Being Black in America

He’ll never be understood.

If he wears a hood.

Trayvon Martin.

He’ll be shot for playing in the park.

Tamir Rice.

Because they’ll mistake his cry of joy as a bark.

In this world, being black we’re paying everyone's price.

When he begs and pleads for them to stop.

Michael Brown.

But all they want to do is see his lifeless body on the ground

He tells them that he can't breathe.

Eric Garner.

But do they care? I'm sure you and I both know this answer.

How can you mistake a gun for a taser?

Eric Harris.

But they get away with because they're wearing a blue blazer.

Aren't the men in blue supposed to protect?

Wait I must have read it wrong, they really only protect certain men.

Make sure you don't run from them.

Walter Scott.

Because they might mistake their taser for a gun again.

And the next thing he knows he's shot on the spot.

All he did was ride his bike down the street.

Freddie Gray.

And he was thrown dead into the backseat.

Don't be black and wear a hood.

Don’t be black and play in the park.

Don’t be black and do good.

Don’t be black and walk down the street.

Don't be black and ride a bike.

Don't be black and have a broken taillight

Don't be black at all because all cops think alike.

-Cheyenne Dorsey