The first time I heard his name
A year ago today
Begging for breath
For respect
For life
For basic human decency
Was that too much to ask?
A year ago
I still can't believe
Can't comprehend
That someone could die
Held down
Suffocated
Under the weight
Of a police officer!
A police officer!
Someone who should know better
Should act better
Should follow the letter
Of the law
Of human decency
Of moral consistency
Even writing these words
It feels like a film
Or a book
A crazy book
You know could never be true
Yet it was reality
Is still a possibility
It could be you or me
No probably not me
My colour protects me
It shouldn't
But it does
How wrong that is
But if you're not white
Then it could be you
You could die
On a road
Begging for breath
Just asking for respect
Begging for life
For the right to live
Why don't black lives matter
Don't tell me they do
Coz they don't
Not in the same way
And we accept that fact
Allow colour as an excuse
For abuse
If you're thinking
This is a US problem
Hold onto your hat
The UK too has these facts
Though we pretend we're ok
Above that behaviour
We're not!
Racism is everywhere
So common we don't see it
We choose not to see it
Institutional racism
A societal schism
Let's heal the division
Create a mission
For equality
True parity
When black lives matter
The world will be better
For everybody
Are you with me?