Why? Why should I? They say “get over it” It’s as if they accuse me Of being the ******* Of being the master Of being the racist Of killing my past And trying To **** my mind What did I do To deserve this? They must want something But what? I’m trying But 40 acres and a mule Doesn’t help a lynched man A janitor’s job Doesn’t help find my roots A nice salary Isn’t wealth I’m supposed to love our country I’m supposed to be grateful For what? Why don’t you explain it to me Because I DON’T GET IT Do you? Please If I’m wrong Show me It took Just a bit of complaining To defeat Bull Connor It took Just a bit of complaining To defeat Jim Crow But now they say “Get over it” That’s the damndest thing “Get over it” Get over what? Slavery? Lynching? Being called a monkey? Being called a ******? Being sent to war But also to the back of the bus? “Get over it” Why don’t you explain how you do that? What have you gotten over? I see lots of folks on TV With their problems How they’ve been abused But they are cheered for their courage They get to sell books I’m scorned for having the nerve To bring it up Are you afraid Of what I want? Money? Retribution? Revenge? Should I forget all that For what? Because I was freed? Should I be happy? Because you allowed me to become A human being? Because I can eat With you? Because I can ride Next to you? Because you gave What you had All along? How do they say it? Inalienable rights Granted by God Or by you? I know you are frustrated With me Because after killing me And then allowing me to live I’m still mad I know how to forgive And I'm trying to forget Even though I'm not sure I should But how do I forgive Tomorrow's slap? Am I Jesus? I know what he said But my cheeks hurt so much They are bleeding I'm trying so hard But still I have to get over it Why? Because I wasn’t a slave? Those people are dead anyway Right? And you didn’t enslave them Right? So you and I are square Is that it? So why am I complaining? Why won’t my mind heal? Why won’t I just get a job? Why won’t I just be quiet? Why? Are you blaming me? I was inferior then Now I’m ungrateful I guess I don’t get it Maybe you do Please explain it to me I’m all ears