By: Cedric McClester,

It's a long way from
New York to Simi Valley
But we've done the math
And added up the tally
Of unarmed black and brown men
Who've been shot
Tragically by bullets
From a cop

With hands held high
In a gesture of surrender
They have been shot down
In all their youth and splendor
And who do you guess
Might be the prime offender
Someone in blue uniform
Is the top contender

Like Rodney King
After the facts are stated
They don't get indicted
Or are vindicated
While the family of the victims
Have all waited
For justice that's denied
Or just vacated

With hands held high
In a gesture of surrender
They have been shot down
In all their youth and splendor
And who do you guess
Might be the prime offender
Someone in blue uniform
Is the top contender

It's not so much your color
As your class
That might determine
If a cop acts much too fast
Barely identifying themselves
Before they blasts
And your future could
Quickly becomes your past

With hands held high
In a gesture of surrender
They have been shot down
In all their youth and splendor
And who do you guess
Might be the prime offender
Someone in blue uniform
Is the top contender

Those who celebrated
The Arab Spring
Missed the point entirely
And that's the funny thing
Everywhere young people
Are clamoring for change
And demanding justice
Though some might find it strange

It's a long way from
New York to Simi Valley
But we've done the math
And added up the tally
Of unarmed black and brown men
Who've been shot
Tragically by bullets
From a cop

Copyright (c) 2015, Cedric McClester.  All rights reserved.