Dedicated to the fallen Black, young and gifted in America.

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This song was written after the death of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes

Eyes trying to deny the truth that swam across the screen
"Why?"
The cold reached into my heart and squeezed
it's iron fist
Until I could feel the breath turn still inside
I would have let the tears stream down my face
But the bitterness coated my tongue too thickly
I felt as if lead had been slammed into my chest
As the question sunk into my mind swiftly
Painfully intense
"Why?"
I could not minimize the headlines dancing before my eyes
"TLC singer Left Eye Killed In Car Accident"
Come on
Forreal....
This sh*** can't be serious
Another f***in joke like
Pac or Biggie or Aaliyah
Or 911 right?
Naw, this sh*** ain't real
*Breathe real slow*
Let me read this sh*** again
The words would not change
As I struggled within to keep the seal from breaking
Upon the scarred tissue of my heart
Torn from crying too many nights out to God:
"Why?"
I have too many questions
Now, damnit, God I want reasons
The reason for the Black, Young, & Gifted dropping like flies
My mind is spinning and I can't justify the reasons
For the unexplained deaths
Unaccounted for bankruptcy of their presence
Can't fake another bullshit condolence
Turn around wipe the tears away and tell the mirror faces
Of our children that it's gonna be alright
It's not , and it never will be
This sh*** is a conspiracy
Somebody is laughing and rejoicing that another Black angel is dead
Somebody thought this destruction into existence
And I have no control over this new epidemic
This spiritual monstrosity that manifests itself against our flesh
Killing us like Ebola so silently, but now swiftly
I got too many questions!
Now God give me a reason
What happened to Black responsibility?
When we demanded justice for the wrongs wrought against us
Who will plead this case for the stolen souls of our young men and women
Power destroyed before they even realize their full potential
I can't write another beautiful eulogy
Half finished testaments to lives unlived
I won't pay homage to meaningless memories
When on the other side of town I got young sisters and brothers dying as well
I won't stick my head in the American melting pot and try to keep on living
Assimilate myself into the threads of red, white, and blue until I can no longer feel the sting
Of being Black
I won't play my role in this fallacy
Reality is yall just don't give a damn
We need to be in community centers
We need to be mentoring
We need to be loading guns and aiming
For a brighter future for our Black babies
We need to wage spiritual warfare to shatter the invisible shackles
We need to untangle ourselves from the American illusion
Respond to the final call for us to return to Black Feeling, Black Judgment, and Black Thought
No more pointing fingers
Just turn them into your chest
Stand in the mirror and take accountability
The conspiracy is that we allow our own to die
Never ask ourselves why
And keep on marching to the beat of silent drums
Leading us straight to the demise
That Pac told us about time and again
Biggie wasn't ready to die
Aaliyah was down for rocking the boat, but never anticipated going overboard
LeftEye was blindsided before she could see right
And 911 was the emergency call left unanswered
I got too many questions
Now I'm not looking to God to give me a reason
Cause the responsibility lies with all of us
Conspiracy revealed
Black nonchalance and ignorance
Is our fiercest adversary
It the "I" in Me
How about We change the scenario
No more over reactions but proactivity
To the situations that concern the upliftment of our people
The renewing of our spirits
The choice to engage in the struggle instead of pleading off
No more debates and discussions
Just action
Too many questions
Now, you give yourself a reason
Why, YOU refuse to change?