umbrella policy
I saw this documentary
On the Weather Underground
A group of whites
Who decided to place bombs in Federal buildings
They went off mostly
When the buildings were unoccupied
The only casualties were their own members
When a bomb exploded in their headquarters
This went on for several years
Until fatigue set in
Not only for themselves
But for an entire nation
By the end of the decade
Tired of living on the run
They surrendered to the FBI
And received light prison terms in minimum security facilities
They quickly re-entered society
Many came teachers and professors
One former member was a
Jeopardy contestant
Meanwhile
The FBI sat on their hands when Malcolm was murdered
Sat on their hands when Martin was murdered
Made sure George Jackson was taken out
Made sure Fred Hampton was taken out
Made sure the Black Panthers was taken out
Made sure Attica was fire-bombed
Almost made sure Philadelphia was burned to ground
When John Africa was taken out
Made sure they did the bare minimum to bring
George Floyd’s killers to justice
Trayvon Martin’s killer to justice
Breanna Taylor’s killers to justice
And you can believe that J Edgar
Slapped down envelopes of cash
To anyone who helped eradicate any notion of a Black Messiah
All part of their umbrella policy.

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Lawrence Miles is a poet living in White Plains, NY.  He has
 recently been published in Poets Live Fourth Anthology, 2022 New
 Generation Beats Anthology and Four Feathers Press' Sounds of Southern
 California: Poetry of Music.