It was over a month ago when unarmed teen, Michael Brown, was shot and killed by a cop in Ferguson, Mo. Justice still hasn’t been served. The story prompted my mom to write the following poem.
“STOP THE MADNESS”
It’s Time To Stop The Violent Aggression
Tormentin’ Our Nation With Your Sick Obsession
Too Many Centuries You Have Devalued Our Life
With Undue Killings Causin’ Us Strife
Why Do You Continue To Treat Us This Way?
Thinkin’ So Little Of Abusin’ Us Each Day
Police Brutality Runnin’ Rampant In The Streets
As If Beatin’ Us Is Some Warranted Treat
We Pay Taxes To Have You Serve And Protect
Instead You Constantly Show Us Disrespect
Innocent Lives Lost Too Early On A Daily Basis
Mostly By Burly Guys Who Are Proven Racists
You Come With Guns Cocked And Taser In Hand
Lyin’ On Us To Justify Your Commands
As We Witness Others From Another Race
Who Can Get Away With Murder Right In Your Face
Callin’ Us Lazy And Blamin’ Us For Gettin’ High
We Took Care Of Your Babies And Helped You Survive
It’s Okay When You Decide To Sell or Legalize Pot
As Long As Our Men Stay Locked Up In Jail To Rot
We Don’t All Look Alike Nor All Act The Same
And We Don’t Like Bein’ Made To Feel Ashamed
You Place More Concern On Someone’s Pet
While Our Families Grieve From Your Neglect
We Are Someone’s Father, Husband, Son, Or Brother
Or Someone’s Wife, Daughter, Sister, Or Mother
We Are Your Neighbors, Peers, Classmates And Friends
We Deserve To Love, Work And Live To The End
We Want To Have The Same Liberties As You
Given Opportunities To Reach Our Goals Like You Do
Not Bein’ Followed, Chased And Considered Suspicious
While Our Purchases Are Responsible For Your Riches
We Want Our Chance To Overcome Some Day
Without You Stoppin’ Or Blockin’ Our Way
Our Families Are As Important To Us As Yours
Even If For Them We Have To Struggle More
It’s Time To Treat Us Like Human Beings
Stop The Madness And Quit Bein’ So Mean
Let’s Rise Above And With Love Heal Our Nation
Put An End To All Hatred, Torment And Frustrations
I Believe There Is Hope If We All Would Try
To Embrace Our Differences And Comply
To The Golden Rule And The Constitution
To Do Unto Others Without Revolution
Cynthia Thompson
