Silent words

i WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT OUR PROBLEM
EXCEPT I REALIZED THIS WAS NOT YOUR BATTLE
SO SITTING DOWN FINDING A SOLUTION
WOULD SIMPLY BE OUT OF THE QUESTION.

SO I SAT DOWN AND KEPT IT ALL BOTTLED IN
WHEN YOU SPOKE FREELY ABOUT POVERTY.
BEING THAT RACE AND POVERTY NATURALLY
FINDS ITSELF IN THE SAME BED AND CONCEIVES
MY REALITY......... I SIMPLY JUST KEPT IT IN.

I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT RACE AND POVERTY
CO-EXISTED LIKE SPOUSES AND CRACK COCAINE
BECAME OUR APHRODISIAC IN THE 80'S.
AND IN THE HEAT OF THE STRUGGLE
DIS FUNCTIONAL HOMES.
GENTRIFICATION
SUB-STANDARD EDUCATION
AND GENOCIDE IN THE WAYS OF BLACK ON BLACK CRIME
WERE WERE GIVEN BIRTH
i WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT IT IS WE AND NOT YOU
ARE THE WRETCHED OF THE EARTH

I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT IT WAS US
AND NOT YOU THAT WAS HOSED, FIRE BOMBED
AND ATTACKED BY DOGS. HAD OUR LEADERS
ASSASSINATED AND OUR MEN
EMASCULATED.
AND WOMEN REDUCED TO THE IMAGE
OF STRIPPERS, GOLD DIGGERS AND NAPPY HEADED HOES.
WHO WEAR THESE ADJECTIVES PROUDLY
AS IF THERE ON SOME EVERYDAY REALITY SHOW.

I WANTED TO TELL YOU ABOUT HOW MANY ARMY
RECRUITERS LAY SIEGE IN MY COMMUNITY
AND BUSINESSES THAT NEVER GIVE BACK
SIPHONE OUR RESOURCES BECAUSE WE DON'T OWN
BECAUSE CITY OFFICALS MAKE SURE WE DON'T OWN
AND ON THE NEWSPAPERS TELEVION AND RADIOS
THINGS LIKE IS THIS ARE NEVER SHOWN

THINGS LIKE THIS ARE NEVER TALKED ABOUT
ONLY IN BARBER SHOPS AND BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
LIKE IF IT BECAME TABOO
TO SPEAK ABOUT OUR PROBLEMS
LIKE IF IT BECAME A SIN TO TALK ABOUT
THE BLACK MAN'S CONDITION.
LIKE IF IT IT WAS YOUR PROBLEM AND NOT OURS.