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Turning in your grave
i am wearing a
César Chávez t-shirt
driving a car with
César Chávez stickers
on César Chávez boulevard
passing by
César Chávez school
on César Chávez day
hearing
César Chávez commercials
on the local radio
and seeing
César Chávez billboards
announcing a
César Chávez march
sponsored by multi-national
corporations
wondering
if
we praise you
or curse you
when farm-workers
are still underpaid
under-appreciated
when immigrants
are scapegoated
when nothing you stood for
is respected
are you being praised
or institutionalized?
are you getting your due
or being silenced
into a catch phrase
porqué
‘Sí se puede’
‘olvidar la opresión’
‘Sí se puede’
‘convertirte’
into an icon
and forget that
your ideas were never followed
and still aren’t today
so i assume you’d rather me not
wear a César Chávez shirt
driving a car with César Chávez stickers
on César Chávez boulevard
as i pass by
César Chávez school
on César Chávez day
but rather
honor you with
justice fairwages
equality and not just
trophies
street names and
crumbs
perdonanos César
i hope you’ll soon stop
turning in your grave
césar a. cruz – teolol
2002
Click Here for Eternal Flame by Cesar A Cruz
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