White Girl Brown

Hey White Girl Brown don't you know you have to talk slang to be down don't you know your vocabulary is too fine even though what you say seems divine you walk with a dignified stride; no, no, you should lean even though most see it as obscene what? what's that? you say you want to be a physicist what do black people have to do with such ridiculousness? what?! you say you want to look at the stars no, no, baby-girl, that's too far we, down here, are barely surviving what are you doing looking above the horizon you fail to understand the plight we are in. LOOK! nope, you keep your nose buried in a book you fail to understand the oppression we go through you fantasize about rocket ships and weather balloons what use will a time machine bring you in this world Our history is glim baby-girl Jules Verne isn't going to save you, don't be naive It won't set you free, in reality so stop dreaming little one, little time remains Don't you know our economy is strained be a doctor, an engineer or an attorney if you are able these jobs are good, they are stable they'll get us out of these neighborhoods that seem to be built specifically for us throw dreams away, baby-girl in them put no trust I know I sound harsh or like I insult but i know more than you and I am a realist to a fault So understand, little one, practicality and creativity don't mix Get involved with a problem that you can actually fix black holes, dark matter, stars; all a waste of time and money your childish thinking is funny so get up and go to school and be sure to use that mental tool but dreams don't try to find because us black folk, we think practically and leave that kind of stuff behind