Leimert Park, CA–Amde Hamilton of the Watts Prophets spent is 80th birthday in Leimert Park this past weekend, celebrated by family, longtime friends and community members at Hot and Cool Cafe.
Hamilton is co-founder of the Watts Prophets, a group he founded in 1967 with Otis O’Solomon and Richard Dedeaux after the August 1965 Watts Riots. They spoke truth to power wherever they could, which would lead to inspiring the early wave of young rap artists who would recite his poetry.
I first met Amde through his grandchildren during my time in college. Amde and his wife lived in Northern California after moving from Los Angeles, but Amde would travel back to L.A. often.
At 80 years old Amde is still as sharp as a whistle, able to talk to you about current and past events as if they happened yesterday. His witty mind makes conversations with him intriguing. He is like a walking encyclopedia of information, especially regarding the history of black Los Angeles.
The most recent conversation with Amde, he talked to me about the dangers associated with communicating via 5G networks and what he saw as the most pressing issues for Black Angelenos in 2020. It was good to see his family praise him for being such a strong and influential person in their lives.
I really enjoy this collection of poems published by Amde entitled, Journey of a Street Poet, Me today, You tomorrow.
Papa
Papa used to say
something wise to me
each day, take life
seriously always son
Respect everyone
Make your word your
Bond, it’s the sum of you
and what you do
If you say it, mean it
screen it, if it’s dirty
clean it
See clearly that you mean it
A lie my boy is like a fly
Now it’s here, there
looking for a place to die
Truth has proof
Like it be a hole when you pull a tooth
Fat meat is greasy
living right aint easy
those are facts clearly
seen unless man is
living a dream
First was the word
So a no-good word
is absurd
It’s a key to the unreal
a bad deal
that locks up truth
IN a cage of lies
attacks facts with
open eyes
so be solid, son
stick love and truth
to everyone
Papa used to say
something wise to me each day.
Photo: Alex Alonso Street Gangs T.V
