Bang, Bang, Bang Poem by Dio Rivera

Bang, Bang, Bang is all we hear
While we sit in the car full of fear
Thinking what did we do wrong
Thinking about my family back home
"Licence and Registration please"
Arguing we can't get it because we are on our hands and knees
They do violent things to us and they don't get charged
The charges are on us and they go unharmed
They assume we're a threat in our community
But they don't see us striving for unity
Saying we sell drugs and we use to gang bang
The violence stops for a minute but it's like a boomerang
They see our mugshot not our cap and gown
They just see a danger shaking their heads looking down
It's the same story but a different name
Pointing the finger at us forcing us to take the blame
They see our color as a weakness or a danger
Scared of us grown men and even a teenager
Getting beat looking into a white man's eyes full of hate
They treat as if we are horrible and they are "great"
Shot if they see us move
Tell the judge but they disapprove
Dead in a hearse after a shooting
An unarmed black man dead cause of a cop assuming
The kids and family crying behind marching
They don't see our struggle they don't see us when we were starving
Carrying signs saying #BlackLivesMatter
Coming together for a change as we gather
Stop the violence is what we say
As we protest every single day
But nothing changes as we hope and pray
From the 50's, from the 60's, From the days we were hanged
MLK and Malcolm Xdesired to make a change
And today we want the same
Stop the violence, Stop the Bang, Bang, Bang