Mask On, Mask Off

Mask on, think I’m tryna hide,

Mask off I’m doin’ too much and you tryna steal my shine,

Because I’m black they think they can take everything I have including my time,

Put  me in a cage if you want to but you won’t contain my mind,

I am a prestigious gem of my culture so very hard to find,

Black is, was, and always will be more than just fine,

It is already established when I walk in the room that, “i’m black,”

While we all may bond together on the issues of Trayvon and Sandra,

We don’t bond together in these classrooms - it’s a fact,

I’m sure our ancestors wouldn’t be too happy with that,

All the work they put in only for us to succumb to alcohol and crack,

But now, because I’m black, because of the way I use my hands when I’m talking to my friends - I have an attitude,

With my mask on, think I’m tryna hide,

Mask off, think I’m doin’ too much but no, thank you - I’m doing just fine,