Apr 2015
By: C edric McClester
Where or when shall I begin
With this explanation
Black boys look like men
Or should it suffice for me to say
A black man of 51 passed for 20 that day
The perpetrators mentioned
On the police radio call
Were both in the their twenties
And both were tall
Now lets look at the facts in this case
So as not to proceed with undue haste
His stepfather was tall but Clifford was short
I guess killing some people is still an in sport
Now to hear officer Shea tell it
Young Clifford was armed
And he was in fear of ****** harm
So the police searched
Both day and night
But no gun was ever found
On that site
Yet Shea said he fired
In self-defense
I guess from his perspective
It made perfect sense
(c) Copyright 2015, Cedric McClester. All rights reserved
Where or when shall I begin
With this explanation
Black boys look like men
Or should it suffice for me to say
A black man of 51 passed for 20 that day
The perpetrators mentioned
On the police radio call
Were both in the their twenties
And both were tall
Now lets look at the facts in this case
So as not to proceed with undue haste
His stepfather was tall but Clifford was short
I guess killing some people is still an in sport
Now to hear officer Shea tell it
Young Clifford was armed
And he was in fear of ****** harm
So the police searched
Both day and night
But no gun was ever found
On that site
Yet Shea said he fired
In self-defense
I guess from his perspective
It made perfect sense
(c) Copyright 2015, Cedric McClester. All rights reserved
Clifford Glover was 10 years old when he allegedly was confused for an adult male and shot by New York City Police Office Michael Shea who chased Clifford and his stepfather who were on their way to the junk yard where they worked. Clifford's stepfather was carrying the payroll and when they were approached by an un-marked police vehicle in two white men jumped out they ran. Neither were armed and Clifford was shot dead by Officer Shea. While this may sound like it was snatched from today's news, this happened in 1973. This incident served as a catalyst for my writing socially relevant poetry. Clifford Glove served and serves as my muse. Clifford Glover was first Copy written and published in 1973.
