Ainsley Hall came to America in 1800. "Enterprise and perseverance gave him success in trade." His "enlightened views," His" liberal spirit," His "benevolence," His "ample fortune," His "unceasing Source of Relief to the Distressed." So says his tombstone. 2009, a tour guide takes me through a candlelit tour of Ainsley's Hampton-Preston House. "Isn't it nice," she says, "that Sherman didn't burn this one?" "See the table, set for the family. See the lovely china. See the toys for the children. See how the family would gather here." She does not mention Black hands preparing pies, Black hands polishing silver, Black hands lighting the candles 200 years ago. "Look how they celebrated Christmas." "Isn't it nice?" Mammon's"enlightened views," Mammon's "liberal spirit," Mammon's "benevolence," Mammon's "ample fortune." Isn't it nice? February 17th, 1865. Sherman marched through my hometown. Those "awful" union soldiers burnt my city down. But wasn't it nice here, "Back in the day." Isn't it nice they didn't burn this one? "The house Ainsley Hall built." Built on straining black backs sweating in the Carolina heat. Isn't it nice, they didn't burn this one? February 17th, 2020. President's day. Americans went on holiday America is "Great Again." Isn't it nice? February 17th, 2020, marked the beginning of Ahmaud Arbery's last week to walk this earth to hug his mama. March, 2020, we went on lockdown. But it wasn't so bad. See how we stayed home, Curled up with our closest loved ones. Safer at home. Unless your name was Breonna Taylor. In April, Weren't you happy hiding under your blankets? While Mammon and the corporate gods met at a table of pies and polished silver With their "enlightened views," "liberal spirit," "benevolence," and "ample fortune" to lend their aid the ailing economy. Isn't it nice they didn't let this burn down? May, 2020, just weeks after mother's day, George Floyd called out for his mama once last time, an officer's knee pressed into his neck: "please please please I can’t breathe please man please somebody please man I can’t breathe I can’t breathe Please man can’t breathe, my face just get up I can’t breathe please I can’t breathe sh*t I will I can’t move mama mama" George Floyd isn't breathing For $20. Eric Garner isn't breathing. Breonna Taylor isn't breathing. Ahmaud Arbery isn't breathing. Jamar Clark isn't breathing. Philando Castile isn't breathing. Trayvon Martin isn't breathing. The names stretch back in time beyond Ainsley's home. Can you hear mammon's laughter? At the Hampton-Preston House it's the crack of the whip on five-year-old Jacob Stroyer's back. At Age 5 Master's favorite jockey was whipped whenever the horse threw him. "Isn't it nice?" The children have it better now. We fixed all that in 1964. Isn't it nice? The white and black children playing cop and robber They come home safely. Except for Tamir Rice Isn't it nice To see the white family gathered After church for Sunday football. But how dare that black man beg on his knees for children like Trayvon. "That ungrateful black man." "Doesn't he know what this country has done for black men like him?" How dare the death of black folk interrupt primetime TV. Isn't it nice, Mammon's gift of bread and circuses. "Isn't it nice, they didn't burn this down?" Ainsley's Hampton-Preston House. 74 slaves there, so many more in the fields. It's 2020, Corporate America is on fire. You question why. Because wasn't it nice? The southern belles strolling through the fields with their parasols. Wasn't that pretty? I walk through fields ripened by sunny days. fields nourished by sweat and blood that dripped from black backs. These are the ugly images we want to ignore. If we ignore our history then we will forget. And then, we will do it again. We must not forget. Today, stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who bled body and soul. Build a new tomorrow and give them the blood right of Kings and Queens who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. For it is only right that those who bleed for the land be crowned by it. For it is only right that the bricks built on their backs become their castle. Because there is room for all in the kingdom. Because this country was not built by white men. The mother of Justice will move the earth till we can cry out in pain and acknowledgment with their names.
