Part Ⅲ: The N-Word                      “One should never say the N-word to a white audience.” —Nobody. . . Nigga, say nigga all the timeSay nigga to the left, and nigga to the rightSay nigga like you’re playing Simon Saysand you can’t move unless somebody says niggaSay nigga to the old lady in the front like you’re spilling some big secretSay nigga to the old man in the back like you just spilled his big ass secretSay nigga top to bottom like you patting down the audiencebefore you let them hear the rest of the poemSay nigga like you’re counting jumping jacks—one nigga, two nigga, three nigga, four . . .Say it to the ceiling like you want the roof to hear itand if the roof ain’t listening say it to the floorlike you want your dead homie to hear it down belowThen say nigga as if your dead homie down there came backand you only get one word to share with himSay nigga till your bones get hotSay nigga like you’re making a bonfireSay nigga like you’re starting a firewith nothing but the bones of dead homiesSay nigga like rain on a roof, the one that ain’t listeningSay nigga to the twelve-year-old who ain’t looking at you’cause his phone is in the way and say nigga to his fatherwho’s thinking twice about bringing his kid to your readingAnd once you’ve said nigga to every white person in the room,say nigga to the only other nigga therethe way you’d tell your mother you love herAnd don’t be alarmed when the well-meaning man in his seventiessays to you “your poems are good but I’m just tired of Black poetsmaking me feel bad about slavery and Jim Crow”Remember, he’s “well-meaning”—help him feel Jim Crow another way—invite him up to the mic—help him feel slavery like he hasn’tfelt it before—wrap the cord over his shoulders,down his collar, loop it like a necktie and dangle itby his mouth then say it with him—nigga—and if he hesitatespull the cord tighter and say it with him—nigga—and if he stammersloop the cord again and whisper in his ear—nigga—and if he squirmspull the cord tighter till he says it, tighter still until he feels itin his bones—nigga—and when he gets hot enoughstart a fire, nigga