Poetic Tongues/Fabu
Ode to the Center for Black Excellence and Culture
During my life in Madison, I immersed myself in Black community right away because I never lived anywhere in the United States where African Americans were so numerically outnumbered in population. I needed the foundation of the community to keep me centered, thriving and loved.
As a child poet, I preferred writing narrative poetry because I really enjoy poetry that tells a story. When I combine narrative poetry, historical facts and creativity, my honest self is voiced. That is how I developed the determination to write poetry that “encourages, inspires and reminds.”
Every now and again, for a special person, event, or situation, I am commissioned to write a tribute poem. A general definition of a tribute poem is one written to honor, celebrate, or memorialize a person, place, or event. Being asked to write a tribute poem for the opening of the Center for Black Excellence and Culture made me happy to put words to such a momentous occasion.
Like many Black people in Madison and across the Midwest, I decided at the groundbreaking ceremony on historic Juneteenth Day 2024, that I would be a part of the Center in all the ways that I could. Taking time to be present as a supporter, sharing my limited income to make this building a reality, and celebrating with others about how our beloved South Madison is being revitalized with the new Black Business HUB, the new Centro Hispano and the brand-new Center for Black Culture and Excellence.
In putting some of these sentiments into a tribute poem for the Center, after the Ho-Chunk land acknowledgment, I started with our ancestors and how pleased they would be for the Center’s existence. The second stanza started with the vision of Reverend Dr. Alex Gee to build this safe place for Black people, which in 2024 seemed impossible. The third stanza connects contemporary Black Wisconsin to ancestral Black Wisconsin, and the historical fact Black people helped to build this country, along with their own churches, neighborhoods, schools, and event places. The last stanza heralds the Center for Black Excellence and Culture as innovative in Wisconsin.
We need a beautiful version of us, a concrete place that welcomes us, provides rooms to explore who we are, a safe space where we are protected and will offer programming which shares factual knowledge about the Black experience.
Now the Center needs money for the best programs to provide to every visitor. The Center for Black Excellence and Culture building is paid for, I believe we can offer exceptional programming too with fundraising. We will all be excited to know the days and hours that the Center will be open and when there is a “free” community invitation. We honor this space from lead designer, architect Rafeeq Asad, by making sure every inch of it remains cared for generations to come. I hope my poem conveyed some of our community’s hopes and highlighted Rev. Dr. Alex Gee's awesome dream, aided by Minister and artist/activist Lilada Gee.
