Creative Commons License

Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.

Photo by Library of Congress on Unsplash

Through my eyes I see the sadness and pain
From all my people who’ve been shackled in chains
400 years and counting and we’re still asking for change
Because they still see us as their African slaves
They’re wearing masks like it’s a masquerade
Trying to mask up the shame
But it’s too late because the damage is made
This the bed that y’all made
Mass incarceration across the States
Police shootings, another spit in our face
A plan to tear down our race
They beat us down thinking that we gonna’ stop
We stand tall then we march them blocks
Hoping that this madness will stop
Why are we mad? Tell us why not
Because what y’all think we forget
Remember Jim Crow when y’all portrayed us as fools
Segregation in the restaurants and all the schools
Home of the brave? Nah this is where the savages rule
I’m painting the truth, history is stating it too
They took away my freedom, stripped me away from my youth
All this pain inside my heart I’m just letting it loose
I mean what would you do in this situation if this was you.

Disclaimer: The views in this article are those of the author. Prison Journalism Project has verified the writer’s identity and basic facts such as the names of institutions mentioned.

Anthony D. Jacobs is a writer incarcerated in California.