Men

(Flying Lotus - 1983 [FULL ALBUM])

Growing up
We occasionally heard people say
There are certain things
A woman should
Never have to experience…
But uh
Where we come from
Women were at least
Half
Beast most actively
On the front lines
Laid out on the floor
For what was largely
A gay male issue
At that particular time
HIV
Now this was really the 80s
When we were first was exposed to
ACT UP
The blood murals,
White chalk lines
And nudity in the papers, magazines
Like what’s going on?
Jr high all saturated in curiosity and
Cardboard projects
Surrounding the environment
Never knowing we too
Would take some of those same
Walks otherwise we would’ve
Had some shit on back order…
Life will bring you back to
Everywhere you’ve ever been
But uh the women were
Going to bat for
The men of the
Community…and no
Not everything is
About sex it’s called
Organizing across boundaries
I don’t know what they call it now but
You never know who just might
Have to bat for you one day but
Being brought up to speed with this book
 “Women, AIDS and Activism” by
Marion Banzhaf…we just remember
Referencing it
Vividly
Because of this men’s healthcare
Independent study project but it was a class we took.
{Nothing personal involved just
Love for the movement}
(Gay male instructor-we were thick with his fine self;
Consequently, he was the first person to clue me in on
The politics of working for U and be
Specific about the shit; don’t be talking to me
In riddles like my political science professor..
“Things aren’t going so hot, I’m planning to
Go home to my parents on the West coast” with
Her overgrown self; pretty much telling me
Everything else..why not that? I didn’t ask
No questions though…that was my problem too
Learn how to press a bitch; making it too easy for em.)