dream of an ancestor's nightmare

​we can't wait for them
we must depend on us
it's a nightmare, a nightmare, nightmare,
and it’s following me
it's following, following me
it's following me
it's a nightmare, nightmare, a nightmare
and it's following me
it's following, following me
and i just wanna be free
it's a nightmare, a nightmare, a nightmare
and it's following me
it's following, following me
it's following me
it's a nightmare, a nightmare, a nightmare
and i just wanna be free
it's following, following me
it's following me

as i
look upon the reality of our ancestors dream
the freedom we have on the beaten backs of our ancestor’s suffering
the product of their forced labor
i sit back and wonder
are we progressing towards the pinnacle of fulfilled ambitions
it's a nightmare
what would our ancestors say
if you could go to school and learn a variety of subjects
yet people of color drop out of high school at alarming rates
and when we do graduate and get a high school diploma or degree
there is very little opportunity for me
student loan debt, unemployed, underemployed and unequal pay
this unjust system was set up that way
it's a nightmare
what would our ancestors say
if there were bookstores and libraries in every neighborhood
that you could go to without restriction
yet we choose to ignore these buildings of public information, negating resources
they said if you want to hide something from blacks
put it in a book
the forces that be didn't want me to write or read
it's a nightmare
what would our ancestors say
if you could get tested for free for different viruses and diseases
yet we choose to not know our own status and unknowingly infect others
these laboratories they oversee never saw fit for me to be treated
remember tuskegee?
40 damn years!
bad blood my ass
it's a nightmare
what would our ancestors say
if you could watch tv and learn the history of different places and cultures
yet we choose to be brainwashed
supporting media that degrades us blatantly
the sheeple, stay woke people
it's a nightmare
what would our ancestors say
if they told you your outer beauty resonates
from your inner beauty and strength
by simply being yourself
there is no need to add to what God created you to be
yet we decree that fake is the new real
botox injections, breasts and butt implants
acrylic nails and weave
take that oppression off your head
inside you're already dead
it's a nightmare
what would our ancestors say
if you could work together for a common cause greater than yourselves
they yell underground railroad
yet black on black crime is prevalent in our communities
and some skin folk ain't kinfolk
there are already too many outside forces plotting our genocide
where is your pride?
we have to stop being our own threat
my people, why haven't we unified yet?
it's a nightmare
what would our ancestors say
if you were given uplifting opportunities
to advance yourself and your community
yet we choose to blame the man and the system for our problems
yes, white supremacy privilege robs them
it's the soup du jour everyday
is systemic discrimination here to stay?
likely
if America doesn't change its ways
it's a nightmare
what would our ancestors say
if you could work a regular 9 to 5 to take care of your family
and build wealth to pass on to future generations
yet we choose stagnation
we buy expensive clothes, cars and jewelry
never investing in items that appreciate in value
my spirit grieves
i guess your commercialism materialism is the flashy mule I never received
where is my damn 40 acres?
it's a nightmare
what would our ancestors say
if you were given the right to vote and influence government policy
yet we choose to bypass voter registration drives
and complain about the ineffectiveness of the republic
the presidential pick was already in
political posturing and puppeteering gets them in
it's the corporation's multi-million dollar contribution manifested
we really don't have a say
Father, let us pray
it's a nightmare
what would our ancestors say
if you could attend church without fear of persecution
yet our places of worship are bombed and burned down to the ground
and we get shot and killed anyway
by terrorists the media labels as a troubled individual
we're losing and rebuilding
and losing and rebuilding
the spiritual, help us God
it's a nightmare
what would our ancestors say
if the sky is the limit and you really could be anything you wanted to be
yet we choose to be unsupportive crabs in a barrel
and bring down each other
we can all rise to the top if we work together
there is no i in team
you are royalty king and queen, dream
brothers and sisters, dream
it's a nightmare
our ancestors would say
wake up, wake the hell up!
what is this?
explain to me right now just what the hell is this?
what's going on?
i would live my hard life over again
and die a thousand slave deaths
to get half of the opportunities you are afforded today
please don't let the past 400 years of struggle be in vain
we sacrificed so that you could gain
continue to fight the plight of our people
fight with all your might
the next generation needs you

it's a nightmare, a nightmare, a nightmare
and it’s following me
it's following, following me
it's following me
it's a nightmare, a nightmare, a nightmare
and it's following me
it's following, following me
and i just wanna be free
free, free, free,
let freedom ring, freedom ring
free, free, free
liberty
that's all i need, that's all i need
free, free, free
let freedom ring
oh yes, Father
help me somebody
free, free, free
liberty
it's all i need, it’s all i…
(gun fire erupts)