Dancing Doll Poem by Georgia Ann BanksMartin

Some say Sambo wears
bright reds
blues and greens
dances
on street corners for large groups of people

grinning
as he did when snitching to the master
encouraging him to beat his slaves
in return for a fairer share of tea
potatoes
meats

grinning
when writing hateful notes
taping them to his dorm room door
later saying
“I found these after class today”

Forums were held
programs created
deans declared
dangerous racists

but I remember meeting Sambo
on his way to eat pancakes topped with butter
made from the flesh of three trickster tigers
a boy who had no right
to wear a red coat
blue trousers
shoes with crimson soles and linings
to carry a green umbrella