Young, Black, Beautiful

O say can you---feel that?
A rippling of bones beneath water
Oshuns (oceans) of change
Channeled ancestors today, and they said
"Slumber no more
Nor shall you endure silent suffering
We ride this thang called evolution now
But fear not...
For, what comes after is beautiful."

Hey you!
Young black beautiful
Young black beautiful

Put your
Hands up against the wall
Hands up against the wall. (x2)

I got a new idea
Jump, run & catch the ball
Got a brand new dance
Keep making kill-a-nigga songs
We got a hit!

Got a college degree
Recession. No more jobs
Police Brutality
Awww, don't wanna hеar your sob

Invest for what?
Hell, you might not see tom'orrrr
I securеd the bag
Now come and give it back at the mall

Is it cuz I'm me?
Ahhh, there u go with that card
Rock my chain & peace (piece)
So them shackles couldn't'a been that hard

Wait a minute...
What you say?

Janga lang Janga lang Janga lang negro
Shake it til they feel it in their soul wherever we go
Janga lang Janga lang Janga lang negro
Shake it til they feel it----
(whoop) call them people...

Hey you!
Young black beautiful
Young black beautiful

Put your
Hands up against the wall
Hands up against the wall. (x2)

Melanin tougher than the leather on Fred Hampton
Hair look Like wool
Skin look like bronze
Curl Pattern 4c I feel like like God
This For the the black that I can’t discard
Pent house flows from a black garage
Refugee strumming my pain on a black guitar
Real Talk Leaving my black jaws
This A Song for God children
Skin tone Coal That world called villains
Watermelon eaters and the Hennessy Drinkers
This the theme song For all My Niggas
Sisters you’re beautiful
From The Lace Front down to the cuticles
From the Shea butter Stains On your pillow cases
Fuck What They Say You been Amazing
Surviving
Hoses
Riots
Rodney king beat downs via night sticks
Over priced Day Cares
Underpaid night Shifts still turn coal into diamonds
Take our rhythm and the blues that come with it
Rules that come with it
Bruises accrued from uplifting
The people and the signs
If You Feel otherwise
Then know you out yo cotton
>

Hey you!
Young black beautiful
Young black beautiful

[Adlibs: We so resilient.. young black, young black resilience... we so re-sil-i-ent...]

Put your
Hands up against the wall
Hands up against the wall. (x2)

Ain't we live?
Ain't we loud?
Ain't we fly?
Ain't we proud? (x2)

...and unapologetic