"Kings Of History"

C. Steven Blue performs "Kings Of History"
at The Poetry Stage @ Festival of Eugene, 8/22/2015

Kings Of History

It's been over 50 years since the civil rights act. It's been over 25 years since the
L.A. riots of 1992 (surrounding the Rodney King verdict). We didn't address the
problems then, just like we aren't addressing them now.

Oh yeah, we will address the symptoms all day long, and plaster them on the
evening news all night long. People are rioting, looting, burning. That is against
the law. That is the problem. Bring in the State Police! Bring in the National
Guard! These people are law-breakers and must be stopped.

But those are the symptoms. We never address the underlying problems of WHY!
Why are these people rioting and looting. Why is the frustration of people played
out in violence on the streets? It is because nothing changes. Inequality and racism
are the sick underbelly of our nation, along with perpetual war and gun violence.

When the L.A. Riots happened in 1992, I was right smack dab in the middle of
them, but that is another story for another time. But I did spent that night, all night
long, watching my city burn. And while I did, I wrote a poem. It relates what
happened that night and it relates what is still happening now in our country.

The next day, I printed up hundreds of copies of my poem, went down to the
Venice Beach Boardwalk, and handed them out to people all day long.

Will we ever learn? Will we ever evolve as human beings?

Here is that poem I wrote. It is called "Kings Of History."

KINGS OF HISTORY

The true "Kings"
     in our country
always get hurt.
Why is the world
still groveling in the dirt
...searching for justice?

It's not a mystery;
just another piece of history
that the media fuels the flames of
for all to see.

Buildings continue to burn
throughout the city.
Prayers for peace
     call out-
all around.
You wonder...
"Is humanity or justice
being served?"
as you watch
     all over
          your city
burning to the ground.

Why do they never listen
when we cry out for equality?
The true "Kings" of our country
     call out-
through eternity.
Lincoln, Lennon,
Martin Luther King and the Kennedys-
     When will we finally listen?
     When will we finally see?

Why do we have to sacrifice
     so much
for so little gain?
It's about human rights.
And it's happening...
     once again.

It's not a mystery;
just another piece of history
that the media fuels the flames of
for all to see.

It's no mystery
that pent-up feelings
have taken to the streets.
But death and destruction
do not bring solution;
they only increase the pain
of an already open wound.

Why do joblessness, homelessness,
depression, frustration
and anger...
seem rampant everywhere?

while unjustified murder and beatings
go virtually unnoticed
in every town square?

Why are executions being justified
and war glorified,
yet no one around you
seems to care.

It's no wonder that anguish,
pain and alienation
are now evidenced and played out
on the streets of our nation.

Why do the "Kings"
     in our country
always get hurt?

It's not a mystery;
just another piece of history
that the media fuels the flames of
for all to see.

Buildings continue to burn
throughout the city.
Prayers for peace
     call out-
all around.
You wonder...
"Is humanity or justice
being served?"
as you watch
     all over
          your city
burning to the ground.

      © C. Steven Blue 4/29/1992

Written the night of the Los Angeles Riots
after the verdict in the beating of Rodney King