Teen Lab at the Art Institute of Chicago
Princess Gonzalez, Meisha Williams, Jasmine Wesley
Combining poems created from various artists around the black lives matter movement, and Nina Simone’s “Strange fruit” the students took to the galleries to declare the importance of the black body and point out the travesties and devastation that it has faced in a search for equality. Robert Gober's Untitled, 1989, inspired their project
Black Bodies
Tonight we come together, as Teens from Teen Lab, to present to you all a poem titled “Black Bodies”. This poem was a combination of various poems written by other poets; Danez Smith, Nina Simone and others alike.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared
Southern trees bearin’ strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood on the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
My friends are in the streets protesting again, again, and again
We beg for peace but all you hear is fire
SIXTEEN SHOTS
SIXTEEN SHOTS
SIXTEEN SHOTS
I’m tired because I’m forced to stay woke
I said I’m tired because I’m forced to stay woke
A black body falling from 300 miles up
A black body that runs through the valley of fears
A black body accustomed to these elements
Southern trees bearin’ strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood on the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Black men bones are the gavel with which judges finalize false convictions
Govern these black bodies, I said govern these black bodies, keep governing these black bodies
Indict. Convict. Send these killer cops to jail
The whole damn system is guilty as hell
When a black body is lynched it doesn’t make a sound
When a black body is shot it doesn’t make a sound
When a black body is brutally beaten it doesn’t make a sound
NO JUSTICE. NO PEACE
NO JUSTICE. NO PEACE
NO JUSTICE. NO PEACE.
Cause I can’t breathe
She can’t breathe
We can’t breathe
Southern trees bearin’ strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood on the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared
My friends are in the street protesting again, again, and again
But I’m…
Trying to keep my faith
But I’m looking for more
Somewhere I can feel safe
And end this holy war