Diversity

Rolling down Crenshaw Boulevard,
The fall of nineteen eighty-nine,
Hanging out with the seniors,
Blasting NWA that one time…

It was my introduction to hip hop culture,
Accepted by others who were different than me,
A brown skinny nerdy fifteen year old kid,
Discovering an expression that was revolutionary.

See, when you’re an inner-city youth,
You live in a melting pot of various races,
Our school may have had tensions but to tell the truth,
I’m glad I saw so many different faces.

But us band kids, we were a special kind,
We worked hard because we had a common goal,
In all honesty, it was a second family,
It felt as if diversity completes the soul.

That time Edwin and Alfred and Marcio and I,
Ditched school just to do some wild shit,
As Fuck tha Police blasted out the speakers,
I felt a little cool because everyone could spit.

Over the years I made friendships across different cultures,
I’ve learned about struggles and personal histories,
They’ve been my friends, co-workers and family,
And that’s why #blacklivesmatter to me.