Black Man
Seazon All Lyrics

I'm not a nigga no. I'm a black man
I refuse to be called by a derogatory term that has been used to dehumanize my race. I embrace my black identity and all the struggles that come with it.

I've got the pride of Claude McKay. I'm a black man
I have inherited and carry the same sense of pride and resilience that black pioneers such as Claude McKay embodied.

I've got the courage of MLK. I'm a black man
The bravery and fearlessness that Martin Luther King Jr. displayed in fighting for black civil rights runs through my veins as a black man.

The voice of Sojourner Truth. I'm a black man
The powerful and influential voice of Sojourner Truth resonates within me as a black man, reminding me of the strength and determination that black women have always possessed.

I'm not a nigga no. I'm a black man
I reject the idea that being referred to as a 'nigga' is an acceptable or appropriate label for me as a human being. I assert my rightful identity as a black man.

I've got the strength of my mama. I'm a black man
My mother's unwavering strength and perseverance have been passed down to me as a black man, fueling my own inner strength and resilience.

I've got the heart of my daddy. I'm a black man
My father's passion and dedication have been instilled in me as a black man, shaping my character and causing me to fight for what I believe in.

I'm in the image of my God. I'm a black man
As a black man, I recognize that I am made in the image of God, despite the systemic racism and discrimination that seeks to dehumanize me.

It's like I'm stuck in a bad dream an can't wake up of it
The harsh reality of being a black man in a society that values and privileges whiteness feels like an endless, inescapable nightmare.

Nobody hears my screams no matter how loud get
No matter how much I speak out against the injustices that plague my people, it often feels like nobody is listening or taking action to create real change.

I've been taken over by some cat I don'tknow
There is a sense of being controlled or manipulated by external forces that perpetuate racism and discrimination against black individuals, often without even realizing it.

He came and stole my body, infiltrated my soul
The impact of systemic racism can feel all-encompassing, affecting not only outer experiences but also one's inner self and sense of being.

So I'll stand on this railroad. Here comes the locomotive
In this metaphor, the railroad represents the path towards true equality and justice, while the incoming locomotive symbolizes the obstacles and resistance that stand in the way of progress.

I'm 'bout to kill this nigga. I'm unsure of my motive
The frustration and anger towards the societal systems that perpetuate racism can cause violent and harmful thoughts, even if the motives behind those thoughts are not fully clear.

Just know I want him gone. I want the nigga out my life
There is a deep desire to rid oneself of the dehumanizing effects of racism and discrimination, which can manifest as wanting to eliminate the source of those feelings altogether.

'Cuz everytime a nigga speaks it gives another nigga life
The use of the term 'nigga' perpetuates systemic racism by normalizing and perpetuating a culture of dehumanizing black individuals.

And another born is just an addition to our plight
Every new black life born into a system that values whiteness above all else is another person forced to face the same struggles and injustices that their predecessors have dealt with.

So it's not enough to kill just my nigga. I want a genocide
The deep-rooted frustration that stems from centuries of systemic racism can lead to harmful and extremist thoughts, such as wanting to get rid of all black individuals altogether.

Black people we're lions let's take the nigga out the pride
As a black community, we need to advocate for ourselves and each other by working to eliminate the dehumanizing language and labels that perpetuate the systemic oppression of black individuals.

'Cuz everytime it rolls off our tongue we're stabbing in the back
The use of the term 'nigga' by black individuals keeps alive a harmful legacy of racism that dehumanizes and marginalizes black individuals.

The brothers and sisters who fought so free could connect to black
The black leaders who have fought for freedom and civil rights in the past were able to connect with the black community in a way that recognized their humanity, rather than dehumanized them with harmful labels.

We've bound ourselves in chains man and nigga's just one of the links
As members of the black community, we have been bound together by centuries of systemic oppression, and the use of the term 'nigga' is just one of the ways that we continue to perpetuate that oppression among ourselves.

I can't break it on my own. I'm strong but need power of we
Individual action alone is not enough to break the cycle of systemic racism; collective action of the black community is needed to overcome the deeply ingrained structural inequalities.

But too many of we have decided that nigga should be
Despite the efforts of some to eliminate the use of harmful language and labels, there are still too many members of the black community who continue to use the term 'nigga,' perpetuating the legacy of racism and discrimination.

Every black man's name. The black man's I.D.
For many black individuals, the label of 'nigga' has become a part of their identity, something that is passed down and reinforced within the black community.

See I'm gon' write this verse on envelopes so I can address
The act of writing a letter is used as a metaphor for addressing the issues of racism within society and among individuals.

All the niggas that make a nest and fly out of white breath
The use of the term 'nigga' perpetuates a culture of racism, even among black individuals, that has been reinforced and perpetuated by white power structures.

This type of halitosis no amount of Scope or Crest
The harmful and dehumanizing effects of systemic racism cannot be eliminated by a quick fix or surface-level solution, such as mouthwash.

Gon' ever make a difference 'cuz the problem rests beneath the breast
The root causes of systemic racism and discrimination are deeply ingrained within society and individuals, and require a fundamental change in attitudes and beliefs to overcome.

It's within the heart of every bigot, every racist person
The root causes of racism and discrimination lie within the individuals who hold such beliefs and attitudes, perpetuating them within society as a whole.

Within the spirit of everybody who don't know for certain
Ignorance and lack of understanding contribute to the perpetuation of systemic racism, even among those who do not hold explicitly bigoted or racist beliefs.

That we're all a child of God, we're all created equal
The recognition of our shared humanity and divine creation is essential in addressing the issues of systemic racism and discrimination.

That we are Watu Moja. That means we're One People
The Swahili phrase 'Watu Moja' represents the idea that despite our differences, we are all part of a single human family.

So white man white man let me tell you this
The artist is addressing white individuals directly, calling on them to recognize the shared humanity and value of black individuals.

You're still my brother even though color is of a different mix
Despite the differences in skin color and cultural backgrounds, we are all part of the same human family and should treat each other as such.

And I'm gonna love you whether or not you ever give a spit if
The artist acknowledges that not all white individuals will be receptive to the message of equality and love, but chooses to love them regardless.

I laugh or cry, I live or die when you verbally crack your whip
The emotional impact of systemic racism can feel overwhelming and life-altering, affecting every aspect of one's being.

And black man black man let me say to you
The singer is addressing black individuals directly, calling on them to remain strong in the face of discrimination and oppression.

Just keep your cool when a white spits a nigga at you
The use of racial slurs and harmful language is still prevalent in society, and black individuals are often faced with discrimination and bigotry in their daily lives.

Don't let it light your fuse. Just let it roll right off your back
It is important to remain calm and centered in the face of discrimination, rather than reacting aggressively or violently.

Smile at 'em kindly and pray they find the sense they lack
The artist advocates for responding to hatred and bigotry with kindness and compassion, recognizing the humanity and shared struggles of all individuals.

'Cuz if you let that nigga make you bleed you help that nigga breath
If black individuals respond with violence or anger to the dehumanizing language and actions of others, they are in essence perpetuating the racism and hatred they are fighting against.

And you make that man bleed you become the nigga he wants to see
Similarly, if black individuals respond with violence or hatred towards others, they become what their oppressors want them to become, perpetuating the cycle of systemic racism.