Gil Scott-Heron was born in Chicago in 1949. He was a highly influential and widely admired singer, jazz pianist, published poet, novelist and socio-political commentator. His work illuminates a philosophy of life that held human affection as well as political and artistic responsibility as the underlying factors that inspired his writing. He died in 2011.
BRIDGING
I thought I saw last night
across a ridge,
an ebony bridge that spanned all chasms from
Harlem to Home.
African!
Zimbabwe with apartheid still.
Kenya, prove the Black man\’s will.
Biafra, the division is not yet killed.
African!
Queen\’s English, manners so defined
Wardrobe styled and dignified
Darker skin and no Tarzan smile.
Afro-American!
Handshake and dashikis too
James Brown doin\’ the soul boogaloo
People starving with nothing to do.
Afro-American!
Idolizing TV-man
Capitalism\’s also-ran
Colloquialism\’s cool man.
African! From the continent
Afro-Americans! From the discontent
Brothers! Can we not implement
a bit of faith?
a bit of love?
For we are all truly brothers
From the womb of mother same
From the genesis we were one
Let us be one, once again.
(Now and Then, The Poems of Gil Scott-Heron, 1990, 2000,Canongate)