Race and Sex: 6 Word Poems

Hi all,
We've been having some deep, intense discussions on race and sex the past 2 months. At our last session we did a brief writing exercise. The results were so moving and startling that I asked participants if I could put their poems on our blog. The assignment was to write a 6-word poem responding to the question: "What process do Black men use to lovingly connect with their humanity within a community that fears their power? How do they reveal their power effectively?"

vulnerable self recalls mother's love unyielding
--Shelly Roder

Black
mindfully man
breath be
me
--Yvette Mitchell

patriarch under
heel
love freely
--Ava Hernandez

deliberate stillness informing
determined action
persuades
--David Menees

realized ability
conspicuous civility
awareness
shared
--Keith Knox

Digest poison,
Allow lovingkindness,
Unfold yourself.
--James Murrell

survive beyond
forced identity
loving within
--Heidi Matera

its hard. dont stop. attempt again.
--Kelly Knoke

shunned but not feared
i'm stumped
--Peggy Hong