Terry Flood

Terry Flood Poems

The Best Poem Of Terry Flood

Our Lives Matter Of Fact

They say speak when you are angry and you'll give the greatest speech you'll ever regret
Therefore I don't speak because I'm upset
I speak because my people are in distress
I speak because I seek equality and respect
I speak for a people that experience neglect
I speak for my children who I must protect
This might offend you or get you upset
This might empower you or make you feel blessed
Although it may be a little rough and tough to digest
This represents the struggle we aren't done yet
These are facts but not politically correct
I want to offer a perspective you haven't heard yet
First hand experience my blood my sweat
This is to hold my people accountable and to keep them in check
This is the voice of the oppressed
These are the cries that you tend to reject
This is in case you forgot so you won't forget
I speak for those who are hopeless
Who get treated the worst while doing their best
I speak for those who aren't in good health
I speak for the old who can no longer speak for themselves

They want us to assimilate
Want us to be quiet
Forbid us to congregate
They say we're too violent
We are protected by the Constitution
Yet they defy it
we cant demonstrate
They call it a riot
But when they do the same its passion or excitement
They describe us as thugs
The media is bias
It's not even covert they don't even hide it
Some are dismayed some get excited
Some try to help while others remain silent
Some try to deflect some just deny it
This is America why aren't we united

Second class citizens subjected to hate
Because of our pigment because of our race
land of the free home of the brave
Must I suffer because God made me this way
What happened to the ideals that made us great
This is the United States
Not the hateful racist divided states
Not quite sure how we got this way
Being born seems to be our mistake
Judge a man by his works not his race
But instead we get attacked
And it's not  just blacks
They hate gays, Mexicans and women
Deport them all or put them in prison
Then you want to deny you have privilege
Are you stupid or just plain ignorant

As if you just pulled yourself up by your bootstraps
You didn't do that
The whips on my forefathers backs disproves that
History disputes that
Why did brown have to sue the board of education
Just to force school integration
Why was Jim Crow the standard and allowed segregation
Why did we need the fair housing act
And yet we are still struggling after that
Take drugs, poverty and a lack of education
Imprison the men and add a dash of stagnation
Limited resources and no motivation
A high crime rate and a distressed population
Throw in self hate and and lack of qualifications
No inheritance for future generations
You've got yourself one hell of an equation
Now replicate that all across the nation
this is no figment of my imagination
This is an attempt at extermination
Mass violence death and incarciration
No morale, no determination
One way trip to a single destination
It's called the projects
And what do you get
A case study on what happens when you pretend that racism doesn't exist
The church comes together to try to heal the hurt
While some members have their hands in your purse
Others do nothing they rather chase skirts
Before you pay the church make sure they are putting God first

If you oppress people long enough they will rebel
It's hard to believe in heaven when they take you through hell
The system is designed to see us fail
My people on welfare because they can't farewell
Whoever said the revolution will not be televised is in for a surprise.
Because a movement is under foot people just open your eyes.
And the cause is protecting our lives
We've got nowhere to run
We've got no where to hide
If you think racism isn't real then you are living a lie
Dying to live while we are living to die
We are an endangered species trying to survive
So we have a black president oh me oh my
We like to overcomplicate or over simplify
The whole entire time he's had to fight
And for the record his mother was white
His every move doubted and scrutinized
Is he  that big of a threat I'll let you decide
If you were in his shoes would you survive
Intolerance has driven a wedge that's super wide
How can we bridge this great divide
I'm not asking for you to apologize
But let's just be honest this one time
You fear us and jeer us but don't want to hear us
You tell us we don't belong in the United States
We are all descendants of immigrants so don't hate
Some arrived in chains and were enslaved
Some came through Ellis island some escaped
Go back to Africa is what they say
They took our pride and changed our name
They want us to hate ourselves and be ashamed
Because they took our culture and gave us chains
But then tell us were to blame
Want me to believe that I'm not great
Because I understand history and from whence I came
Your misjudgement is not my mistake
I am an American I think I'll stay
Africa is a continent by the way

Freedom isn't free it comes at a price
So why does my brother want to take my life
It's time for the dirty laundry to see the light
We want them to understand our struggle and our plight
But when we assemble we choose to fight
Loot and rob stores in broad daylight
Al Sharpton Jesse Jackson man they're alright
Those brothers marched  for civil rights
MLK gave his life
It's time for a passing of the torch but no leaders in sight
They did there thing they had there time
But A good leader is hard to find
They are either marginalized or ostracized
Stop hiding my brother its time to rise
Your people need you it's time to fly



So a power vacuum exist and we can't fill the void
A bunch of individuals screaming without a voice
So all the outsiders hear is a lot of noise
A bunch of grown men acting like little boys
It looks like a tantrum as we destroy
Our own communities as if we've got no choice
We scream black lives matter and we want you to listen
But we lack unity we lack vision
We lack leadership we lack discipline
We lack guidance and can't accomplish the mission
Our ranks are filled with strife and division
We are our own worst enemy and our own competition
We want them to respect us yet we don't respect ourselves
We want them to protect us but we don't protect ourselves

Chicago Illinois  Washington DC
any given day of the week
Black bodies lie scattered in the street
But we want to blame the man in the white sheet
The stop snitching campaign has made us weak
We choose to remain silent we don't speak
The enemy within we don't seek
We should just surrender and concede defeat
But it's much easier to blame police
Group think has set us way back
Every election we vote Democrat
Because that's what we were taught not based off facts
Has anything improved ask yourself that
Homicide is the new genocide
An ethnic cleansing who will survive
The truth is clear we must face it
Whites aren't the only ones that are racist
We bring our own prejudice to situations
Here is something I just can't understand
How we can kill our own yet hate the white man
How we can degrade each other but blame the white man
We hate each other and hate the white man
We need to embrace each other and embrace the white man
The palm of his hand looks just like my hand A house divided cannot stand
Empower yourself and say I will do what I can
Each one teach one
We are one nation
Cultural awareness not discrimination

The police aren't all innocent they have their flaws
and I am about to point them out lies and all
Kids think they are hero's some are still
But instead of enforcing the law they impose their will
They hide behind the badge it's their shield
Graduation certificate  a license to kill
8 out of 10 arrests are for nonviolent drug offenses
Yet we get  long mandatory minimum sentences
That seems crazy that seems wild
They target minorities they profile
If they feel offended they'll beat you down
And tell a different story if no one is around
Then get acquitted without a trial
They were sworn to protect but they cause hurt
They should be held accountable and keep their word
The servant should never feel superior to those they serve
An abuse of power is sure to occur
They should be calm, resourceful and patient
They've been trained to control and deescalate any situation
Unfortunately minor situations turn into direct confrontations
They are disseminated and viewed across the nation
This leads to mistrust and retaliation
A vicious cycle even though we have rights
Another unarmed man dead because the cop 'feared for his life'
We scream this is unjust we gotta make it right
Other voices yell we must fight
But the issue is bigger than black on white


I gave you the problems now some solutions
We need to seek our economic reform
An organized movement is like a storm
Stop spending your money at the corner store
They profit but your cause they ignore
Jim Crow still exist through out our institutions
From where we work to where we live
Court system included
We need action  if we want to see improvement
No time like the present like Nike just do it
You can tell me something but appreciate movement
To my fellow minorities
What are our priorities
Materialistic things don't make us royalty
Are we investing in our community
In our local economy
Or are we going to remain in a constant state of poverty
We find obstacles everywhere we look
They say if you want to hide something from a black man put it in a book
Slaves were beat if they learned to read
We won't even try although we are free
Books are accessible at your library
We need to be articulate before we speak
Under the Constitution we have freedom of speech
Animal farm was right but we can't see
We don't want a whole bunch of sympathy
Maybe a little bit of empathy
take a little time to understand our history
Why we are angry really isn't a mystery
The Supreme Court got involved in all of our victories
We want to be treated as citizens not as enemies
Just because I'm not smiling doesn't mean I'm not friendly
We are being judged by our pigment
They say we're illiterate
They white wash history hoping we'll forget it
When we bring up the  past they say get over it
Just obey the law and everything will go fine
Police only bother those who commit crimes
Body cameras prove this is a lie
Are we a nation in decline or a nation on the rise
Cognitive dissonance is the reason your blind
Opinions influenced by misinformation
Not asking for reparations or seeking retaliation
fairness and respect would be great compensation
They drafted for Vietnam we defended this nation
Meanwhile back at home we couldn't get a good education

They taught us to hate our women
Degrade our women
Beat murder and rape our women
Fight our women despise our women
Who holds us down besides our women
The makes are absent, dead or in prison
So the women get on public assistance
Drop out of school and become dependent
Lose hope for the future and digress
We say we want better we want success
But due to broken families we can't progress
Little babies having babies waiting on a checks
Thinking she'll find love if she has enough sex
Unwanted pregnancy disease was next
Man find out she pregnant now he her ex
Said he is not ready for a kid can't handle the stress
Absentee father just plain sorry
Next time you see him it will be on Maury
He's living  for Jordans she's living to party
Money clothes and hoes is story
His son is growing up just him and mommy
Can't wait to grow up and rob somebody
Can't wait to grow up and act like mommy
Product of his environment microcosm of society
He's bound to continue the cycle of poverty
Criminal justice system has reformed nobody
Recidivism rate is high that's how they planned it
Prison is the new slavery its all semantics 
This country has the largest inmate population on the planehe's
Felon can't get a job back to his old antics
Moms burying their sons but no one panic
This is an epidemic but you can't understand it
It's about justice that's how they describe it
That's how they disguise it, how they hide it
Can't afford a lawyer your fate has been decided
A jury of your peers who aren't open minded
A public defender has no clients
We must break this cycle or die trying

You can choose to remain in your Utopian isolation
Or try to understand and change the situation
The pledge of allegiance says we are one nation
Under God with liberty and justice for all
You can sit on the sidelines or you can get involved
We have a problem and it must be solved
United we stand one common cause
We don't need affirmative action
We need a plan of action
It has to be fair for everyone
Reach out to the masses
It has to transcend socio-economic classes
Race gender or political factions
You will have dissenters
We need a consensus not complete satisfaction
We don't need a redistribution of wealth
We need a redistribution of help
Help those that can't help themselves
We are all  victims of a broken system
We build fewer institutes if higher learning but more prisons
Then have to find a way to fill them
Corrupt politicians I forgot to mention
Excuse me excuse me may I have your attention

All lives matter this much is true
Maybe this analogy will help you
All diseases are bad I hate them all
People choose a cause and get involved
If I went to a cancer walk
Gave a speech held a talk
but didn't mention ms, HIV, sickle cell or any of the rest
Would you really get upset
And accuse me of apathy orcneglect
I'm fighting for a cause it's not a contest
No one is saying I don't care about ALS
Or cancer cancer its the best
Sometimes it's not black and white
Sometimes its about acknowledging wrongs to make things right
I love everyone I truly do
I just want to give you a different perspective or point of view
We are a great nation but we can improve
Sometimes we need just a dose of truth
Hurt people hurt people don't let them hurt you
Hate is learned behavior
Even from a distance I am your neighbor
Love conquers all we can't accept failure
We have more in common than what makes us different
Human beings American Citizens
If God be with us who can stand against us

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