Time to greez : incantations from the Third World 9780912078441, 0912078448

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INCANTATIONS FROM THE THIRD WORLD Third World Communications Janice Mirikitani, Luis Syquia, Jr., Asian Editors Suriel Oay 11, Black Editor Janet Campbell Hale, American Indian Editor Alejandro Murguia, Roberto Vargas, La Raza Editors Jim Dong, Rupert Garcra, Graphic Editors with an Introduction by Maya Angelou

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Special thanks to Diana Diaz, Rev. A. Cecil Williams, Neighborhood Arts Program, Pat Alm, Gail Larrick.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Main entry under title : Ti me to greez l 1. American poetry- Minority authors. 2. American poetry-20th century. I. Mirikitani, Janice, ed. PS591.M54TS5 811 '.5'408 7 5-355 ISBN 0-912078-44·8

A Co-Publishing Venture of Glide Publications and Third World Communications. Order directly from Glide Publications 330 Ellis Street, San Francisco, California 94102. $4.95 paperback. Please add SOc for postage and handling. ISBN 0-912078-44-8 LC 75-355 Copyright O 1975 by Third World Communications All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Design and composition by Zoe Brown. Production: David Charlsen / Charlsen + Johansen & Others. Covet: Joe Ramos

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INTRODUCTION A certain story has been going around for nearly two centuries. Songs have been written on the theme, school children have been made to memorize the plot and politicians- oh- politicians make the populace weep with the telling of it. Story: The Founding Fathers and other larger-than-life heroes fought and worked to make this country (James Baldwin calls it .. These yet-to-be-United States") a free land where ALL people could be assured " domestic tranquility" and "general welfare." The story goes on to say during those 200 years, the Americans (heroes of the plot) applied the most profound concepts of Democracy the world had ever known. Just 85 years after the Declaration of Independence was ratified (proving that this was a land of justice and equality for all), the Emancipation Proclamation was signed and a few million people who had been chattel slaves were freed. And that happened just 85 long years after other REAL people had their independence. The pioneers (hardy, brave and God-fearing Americans) crossed the country, putting to rout the pagan, primitive and bloodthirsty Indians (so named because an early European explorer got lost on an ocean cruise), making the new world free for Democracy. Although the settlers were hard working and industrious, they couldn't do the work of conquering the West alone. They allowed Filipinos, Mexicans, and Orientals in to share this land of plenty. Unfortunately, the plenty didn't include enough for the Asian workers• wives and families. So, they were left in China, Japan, Formosa, Korea, and other places. Our brothers South of the Border were brought in to help and share the Plenty. They lived in colo.rful parts. of town named barrios and were called many interesting names other than Mexican Ame~icans. The story goes on and on and is so fictional it has little to do with a nyone living or dead. Now in this Book, Time to Greez! , we hear the truth-:- Blacks, Browns, Reds, Yellows are telling the story. The poetry sings and the total effect is harmony. There is hurt 1 humor, and hope in these pages. The hurt of concentration camp, cockroaches, and drugs; of broken treaties and promises; of old men living dried old lives in the blazing sun of California farmlands. There is enchantment of the beauty in Blackness and the searing awareness that Beauty is not enough. There is the wry chuckle of cooking chitlins in a newly integrated white suburbia, the simple appreciation of Pablo Neruda's human-ness, and the

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American Indian selection that comes like a faintly heard chant late at nigh L These colors have come together in a rainbow. This, too, is America-where she has come from-and a close and honest look will inform the reader where she is going and, probably saddest of all, why. Joy! in the reading

Growth! in the learning and Wisdom! in the understanding.

Maya Angelou

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PROLOGUE People come together behind common needs, issues, and goals. Third World Cqmmunications, formed in 1971, is a coalition of Black; Raza, Asian, American Indian, and Native Island people. What we all had in common was our involvement in writing, art, and our communities. The racism, poverty, lack of power and resources in the publishing arena are factors we all experience as Third World people. We had a real need to participate in providing vehicles for the communities to experience their own creative resources. We recognize the necessity for Third World people to have accessible to them material written by and for them-we must be able to see, hear, feel, smell,' • taste portraits of ourselves. All of us have experienced working in our respective communities and in writing workshops, attempting to publish soul reachers: Aion (Asian American), Pocho che (Raza), San Francisco Black Writers Workshop, and American Indian artists have attempted to nurture and encourage Third World people to express ourselves through avenues by which we can be heard and reinforced on a broader scale, articulating who we are through our own eyes and entrails. We share the common problems of racism, lack of capital and tools; but we share the common beauty of understanding and expressing the rhythm and color of our lives- for real. Others are constantly trying to study, talk, write about us, resulting in distortions, myths, and lies about Third World people. They hear, but with tin ears; they see, but with color blindness; they taste without the seasoning and history of the food. Even the well-meaning outside of the Third World cannot express the soul of it because they have not 11 lived in the house," and do not speak the depth of the language. This book is a many-sided mirror of our lives, reflecting the colors and sounds, tastes, smells, touch of our homes, the rhythm of our inner music, the music of our food, the food of our lives. Eating chittlins is not just subject for fad jokes; we had to eat them because there wasn't anythlng else. Fish heads and dried squid didn't grow on land, because there wasn't any, and we could not afford to throw away chicken feet. Rice and beans weren't too bad if you had to make it on them ' everyday. Poverty is the menu; but as we've made the best tasting foods out of oppression, so have our songs become the most beautiful and deepest sounds in the world. The "greez" is a feast- a sharing of our food. This book is a sharing of spirits and a feast of words, music and symbols. It's Time to Greez! The Editors

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Brenda Paik Sunoo

i can understand why it's hard to soften the visions of war especially when warm tears have fallen upon families' bodies soaken red ' in pools of running blood i can understand how relighting the memories of promises broken bum to ash the million hearts that once beat in tune and that we, the exiled were forced to leave to make families our strangers and strangers our friends but when will we understand WHAT IT WAS and WHAT IT IS that sets the stage aflame where people kill each other ruthlessly, in spite of .id ent1ca ·1 name . . . ?. ·th e1r

1974

"I can understand • .• " appeared in Insight, New York, New York . a Korean newsletter.

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Luis Syquia, Jr. CHAMELEON BROWN (excerpts)

... beginning beginning it never ends jack of all trades master of trends change change Iike a chameleon do from white to black from brown to blue shed the skin that ain't a part of you clothes are not the skin of a man just as skin is not the

essence change change like a chameleon do from white to black from brown to blue . . .

Luis Syquia, Jr. KUNDIMAN (LOVESONG)

so much so much depends on the chemistry of island / strong blood pulling drawing us together by the power of moonlike radiance in our eyes

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Luis Syquia, Jr. SUMMER '74

dedication: to proletarian poets Who are the poets? of the popular phrases the slogans the worn but true cliches we use everyday? Who are the poets? of passion and fashion spokesmen of the streets "out-a-sight," "take it easy" "can you dig it," "what it is?" -speaking to the .gut and mind Who are the poets? cc1pturing the moment seizing the time with a "right-on," 11slap-five" 11 heavy-duty," "time to greez"? Who are the poets? penniless yet rich in spirit who penned "power to the people! " "one struggle many fronts"

"maklbako! huwag matakot!" "struggle! be not afraid!" Who are the poets? who made "viva la huelga! " "remember attica!" "mabuhay ang masa! "-the battlecry and inspiration of oppressed peoples everywhere Who are the poets? who do not search for glory but for ·truth not for fame nor fortune nor recognition but for JUSTIFICATION-whose words motivate others to righteous action Who are the poets? going beyond rhetoric inspiring the progressive passions of mankind-enflamed by the gift of holy tongues-moved \.ff'll]I 1.,

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by a visionary sacred pen marking the spirit of the masses Who are the poets?

Luis Syquia, Jr. ISLANDS ON Fl RE

i can smell the smoke here-this autumn day it's not burning leaves it smells like scorched flesh napalm & gunfire thousands of political prisoners patriots rotting away in faraway concentration camps i smell the smoke carried across leagues of ocean drifting in with the pacific breezes pounding waves of revolution crashing upon the rocks islands on fire islands on fire no phoney referendum, no 2nd rate spies, no deceptive land reform, no puppet tyrant can conceal the fact islands on fire listen, listen for the muted echo resounding in your ear listen to the cries behind the lies, screaming for liberation from your island roots islands on fire can you read behind the one-sided lines can you see behind the paranoid don't-rock-the-boat eyes of those coming back nevertheless, the peoples' democratic movement is gaining, the NPA is advancing

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like the surging tide/ winning victories in Mindanao & Luzon calling to all who cherish the God-given right of civil liberties to speak out against the injustice & unspeakable horrors of marcoslaw in the philippines to speak out against u.s. aid to the marcos regime to speak out against another vietnam to speak out against the outrage of 40 million stifled tonguesif you cannot hear it you are deaf if you cannot see it coming you are blind if you cannot speak out against the outrage you are dumb -but can't you smell, can't you smell the billowing smoke approaching from the pacific sea! ? ? the smoke from millions of burning hearts yearning to be free ! ? ? it's in the air, kapatid islands on fire islands on fire islands on fire .... Spring, 173

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Teresinha Alves Pereira CAPITAN ASESINADO

Los gorilas estan sueltos. Yo, sentado en el muelfe, sueiio ... un dia el cuadro de familia saldra de (la pared y en SU lugar el padre sera el heroe aquel mismo asesinado en la plaza en (panico. Pero es imposible cantar su muerte y hacer con su historia un cuento de santo y martir, porque tengo una cita, yo tambien, y es una cita de honor, ya sin protesta: no cantare mientras apunte luchas y opresiones y cortare mi Iengua para no entregaros, compaiieros. La pofic{a impide que lo sepa fa gente, que salgan noticias en letras de can(ciones, y los romanceros son ya uf trapasados en esta epoca de maquinas.

Les molesta acompafiar al viejo a su (tumba. y fos gorilas dicen que lo olviden, que las nuevas leyes traen un banquete de progreso, que el hombre medio come mas y pasea en coche, y si puede todo esto no necesita hablar de heroes. Pero tu catastrofe, hombre medio, te aguardara tambien atras de la (puerta y te cogera un d{a tarde o temprano como una aparici6n sospechosa de rea(lidad. "Capitan Asesinado" appeared in Mientras Duerne lo Primo Vero, Coyacan, Mexico, 1974.

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INDEX OF CONTRIBUTORS Alegrfa, Fernando LA RAZA 160-161 Alexander, Donald BLACK 95·100 Alur£sta LA RAZA 203-204 Angelou, Maya iii Avotcja LA RAZA 177-179 Becenti, Francis AMERICAN INDIAN 145-146 Black well, Barbara 8LAC K 94 Bradley, Valerie Jo BLACK 84 Breeze, C. BLACK 115 Brown, Richard BLACK 80 Bullins, Ed BLACK 84-85 Cabanero, Laurena ASIAN 64 Cachapero, Emily ASIAN 64-67 Carrillo, Graciela LA RAZA 196 Chenault, John BLACK 87-88, 90 Choy, Curtis ASIAN .54-57 Clay,Buriel, 11 BLACK 81.119-120 Coaston, K. BLACK 101 Cobb,JaniceC. BLACK 108-109 Cruz, Victor Hern.indez LA RAZA 165, 16 7 Donegan, Pamela BLACK 91-92 Dong, Jim ASIAN 2, 18, 38-39 Feria, Dolores S. ASIAN 72 Fong, David ASIAN 24-28 Fuentes, Juan LA RAZA 188 Garcia, Juan Castanon LA RAZA 176 Garc(a, Rupert LA RAZA 158 Hagedorn, Jessica Tarahata ASIAN 28-32 Hale, Janet Campbell AMERICAN INDIAN 135, 150-155 Hamilton, Charles BLACK 106 Henderson, David BLACK 107 Hernandez,Ena LARAZA 187, 189-191 Hopkins, Roy George AMERICAN INDIAN 148-149 Hruska-Cortis, Eli.is LA RAZA 192-195 lnada, Lawson Fusao ASIAN 73-77 Jundis, Orvy ASIAN 70 Kobayashi, Chris ASIAN 59 Kudaka, Geraldine ASIAN 33-35 1..a Rose , Beryle AMERIC;\N INDIAN 136-137 LeMarr, Jean AMERICAN INDIAN 134, 147 Lee, Kenneth ASIAN 46-49 Leong, George ASIAN 16-17 Lincoln, Abbey . See Moseka, Aminata Lockett, Reginald BLACK I 13-1 14 Lum, Wing Tek ASIAN 60-62 Mariano, Bayani J. ASIAN 40-41

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Mcjunkins, Irwin L. BLACK 93 Mendez, Consuelo LA RAZA 166 Mills, Alison BLACK 118 Mirikitani, Janice ASIAN 3, 10-14 Monroe, Arthur BLACK 89 Montoya, Jos~ LA RAZA 185-186 Moreno, Dorinda LA RAZA 169-173 Moseka, Amina ta BLACK 1 t 4, 116 Murguia, Alejandro LA RAZA 159, 197-199 Nishikawa, Lane ASIAN 54 Nitamayo ASIAN 58 Nkabinde, Thulani B,LACK 102· 104 Ogletree, Carolyn BLACK 86-87 O. V. ASIAN 70 Parrish, Dorothy C. BLACK 104·106 Penaranda, Oscar ASIAN 69 Pereira, Teresinha Alves LA RAZA 209-210 Potts, Jim BLACK 116-117 Reed, Ishmael BLACK 121 · 122 Reingold, Evelyn Joyce BLACK 123-124 Robles, Alfred ASIAN 36-37 Rose, Wendy AMERICAN INDIAN 138-141, 143-144 Salinas, Omar LA RAZA 174-175 Salinas, Raul LA RAZA 183-184 Serrano, Nina LA RAZA 162-164 Shange, Ntozake BLACK 110-112 Simon, Sister Paula X. See Sister Pau la X. Sister Paula X BLACK 82 St. Martin, James AMEf{lCAN INDIAN 142 Sunoo, Brenda Paik ASIAN 18-19 Syquia, Luis, Jr. ASIAN 20-23 Syquia, Serafin Malay ASIAN 4-9 Tagatac, Sam ASIAN 52-53 Taylor,WilliamH.,111 BLACK 102 Thanh Hai ASIAN 43-45 Trujillo, Marcela LA RAZA 200-202 Tsui Kit-fan ASIAN 50-51 Vargas, Roberto LA RAZA 159, 205-208 Viramontes; Xavier LA RAZA 181 Whitney, J. Stephen BLACK 83 Williams, Donald BLACK 109-11 0 Williams, John A. BLACK 125-131 Wong, Nanying Stella ASIAN 69 Yamamoto, Doug ASIAN 71 Yashima, Mitsu ASiAN 15 Yee; M. ASIAN 42 Zarco, Cyn ASIAN 63

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