Portrayals

PORTRAYALS
___________

"Jail-bird"

"Gang-banger"

"Meth-head"

"Predator"

"Wanna-be mob

Buster"

"Knife-swinging

Nutter"

"Deserved to get surrounded

By heat-holding cops"

"Deserved to get grounded

With 21 shots"

But 

These are portrayals

They want you to know

These are portrayals

They want to show

Based on derogatory

Stereotypes

Grist for the mill

Of tough-on-crime hype

Half the city

Went ballistic

Over cop murder

Sadistic

On paper,

We're statistics-----

Never get this

Twisted

"Street thug" image

Adds to the tension

The reformed ex-prisoner

Never gets mentioned

Not the smiling sweetheart,

Not the mother's son

They concentrated on "the menace"

"Beast without a gun"

But

These are portrayals

They want you to know

These are portrayals 

They want to show

Based on derogatory

Stereotypes

Grist for the mill

Of tough-on-crime hype

He made no sudden moves,

But they made him die

Police and papers

Unify to crucify

A troubled youngster-----

Suckers had to play God

Racial death via

Interracial death squad

Suppose I got met up & lit up

By the bill?

Would the press call me a thug?

Probably will!

Folks swallowing official

Stories get played!

If you were gunned down tomorrow,

How would you be portrayed?
__________________________

W: 2.19.16

[ For Mario Woods--1989-2015. ]