From Kings To Presidents

Present (Me)
Past (David A. Strother)
Both

1 year shy of 7 scores ago
My Great Grandfather couldn't fathom
A seed of his seed's seed recieving a voter's registration card
Stamped with flag and eagle
Representing a country that denied him the same right
...Even drilled it into Moms head...

It was the winter of the Negro's discontent
Only made warm by a summer's dream-
A dream deeply rooted in the American Dream-
A dream that made "glorious" the glory of the Lord,
...But was deferred by a bad check

Moms says "He would be proud."
So while this card practically floats towards my hands,
I MUST understand,
Why this Negro Spoke of Rivers

Rivers that ran deep as his soul,
Through the bottom of a country that left those around him,
Swinging from trees
Like strange fruit for crows to pluck

A country that left 400 years of something more than oppression,
Lashed on his (my) fathers back
And wouldn't allow his (my) sons & daughters to eat hamburgers,
Towards front-window shop glass
That shattered when bricks represented those
Who opposed those that thought otherwise

America created an atmosphere so thick for Blacks
That they (we) had to march through it
Picket signs in air
Reflecting stares and expletives
However, couldn't stop the german shepards that drug wet bodies
Dripping from water hoses that couldn't put out the fire WE were fighting...

...for the promises that they promised in the promissory note
For my son, I have hope
So I promise i will vote
But my sun don't shine- I wont ever see the light-
Those unalienable rights only matter if you White
Insufficient Funds!!
Thats what they wrote on the vault
Five scores of opportunity at the nation's default

Our eyes were watchin God
While His eye was on the Sparrow
We had a reason to sing but the jail cells were still narrow
And King knew that...
So no matter how tight the cuff, or brutal the badge
We understood that one day, we would be "Free At Last"

And that our chil'ren, and chil'ren's chil'ren could be something bigger
Learn the history of people; Not defined by that ugly word...

Niggas had they minds made up
Pens plastered on hands,
Ready to connect the arrow that pointed towards the Black man
Wondering if elephant holes left by presidential predecessors,
Are too steep for him to pull a country out of

Cause everything's backwards
The dollar aint what it used to be
But as you can see,
Poverty lines are still etched in predominately Black markers

So while I stroke this ballot
While I stroked that ballot
I can't help but be biased
While seeing my family,
And those outside my bloodline defined as "dimeless"

Especially in a time when CREAM ever present
Cash Rules Everything Around Me
But Moms even drilled it into MY head...

Money dont make the King
It's what the King bring
When the King aint got no money

And?...

Remeber,
Even Jesus rode in on a donkey

So how can we not believe that Democracy will deliver a savior of sorts once again?
Not only to save a country from itself
But to show a lil Black boy in the Slums of Georgia
That he can aspire to be ANYTHING he wants
His voice will be heard...

My voice will be heard...
You cant silence my right!!

Cause that's what King wanted...
Cause that's what Obama's given...

So while the WORLD practically floats towards my hands,
I MUST understand,
Why this Negro Spoke of Rivers