“black boys ain’t meant to vanish”

Mustafa Santiago Ali

Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali is the Executive Vice President of Conservation & Justice for the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), former Interim Chief of Programs at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), and Instructor at American University. He is the Founder and CEO of Revitalization Strategies. He also serves as a commissioner for The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS). He is an award-winning writer and poet focused on social justice. Dr. Ali is frequently seen on television, including appearances on MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, VICE, FUSE, BET, National Geographic, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, and Democracy NOW! Mustafa is also a regular guest on Roland Martin Unfiltered, Black News Channel, Tavis Smiley Show, The Dean Obeidallah Show, and many others…

Editor's Note: This poem is the 115th  in our Democracy and Hope Series. This series will highlight hopeful aspects about our Democracy using various genres including poems

tamir was a name before it was a hashtag. was a laugh before it was a lesson. was twelve— not a prophet, not a threat, just a kid with a toy & a country that never learned to love Black joy.

they shot first— like god ain’t watching, like mothers don’t mourn in every language.

this poem ain’t enough. but it’s a fist raised in his name. a promise: Black boys should get wrinkled. should forget where they put their keys. should die peacefully— in sleep, not snow. ©️MustafaSantiagoAli

#Poetry #TamirRice #BLM #RIP