In Case
D.Black Lyrics

If i
In the event that I

Die
Pass away

In police custody, please
While under arrest by the police, please

Ask questions because,
Inquire and seek answers because,

Though i sometimes speak out of turn & ask “why?” more often than some folks care to entertain,
Even though I may sometimes voice my opinions and ask why more often than others are willing to consider,

I don’t see me leaving an exchange with an officer so
I do not foresee a situation where my encounter with an officer would result in

Depressed & disconcerted that it would make
Feeling down and disturbed to the point where it would cause

Me take me away from you.
Me to remove myself from your presence.

If you’re told i resisted,
If they inform you that I resisted,

Please
Kindly

Ask for evidence because
Request proof because

You & i know
Both you and I are aware

I know they’re armed with everything from pepper spray to tasers
I am aware that they possess various weapons, including pepper spray and tasers

And,
Furthermore,

Taking that into consideration, anything that would
Considering this, any action that might

Make me move suddenly
Cause me to react abruptly

Or do anything
Or engage in any behavior

To escalate their use of force to my own final destination in that moment is less likely than what you’ll find to be true.
To lead them to exert more force and result in harm towards me is less probable than what you will discover to be accurate.

If they tell you how bad i was before then,
If they inform you about my past wrongdoings,

Please remain vigilant because
Please stay alert because

None of my past behaviors should justify me leaving an interaction with law enforcement with the ultimate penalty enacted without the due process afforded others in courts of law.
None of my previous actions should warrant me exiting an encounter with law enforcement where the most severe punishment is imposed without the proper legal procedures given to others.

In fact,
Indeed,

If law enforcement forces those who
If the police compels individuals who

Laws enforced impact,
Are affected by enforced laws,

Whose backs & torsos act as source code – hacked –
Whose bodies serve as the basis for coded injustice,

& more so lack the morals tacked to moral acts,
And even more so, lack the ethical principles attached to righteous deeds,

Then go & ask if my blasting or maiming was
So, go and inquire whether my shooting or injuring was

More a result of semi-factual blaming
Primarily due to partially accurate accusations

Than poor tactical training,
Rather than inadequate strategic preparation,

& whoever’s tasked with staffing
And whoever is responsible for employing

& claiming credit for a job well-done
And asserting credit for a successfully executed task

Should be person number one to whom this query is posed.
Should be the first person to whom this question is directed.

What i’m asking
What I am requesting

Is for you to ask,
Is for you to inquire,

& keep asking,
And continuously ask,

If those sworn to protect & serve say to you
If those who have taken an oath to safeguard and assist inform you

That, in order to properly execute their duties, it was necessary to execute me,
That, in order to fulfill their responsibilities effectively, it was required to bring about my demise,

& the truth as you know it doesn’t match up with the truth you know to be,
And the reality you are aware of doesn't align with the truth you are certain of,

It’s likely because the truth that’s in between the two is too inconvenient for those who have the power to speak it.
It is probable that the truth lying between the two is too uncomfortable for those who possess the authority to reveal it.

& the way to honor me isn’t to turn the other cheek,
And the appropriate way to pay tribute to me is not to ignore the situation,

It’s to ask,
It is to question,

Again & again,
Repeatedly,

Again & again…
Continuously...

Why?
Why is that?

& i’m telling you,
And I am informing you,

Now,
At this moment,

To ask these questions,
To pose these inquiries,

Then,
So,

Because it seems to be happening far too frequently & the trend
Because it appears to occur excessively and the pattern

Is forcing me to err on the side of suspicion,
Is compelling me to lean towards suspicion,

& my only true defense against what may be inevitable,
And my sole genuine protection against what could be unavoidable,

Unconscionable as it should be to us all,
Which is morally unforgivable to each and every one of us,

Is to hold whoever’s at fault responsible,
Is to make whoever is responsible accountable,

Even if who’s responsible is considered the law.
Even if the ones held accountable are considered to be the law itself.