(AFTER READING AN ANTHOLOGY OF BLACK POETS ON THE OCCASION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH)
TO: BLACK POETS
FROM: ALLIED POET (AND FRIEND)
RE: THE THING ABOUT WHITE PEOPLE
IN LIGHT OF 1) RECENT HISTORIC EVENTS AND 2) SUBSEQUENT, APPARENT REGRESSION OF SOCIETAL NORMS, AND 3) TO ASSIST IN YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH AND EXPANSION WITHIN WHITE AUDIENCES, THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES ARE PROPOSED:
1. THE USE OF AN ASTERISK TO INDICATE WORDS/PHRASES UNIQUE TO, OR WHOSE USE IS UNIQUE WITHIN, BLACK CULTURE AND/OR EXPERIENCE WILL COMFORT THE READER IN THEIR UNCERTAINTY AND CONFIRM THE NORMALITY OF THEIR SENSITIVITIES, WHILE TACITLY COMMENDING MORE INFORMED READERS. (E.G., CLAY, FLESH, FREEDOM)
2. THE USE OF ITALICS FOR NON-EUROPEAN NAMES, CONCEPTS, AND LANGUAGE WILL BOTH EMPHAISZE THEIR GLAMOR AND INSPIRE AN ACADEMIC IMPETUS TO NOTE THESE CONCEPTS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH. (E.G., ORISHA, MAAFA, DIASPORA)
3. LIMIT HISTORIC AND CULTURAL REFERENCES TO FIGURES NOT COMMONLY DISCUSSED WITHIN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM YET OFTEN FEATURED AND/OR MENTIONED IN READILY CONSUMABLE AMERICAN PUBLIC RADIO AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A PRODUCTIVE BALANCE BETWEEN SELF-DOUBT AND SELF-ASSURANCE WITHIN THE READER. (E.G., ANGELA DAVIS, CLAUDETTE COLVIN, MEDGAR EVERS)
4. LIMIT COMPOSITIONS TO THEMES OF SLAVERY, OPPRESSION, OVERCOMING/SUCCUMBING TO ADVERSITY, JAZZ, AFRICA AND/OR HARLEM, AND CULTURAL/POLITICAL RESISTENCE IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE CONGNITIVE DISSONANCE AND ASSURE THE READER THEY ARE EXPERIENCING AUTHENTIC BLACK POETRY. (I.E., AVOID TOPICS SUCH AS PERSONAL HYGIENE, QUOTIDIAN DOMESTIC LIFE, OCCUPATIONAL ANGST, ETC..)
FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES WILL ENSURE THE STEADY GROWTH AND RETENTION OF WHITE AUDIENCES, MAINTAIN A COHESIVE NARRATIVE OF THE BLACK EXPERIENCE, AND BUILD A STRONG, LOYAL FOUNDATION OF ALLYSHIP FOR OUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.