A Play
Moses: Sweetheart I’m going to jail!
Elisheba: Why?! Moses what happened?
Moses: Post slavery but pre-liberation, the judicial system has found a way to continue the denegation of African Society. I am still among the contemptuous breed in the eyes of the law. Slavery paid for civilization but it didn’t liberate us because they never wanted integration so they use incarceration and colonization to further degrade and oppress us.
Elisheba: Well guess what Moses? You have a strong woman by your side. I will bring our son and our daughter to see you even if they send you away to the highest mountain top!
Moses: This sounds like a plan. We must show them that no matter how long we are separated they will never divide us.
Now I just have to figure out a way to tell Prodigy and Treasure.
Elisheba: Kids! Come in here please, me and your father need to have a talk with you.
Treasure: Hey Mom and Dad what’s up?
Prodigy: Let me guess Dad you’re going to jail, and Mom you’re pregnant again?
Moses and Elisheba: How did you know that?
Moses: Wait! You’re pregnant again?
Elisheba: Sorry Baby I just found out this morning.
Moses: Don’t be sorry, this is beautiful. I’ve always wanted a large family.
Elisheba: But Moses I will be raising the kids alone.
Moses: Don’t worry, I will only be gone for 10 years to life at the most, but I might even get the death penalty depending on the mood of the judge, and what trauma he has developed from criminal encounters in his personal life and family. It also depends on the races and coercion of the jury of my enemies, because if they were my peers they would have empathy, grace, and mercy on me, and not allow their emotions towards my race dictate my fate. But wait a minute, how did you know what we were going to say Prodigy?
Prodigy: Because it’s written in stone the fate of our community, and mass incarceration is used as genocide towards the African race. I will probably be going to jail soon too. So just tell me all about it after you are settled in so I can be prepared and know what to expect when it’s my turn. I mean at least I can stay alive in jail for the rest of my life, if I choose a life of crime. But if I avoid crime, further my education, dedicate to a career path, and never break the law. I am liable to get pulled over and killed for being too intellectual or straying too far away from the precedented conditioning set by the oppressor for African’s, by accumulating too many accolades.
Treasure: You’re right about the conditioning! Look at how they have us calling each other black, colored, brown, etc. In attempts to oppress and instill their language upon us. Creating division and it worked, then it stuck! They have labeled us as if we are a brand of meat and cheese.
Elisheba: I concur and don’t try to dream beyond the stars or believe in yourself more than three fifths because then they might even put their knee on your neck to suffocate you in front of the entire world just to show how much they feel you don’t deserve to breath, and that you don’t deserve to exist.
Moses: I just hate that I have to be away from you all. What I do believe we must do is communicate with one another as much as possible about whatever thoughts and feelings that we have during this time of bondage.
Prodigy: Well I feel like I don’t want to live in fear. I feel like I’d rather die than to go to jail. So can you be a man and kill me right now Dad? At least I know you did it to save me. Let’s just all die together right now so we can escape from under the thumb of this regime certified for us.
Treasure: Prodigy don’t be silly! You want to know what I think? I think we should all just go to Africa. I’ve heard some folks having live discussions on the internet talking about “The New Jerusalem” and how soon we will all be able to restart our lives in this new land. How nice would it be to arrive to a land with no imperialism or oppression. Seeing all of your own folks, no overseers, nobody bound and enslaved. Just a peaceful arrival upon equality and not survival instinct.
Elisheba: That does sound nice Treasure.
Moses: Well dammit let’s go then! I am not going to court. I am innocent anyway. I have always been innocent. My actions may not be perfect but my skin can’t commit crimes by existing. Let them issue a warrant for me. I will change my name. I will let my hair grow and I will pray to our God 7 times daily for protection. They will never catch me. I will receive asylum by the purity of my heart, my intentions, and my faith. My solace will remain in my gratitude for being born African.
Prodigy: Come on! Lets go!
Elisheba: On the count of three let’s open the door.
Elisheba, Treasure, Moses, Prodigy: One, Two, Three!
Moses: Man, this is the first time out of our living room. It’s beautiful out here. So Treasure, you seem to be the most enlightened. How do we get to Africa from here?
Afterword: I wrote this short but impactful story to show how incarceration can put families in constant fear and become a personal narrative they spend every minute of their lives trying to avoid. This can be traumatic and stagnating. This family never left the house but constantly prepared for the turmoil of life for Africans in America. They’ve been blinded by fear and stigma for so long that they had no clue on how to travel anywhere beyond their living room. But the most important thing about this story is how they had a solid plan of sticking together and maintaining their solidarity during that time of turmoil. If you’ve ever encountered the wolf of incarceration, I encourage you to comfort and support whomever the recipient of this oppression may be. Even if it’s not financially but just words of motivation and acknowledging their bravery to get through such a rough endeavor. It is not easy, but it is possible. It is formidable but we are triumphant. I also want you stand clear of brain washing yourself into believing this narrative in such a way that it stagnates you. Of course, we have to make wise choices and watch where we step but we can’t be afraid of living life as Africans in America. We are deserving and we are capable. We belong and we should be determined to show why we are amazing, and why we deserve plots of this land just as much as anyone else. We can only change this narrative by showing we are not just an angry race who believes we deserve reparation. The only way we can do this is by remaining in solidarity, unionizing, developing, and sharing. So please fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, uncles and aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins, be there for one another. Love one another and learn from one another. Don’t let pride make you feel like you don’t need anyone or allow the independent ego make you competitive and self-centered. We are here to love and embrace one another. We are here to be unique examples for one another, and to set unique examples for one another. Fellows protect your ladies, and be good examples for other men on how to respect femininity. Ladies support one another, uplift one another, and share experiences with one another, and show your fellow’s why they should respect femininity. But most of all show your fellows, that love doesn’t mean femininity, but femininity is what makes a man complete when he knows the definition of love.
Truly Yours,
V”KNO’Michelle
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