Big Brother, Part 1
A poem by Leon Cherry, River North Correctional Center
February 2018
Big brother, lil' brother years apart in creation,
but if you take a good look at us both,
you can tell -- we are related.
Even though many may say we are far from being twins,
they are not realizing that we are identical,
not in our appearance but in our DNA of the
American Ancestry within.
Inequality is our father.
I was his first son to be and he taught me how
not all humans deserve to be free
and being your Big Brother, I instilled this in you
steadily, leading by example, so you would know
how important it is -- to preserve our legacy.
Because larger than any status, way bigger than any name
is that our control of justice, wealth, and freedom
continues -- to remain.
So what you are doing now are the lessons I gave to you -take it from me,
keep 'em separated and suppressed...
You are making your Big Brother proud,
Slavery.
Big Brother, Part 2
A poem by Leon Cherry, River North Correctional Center
February 2018
Lil' brother, big brother, years apart in creation
but if you take a good look at us both,
you can tell we are related
even though we are not the same in the way
our structures are arranged.
The blood of this being "our country" runs through
both our veins.
Racism is our mom, and she really spoiled me,
letting me take 5 to every 1 and then hang in the pod --
or on my yard instead of being in a tree.
See big bro' I learned from you that our family comes
first even at the cost of separating theirs
and using them for cheap worth.
I seen how you did it using lashes and chains
but I use 3 strikes, ankle monitors, mandatory minimums and felony limitations to ensure our legacy remains.
All I'm doing is applying the lessons you gave me
about preservation -- keeping 'em separated
and suppressed...
It's good to know I'm making you proud.
Your little brother,
Mass incarceration.