OLGA? She gave me this poem, “A Poor People’s Poem,” back in the 90’s (remember the 90’s?). It was back in the day when rappers like Public Enemy straight bum-rushed the world of ideas with Proletariat hip hop. It was back in the day when Rodney King got swollen and the celebration of the victim was at its height…

I met Olga at a poetry reading and I ended up with something you should read—even though (to me) the piece itself is most effective as a spoken word presentation. She almost completely avoids the victim lament and comes on melanized and strong with an old-school 60’s radical attack via class and so-called “race.” Are you ready to get a mud hole stomped into your bleeding heart?