my momma told me,
"baby they don't see us all the same.
"they've got their minds made up
"before they've even learned your name."
my teacher told me
"long ago our nation was divided.
"now look at us, how far we've come
"since we were so misguided."
grandma said
"child, i remember just like yesterday,
"they was tellin' us to hang ourselves.
"while Pastor said to pray."
momma says "stay out of trouble.
"that's all we can do."
i guess the lines get blurred.
when they don't look the same as you.
teacher says "but it was so much worse
"back in the day."
i guess we'll just pretend
until it dreams itself away.
but grandma says, "son look at me.
"i'm seventy years worn.
"and this ol' world ain't changed itself a bit
"since I was born."
