Noah Humphrey
Wakanda Forever
I never freeze in the dangers, the strangers
unseen and unheard, if I had a word
for the torrent of change this year has
brought, I ponder it all stacked with melanin
stacked black as the night sky
wrapped in intelligence, wrapped in elegance,
I am the living residence
Of a person that admired a hero
who fought his battles alone, who in the face
of danger became a symbol of freedom, of
power, of the royalty that's engrained in our DNA
Then I look back to my own power, the power
to access higher education
the potential of what I can amass in my area,
in my neighborhoods, in my life
when the world may call me a thug, punk,
gangsta, unworthy, uncrowned, denied, hopeless
It's because heros like him that aspires me
to be a scholar, provider, crowned in kindness,
a leader, aware, and understanding
I'll cross my arms and hold them to my chest,
Black Panther your soul lives on, be at peace
in your heavenly rest
unseen and unheard, if I had a word
for the torrent of change this year has
brought, I ponder it all stacked with melanin
stacked black as the night sky
wrapped in intelligence, wrapped in elegance,
I am the living residence
Of a person that admired a hero
who fought his battles alone, who in the face
of danger became a symbol of freedom, of
power, of the royalty that's engrained in our DNA
Then I look back to my own power, the power
to access higher education
the potential of what I can amass in my area,
in my neighborhoods, in my life
when the world may call me a thug, punk,
gangsta, unworthy, uncrowned, denied, hopeless
It's because heros like him that aspires me
to be a scholar, provider, crowned in kindness,
a leader, aware, and understanding
I'll cross my arms and hold them to my chest,
Black Panther your soul lives on, be at peace
in your heavenly rest
-Knowa Know
Healing Journey
Healing has different
forms, don't construct
yourself a vice of
restoration that doesn't
help you. Energise but
also rebound from your
past thinking. Your soul
needs you as well as
your mind and body
forms, don't construct
yourself a vice of
restoration that doesn't
help you. Energise but
also rebound from your
past thinking. Your soul
needs you as well as
your mind and body
-Knowa Know
Dread
Your nectar falls
like coconut oil
lathers the
bristles of brown
strands comingled
Into an existance that
twines culture and time
in one singular motion
Locking ever in place
and eroding with the
white snow like
mountaintops every season
like coconut oil
lathers the
bristles of brown
strands comingled
Into an existance that
twines culture and time
in one singular motion
Locking ever in place
and eroding with the
white snow like
mountaintops every season
-Knowa Know
Mirror Talk
Amidst trials, tribulations,
and heartfelt challenges
seek not waht you can
do to get away but to
prepare for the journey
ahead. Would you rather
have a braving heart or
develop intentions that
would mock your soul
and heartfelt challenges
seek not waht you can
do to get away but to
prepare for the journey
ahead. Would you rather
have a braving heart or
develop intentions that
would mock your soul
-Knowa Know
Your Falsified Monster
Black monster, Big teeth
Giant claws
Burning skin
Black skin, Giant, Scary, Ferocious
Abominable, Beast
Monster. Animal animal animal
All under a black hoodie
Then the white fears go away
And the fake colored smiles endure
No hoodies
Giant claws
Burning skin
Black skin, Giant, Scary, Ferocious
Abominable, Beast
Monster. Animal animal animal
All under a black hoodie
Then the white fears go away
And the fake colored smiles endure
No hoodies
-Knowa Know
Know your true potential
Double up on your
energy, your faith, your
commitment, and fortify
your foundation. Don't
be afraid to separate, to
take time to figure what
materials you're
building yourself with.
No matter who's around
you, stick to the script.
In a room full of
mysteries, don't be the
Imposter, be the Realist.
energy, your faith, your
commitment, and fortify
your foundation. Don't
be afraid to separate, to
take time to figure what
materials you're
building yourself with.
No matter who's around
you, stick to the script.
In a room full of
mysteries, don't be the
Imposter, be the Realist.
-Knowa Know
Smaller Moves
Fan the fires to douse out generational fear
Clasp the back of my hand blessed with ahimsa
Lead the prayer, lead the marches
Confess your fears, your thoughts, we feel your
honest intention
Now bring to me your crocodile tears
Or the fire that sears
The generational wounds are reopening again
You can listen, you can cry, be angry, laugh
But I will never pray for my own downfall
My skin is an eternal marathon
That will outlast the marches
I will be protesting my entire life
Thousands were arrested to bring down four
You spoke of truth after another already fought it
4 years ago
It's popular to be in the right when it's a social
movement right?
Numbers talk, your actions stalk
The corner of a movement that long should be
heard
But we must continue to fight for better days
To burn bridges of hate
To operate under the systematic seams of woven
impressions on a different level
Small moves, big moves
You're moving, moving forward
Turn that into action: We got to keep painting the
other side of the fence
Clasp the back of my hand blessed with ahimsa
Lead the prayer, lead the marches
Confess your fears, your thoughts, we feel your
honest intention
Now bring to me your crocodile tears
Or the fire that sears
The generational wounds are reopening again
You can listen, you can cry, be angry, laugh
But I will never pray for my own downfall
My skin is an eternal marathon
That will outlast the marches
I will be protesting my entire life
Thousands were arrested to bring down four
You spoke of truth after another already fought it
4 years ago
It's popular to be in the right when it's a social
movement right?
Numbers talk, your actions stalk
The corner of a movement that long should be
heard
But we must continue to fight for better days
To burn bridges of hate
To operate under the systematic seams of woven
impressions on a different level
Small moves, big moves
You're moving, moving forward
Turn that into action: We got to keep painting the
other side of the fence
-Knowa Know
Water Vessel
Where are the tears?
Because my thoughts are like water
To disappear or evaporate on the sky
and I tried to dry my tears
with shaky understanding that flowed by unafraid
thoughts
I can only be contained through glass ceilings
called faith
And I save face by saying my ocean drowns
anyone with a worthy vessel
In this aquatic distant sombering world called a
river, I dive right through
The water isn't clear at times, too much blood,
pollution, less control, more restrictions
My mana cannot flow with unjust actions
The pool of thoughts cannot move as it is blocked
by a dam of self affliction
Water is my saving grace, my mine of liquid gold
sealed with in plastic and glass
Because my thoughts are like water
To disappear or evaporate on the sky
and I tried to dry my tears
with shaky understanding that flowed by unafraid
thoughts
I can only be contained through glass ceilings
called faith
And I save face by saying my ocean drowns
anyone with a worthy vessel
In this aquatic distant sombering world called a
river, I dive right through
The water isn't clear at times, too much blood,
pollution, less control, more restrictions
My mana cannot flow with unjust actions
The pool of thoughts cannot move as it is blocked
by a dam of self affliction
Water is my saving grace, my mine of liquid gold
sealed with in plastic and glass
-Knowa Know
Nimble
You knab at the constructs of my branches
but you're not nimble to bend the branches
that arch my heritage, you shall not pass this
limbo of ancestrial inclusion
but you're not nimble to bend the branches
that arch my heritage, you shall not pass this
limbo of ancestrial inclusion
-Knowa Know
Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day
My roots were transgressed with
soil foreign to its environment
and the only way to excavate
the soil was to add more water
to my planted soul.
soil foreign to its environment
and the only way to excavate
the soil was to add more water
to my planted soul.
-Knowa Know
MEET OUR MEMBERS
Noah Humphrey (Knowa Know) recently graduated from Whittier College a B.A in Religious Studies and a minor in Holistic Care. He is now based in Oahu, Hawaii. He uses poetry as a second voice and infuses personal experiences in South Central Los Angeles, African-American heritage, nature, and holistic elements into them. He lets his soul speak through poetry and believes that with peace, passion, patience, support, and God anything is possible through this path called life.
