mobs move philly – Toni's Room

My ODE to George.

The first night of your trial I stood waiting for my son to return home.

The cops showed up first after stopping him for running.

My heart jumped outside of my chest as I struggled to prepare myself for the worst.

As he does every night,

he was running

Running in his own neighborhood.

Running at night because as a black boy He knows that black men who run in the daytime get chased and murdered.

So he runs to feel freedom in the dark of the night.

Stopped just minutes from his home by four police vehicles.

That’s 4 x 2 officers approaching a 19 year old boy who wanted to run but by the grace of God stood still.

Anxiety. Heart racing. Traumatized. Sweating. Sweating. Breathing.

Refusing the courtesy ride home in the back of the police car.

He was innocent.

No apologies for being accused of fitting the description of someone who was running and not doing anything but fitting the description of every black boy profiled.

A black boy running at night.

The cops told me that he wasn’t running when they stopped him. Thank God, I thought.

Because black boys who run get murdered.

So today I feel sad for you and all of the children we’ve lost to racism.

Today I selfishly thank you.

Thank you George for your life because it may have saved the life of my son.

A black boy who just wanted to breathe fresh air.

A black boy who just wants to feel freedom.

I pray for him.

I honor You.

You couldn’t breathe but he will breathe and run and stop and take breath and return home again today

I pray .

~ M. Tonita Austin aka Toni Love

written on the second anniversary of George Floyd’s murder. 5.25.22

Mothers of Black Sons and all who support in solidarity are welcome to join us as we stand together United against racial injustice, police brutality and inner city violence. We need your collective voice, wisdom and support to effect change. Please come out Sunday, October 16th at 12noon. We will march from Broad and Cecil B Moore Avenue to 1401 JFK Boulevard, Philadelphia. In addition to being a poet, I am the mother of a young black male. I am honored to be on the program and will recite this piece as well as my poem “Born of Warriors” written after the #PhiladoCastille murder.

MOBS can be contacted via email at : millionmomsphilly@gmail.com. Please also donate as little or as much as you can to MOBS Go Fund Me which will help cover the cost of permits and travel to our state and US capitols. Gathering as one unit is an essential part of the healing process. I hope you come.

~Toni #loveistheanswer

Not One

Not mine, son
Not mine

Not my son
Not my brother, nephew, uncle or current lover
Not my neighbor cousin or future husband

Not mine, not hers
Not anybody’s
Son

I am not saying “no more”
I am saying “not one”

We with the millions of ancestors behind us
Forge a force you will feel into centuries

Your gated communities will not be safe
Your land will not be prosperous
Your wealth will not sustain you
Your privilege will not save you

We are millions today plus millions from centuries before us
We are far more than your eyes can see

We gather together
Seen and unseen
When mothers pray
The heavens come forth to listen

So rest assured and be forewarned
There will be a price for your descendants to pay
If you ever look at our sons in a disrespectful way

We, collectively are not playing with you today

No more
Not one
Not
One
Son

Tag: mobs move philly

My ODE to George (Original Poetry)

Not One – Original poetry

Not One (New original poetry by Toni Love)