I Have Become Palestine

Translation / Interpretation / Caption Text / Source

Greek translaton:

September 1982: Poet June Jordan, a Jamaican-American black feminist, "becomes a Palestinian" commenting on the extermination of thousands of Palestinians by Lebanese Phalangists under the supervision of the Israeli army in the Sambra and Satila refugee camps

Today: Black women in the US revolt against the attempted annihilation of their men. They become their sisters, in every corner of the planet where they live and revolt those who are forbidden life. We become our sisters in Palestine and Mexico, in the Maghreb and in Syria, in Moria and Kranidi.
Against the relentless laughter of evil
Solidarity to our rebellious sisters!

ANTIFA_SISTERHOOD
07/20

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"Where is Abu Fadi?" he lamented.
"Who will bring back my beloved?"

New York Times, 20/9/82

I do not want to talk about bulldozers and red soil
which is not enough to cover so many arms and legs
because I do not want to talk about all the horrors
to be followed by those who dare
To "cleanse" a people
Those who dare
To "exterminate" a people
Those who dare to describe human beings as "bipedal monsters"
Those who dare
"To start"
"Tighten the noose"
"Increase military pressure"
To "encircle" the city streets with tanks
Those who dare
to close universities
to catalyze the press
to kill elected representatives
of people who refuse to perish
These are the ones we must get rid of
The words of our beginning
because I need to talk about the house
I need to talk about my space where the earth will not be intimidated and will not be pounded on a tombstone
I need to talk about my space where the conversation will take place in my language
I need to talk about my space where my children will grow up without fear
I need to talk about the place where men of my family from six to sixty-five of them will not parade on a path leading to the tomb
I need to talk about my space where I can sit without sadness and loud lamentation for my loved ones
Where I should not ask where Abu Fadi is because he will be there next to me
I need to talk about my space because I need to talk about my home
I was born a Black woman and now
I have become Palestine
Against the relentless laughter of evil
Space is dwindling
And where are my favorites?
It's time to dump her and move on.