If Revolution Were an After-Thanksgiving Day Sale!

If Revolution Were an After Thanksgiving Day Sale

a sign, flashing in fluorescent colors

would declare the revolution

"NOW OPEN"

for all the sisters and brothers

And when the doors opened and the red ribbon was cut

we would rush to tear down the walls of the prison industrial complex

and a sign encouraging accountability, self actualization and healing

would declare each freed man and woman as being

"Under New Management!"


If Revolution Were an After Thanksgiving Day Sale

we would push and shove our way to the voting booths

and if the numbers didn't add up, we would snatch up the red tape

tie it around the electoral college's neck and relentlessly demand an accurate count

forcing our way to the truth, justice and righteousness of a fair price



If Revolution Were an After-Thanksgiving Day Sale

we would do flying leaps over counter/productive activities

like unprotected sex, alcoholism and drug addiction


If Revolution Were an After-Thanksgiving Day Sale

We would run to the checkouts with coupons that would guarantee us

10% off old men hounding teenage girls, 30% off domestic violence

and 50% off child molestation


If Revolution Were an After-Thanksgiving Day Sale

brothers and sisters would take mad dashes down the aisles of love

in colorful flowing dresses and white and black adorned suits

making desperate declarations of Black love, Black love, Black love

because we couldn't get enough of one another

and didn't know how to stop ourselves from overindulging


If Revolution Were an After-Thanksgiving Day Sale

Black businesses that cared about their communities and

communities that cared about Black businesses

would have two-hour long lines just waiting to get into the store

and Black investors would teach us how to layaway our money

and pay ourselves first so that each month

there would be an increase in savings

and a decrease in conspicuous consumption


If Revolution Were an After-Thanksgiving Day Sale
Real policemen would do overtime directing drug traffic

out of my community

and wouldn't take get out of jail free cards


If Revolution Were an After-Thanksgiving Day Sale

we would see each other out and about more often

except it would be at community meetings and Saturday schools

and classic soul concerts

and food co-ops with harvest goods provided by Black farmers


If Revolution Were an After-Thanksgiving Day Sale

we wouldn't be in an organization that would just debate and debate and debate

one idea after another finding fault.

We would immediately run and try things on, just grab it and go

and if one plan didn't work, then we would simply return it or exchange it for something new

all the while learning from our experiences to keep on searching for that perfect fit!

If Revolution Were an After-Thanksgiving Day Sale
If Revolution Were an After-Thanksgiving Day Sale
If Revolution Were an After-Thanksgiving Day Sale 

But

revolution is just revolution
and change never comes that easy
revolutions may be televised
but never celebrated in advance
and flyers advertising social change don't fill our mailboxes
with declarations abolishing the sale of our souls

because revolution is just revolution
and no matter if I watch or participate
either way I still feel like
one jive turkey

© November 28, 2003 Dr. Goddess / Kimberly C. Ellis, Ph.D.*

"It ain't cool bein' no jive turkey so close to Thanksgivin'... YEAH!"

All Rights Reserved You may forward, share, repost

Professional Publishers please do not publish this poem without the EXPLICIT PERMISSION of the author. Email: drgoddess(at)drgoddess(dot)com

You may see this poem performed in all of its hilarity (including the red, black and green shopping bags rushing in at the start of this trailer LIVE when Dr. Goddess!: A One Woman Show goes back on tour Spring 2011):



*"If Revolution..." was inspired by a poem written by the fabulous Tyehimba Jess entitled, "When Niggas Love Revolution Like They Love the Bulls" (1992). Thank you, Tyehimba!