I am a Black woman who wore a Blue uniform.
I am Black & Blue.
A product of the Jim Crow era, the Civil Rights movement, segregation, integration, a 60's baby and what my father likes to call me...a love child.
I grew up knowing that my White grandmother and Great-grandmother, just loved their brown baby girl.
Race and color, evident but not spoken.
Who we were, what we were was...love...BUT
The mis-education of this Negro woman forced me to press for, push for, pull for more,
Knowledge after all is power.
Imhotep, Mansa Musa, Nefertari, Ramses, Isis and Osirus filled my mind and my home.
Images of the Queen I was born to be and the King I wanted to be with me.
I am a Black woman who wore a Blue uniform.
I am Black & Blue.
A product of a middle class family with middle class values.
Work hard, get an education, take a city test, get a city job...
stability...security.
So, I...took a city test and got a city job.
I am a Black woman who wore a Blue uniform.
A sea of blue uniforms, made up of mostly White men.
Comrades, colleagues and friends. Unafraid because after all they had my back and I had theirs.
We walked the streets of NYC, we road the frightening, graffiti covered, crime ridden trains of the 80's.
I got my marching orders and I marched.
Arrests, summonses, training studying,
Knowledge after all is power.
Police shields, blue uniforms, handcuffs and awards filled my mind and my home.
Image of me...the cop I was and the Detective I became...and then...
History repeated itself...the 60's, the 70's the 80's all over again.
Riots, discrimination, hate, killing, murder...revolution.
I'm sorry Mr. Gil Scot Heron...THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED. Enter me...the mediator.
My Black sisters and brothers will certainly understand what the cops face as they enter our community. Let me explain...and then I am beaten until I am black and blue.
My blue brothers and sisters will understand what the community is feeling. Let me explain...I am beaten until I am black and blue.
I am a Black woman who wore a Blue uniform.
I...am...Black...and...Blue.
