The Noise This Evening, a Four-Part Photo/Poetry Essay on the 2020 Uprisings (Finale)
By M.G. Hughes and Caroline Johnson
The Summer of 2020 in Los Angeles has come to a close.
A summer of uprisings, of direct action; of early mornings at the Mayor’s house and late nights at the Hall of Justice. Of heartbreak, of new friendships. A summer of despair, a summer of hope.
In the conclusion of this four-part series, poet and author M.G. Hughes shares her eponymous poem alongside KNOCK.LA photographer Caroline Johnson’s 35mm photographs. Together, they ask us to pause, reflect, and meditate on the summer we leave behind.
THE NOISE THIS EVENING (Part IV)
By M. G. Hughes
The noise this evening can
Make a person believe it is
Natural to not be singular:
To be singular before Black, singular before Brown.
The noise this evening can
Also make a person believe
It is natural to know this well and through:
That AMERICAN is stitched through us as deep as bone marrow.
Revolution now.
Revolution now.
Revolution (inhale, exhale)
Revolution (inhale, exhale).
For to know AMERICA, and to strike AMERICA
Through Her ribs, one must breathe AMERICA
Like AMERICA is both oxygen and the culprit of all suffocation.
To win AMERICA over, one must walk to the pace of AMERICA 24/7.
These truths, while observational, have a
Tendency to forget the human race is no monolith.
Therefore, revolution, too, will naturally blossom in as
Many forms as there are Black and Brown and White American people.
Revolution now.
Revolution now.
Revolution (inhale, exhale)
Revolution (inhale, exhale).
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KNOCK.LA and its writers unfortunately still live under capitalism — but not for long, if we have anything to say! Thanks to readers like you, KNOCK.LA is able to keep you informed on local politics and uplift marginalized voices in LA. Join us in fighting the good fight and donate to KNOCK.LA’s Patreon. If you enjoyed this piece, please consider donating to M.G. on Venmo @mghughesauthor .
