The Last Poets is a group of poets and musicians who arose from the late 1960s African American civil rights movement's black nationalist thread. Their name is taken from a poem by the South African revolutionary poet Keorapetse Kgositsile, who believed he was in the last era of poetry before guns would take over.
The original Last Poets formed on May 19, 1968 (Malcolm X's birthday), at Marcus Garvey Park (formerly Mount Morris Park, at 124th Street and Fifth Avenue) in the East Harlem neighborhood of New York City. The original members were Felipe Luciano, Gylan Kain, and David Nelson.
The group continued to evolve via a 1969 Harlem writers' workshop known as "East Wind". Jalal Mansur Nuriddin, Umar Bin Hassan, and Abiodun Oyewole, along with percussionist Nilaja, are generally considered the primary and core members of the group, as they appeared on the group's 1970 self-titled debut (contracted by noted Jimi Hendrix producer Alan Douglas) and, in various combinations, on subsequent releases. Other early East Wind alumni, however -- Luciano, Kain, and Nelson -- recorded separately as "The Original Last Poets," gaining some renown as the soundtrack artists for the 1971 film "Right On!".
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Opposites
The Last Poets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
that everything works in opposites
The sun and the moon, left and right
Hot and cold, black and white
Understand, said the old black man
who is the opposite of you
Understand
so that you will know what you have to do
that black is true and false is white
Understand
that black is right and white is wrong
Understand
that white is weak and black is strong
Understand
that white is suffocation and black is a deep breath
Understand
that black is life and white is death
Understand
that blacks will live in glory while whites will die in shame
Understand
that blackness is reality and whiteness but a game
Understand
that blacks were here first and will be here last
Understand
that whitey steals your future and lies about your past
Understand
that before we were sold as slaves
the black man walked in temples of glory
while the white man crawled in caves
So understand, young black man
who is the opposite of you
Understand
so that you will know what you have to do
Understand
that black is the beginning of white's end
Understand
that whiteness is your enemy and blackness is your friend
Understand
the height and weight of your mental depth
Understand
that you're the original man as quiet as it's kept
Understand
that blacks will rise and whites will fall
Understand
that white equals nothing and black equate all
Understand
that our climate is hot and theirs is cold
And you are young and I am old
But all lies die when the truth is told
So understand, young black man
who is the opposite of you
Understand
so that you will know what you have to do
Understand
that black is love and white is hate
Understand
why our freedom cannot wait
Understand
that white is war and black is peace
Understand
that black is beauty and white the beast
Understand
that black is happiness and white is sorrow
Understand that I was a slave yesterday
But you'll be free tomorrow
And the second after Before
The minute after Before
The hour after Before
The day after Before
The week after Before
The month after Before
The year after Before
The decade after Before
The century after Before
The eternity after Before
you understand what it means to be a free black man
The Last Poets's song Opposites is a powerful commentary on the issue of race, oppression, and the need for black people to understand their identity in contrast to the white man. The lyrics are spoken by an old black man who tries to impart wisdom to the youth about the natural balance of opposites in life. He emphasizes that everything works in opposites, such as the sun and the moon, left and right, hot and cold, black and white. He urges them to understand that black represents truth, right, and strength while white represents falsehood, weakness, and suffocation.
Moreover, the old black man highlights the historical fact that black people were here first and will be here last, and that the white man has stolen their future and erased their past. He reminds them that before they were sold as slaves, black people walked in temples of glory while the white man crawled in caves. Through the ages, black people have suffered under the hands of white dominance, but the old man still hopes for a better future where black people will rise and white people will fall. He wants them to understand that their mental depth is immeasurable and their identity as black people is beautiful, powerful, and worthy of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Understand, said the old black man
Pay attention, young black man, to what I'm about to tell you
that everything works in opposites
The world is split into two opposing forces that work in balance with each other
Understand
Listen and comprehend the message I'm presenting to you
so that you will know what you have to do
If you understand the truth, you'll know what actions you need to take
that black is true and false is white
Black represents the honest reality while white represents falsehood
that black is right and white is wrong
Black represents justice while white represents oppression
that white is weak and black is strong
White represents weakness while black represents strength
that white is suffocation and black is a deep breath
White represents oppression and confinement while black represents freedom and relief
that black is life and white is death
Black represents vitality and growth while white represents decay and destruction
that blacks will live in glory while whites will die in shame
Black people will prosper while white people face downfall and humiliation
that blackness is reality and whiteness but a game
Blackness represents the truth while whiteness is just a false construct
that blacks were here first and will be here last
Black people were the original inhabitants of the world and will exist until the end
that whitey steals your future and lies about your past
White people rob black people of their prospects for tomorrow and falsify the history of their past
Understand, young black man
Pay attention, young black man, to what I'm about to say next
that black is the beginning of white's end
Black people will be the cause of white people's downfall
that whiteness is your enemy and blackness is your friend
White people are the opposition and black people are the ally
the height and weight of your mental depth
Understand the extent of your intellectual capabilities
that you're the original man as quiet as it's kept
Remember that black people were the first humans to exist, despite attempts to suppress that fact
that blacks will rise and whites will fall
Black people will rise to prominence and white people will decline in power
that white equals nothing and black equate all
White people do not have any worth, while black people represent the entirety of humanity
that our climate is hot and theirs is cold
Black people represent warmth and hospitality while white people represent coldness and hostility
And you are young and I am old
There is a generational gap between us, and I have more experience than you
But all lies die when the truth is told
Eventually, all falsehoods will be exposed and the truth will prevail
that black is love and white is hate
Black people represent compassion and affection while white people represent animosity and disdain
why our freedom cannot wait
We must act quickly to secure our liberation
that white is war and black is peace
White people represent war and violence while black people represent peace and harmony
that black is beauty and white the beast
Black people embody elegance and grace while white people are crude and unpleasant
that black is happiness and white is sorrow
Black people experience joy and contentment while white people feel grief and despair
that I was a slave yesterday
I was a victim of slavery in the past
But you'll be free tomorrow
Despite the oppression we've faced, you will be liberated in the future
And the second after Before
The moment after the past
The minute after Before
The passage of time only goes forward
The hour after Before
Time does not stop for anyone
The day after Before
Every day presents new opportunities for progress and change
The week after Before
Even in a week, significant events can occur that alter our destiny
The month after Before
The passage of a month represents a chance to review and reassess our efforts
The year after Before
The completion of a year allows for reflection and goal setting
The decade after Before
A decade provides ample time to make impactful changes
The century after Before
We must think beyond our own lifetimes to create lasting change
The eternity after Before
Our actions will have consequences that extend beyond our comprehension
you understand what it means to be a free black man
If you internalize these concepts, you will comprehend what it truly means to be a liberated black person
Contributed by Hunter P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.