ONE OUT EVERY NINE BLACK MALE
YOU SAID IS IN JAIL
THAT’S ENOUGH TO MAKE ALL MOTHERS WAIL
YOUNGMAN, DON’T YOU KNOW YOUR HISTORY
IT DID NOT BEGIN WITH SLAVERY
YOUR KINGSHIP WAS BREW IN ANCIET TIMES
CONCOCTED BY THE BEST OF RHYMES
KISSED BY GOD’S HOLY LIPS
BLESSED BY LOVE’S ENCHANTING MIST
YOU LED HANNIBAL’S CALVERY
YOU CAPTAINED THE SHIPS OF ABUBAKARI
EGYPT’S THRONE WAS YOUR FOOTSTOOL
THE NILE YOUR BACKYARD POOL
STRONG MANDIGO WARRIOR OF OLD
WHY DO YOU NOW SHIVER IN THE COLD
WHY DO YOU NOW SLEEP WITH DEBT
MAKE YOUR DESTINY A BET
DRINK WITH MALICE AND PAIN
DANCE IN YOUR BROTHER’S SPILLED BLOOD
AND EAT THE PROVISIONS OF THE GUN’S BLOOD
SEE, THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS YOUR FUTURE YOU HAVE SLAINED
MOMS ARE LEFT TO BE DADDIES AT HOME
WHILE YOU ROAM
COME TAKE YOUR RIGHTFUL PLACE
ALL HANDS ARE OPEN TO EMBRACE
THE RETRUN OF THE PRODICAL SON
FOR TOGETHER WE ARE ONE
YOU HAVE LED FLEETS
NOW YOU ROAM THE STREETS
ONCE YOUR STRENGTH COVERED THE EARTH
NOW YOU’RE AN ENDANGERED SPECIES ON EARHT
WAKE UP AND HEAR
OPEN AN EAR OPEN A BOOK’S PAGE
YOUR LIFE BEGIN BEFORE THE MIDDLE PASSAGE
THE BEAUTIFUL LIBRARIES OF TIMBUKTU
ARE CALLING YOU
YOU ARE NOT THE SON OF A SLAVE
BUT OF A SAVIOR KING
SO WONDERFULLY DESIGNED AND FEARFUL MADE
THAT THE ANGEL’S CRIED UPON THE BASINET WHERE YOU LAID
YOUR GREATNESS CANNOT BE KEPT IN A CAVE
BUT, LET ALL SING
LET THE BELLS RING
THAT YOU ARE GREATER THAN YOU THINK
