If I were black I’d be in jail or dead. I’ve gotten off easy since I’ve got white skin. Cops have given me free passes for no apparent reason. If I were minority, it’d be hunting season It makes me sick and I want to cry when I think about my students who could one day die from a simple speeding ticket or from walking late at night or for just looking suspicious or for not being white. I’ve driven drunk and I’ve used drugs. I’ve sold some to my friends and I’ve stolen some Goods from institutions wearing a polo and slacks I never got caught because I’m not black. I’d be dead if I were black. What’s the use in giving someone years behind bars for just smoking weed and not causing major harm? Alcohol or drug addiction should not be treated as a crime. It’s a health issue...I know with mine I had to find a program and I had to make a change And being locked up would not have aided in my gain Prison should be for people who are a danger to the world, Not system for enslaving dad of little boys and girls. Look around it’s plain to see. We have an inherited disease. Prejudice and judgment based on race. Racism is rampant. We will not rest our case. Look at the statistics, you may not believe your eyes The US imprisons one of every 14 black guys. It’s the new Jim Crow, mass incarceration. Maybe we haven’t come as far as we thought since so called emancipation. A black child has a worse chance now of being raised by two parents then in 1850. Wow. I don’t know what to do. I feel powerless and mad. What the fuck? You just up and shot some young kid’s dad. If I were black, I’d be in jail or dead. One time a cop held a gun toward my head. A misunderstanding that could have ended in violence. Alive since I am white and I’m sick of the silence. A cop has pulled me over for going the wrong way down a one way street and I was drunk that day. Not a ticket or a pat down or a search of my car. I pretended I was lost and got a warning--how bizarre. Or was it because I looked like a straight-laced kid Brown hair, blue eyes, telling policemen fibs Manipulating people and getting what I want The way that I was living was what used to haunt me when I was sleeping, but I’ve worked through that Made amends, moved on But if I’d been black. I’d have never had the chance. People don’t belong in prison, they belong outside In their homes, their decisions should not determine 90 years of their life People can change in a matter of months That was the case for me I was a criminal once or twice or thrice or too many times to count Getting help for addiction is what helped me out Of the mess I made and the patterns I was caught in I’m grateful for the grace I’ve been unequally allotted I wish I could change the rules of how kids get suspended from school Of how people get sentenced to unusual times It’s a cruel and fucked up system and you’re a liar if you say it’s fine It makes me sick and I want to cry when I think about my students who could one day die from a simple speeding ticket or from walking late at night or for just looking suspicious or for not being fucking white.

If I were black, I’d be in jail or dead. I’ve gotten off easy since I’ve got white skin. Cops have given me free passes when I was blatantly at fault If my skin were darker, I’d be the target of law-sanctioned assault It makes me sick and I want to cry when I think about my students who could one day die from a simple speeding ticket or from walking late at night or for just looking suspicious or for not being white. Our leaders in this country for centuries Have supported racist policy to bring brown bodies to their knees Like Mayor Bloomberg’s stop and frisk More like stop and slam You understand something is amiss When cops stop people of color who are just walking along Assuming they’re suspicious when they’re doing nothing wrong It happens all the time, but not to white guys like me You don’t have to do crime to serve time in this backwards country Lord God above, hear our plea We are sick and tired of the injustices we see In 2015…the numbers are obscene Police killed 104 unarmed black people on the scene While in 2019, can you believe, they took a white mass shooter safely into custody God, I pray for drastic change We need it now, not some far off day Work in human hearts and help us find away To eliminate violence caused by prejudice and hate. We’ve had so many wake up calls But not everyone’s awake. How do you open the eyes of people who refuse Because they have so much pride or power at stake… God you’ve raised up leaders and voices Who have made change because of their demands Inspire this nation to join the struggle Spark our hearts to make a stand For equity. For justice. For saving lives. There is always more to do Lord we cannot do it alone. We need your love and your guidance too You are great. You are holy. You are the reason I can breathe When I doubt…could you show me something to help me believe.