28 Days

By Joshua J. Mitchell

The title 28 Days was made because there are 28 days in Black History Month. Last year when the majority of the book was written, there were actually 29 days due to the leap year. Since it was, I included one extra page with just Haikus.
The topics in the book are inspired by real life experiences and untold truths. This book is not meant to divide, but unite ALL races by giving everyone a better understanding of each others perspectives. This is not solely a BLACK mans book its a HU-mans book told from the lips of a man that wants to change the world.
The purpose of this book of poetry is to reach a newer level of understanding by being able to identify with experiences we talk about every day in our communities. The poems in this book were inspired by real people and therefore some are addressed to certain categories of people. Such as to that black male public school teacher who feels unappreciated, to the black religious leader who is being challenged by the waning faith in the community, to the many black veterans who served paid the ultimate price for patriotism and even to mixed couples who deal with racism from their own races on a daily bases. If I can inspire you by just ONE poem in this book of 28 (with a bonus haiku page) then you have my thanks. Why you ask? Because to me, changing the world comes from just inspiring one person because positive change can spread like wildfire. So thanks in advance my reader for helping me change the world!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 14, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984531803

Joshua J. Mitchell

Growing up in a household of three and being the youngest and only male, I was raised with a strong sense of family and respect for women. Unfortunately I have had to wear glasses since I was 2 years old. Although these caused me to be teased throughout school, it helped me see and discover my passion for reading, writing, and music. I picked up the Alto sax at the age of 12 thanks to a free music program offered at the time. This opened a doorway to music that was unavailable due to my moms income as a single parent. In spite of being unable to officially buy me any supplies I needed for music and writing activities, her support was crucial to my development into who I am today. I later even picked up the Tenor and Baritone Saxes along with the trumpet. I currently dont have any children but I have a strong sense of family and as I continue working to pay for school, Im still hoping to reach new levels of success with my first of many books that expand outside of just poetry. Im a fan of science fiction and fantasy and I am currently working on a series that will blow your mind! I decided to make this book my first official product due to a combination of my experiences growing up not completely knowing what it truly means to be black in not only the United States but the world. Once the events in the media with police brutality, deaths, riots, etc. became more prevalent, I realized that these experiences and circumstances werent only unique to me. So just like I was able to identify with the atrocities that I was being shown in the media from all over the world, I realized that the world can be influenced and changed for the better when someone tells them about life events that still arent being recorded. I talk about a lot of these in the book and I really hope to one day be able to change the world through my words and talents.

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by Joshua J. Mitchell.

Library of Congress Control Number:               2018906477

ISBN:               Hardcover                 978-1-9845-3182-7

                          Softcover                   978-1-9845-3181-0

                          eBook                        978-1-9845-3180-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 07/12/2018

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Dear Mom

I know I may not always be the son u want me to be

and even when i remind you of past issues of paternity

I thank u for loving me

I know it must not have been easy raising a son like me

having to make decisions about my vision as early as 3

but even when no one else believed in me

u still loved me

when my issues with anger affected my health

you resolved to seek the answers yourself

and unlike many who used to gawk at me

u took the time to be kind and talk to me

i can imagine how it feels to be unemployed

with a house full of bills

2 girls and a boy

who got sickly every time the wind blew

who ever knew

the lengths of what you would do

to see us through

u sacrificed your health

so that i can better myself

and i thank you

for being tolerant of the arguments we had that made me say i hate u

although i was a child the fact still remains

i would rather die than to intentionally cause you pain

just knowing you are alive reassures my brain

that everything will be fine

because nobody in this world has a mother quite like mine

who always tried to enlighten my mind

one day at a time

even through frustration

u still remain my greatest inspiration

some speak of a strong black woman

but you are a living demonstration

of what power someone can hold inside

you are the main reason why i hold my head up with pride

when they took everything from you

you never gave up

u stood alone

by standing on your own

and working your way out of the rut

you taught me the value of women over sluts

just another reason of many why i love u so much

i could write a million words and it STILL wouldn't be enough

I wish I knew what was

Sincerely your son: jOsH

Contents

1. Dear Mom

Black Soldiers

Ninja Please

Your Cause

Distractions

Skin Tone

MVP

Not About a Statue

Acknowledgement

NOT Cool

Finger Puppets

Black Men’s Health

Black Businesses

Dear Media

28

This Month

Black Religious Leaders

Black Women

Authoritative Destruction

Black Games

Worldwide Racism

Harmony

V-Day

American History

Black Male