Hoods Off, Hands-Up, Hold Up
Black Boys Be-Aware!!
Keshawn is smart, kind, but an oblivious young man
Uncertain that the world pre-judges him
Judges him on his outward appearance
I tell him keep your hood off when walking down the street
Keep your hands visible so all can see
When someone yells in your direction STOP!
Be respectful, be obedient, be silent
Unless spoken to.
Hoods Off, Hands-Up, Hold Up
Black Boys Be-Aware!!
This is our Freedom
The new modern day slavery they call it.
Trayvon keep your hood off
Hands Up, Mike Brown obey and avoid restraints
Black boys got targets on their backs
With no-one willing to truly consider the facts.
They never really see Keshawn
The Keshawn I know
This tall, athletic, book smart kid
Black Boys Be-Aware!!
What does the world see?
A “pistol packing drug dealer”
But who is he really?
A brother, a son, a scholar!
Hoods Off, Hands-Up, Hold Up
Black Boys Be-Aware!!
Black Lives Matter
Blue Lives Matter
All Lives Matter
Does it matter what lives matter?
If we are unjust in our actions
How can we justify our actions!
Keshawn be brave my child
Overcoming prejudice and oppression will take more time
Hoods Off, Hands-Up, Hold Up
Black Boys Be-Aware!!
Shoot first ask questions later
Wilson, Zimmerman, Hitler?
A melting pot of haters.
America the beautiful but only from the outside
Making America Great Again needs to start from the inside
Martin the King, Malcolm the Xample, Ghandi the Peacemaker
A country rooted in oppression
Convinced America is for equal opportunity
But again, where is the unity?
Trump Towers, Walls, America does Fall!
Race riots, protests and rallies arise
Keshawn confident in his strides in the neighborhood
With his hood on as he walks down the street
Hope tonight he doesn’t end up…..Held Up with his Hands up!
Black Boys Be-Aware!!