Author Archives: William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

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About William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

William Eric Waters is an award-winning poet, fiction writer, essayist, educator, criminal-justice scholar, and nonprofit executive. Writing as William E. Waters, he is the author of the epic poem Black Shadows and Through the White Looking Glass and three poetry collections: Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats, The Black Feminine Mystique, and The Black Blood of Poetry. Under the pen name Easy Waters, he is the author of the novel Streets of Rage and the short-story collection Conundrums: Stories of Law & Justice. His work explores Black history, race, law, punishment, institutional power, accountability, redemption, and resilience.

Albert Einstein on Truth and Justice

Posted on December 16, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

“In matters of truth and justice, there is no difference between large and small problems, for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same.”

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VERY STRANGE FRUIT

Posted on December 16, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Have you ever really listened to the haunting lyrics of “Strange Fruit,” sung by Billie Holliday, who “had the kind of voice you never forget,” as Bret Primack wrote in Jazz Times?: Southern trees bear strange fruit, Blood on the … Continue reading →

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THE NEW SLAVE MASTERS…AT SONY

Posted on December 15, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Sony President Amy Pascal and producer Scott Rudin think that slavery was funny. Have they watched such movies as “Django Unchained” and “12 Years A Slave?” I haven’t watched them – I hate slave movies! – but I would bet … Continue reading →

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PROSECUTORS, POLICE-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS, THE CONSTITUTION, THE KKK, POSSES, AND THE RULE OF LAW

Posted on December 11, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

I’ve been thinking about when state prosecutors fail to do their jobs in police-involved killings of unarmed individuals, that is, fail to get indictments – though we all know, those of us who have studied the criminal criminal justice system, … Continue reading →

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Charles Barkley Should Shut Up!

Posted on December 4, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Charles Barkley the NBA “great,” in response to the Michael Brown killing in Ferguson, Missouri, stated in a CNN interview that “this notion, that cops are out there just killing black men, is ridiculous.” Remember the “I am not a … Continue reading →

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From my book, “Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats” — for Eric Garner, RIP

Posted on December 3, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Blue Knight Riders They don’t wear white sheets Or burn crosses in the night, But there’s an unmistakable connection Between these blue and white knights. They kill innocent Black males For horrific crimes real and imagined, And because grand juries … Continue reading →

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“Violence is as American as cherry pie”

Posted on November 26, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

H. Rap Brown, now known as Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, famously proclaimed in the ’60s that “violence is as American as cherry pie.”  Little wonder, in the aftermath of the no indictment of the Ferguson, Missouri white police officer who killed … Continue reading →

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From my book, “Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats”: “Stolen Lives”

Posted on November 26, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

“Stolen Lives” They march on City Hall, Trailing a long banner, A fragile memorial, Dedicated to mostly young minorities, The fatal victims of police brutality, Of New York’s Finest. As they march they chant: “Police brutality by the hour!” “What … Continue reading →

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The Mussolini of Manhattan Speaks of Ferguson, Missouri

Posted on November 25, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

In light of the protests in the aftermath of the no indictment of the Ferguson, Missouri police officer who shot and killed an unarmed teenager, Michael Brown, the Mussolini of Manhattan, i.e., former NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, stated that police … Continue reading →

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“Blue Knight Riders,” from my book, Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats

Posted on November 18, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

In light of the Governor of Missouri activating the National Guard, in anticipation of the Grand Jury not indicting the police officer who killed Michael Brown, I decided to post this poem from my book, “Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black … Continue reading →

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