If I Die Tomorrow at the Hands of Police
If I die tomorrow at the hands of the police
I know what they will say
The media will portray me as a thug
And justify why I was slain
They won’t have a story
About the impact, I wanted to make
They’ll gloss over all my accomplishments
But WILL identify all my mistakes
All the times I’ve been astray
Even though I’ve tried and changed
In my death, I’m immortalized
My present and future estranged
Drenched in a pool of blood from where #hashtags# arise
My story and dreams are laid to rest
My terrorized family cries —
Praying to God for justice
Wondering if this is a test
Like it’s not the 6th leading cause of all my brother’s deaths
But justice won’t arrive
And hashtags disappear
Cause in the end, Black men and boys still die
And it all results from ‘fear’
But we too fear for our lives
And feel traumatized
Wipe the tears from my family’s face
And give them all spring flowers
My flesh & their tears — the fertilizer for change never coming…
But even in my grave, I am the sun/son that brings people together
So celebrate:
My life
My love
My dreams
While I’m here with you today
Cause If I die tomorrow at the hands of police
You won’t know what to say
