I'll close with a sampling from a piece by Teré Fowler-Chapman.
"My only advice to him is to remember everything.
Remember the way your palms wrapped behind your back
and didn't know how to pray backwards.
Remember the officer's name.
Remember the way they talked through.
Remember when you said it was your first time being arrested
and he responded, really.
Remember the first poem you shot to the sky.
Remember the blood rushing in your veins.
Remember the moment you cried.
Remember the first time you thought
about being a better man.
Remember the man you are already.
Remember the way he questioned the white clerk
when they declined pressing charges on you.
Remember it was just a pack of gum.
Remember you are full of forgiveness
and deserve it back.
Remember you love and deserve it back.
Remember it was just gum and just like that.
Remember it's your city.
But it's not your justice system.
Remember you will fit the description whether you
pick the gum up or not--
whether you did it or not.
Remember you are guilty or not.
Remember folks are being murdered these days
with purchased Skittles in their hands
in the middle of middle class in the middle of morning.
Remember they will criminalize you.
Remember they will demoralize you.
Remember there's nothing cool about filling
the bed they made for you.
Remember to make your own bed.
Remember the way you are rapped about,
the way you are televised, the way you are publicized.
Remember the definition of fitting in
was born out of standing out.
Remember to write your own story.
Remember that you are a man afraid of fucking up.
Remember that's when it happens--
our men fucking up.
Remember before this store-- before this system--
before this pack of gum, you were here first.
You are that kind of god, son.
Remember you are that kind of god."
Teré Fowler-Chapman.