{UAH} NOW THAT MADIBA IS DEAD

now that Madiba is dead...

 

From M Thandabantu Iverson

 

beware the icon makers

they will say he was great

they will laud his calls for peace

they will wring their hands and cry

speaking only of the man

disregarding the people

explaining away the movement

pretending the revolution was won

they will deny their guilt

denying their privilege

obscuring his birth in the pains and the blood of his people denying the capital crimes of neoliberal friends of apartheid still alive now that Mandela is dead

 

they will say no one else will come

they will wink that we still organize

they will pretend that de Klerk was his friend they will ignore the birth pangs in Jo’burg today pretending to honor him with deceitful silence in the face of Capetown shanties and Manenburg misery and Durban oppression while former murderers still prey and bougie negros still play while lying bishops still pray and corporations still rape and the people in South Africa still die like people across the Global South as the Revolution dies as Madiba’s children live in squalor as the wine growers awake in shacks as the homeless sleep beneath the floors of stores—after hours when they will not be seen while they are still being sold

 

beware the speakers of phrases that lie

they will disremember liberation struggles that have yet to be won they will pretend that Mandela belonged to them denying the people to whom he belonged

 

remember to remember Chris Hani

remember to remember Robben Island

remember to remember the South African Charter remember to remember that icons created by oppressors will never liberate the people remember to remember that they are still killing Martin remember to remember that they are still killing Malcolm remember to remember that Assata still lives remember to remember that our liberation will be sold to us for profits unless we work for it with our minds and our actions then we will remember Mandela as he was for he will live inside us and the lies will no longer deceive because the struggle will continue and the last will be first at last

 

Forwarded by Ezili's Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network

 

           Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
           Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"