Black And White
F.P.O Lyrics

Hey dad I got in a fight with this white kid today at school
I had an altercation with a white classmate at school, dad.

Son, didn't I tell you I don't want you fighting?
Son, haven't I explicitly expressed my desire for you to refrain from engaging in physical altercations?

But he called me a nigger
However, he directed a racial slur towards me, using a derogatory term.

I'm just a black man trapped in this white world
I am merely an individual of African descent who feels confined and constrained in a society predominantly dominated by white culture.

And this goes to every woman, man, boy, and girl
Moreover, this sentiment applies to every individual, irrespective of their gender or age.

Its a shame when you can't send your kids, to decent schools
It is truly disheartening when you are unable to provide your children with access to quality education.

We live in the world for the laws and no rules
In this society, laws exist, yet it often feels like there is a lack of enforcement or adherence to these laws.

Gang-bangers, crease sides, and chalk lines
Our community is plagued by the presence of gang members, unsettling crime scenes, and the tragic marking of death.

Correctional facilities full of juveniles doin' petty crimes
The juvenile detention centers are filled with young individuals engaging in minor offenses.

In this ghetto, got me crazy
The turmoil and despair of living in this impoverished neighborhood drive me to the brink of insanity.

Sometimes I wish, mama wouldn'ta made me
There are moments when I find myself longing that my mother hadn't brought me into this challenging existence.

But its a shame when you gotta raise a baby
However, it is deeply saddening when you are faced with the responsibility of nurturing and protecting a child.

And the color of my skin might taint me
The mere pigmentation of my skin might become a stain that unfairly influences how I am perceived and treated.

And all the money can't change the color of your skin
No matter the wealth one possesses, it cannot alter the inherent coloration of one's skin.

Why so many blacks and Mexicans in the pen?
I wonder why there is such a disproportionate number of individuals of Black and Mexican descent within the prison system.

It is cause we VIOLENT?
Is this prevalence attributed to a predisposition towards violence within these communities?

But why Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves and started smilin'?
Then why did Abraham Lincoln emancipate the enslaved individuals and display a sense of satisfaction?

So many people have dreams
Countless individuals harbor aspirations and desires for a better future.

But why society eliminated Martin Luther King?
However, why did society conspire to silence and eliminate Martin Luther King Jr.?

And they tell us to be proud to be black
Despite the adversities we face, we are encouraged to embrace and take pride in our African heritage.

And at the same time Uncle John shoot us in the back
Paradoxically, there are instances where individuals within our own community betray and harm us.

Independence, it's a free country
We often speak of independence and freedom within this nation.

No jobs, most blacks turn to street money
However, with limited employment opportunities, many individuals of African descent resort to illicit means for financial sustenance.

A bunch of ghetto full of drugs and alcohol
Our neighborhoods are replete with poverty-stricken areas plagued by drug abuse and excessive alcohol consumption.

Where found history books about white laws
In our educational system, we encounter history textbooks predominantly documenting legislation and events predominantly related to white culture.

And Tommy Hilfiger discriminate
Tommy Hilfiger, as a renowned clothing brand, exhibits discriminatory practices.

And sell us clothes
They proceed to market and sell their garments to us, despite the underlying discrimination.

But we can't blame him cause
Despite the evident discrimination, we struggle to hold him solely accountable.

We don't support the black stores
Regrettably, our community fails to provide consistent support to businesses owned by individuals of African descent.

And only God can judge or point the finger and what's
The ultimate judgement lies solely in the hands of a higher power. They alone can discern and identify what truly matters.

White or black and red and blue equals gang banging
The association of individuals based on racial and political affiliations results in the formation of destructive street gangs.

I'm colorblind, so Lord won't you feel my pain
Despite being unable to physically perceive colors, I implore the divine presence to empathize with and comprehend my suffering.

I'm tryin' but sometime I get fed up (Damn)
I am continually striving to overcome these challenges, although there are instances when I become overwhelmed and frustrated.

What about all of the people that died in the past?
Let us not forget the countless individuals who lost their lives in preceding generations.

Peers I can't get back with too many found guilty
Sadly, I am unable to reunite with the friends and acquaintances who were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned.

And I know they didn't do it
I possess the certainty that their actions did not warrant the punishment they received.

But still they can't get back
Nevertheless, they remain unjustly incarcerated and unable to regain their freedom.

I see the copper be tryin' to nail me
Law enforcement officers continuously attempt to incriminate and apprehend me.

Police constantly trailin' me
The police consistently surveil and closely monitor my activities.

Cause I'm young, rich, and black
This unwarranted attention is due to my youth, financial success, and African heritage.

I'm always under surveillance
I am perpetually under the watchful eye of authorities, subject to continuous scrutiny.

Dash me out the car
Law enforcement aggressively removes me from my vehicle.

And wanna ask me who the car fuck
They proceed to interrogate me about the ownership and purpose of the vehicle.

Thay allowed to carry guns
Interestingly, they possess the lawful authority to carry firearms.

Can't never be convicted
Ironically, it seems as if they are immune to prosecution.

Who that law fuck?
This begs the question, who is responsible for such a flawed justice system?

I'm guilty till proven innocent
In my experience, I am automatically presumed guilty until I am able to prove my innocence.

Still we all equals, how do you figure?
Nonetheless, we are all inherently equal, yet it remains perplexing that this principle is often disregarded.

Cop told me "you weren't speeding but I'm gonna give you a ticket cause you a nigger"
A law enforcement officer explicitly informed me, "Although you were not speeding, I will still issue you a citation purely due to the color of your skin."

I seen the hardest of my homies break down in tears
I have witnessed the most resilient individuals within my community succumb to tears and emotional distress.

A white judge looked them in the eyes
A Caucasian judge, with cold conviction, stared directly into their eyes.

And gave them 35 years
Ultimately, the judge handed down a sentence of 35 years.

Now its a everyday struggle
Consequently, life has become an arduous and ongoing battle.

I hustle just to live
I tirelessly engage in various endeavors to secure the means for survival.

To raise your kids
All the while, my primary objective is to provide and care for my children.

When they got them teachin' them
Regrettably, the educational system exposes them to teachers who fail to recognize their worth.

Their parents better than them
These educators exhibit a superiority complex, considering themselves superior to their students' own parents.

They got me thinkin'
These circumstances provoke deep contemplation within me.

The color of my skin
Specifically, I am reflecting upon the significance attributed to the pigmentation of my skin.

Is a sin
It appears that society casts judgment and condemns my very existence based solely on this physical attribute.

I'm a black man in a white man's world
As a person of African descent, I find myself navigating and attempting to thrive within a predominantly white society.

Where its set up for me not to win
The structures and systems in place seem designed to hinder and prevent my success and advancement.

Lookit, ain't that about a bitch
Ironically, isn't it incredibly unfair and frustrating?

They look at us like we ain't shit
Society frequently views us with disdain and treats us as if we lack value or importance.

But lookit, I ain't racist, but face it, it exists
I want to assert that I am not a racist, but the brutal truth is that racism undeniably persists.

I'm a black man
Ultimately, I am an individual of African descent.

I'm just a black man trapped in this white world
Consequently, I constantly find myself feeling confined and restricted within a society predominantly dominated by white culture.

And this goes to every woman, man, boy, and girl
Furthermore, this sentiment applies universally to every individual, regardless of their gender or age.

Underneath
Let us delve deeper

there ain't no black or white
Where the division between black and white does not exist

We all equal
We are all inherently equal

Remember that
I implore you to retain this essential understanding

Got the same opportunity
Every individual possesses an equal opportunity

Whether we wanna be judges, doctors, or lawyers
Whether our aspirations lead us towards professions such as judges, doctors, or lawyers

Ain't a black or white thing
This is not a matter of racial distinction

Pick the best man for the job
Select the most qualified individual for the respective position

And there shouldn't be no hatin'
Consequently, there should be no animosity or prejudice.

Where you live, if you can afford to buy a house
Entitlement to reside in any location should be determined solely by one's ability to afford a property

Should be able to live wherever you want
Every individual should have the liberty to reside in a place of their choosing

The same hospitality they give to athletes
The welcoming and generous treatment bestowed upon athletes

And movie stars
And famous actors and actresses

Should give that same hospitality and companionship
That very same warmth and companionship should be extended

To your neighbors
Towards your immediate community members

Y'all know it ain't a black and white thing with me
I want you all to understand that this issue is not a matter of black versus white in my perspective

I just make music
I am merely an artist, creating and expressing myself through music

For the reality
My craft aims to reflect the realities of life

Only the real could feel this
Those who truly comprehend the struggles can genuinely relate to this message

Only the real could feel this
Only those who have experienced similar circumstances can genuinely empathize with this sentiment