Name me as the hope of the slaves

Frame me in my mothers gaze

Let me breathe in open air

Even though we've yet to make it there

Black bodies sway in time

With the drums playing in my mind.

Bringing the forerunners to their knees.

Because we vowed.

We swore to carry on their dreams

The new black panthers

The old rebels slick anthem

Fists piercing the stratosphere

With the promise that we'd never let us drag them from here.

The crowd could boo me off the stage

Out of fear, hatred, confusion, or rage.

But no matter the context or the lateness of the hour.

I'll shout. I'll scream that my black life matters