Raised to be a Go-getter
but, always reminded that I had to be twice better

Haunted by the phrase "He is a credit to his race"
but, don't push too hard and remember to "know your place"

Life as a Black male youth in the 60's and 70's was at best a paradox
I had to balance being hungry like a wolf for change with being clever like  fox

Told a Black person can be President or great at anything they do
but, it took 300 years for the first part to be true.

Rosewood, Black Wall St and The Houston Riot of 1917
taught me I was still a "second class" human being

40 years later some change has come
but, to think that  America is a "Color Blind" society, I would to be deaf, blind and dumb

Between you and me
America has a long way to go before it is as inviting to my people as a cold glass of Sweet Tea.

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*Inspired by Queen Bey's  "Lemonade." 
Credit to Duran Duran for their song, "Hungry Like A Wolf."