Children
Ursula Rucker Lyrics

Hey, my name is not Protocol
My identity, culture, and heritage are not just a set of standardized rules or guidelines to follow.

And I ain't nobody's stigma or statistic
I am not a label or a number that society uses to generalize or marginalize me.

Hey, hey lady, you know who you are.
I am calling out to a specific person who thinks they understand and can help me, but they are misguided.

You think you helpin' me by insertin' me into the system.
You believe that assimilating me into the dominant culture and its institutions is the solution to my problems and struggles.

You think you know me.
You assume that you understand my experiences and perspectives, but you do not.

Just another little black boy needs savin'
You view me as a helpless victim who needs to be rescued from my circumstances solely because of my race.

Well, my mama loves me, I'll have you know
My mother's love for me is an essential and powerful force in my life that you cannot disregard or replace.

You don't love me
Your attempts to help me are not motivated by genuine care and affection for me as an individual.

You don't even know me
You have not taken the time to understand my unique experiences, perspectives, and needs.

You don't know my black life
You are ignorant of the complexities, challenges, and beauty of my life as a black person.

My parents black love
The bond between my parents, their history, and heritage as black people has profoundly influenced my identity and worldview.

Black struggle
The ongoing collective struggle against racism, discrimination, and oppression is an integral part of my black identity and experience.

My black history
The rich and complex history of black people and their contributions to society has shaped my identity and sense of pride.

My black community
The interconnectedness, resilience, and support of black communities have been a source of strength and belonging for me.

My mama said slavery is alive and well
My mother is aware that the legacy of slavery and racism continues to impact our lives and society in profound and insidious ways.

I didn't believe her, but she was right
Initially, I did not fully comprehend or acknowledge the extent of systemic oppression and injustice that still exists, but I have come to realize the truth of her words.

Cause you ain't nothin' but the plantation mistress,
You are complicit in perpetuating the same oppressive structures and attitudes that have existed since slavery, and act as a modern-day overseer or enforcer of these systems.

wearing America's corset pulled way too tight, two sizes too small
You are constrained by societal norms, expectations, and standards that suppress your empathy, humanity, and authenticity, and force you to uphold oppressive systems.

Master's slave, same as us, just privileged and frigid
Like us, you are also trapped in a system of oppression, but you benefit from the privileges and advantages that come with aligning with the dominant culture, and you are emotionally detached and rigid.

Lookin' down on me from your cold bedroom window, watchin' master walk to my mama's door
You are observing and judging me and my family from a distance, while benefiting from the same systemic oppression that affects us, and you are complicit in perpetuating the same system that brings harm and pain to us.

Resentful YOU
You harbor deep-seated feelings of anger, envy, and bitterness towards me and others who challenge your worldview and privilege.

Hateful YOU
You hold a deep and pervasive dislike, disgust, and intolerance towards me and those who are different from you, and you use your power and influence to harm and oppress us.

Hating me under the guises of helping me
You pretend to care and help me, but in reality, you are motivated by your own interests, biases, and prejudices, and you perpetuate harm and oppression in the name of benevolence.

Do-gooder YOU
You portray yourself as a selfless helper and advocate, but in reality, you are motivated by your own ego, power, and privilege, and you use your actions to reinforce oppressive structures.

YOU BITCH, YOU
You are a cruel and malicious individual who uses your power and privilege to cause harm, pain, and suffering to those who challenge and threaten your worldview.

I call you out of your name
I am deliberately using a derogatory and insulting term to express my anger, frustration, and rejection of your oppressive behavior and attitudes.

No, this is not just another poem about children
This is not a generic or superficial poem about childhood experiences, but a profound and urgent plea to acknowledge and address the systemic oppression, violence, and harm that children and youth experience.

Or Just another poem
This poem is not a passive or detached work of art, but an active and transformative expression of resistance, hope, and justice.

It is a prayer
This poem is a spiritual and emotional invocation of divine guidance, protection, and healing, as well as a plea for compassion, justice, and mercy.

A plea
This poem is an urgent and heartfelt request for action, empathy, and solidarity to address the injustices, pain, and suffering that children and youth face daily.

A lament
This poem is a profound and mournful expression of grief, sorrow, and regret for the harm, loss, and trauma that children and youth experience in their lives.

A dirge, if you will
This poem is a mournful and melancholic piece of music or verse that expresses sorrow and sadness for the pain, suffering, and death that children and youth face.

A dirge in the spirit of Margaret Walkers' "For My People"
This poem is a deliberate and conscious homage to the famous poem by Margaret Walker, which celebrated the resilience, creativity, and power of black people in the face of systemic oppression.

But, this is for my children
This poem is a personal and intimate expression of love, care, and concern for the children in the poet's life, as well as an extension of that love to all children and youth who face systemic oppression and harm.

This is for our children
This poem is a collective and communal expression of responsibility, accountability, and empathy for the well-being, safety, and dignity of all children and youth, regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity, or social status.

Some ones take Monday afternoon walks with mamas steppin' only in shadowless spaces on pavements Happy Loved
Some children are able to enjoy simple and joyful moments with their parents, feeling safe and loved in public spaces that are free of fear and harm.

Some ones step into shadowed spaces to hide From mamas who are fiending Mama's boyfriends who are creamin' in their pants for little girls kisses Little boys' hands to hold Endangered, so unloved
Some children have to hide and protect themselves from the very people who are supposed to care for them, as they face sexual abuse, exploitation, and violence, and they feel unloved and uncared for.

Some ones sleep soundly in mini-van car seats Sunlight streaming on little baby faces…warm Visions of mommy milk floating in their little baby brains
Some children experience the safety and comfort of sleeping in a car, feeling the warmth and light of the sun on their faces, and imagining the nourishing and loving presence of their mothers.

And then some ones have to put up with us Cussin' and tusslin' about some dumb stuff Burdening their little ears and eyes with our mistakes, our sins Weighting their little hearts heavy with worry Snuffing out their light, their innocence, way too soon
Some children have to endure the violence, conflict, and trauma of their family and community members, as they witness or experience abuse, neglect, and harm, and they lose their innocence and hope at an early age.

Suffer the children Suffer our hopes and our future
The suffering and harm that children experience has a profound and long-lasting impact on their well-being, as well as the future of our society, and we must acknowledge and address that suffering.

Two missing girls found slain in Zion Buried in the backyard of a trailer park in Florida Limp in a basement of an abandoned building in North Philly Little legs and arms and big child dreams Stuffed into a drain pipe on the roof of a tenement, somewhere in this crazy place Miseducated in a classroom with no room for art…or the truth
These lines describe the tragic and horrific ways in which children are killed, abused, and exploited in our society, as well as how they are denied access to quality education, creativity, and truth.

What we gonna do? Keep idly watchin' the news as some ones So many sons and daughters get driveby'd Video-ho'd Pedifiled Mainstreamed Short-changed Murdered Molested Misunderstood, misunderstood Face all up on the news Kid meal of the minute for media mass consumption And we cry And hmm…hmm…hmmm And "did you hear about…" And lick our fingers And we don't leave nothing for the worms Not gristle or bone or nothing And them we digest em Shit em out And forget em Until the next hottest tragedy du jour
This is a powerful and urgent call to action, challenging us to move beyond passively observing and consuming news and media about the suffering and harm that children experience, and to take concrete and collective steps to protect, love, and empower them.

What we gonna go? Hug em, love em when they feel numb Protect but not shelter them Encourage Uplift Hear them Give them options Please, give them options Celebrate them Be tough when necessary You better get out there and go pull your sweet little 12-year old up off her knees Tell her she don't have to suck no boy's dick to keep him Fuck that What we gonna do indeed Whatever we gotta
This final section is an inspiring and empowering call to action, urging us to actively and intentionally nurture, uplift, and celebrate children, while also protecting them from harm and adversity, giving them choices and freedom, and being strong and compassionate when necessary.