Gil was a genius. He put his poetry to music and was a precursor of rap. He articulated the thoughts of black America.
This poem opens up discussion about the huge gaping inequalities that exist. It poses many questions:
Should we be spending trillions on projects such as this, landing on the moon, while so many billions live in abject poverty?
How can a country as rich as America have so many people living in squalor?
Is this situation just plain racism?
The poem highlights it for me.
“Whitey On The Moon”
With Whitey on the moon
Her face and arms began to swell
And Whitey’s on the moon
I can’t pay no doctor bills
But Whitey’s on the moon
Ten years from now I’ll be paying still
While Whitey’s on the moon
You know, the man just upped my rent last night
Cause Whitey’s on the moon
No hot water, no toilets, no lights
But Whitey’s on the moon
I wonder why he’s uppin’ me?
Cause Whitey’s on the moon?
Well i was already given him fifty a week
And now Whitey’s on the moon
Taxes takin’ my whole damn check
The junkies make me a nervous wreck
The price of food is goin up
And if all that crap wasn’t enough
A rat done bit my sister nell
With Whitey on the moon
Her face and arms began to swell
And Whitey’s on the moon
With all that money i made last year
For Whitey on the moon
How come I ain’t got no money here?
Hmm, Whitey’s on the moon
You know I just about had my fill
Of Whitey on the moon
I think I’ll send these doctor bills
airmail special
(To Whitey on the moon)
