Then and Now

Civil Rights… Who? What? Where? How? Let’s start with Dr. Martin Luther King, who said “let freedom ring” Or what about Homer Plessy? No one knew that taking a seat on a train could get you into a situation so messy Time to hit some facts, let’s take it back We ride on the same train now and sit in the same row That wasn’t possible a while ago with Jim Crow Black and white, no we’re all the same guys But we can drink from the same water fountain and half of you don’t know why We couldn’t vote, we didn’t have a say Today, our black men are worried about the latest rap album more than finding a legitimate source of pay People were sprayed with fire hoses, attacked by dogs and children went to jail Overcrowded and scared, mom and dad weren’t there Racial discrimination and segregation? We told ourselves it wasn’t fair We only had our brothers and sisters, no one else cared We sit in the same classroom today, diverse and united But remember how this happened and the ones who peacefully fighted You can call yourself free to this day But think about the ones who suffered, cried and really had to pay All the pain and protest was for me and you Let’s go out into the world and show everyone what African Americans can do