BOOK REVIEW: The Black Panther is an African Cat--Poems of Exploration and Testimony

with translucent windows

and a jury outside deciding a verdict

to bring us all to guilt

and send us out in a boat with stones

tied round our necks and throw us dead into

the goddam milky sea"

'Once the New Wears Off' explores Langa's own journey as a youth who would salute the National Anthem and who shared a "rainbow dream" of equality and a time to come.  When 'We Shall Overcome' "would bring a tingling up my back and a warming to my head" before realizations "emptying my head of melting-pot dreams" would render the song "a meaningless melody" and "a crass, discount-store magician's trick to reward believers in this house of cards."

Several poems on the war in Iraq and George Bush are in the collection.  In 'San Juan Hill, Iraq' Langa asks, "Why, George, do you want war so bad?  Why are you so eager to quench the appetite of unfilled graves?"

Although the military and club-swinging policemen catch Langa's piercing prose Mondo's voice raises against those who have sold out as well.  'Runnin, Runnin' tracks O.J. Simpson "down and down you went."  'Electro-Dis Clap Baby' zeros in on both male and female pop celebrities:

"he and she too, and these other brothas and sistas who, knowin nothing and filled with self-hate, aint got they heads on straight, wanna go on talk shows to get some kicks, but end up bein perfect tricks, for talk-show hosts who playin the ratins game, will exploit their butts without a  ounce of shame."

Langa tackles rappers with his own rap 'Hardcore' and evens the score.  "As you sling the 'nigger' word around, like some dope in a hood that you claim to be loyal to, while poisoning homeys, and sendin them to the dug-out soil to, lie in some graves while, women who are yo sistahs you brand as 'bitches', you really need stitches, to sew up the hole in your soul."

Sports celebrities, idolized by the media and fawning fans, do not escape Mondo's reach.  'To Bring the Boys Home' speaks of "these sporting men, with names that came, from bills of sale and deeds of ownership" and "these sons of Africa, who are known to say 'I love this game', but are seldom heard to say, 'I love my people."

'Brother, What Are We Supposed to Do' takes on preachers and politicians with their platitudes without action "and we must point our finger, at you AND us, because we stand with you and follow your lead, are stuck in your confusion, and share in your impotence."

'Some Straight'nin' explores the possibility of Malcolm X alive today.  Langa uses Malcolm X's African name of Omowale in the poem.

"do you think Omowale would be silent

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