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by Leroy Moore
Frida Kahlo & June Jordan
Together teaching through
Realism art & Poetry
Paints, Paintbrushes, pens and paper
Weapons of the truth
Both telling stories of the people
And their pain
Frida Kahlo in the garden with her students
June Jordan tearing down Ivory Walls with Poetry for the People
Both had a unique style of teaching
That was rooted in community
One stroke of the paintbrush opened a wound
For dark and bright colors so we can see & feel, heal & learn
Influence by their fathers
He was determine to see his daughters strive
Father & mother planted a seed in their youthful garden
Grew up poor and middle-class in New York & Mexico
Kept their individuality
That attracted many
And confused their enemies
Art n Activism
Frida join the Communist Party
June, a Black radical
She wrote, poetry is a political action!
Took their art and views to their community
Wrenching control from Mexico’s military dictator and college administrators
To deliver Power to the People
You cannot write lies and write good poetry!
Yeah, she wrote the raw truth as June puts it
because poetry is the medium for
Telling the truth
June said to speak the truth cause
We have work to do!
Frida painted her pain
Determined to face the truth squarely
With courage & honesty
Creating an open avenue of learning
Building what June calls A Community of Trust
This trust opened black hidden shame
That has been scratching to get out
To be replaced with pride & inner fame
A report card full of As
A in Art, blasting revolutionary words into the market
A in Activism, blowing up the system from in and outside
A in Academia, rolling dead white history
With Poetry for the People, a rainbow at UC Berkeley
Now they are masterminding
Creating a haven for activists\artists
A resting place, palace of vibrant colors on imaginary walls
Razor sharp words producing shock and a calm atmosphere
I can’t wait to get there
June & Frida taught the young
To wear their art & heart on their sleeves
A new generation armed with pens, pencils, paintbrushes, paints & paper
Spoken, written and painted
Following their teacher, June & Frida
On their own paths to the truth
Dedicated to June Jordan who passed last week and will always be remembered
DAMO and POOR Magazine will miss you
By Leroy F. Moore Jr.
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