Faded Asphalt Riddled with Glass and Stone

April 28, 2015

Poetry

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Faded asphalt riddled with glass and stone

Scorched deep black by disenfranchised frustration.

Called thugs and lawless, anger bubbles over,

But still nothing has changed.

The sixties are alive in well in the twenty-first century.

Civil rights are still just a dream for many

Though we’d like to believe otherwise.

So what! Segregation has been legally abolished,

The back of the bus is no longer reserved,

But what the law cannot abolish is racism.

It cannot regulate the prejudice minds of man,

It cannot extract it from our senses,

Perhaps blindness is the answer,

Plucking of the eyes from the skull.

What else can save this species,

It has been on this spiral for eternity?

Look at our history!

Enslavement, segregation, discrimination,

Poverty, lynchings, so little progress.

Yes, some of these have faded,

Replaced by polite prejudice,

But still nothing has changed.

Perhaps one day,

The ignorant will close their eyes,

Open their hearts

And realize that color is only

…Skin deep.

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Comments

23 responses to “Faded Asphalt Riddled with Glass and Stone”

Mr. Militant Negro

April 28, 2015

Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.

Reply
1. Dom DiFrancesco
  
  April 30, 2015
  
  Sorry for the late thank you, but thank you so much Jueseppi for the re-blog, I am so upset by Freddie Gray’s unnecessary death that I can’t help but write about it. Be well my friend.
  
  Reply
jmsabbagh

April 28, 2015

Beautiful message.l hope they will realize on day the We are America first and foremost,regardless off gender color or status .

Reply
1. Dom DiFrancesco
  
  April 30, 2015
  
  Thank you very much my friend, I do agree that we all are Americans regardless of race, creed, color, gender or status. I just wish everyone would remember that.
  
  Reply
  1. jmsabbagh
    
    May 2, 2015
    
    I hope soon.Regards
Jen

April 28, 2015

BRAVO, Dom!

Reply
1. Dom DiFrancesco
  
  April 30, 2015
  
  Thank you very much, I am on a social issues roll right now. :)
  
  Reply
  1. Jen
    
    April 30, 2015
    
    There’s so much going on….
  2. Dom DiFrancesco
    
    May 1, 2015
    
    There really is, it’s very sad.
awendit

April 28, 2015

We know them very. The ones who animalise (sic) mankind.

Reply
1. Dom DiFrancesco
  
  April 30, 2015
  
  It is such a horrible thing. Thank you my friend.
  
  Reply
williamleeone

April 29, 2015

To me, at nearly sixty, the progress at the grassroots level, is happening perhaps more quickly than you see from your perspective. Southwest Missouri, USA

Reply
1. Dom DiFrancesco
  
  April 30, 2015
  
  That is entirely possible William as I am not in your area. I truly hope there is a grassroots movement going on for the betterment of all citizens. Be well my friend.
  
  Reply
hitandrun1964

May 1, 2015

Disgusting, sickening and horrifying. I can’t understand it. I think it’s more than color it’s about power over others. The police have power and weapons and people don’t. The imbalance should scare all of us. They are free to do as they please to ANY of us and we are helpless against them. We should all be afraid. I think there’s something wrong with our species, big time. When we go extinct the rest of the universe should throw a party and take a deep cleansing breath to be rid of us and out constant need and thrust for VIOLENCE AND DEATH.

Reply
1. Dom DiFrancesco
  
  May 4, 2015
  
  I wish I didn’t agree with you, but I do, it really is much more than just color and yes power and might I add greed are the culprits that feed this disease. I do believe that the police are absolutely necessary and that just like any profession most are good, but there are definitely some that are bad. What they have lost though is their connection the neighborhoods they patrol, they don’t take the time to get to know the people and as a result the citizens and the police have become adversaries. This is really a shame. I sadly fear that things will get a whole lot worse before they get better. Thank you for the passionate comment my friend.
  
  Reply
OldenGray

May 6, 2015

“It cannot extract it from our senses” because they plant, grow and water such thoughts into peoples minds. Racism makes the governments money as it is a very systematic way to manipulate people and extract money from the very people they toss in jail, for no reason. People who cannot afford to pay the fines so they incarcerate them another time and the vicious cycle continues. This is not the average policeman but those with minds that are poisoned by racism . People who continue to poison their own children to carry this on. I only have one question and that is “What the hell is wrong with government for not stomping out racism rather than stomping out the lives of good people?” You would think with all the coverage they get from all the media, cell phones etc. that they would realize they have been caught too many times. Why are the same people in charge, voted back each time to continue this massacre of obvious groups? They make front page headlines and still get away with it…

Reply
1. Dom DiFrancesco
  
  May 12, 2015
  
  I think the answer as to why things are the way they are can be seen if we look in our own mirrors. We elect and reelect the same incompetent politicians over and over again thinking that the next time they get into office something will be different, but guess what, it never is. We are to blame for not taking enough interest in our government and allowing big money to buy it. The “little people” when organized in significant numbers are a very powerful force, but I don’t think that many of us have the fortitude to confront the government and the wealthy that control it to force it to change. Thank you very much for the thoughtful comment my friend.
  
  Reply
Anchors and Butterflies

May 7, 2015

Dom, I honor your passion – our milktoast mentality and political correctness is draining the lifeblood of our country. Have you read my post “An Adult Nursery Rhyme”?

Reply
1. Dom DiFrancesco
  
  May 12, 2015
  
  Thank you very much my friend, yes, I just read your piece and I think that we are of like mind.
  
  Reply
philipfontana

May 8, 2015

Dom, You put into words what we are living through…our times…relating it to our history &, yet, ended with hope for our future. –A difficult task you took on, well done!!! Thanks for the “Like” on my latest “Excuse Us…” Hope you had a laugh!!! Phil

Reply
1. Dom DiFrancesco
  
  May 12, 2015
  
  I did Phil, I find your writing to always be entertaining, keep up the great work. Thank you also for the very nice comment, I truly appreciate it.
  
  Reply
Equality 333

May 25, 2015

Yes yes yes well said my friend!

Reply
1. Dom DiFrancesco
  
  May 30, 2015
  
  Thank you very much for saying so.
  
  Reply