IF

If I had been born black

I would be militant.

If I had been born black

I would not be hesitant

To riot, loot, and burn.

If I had been born black

I would march with Malcolm X.

If I had been born black

I would pay my last respects

To peaceful lessons learned.

And I would be wrong.

If I had been born black

I would blame the white.

If I had been born black

I would feel I had the right

To avenge past whips and chains.

If I had been born black

I would embrace Koran,

If I had been born black

I would let my rage live on,

And spurn the White God claims.

And I would be wrong.

The price for fathers’ sins

is paid now by the sons.

From generation to generation

The endless cycle runs.

And we just never get along.

                                                                                    Copyright 2013 Ken Ragan