It was Self Defense

I felt threatened

His gangster rap music was too loud

I felt threatened

Only black face in a white mans crowd

I felt threatened

His black hoodie in the shadows of the night

I felt threatened

His intimidating figure gives me fright

I felt threatened  

He sat on the curb with a group of his friends  

I felt threatened

I quickly began to condescend

I let out the bullets of my gun

Released them into his chest one by one

I felt threatened

It was self defense

The story told many times with masked pretense

But as a black woman I can see

The real threat and fear is put in me

The fear to let my son go out and play

The chance of him being gunned down is a risk every day

Everyone’s child is their one and only

Yet my child is a threat to the white man

And I’m glad they told me

Kissing him could be my last goodbye

Because my son is a threat in the white man's eye