Music as Harlem - Tenor and Piano
Duration: 3:30
Range: (A2 “airy”) D3-F#4
Commissioned July 2020 by Josaphat Contreras
Text: J.P. Infante
Text:
“Inner city Blues on sale for white suburban youth.
Paul Mooney said it best, "Everybody wanna be Black but nobody wanna be
Black."
From backpack tribes on a quest to change demographics
to opulent pornographic violence and bulletproof vests.
What happens to a dream that's bought?
Is it refundable if it doesn't turn out to be what you thought?
Is it impeachable if hope was all you got for your vote?
Does it shine around the neck, demanding your oppressor's respect?
Does it hypnotize, spinning on tires, or pacify like welfare checks?
Does it take YOU out of poverty, only YOU, leaving poverty behind without
YOU?”