Like You
Rjay Lyrics

It seems like many still don't wanna listen to the fact of the matter, they see us act up
Despite all of our efforts to bring attention to the truth, many still refuse to acknowledge what's happening and see our reaction as negative.

My people seeing red 'cah we're still playing catch up
Because we're still behind in so many ways, it's easy for us to become frustrated and angry.

Don't fool yourself by thinking we got equal chances
Just because we have the same legal rights doesn't mean we experience the same opportunities and privileges in society.

If we're talking heads or tails then the blacks are the latter
In any comparison or evaluation, black people are likely to be considered inferior or less desirable.

Wanna be Lebron, but required to be like Malcolm
We're expected to be successful and influential like Lebron James, but also required to embody the principles and activism of Malcolm X.

I ain't tryna be Obama, I already know the outcome
I don't want to be like Obama because even though he was a historic president, his presence didn't bring about the changes that were needed.

It was, jubilation a black president
While it was a significant moment in history, having a black president didn't solve all of the problems that black people face.

A great achievement but really did his presence make a dent in the way that they see, in, who I can be
Did having a black president change the way society views black people and our potential? Probably not.

See I, warrant suspicion if I got some Vaseline
My actions and motives are always called into question, even if I'm just trying to take care of myself.

But if I tell you that's not right then suddenly you're mad at me
When I speak up against the injustice I face, suddenly people get defensive and angry with me.

Fam I cant believe the cheek, man our experience is not the same
It's frustrating and disrespectful when people who don't share our experiences try to tell us what our reality is.

Nobody's ever told you you should go back to your country or couldn't pronounce your name
People who haven't experienced racism or xenophobia don't understand the pain and frustration that comes with those experiences.

If upon the knowledge that you've been engrained, your response is not to educate, then who else are we to blame
If you know that racism and prejudice are engrained in society but you don't try to educate yourself and work to change it, then you're part of the problem.

I see my people face the strife
I witness the challenges and struggles that black people face every day.

They tell us the struggle isn't real
People who don't experience it themselves try to deny or minimize the struggles that black people face.

I know one day I'mma be in paradise
I have faith that one day we'll see justice and equality for black people.

But while I'm here they do not care bout how I feel, no
In the meantime, it's frustrating and hurtful that many people don't care about our experiences or feelings.

But if I had the like skin you, the wings like you, I'd be able to grin like you, to sin like you
If we had the same privileges and opportunities as white people, we could enjoy life and make mistakes without being judged or held back.

Cah the truth is, if you had skin like me You wouldn't be able to win like you
If you faced the same obstacles and challenges as black people, you wouldn't be able to achieve the same level of success or privilege.

We'd be able to grin like you, to sin like you Cah the truth is, if you had skin like us To them we do not match up
If white people faced the same issues and challenges that black people face, they wouldn't be able to enjoy the same privileges and opportunities.

When it comes to justice, the fact that it's a black life plays a factor
The fact that someone is black plays a role in whether or not they receive justice and fair treatment in society.

The people oppressed but the culture is glorified
Black people are oppressed and discriminated against in society, but their culture is often celebrated and appropriated by others.

Our shortcomings make the news, but victories not televised
When black people face difficulties or failures, it's often broadcast and sensationalized by the media. But when they achieve victories or successes, those stories are ignored or overlooked.

Now we're burning cos they never get that first degree
Black people are often subject to harsher punishment and sentences for minor crimes or offenses.

It's a murder case, but murder ain't what they see, it's just thugs when let out our frustration
Even in cases of black people being killed or harmed unjustly, they're often portrayed as criminals or thugs who were acting aggressively or violently.

If they do the same thing, there's always justification
When white people commit similar acts of violence or aggression, their actions are often excused or justified by society.

It's different lives we live The only right that they're really happy to give is the right to remain silent
Black people live very different lives from white people in terms of their experiences with racism and discrimination. The only right they're okay with us exercising is the right to not speak up or cause trouble.

Took my protection so in my mind I remain violent
When society takes away our sense of safety or protection, it can lead to feelings of anger and violence.

There's never no changes, they just recycle the same tyrants Same silence No matter how much we shout
No matter how much we protest or speak up against the injustices we face, society seems to stay the same and the same oppressive figures remain in power.

Distorted vision, 'cause I only see the rappers make it out Or you gotta kick a ball like sterling to get the pounds
Society often only values black people who are entertainers or athletes, and it can feel like those are the only ways for us to achieve success or recognition.

Man it's plain to see they do not wanna see us leave the ground
It's clear that many people in society don't want black people to succeed or excel in any way.

Man if only I could reach the heights like you, had rights like you I'd be able to fight like you, take flight like you
If black people had the same privileges and opportunities as white people, we could fight and achieve success just like they do.

The truth is if I wanna make it in the system you created Then I gotta be white like you
The system was created by white people and operates under their rules and standards, so in order to succeed within it we often have to assimilate to white culture and values.

What do you do when the people who lead the nation do not care And they perpetuate the prejudice through unequal policing And portray us as the problem to make everybody scared
When those in power don't care about our well-being and actively perpetuate racism and discrimination through law enforcement and media representation, it can be hard to know how to address the issue.

Let the hate sim simmer Who got the keys to the Bimmer, if he's Black, it was probably theft
Hate and prejudice directed towards black people is often simmering beneath the surface, and the stereotype that black people are thieves or criminals is still prevalent in society.

Face harassment, 'cause they never seem to give it a rest They took the treasure, then they put all of the weight on our chest Constantly feeling bereft, would it be better if we left
Black people are constantly harassed and oppressed by society, and it feels like we always have to carry the weight of those struggles alone.

They're saying if you provide us entertainment then we'll pay you in cheque But if you want that liberation we gon' keep you in check
Society is okay with black people providing entertainment or being successful in certain ways, but they're not okay with us pushing for true freedom and liberation.

But I pray they recognise the sin inside their own heart 'Cause although history's something in which we played no part Failure to acknowledge it's damage is far from a solution
I hope that those who hold biased and discriminatory beliefs can recognize the harm that they cause, and that ignoring or denying the impact of history only makes the situation worse.

It's time we make our own path Own path
In order to truly achieve freedom and justice, black people need to forge their own path and create their own systems and structures.

Because we're in a battle where the side you're on Is simply determined by the circumstances of your birth
In this fight for equality and justice, the side you're on is determined by factors beyond your control, like race and socioeconomic status.

Really I think we're all capable of the same hatred we observe But hatred is not part of the purpose we're here to serve And should not be the product of the energy we exert
While we're all capable of hate and prejudice, it's important to recognize that those feelings don't contribute anything positive to society and should be rejected.

But in all this I know that Jesus is the key 'Cah it would be so easy for me to believe the many lies that they feed
Despite all of the pain and struggle that black people face, faith in Jesus gives them hope and strength to keep fighting.

Have my identity hurt 'Cause I would never know my true worth if I never knew who my creator was The one who sacrificed, the one who paid the cost Who died for you and me So we could live in beautiful community
Understanding and embracing their identity as a child of God gives black people a sense of worth and purpose, and a vision of a truly just and equal community.

Free is what He desires Me and you to be Equal in His eyes So if I say that white lives do not matter, then that wouldn't be true But all lives do not matter, until black lives do
God desires for all people to be free and equal, and in order to achieve that we have to recognize that black lives are undervalued and mistreated in society, and work to correct that imbalance.