A Poem By Autum Ashante

White nationalism is what put you in bondage
Pirate and vampires like Columbus, Morgan, and Darwin
Drank the blood of the sheep, trampled all over them with
Steel, tricks and deceit.
Nothing has changed take a look in our streets
The mis-education of she and Hegro – leaves you on your knee2grow
Black lands taken from your hands, by vampires with no remorse
They took the gold, the wisdom and all of the storytellers
They took the black women, with the black man weak
Made to watch as they changed the paradigm
Of our village
They killed the blind, they killed the lazy, they went
So far as to kill the unborn baby
Yeah White nationalism is what put you in bondage
Pirates and vampires like Columbus, Morgan, and Darwin
They drank the blood of the sheep, trampled all over them with
Steel laden feet, throw in the tricks alcohol and deceit.
Nothing has changed take a look at our streets.

This poem was written by 7 year old Autum and recited by her in a Peekskill school. She then instructed just the black kids in class to stand and join with her in reciting the "Black Child's Pledge".

Of course the school freaked out to the point that they called every parent in the district to apologize for the poem whether their child heard it or not.

Personally I don't see what all the fuss is about, sure its a bit heavy on the Angela Davis for a 7 year old and I'm sure her father (who just happens to be a poet himself) had some hand in what was written but at least its a thought provoking poem. I can recall some of the lameass crap that used to be recited in my elementary school and would get condescending applause just because the kid was well a kid. Maybe I'm abnormal but I'm an advocate for schools being a place where kids can practice individual thought and have debates on controversial issues even if those issues are a bit over the head of the child at the time. Its better than spending an entire school year memorizing the answers to some stupid standardized test.

Besides that Autum deserves kudos for being brighter than the average 7 year old. Honestly have you ever tried to have a conversation with a 7 year old girl? Its enough to make you slit your own throat.

Autum also should be lauded for at least possessing some kind of racial/social consciousness in an age where most young black children's idea of being socially/racially conscious is knowing all the words to a 50 Cent song and getting cornrows.

Black power, Autum!! You adorably militant midget.