In this exclamation, Jordan says one is as terminal as the other. And seemingly the subject matter of what might use in “the blues” (a popular form of music attributed to Black culture).

Skin and sex are now equated with rope and rape. See how this is working. And, now, we see a bit of an economical theme coming out. Whether the poet pays her dues in skin or sex is a matter of what she seems to owe to a culture that would take either from her.

Again, this imagery of the tension of opposites, between ______ and ______. Standing firm in the middle.

I feel that this stanza is talking about the fear of losing safety. The fear of being seen differently because of gender or race, and that resulting in violence. The speaker acknowledges this fear though, by refusing to lose the meaning of that safety.

This stanza as a whole speaks mountains. The theme it screams at me is “Judge a man not by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character.” This stanza is all about that. Their gender and race doesn’t define them, their mind does.

what safety is June Jordan talking about? Safety from what? and why did she choose “this safety” instead another one?

All throughout this poem there is violence and conflict. Some examples are when Jordan says, “between your fist and my face” and “so against my pepper spray”. Also when Jordan says, “Black and blue news” this is another way of saying bruises.

This line shows how Jordan feels ostracized by her peers because of her gender, and how she feels ostracized by the authorities for her race.

This line mentions rich celebrities portrayed as heroes, which immediately made me think of the adage, don’t meet your heroes. Mainstream rich celebrities also seem to have scandals quite often, which shatters many peoples perceptions of their usually childhood heroes. Which seems to be the point of this stanza, to show that the rich are proud of cheating and proud of beating.

I think this line addresses the violence against women. The author speaks of gang rape and abuse through police officers. She says “Celebrity-Rich-Hero” which to me references people who seem like they’re good but in reality are cheating and beating their wives. I like how she adds black and white in parentheses to differentiate. I feel like people don’t just beat on their white wives or cheat on their black wives, it goes both ways but may relate to her situation. It implies that men proudly do these things with no worry for repercussion, normally someone being abused won’t share it.

I believe this is referencing to police break ins and how it can take away people’s feeling of safety in their most vunerable moment like sleep.

The author uses rhythm in this line when he rhymes “play” with “day”.

The author uses “your” repetitively in this line to make her point that it’s your choice because it’s your money and guns.

This line represents more than what is says from an aerial view. “Your money your guns your say,” this line is powerful in showing how Jordan feels about this counterpart, potentially a policing force, whom she feels is oppressive, controlling, and feels as if they reign supreme over any other group of people. Though Jordan brings this to light by saying it in a condescending matter, as she does not agree with such a take, yet it is the belief of the counterpart themselves.

Within America, over the past few years it has been a controversial subject over gun control. Whether Americans should be allowed to carry firearms or not. I feel that this will be a continuing controversy within the next couple years.

In this stanza you can feel the emotions that June Jordan is trying to express to the audience. The words and her tone she uses to show you the daily fight that she battles. Comparing money and guns to her pepper spray could be interpreted in many different ways.

This poem seems to be about police brutality, racism, and prejudice. The lines “Your money your guns your say, so against my pepper spray” seems to be referring to the police comparing pepper spray and guns. The author is putting the police officers on a pedestal with speaking about money and their “say” or the power of their words. Then she says that the police are so against her pepper spray, while referring back to the previous line where the police have guns. To out it simply: Guns are not a fair weapon to use in a pepper spray fight. I think the author is trying to convey that. She is also trying to convey, in this stanza, how damaging spreading horrible accusations can be.

Jordan writes in this line how people or others just brush off this argument and laugh at her. Other people along side her are trying to fight for equality. But when being laughed at she does not take it to heart. As those who are not trying to understand her fight, should not fight at all.