Am I next?
The next on to have a knife on his neck
a victim of excessive force
applied during arrest
struggling, fighting for a breathe
in custody, tortured and oppressed
Am I next?
The next one to be put to death
by those we look to, to serve and protect
because of the color of my skin
or is it, because I am poor and have less
than what you think I should have
that you devalue my life
treat me different than Whites
incarcerate me and my kind
the victim’s of discrimination
and stereotypes
Am I next?
Next to be gunned down
gunned down because I am Black or Brown
because I live uptown
because I talk in my native tongue
because of the car I’m driving around
the music I’m playing aloud
because my pants sag
and they sag below my ass
because I wear a hoody and a mask
and I have a pocket that’s filled with cash
Am I next?
Another face on the news
another child, a mother would lose
another father, gone too soon
another uncle, brother, sister
whose names will be shouted
from the pews
Am I next?