feature: ‘here it is’, alice walker writes vivid new poem in response to jesse williams’ acceptance speech

Ever since Jesse Williams’ ineffable acceptance speech at last Tuesday’s BET awards, the media has been on fire. As different mediums and news sources worked to pick his words apart, his message did all but grow stronger. His words ignited a crucial spark in the African American community, and Alice Walker translates his immense impression in her latest poem: ‘Here it is’. With her cherished eloquence and surely omniscient point of view, Williams’ invigorating sense of action, is turned into a source of cultural pride and necessity.‘For he is black too.  And obviously with a soul made of everything’ . Read her honoring poem below.

Here It Is
2016 by Alice Walker

Here it is
the beauty that scares you
-so you believe-
to death.
For he is certainly gorgeous
and he is certainly where whiteness
to your disbelief
has not wandered off
to die.
No. It is there, tawny skin, gray eyes,
a Malcolm-esque jaw. His loyal parents
may Goddess bless them
sitting proud and happy and no doubt
amazed
at what they have done.
For he is black too. And obviously
with a soul
made of everything.
Try to think bigger than you ever have
or had courage enough to do:
that blackness is not where whiteness
wanders off to die: but that it is
like the dark matter
between stars and galaxies in
the Universe
that ultimately
holds it all
together.

-AW

http://alicewalkersgarden.com/2016/06/jesse-williams-bet-awards-speech/