A Poem by Julia Wright, daughter of Richard Wright
It feels strange to have a poem dedicated to me, but so it goes.
Julia Wright, the daughter of Richard Wright, is a terrific struggle poet, reflecting the news of our times in the condensed form of verse.
Today, she sent a poem that she had dedicated to a few of us…..me in unexpected company.
I want to share it because I feel so honoured to be in their company, and because I blushed hard to have this lovely poem given to me as a gift.
About the company she put me in, one of them is Amilcar Cabral.
1804 Books has just published a two volume collection of his speeches given to the PAIGC (African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde & Guinea-Bissau) schools and, including, a question and answer session with comrades. They are a remarkable collection.
The other is the Alliance of Sahel States, about whom 1804 has published a very good introduction - at least on Niger - by Alex Anfruns Millán called Niger: Just Another Coup . . . or a Pan-African Revolution? You will learn much from it.
And now the poem:
Do Not Be Afraid.
Julia Wright
to Vijay Prashad, Amilcar Cabral and the Association of Sahel States
how far back
into defeat
must the achievements
of our history
rewind ?
how far back
can the clock
of victory
unwind ?
how do we stop
the cycle
of encountering
backlash
each time ?
could we have stopped
Reconstruction
from
becoming Jim Crow ?
could we have stopped
Black Lives Matter
from ushering in
Emperor Trump ?
Could we have saved
Patrice Lumumba
from being reduced
to a gold tooth
how do we stop
the crazy spinning of the
imperial toy ?
Your reply :
do not be afraid
to win
do not be afraid
of the heavy responsibilities of victory
and the dialectics
of keeping the People alive
do not be afraid
to be a liberation movement
in power
do not be afraid
to support
the liberation movements
in power
while it is still time
(c) Julia Wright. March 25 2025.
Wonderful to hear from Julia Wright! Richard Wright’s daughter is a brilliant poet, a jewel in the movement for Justice ! A gift to us all. May the movement continue and flourish!