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. ]