feature: the radical poetry of abiodun oyewole (of spoken word group the last poets)

Socially conscious and politically charged—this describes the profound poetry of Abiodun Oyewole, one of the founding members of the revolutionary, spoken word group “The Last Poets”. The Last Poets emerged during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s; they were heavily inspired by the work and teachings of Malcolm X, and used their radical, rhythmic poetry as a tool for spreading awareness and ideas of self-determination and unity throughout the black community. When speaking about Malcolm X and the mission of The Last Poets, Oyewole stated: “all we wanted to do was be disciples of Malcolm, in a sense, using poetry to illuminate the same values that he planted in our heads”. Much like Malcolm X, The Last Poets were uninhibited in their mission of promoting Black Nationalism and they did so with undeniable passion and zeal.

By Damola Durosomo, AFROPUNK Contributor

.

.

The Last Poets went on to create several monumental recordings including the provocative “Niggers are Scared of Revolution”, “Before the White Man Came”, “and the renowned “When the Revolution Comes”. Abiodun Oyewole and The Last Poets are often referred to as the “grandfathers of hip-hop”; their rhythmic compositions, bold lyrics, and distinct style laid the foundation for the hip-hop movement that followed. Numerous hip-hop artists have sampled The Last Poets, and have cited them as originators of the art form. There is no doubt that Oyewole and The Last Poets have influenced generations of artists and activists. Check out some of his work below.

The Last Poets- Niggers Are Scared of Revolution

The Last Poets- Before the White Man Came

The Last Poets- When the Revolution Comes

The Last Poets: Made in Amerikkka

Blessed are Those Who Struggle by the Last Poets

Blessed are those who struggle

Oppression is worse than the grave

Better to die for a noble cause

than to live and die a slave

Blessed are those who courted death

Who offered their lives to give

Who dared to rebel, rather than serve

to die so that we might live

Blessed are those who took up arms

and dared to face our foes

Nat Turner, Vesey, Gariel, Chinque

To mention a few names we know

Blessed are the memories of those

who were there at the Harper’s Ferry Raid

Strong were their hearts, noble their cause

and great was the price they paid

Blessed are the voices of those who stood up

and cried out, Let us be free!

Douglas and Garvey and Sojourner Truth

Dubois and Drew All

Blessed are the giants that we have loved

and lost to the bullet’s sting

like Malcolm and Medgar and the Panthers who fell

and Martin Luther King

And blessed are the bodies of those

who were hung from the limbs of the sycamore tree

Who found end to their hope at the end of a rope

’cause they dared to attempt to be free

Up through the years we’ve continued this fight

our liberty to attain

And though we have faced insurmountable odds

yet the will to resist remains

Blessed are the spirits of those who have died

in the prisons all over this land

who committed one sin, they stood up like men

and got iced for just being a man

Blessed all you who will join with us now

in this struggle of life and death

so that freedom and peace will be more than a word

to the offspring that we have left

.
The Last Poets’ pieces are intriguing and insightful, and they are particularly relevant during these trying times that black people are facing in America. If you’re interested in exploring more of Oyewole’s work, be sure to check out his book On A Mission: Selected Poems and a History of the Lasts Poets, as well as The Last Poets’ impressive discography, available on iTunes and Spotify.

.