Just because you never blown up a building
Or hijacked a plane
Doesn’t mean you can act the same
You didn’t write racial slurs
Or burn cross on others lawns
But you can hang on the street corners from dusk till dawn
You haven’t shot up your jobs or schools
But you don’t use the tools God gave
You haven’t held political hostages or started wars
Doesn’t mean you can give up
THE STRUGGLE IS STILL YOURS
You don’t know what it’s like to truly be a slave
Being owned and brought from birth till grave
This is the history from which you came
The way you act makes our forefathers shame
You give no thought or praise to those who came before
Do you know what it’s like to go to a restaurant
and see whites only on the doors
You have the right to vote but don’t
These things were battles that were fought for
DON’T FORGET THE STRUGGLE IS STILL YOURS
Do you give any credit or acknowledge
to the many scientists, inventors or activist
Who paved the road on which you travel?
Instead you hell bent on hearing the judge slam the gavel
Have you read about great kings and queens from Africa?
Or are we just concerned about memorizing rap songs
The struggle continues and the movement moves on
You take for granted that your school isn’t segregated
and being guarded by dogs
Or that you weren’t hosed down, spit at or being chased a bit by dogs
You only heard bits and pieces of I Have A Dream
Have no understanding what Black Pride of Malcolm X means
The injustices that our people suffered through makes me want to shout
The knowledge that I’m learning about leaves me with no doubt
That I must enlighten and open doors
CAUSE I CAN’T FORGET THE STRUGGLE IS STILL YOURS
I’ve often wondered how many black bones
are in the bottom of the Mississippi
Or how many necks a tree branch has snapped
Too many for the average man to comprehend
What do you think about my brothers and sisters?
Do we have a moment of silence in remembrance
for the spirits of our ancestors?
I hate to pester
When was the last time you got down on your knees?
And gave thanks for the life God gave
Cause having the wrong political party,
thoughts, ideas and religious affiliations
Can land you in a grave
I’ve listened to the radio and watched the evening news
So I know what’s going on
The education and uplifting of my people
is an emotion I feel so strong
Hell I just might break out into a rap song
That’s just what you want to hear
The voice of Tupac and Biggie
Telling tales of their lives
All the gang banging and hustling
Leaving widows out of their wives
Don’t get me wrong
I’m not against their lyrical words or truthful messages
What I’m against is all the children
want to follow in their footsteps
The time is now to bring forth a stronger unity
or when all the fighting is over all that will be left is me
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