You say that this country needs to change That it needs to be reformed That it needs to be equal But how do we alter a tree who has been watered with the sweat of our mistreated laborers? Who grows stronger through the abuse of black Americans How do we alter a tree who’s racist roots are already thousands of years deep?
If I helped you cut this tree down Where would his roots go? Where would we place his corpse? Would he lie alongside the millions who unjustly died for him? Or would he be buried higher than his creators Higher than those who helped him grow and nourished his sick leaves, though his fruits never dropped for them
Isn’t it ironic that those who helped the tree grow don’t receive the fruits of their labors? The fruits ripen, with the sweat and blood of those who grew the tree The fruits darken, dripping under the sunlight as his creators did Yet the fruits still drop at the feet of those most porcelain, Those who were born to enjoy the tree’s abundance