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A poem in response to the Michael Brown and Eric Garner rulings

I'm frankly getting fed up with hearing about all of these stories concerning white cops killing unarmed black men, and then hearing people's defense of the cops (including the cops themselves), as they resort to stereotypes, fallacies, and dehumanization as a means for excuse. So, in response to this, and in conjunction with a building rage inside of myself, I've decided to resort to writing a poem regarding matters.

Black Lives Matter

Don't wear a hoodie,
Even if it's raining,
Always bring an umbrella,
Even though no one else does,

Don't wear baggy pants,
Where guns can be lodged,
Even though that's a myth,
So says Snopes.com,

Don't put your hands in your pockets,
Even when it's cold and snowing,
Don't wear a coat either,
That might worry people too,

Don't wear anything nice,
That may make people wonder,
"Did he rob a store?"
"Is that what he did with welfare?"

Don't drive a nice car,
As that will get the lights flashing,
"Are you sure this is your vehicle?"
"I'm going to need to see license and registration,"

Don't listen to rap,
For it will just lead to violence,
Just like listening to fairy tales,
They always lead to happiness,

Don't go out at night,
Don't go out during the day,
Don't pay with cash,
Don't act overly friendly,

Blindly accept that we're all equals,
That this is a post-racial society,
Due to one half-black president,
After we elected 43 white ones,

Still being seen as a threat,
Based on the color of one's skin,
Seeing guilt before shown evidence,
Their lives seen as less important,

Unarmed and choking,
"I can't breathe," he says,
As the nation watches,
Many unaffected,

As his heart stopped,
So too did many's empathy,
Their conscience,
Their humanity,

Punished for who they are,
Punished for what they wear,
Punished out of prejudice,
Punished out of nonsensical fear,

Black lives matter,
Just like everyone else's,
Deserving of equal rights,
Deserving of equal treatment,

It's time to rise up,
Let our voices be heard,
That cops aren't above the law,
That black lives matter.

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