Reclaiming Narratives: Josephine Gyasi

Image credit: Josephine Gyasi

As part of this years celebrations of Black History Month we invited creatives and activists in the West of England to respond to the theme ‘Reclaiming Narratives’ through the lens of Citizens For Culture’s core principles: inclusion, voice and influence In the final piece as part of the series creative producer, facilitator and DJ Josephine Gyasi shares her poem: What Are Your Plans?

Josephine Gyasi: Reclaiming Narritives

Like so many, I was once again heartbroken and deeply shaken by the killing of an innocent Black person. In a dark period of isolation, shock, and deep reflection, I wrote these words to confront the enduring evils of inequality and police brutality — injustices embedded in the very systems that still structure our society today. This piece poses a clear message and a question to every non-Black person on the planet, especially those with the greatest power and privilege.

What Are Your Plans? Created in 2020.

I’m sick of death
I’m sick to death
I’M SICK OF DEATH
From all the way over there
How could you understand
That to walk outside your door
Might mean fate has other plans
You may never return
Instead you’ll be dead
Murdered.
On the streets
Like a rodent with disease
The White Man stops you
On your way
Thinks you’ve got too much to say
So he tears away your life
Makes you beg
And plead
And pray
We ask ourselves, why?
But the question is, why not?
Why would The White Man change?
With no orders from the top?
No justice
No peace
No racist police
The blood is on your hands
The blood is on your hands
The blood is on your hands
So, Mr White Man…
What are your plans?

Watch "What Are Your Plans" on Vimeo

Purchase "What Are Your Plans" Print: A3 size, 2 cm border, unframed, £33. Printed on Studio Expression Smooth Fine Art, a 100% cotton art paper.

Please add your name and address in the purchase link.

Interested in finding out more?

• Watch the first piece in this series, Goddess by NGAIO
• Read the second piece in this series, Justice by Mya Fraser
• Email Imogen@trinitybristol.org.uk to join our Citizens For Culture mailing list
• Find out more about what a Citizens’ Assembly for Culture is in this Q&A

What Are Your Plans? Credits

Producer, Co-Director, Spoken Word Artist - Josephine Gyasi | Co-director, Camera, Editor - Pierre Niyongira | Music Composer - Xavier Redkwa | Production Assistant, Contributor - Aaliyah Celeste Blair | Contributors - Emma Blake-Morsi, Ade Sowemimo, Lawrence Hoo, Courtenay Welcome | Whose Future Billboard Campaign - Rising Arts Agency

About Citizens for Culture

Citizens for Culture is an initiative from St Paul Carnival CIC, Trinity Community Arts, Citizens in Power and West of England Combined Authority and is supported through funding by Arts Council England, Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch).