Hey White Girl Brown
don't you know you have to talk slang to be down
don't you know your vocabulary is too fine
even though what you say seems divine
you walk with a dignified stride; no, no, you should lean
even though most see it as obscene
what? what's that? you say you want to be a physicist
what do black people have to do with such ridiculousness?
what?! you say you want to look at the stars
no, no, baby-girl, that's too far
we, down here, are barely surviving
what are you doing looking above the horizon
you fail to understand the plight we are in. LOOK!
nope, you keep your nose buried in a book
you fail to understand the oppression we go through
you fantasize about rocket ships and weather balloons
what use will a time machine bring you in this world
Our history is glim baby-girl
Jules Verne isn't going to save you, don't be naive
It won't set you free, in reality
so stop dreaming little one, little time remains
Don't you know our economy is strained
be a doctor, an engineer or an attorney if you are able
these jobs are good, they are stable
they'll get us out of these neighborhoods that seem to be built specifically for us
throw dreams away, baby-girl
in them put no trust
I know I sound harsh or like I insult
but i know more than you and I am a realist to a fault
So understand, little one, practicality and creativity don't mix
Get involved with a problem that you can actually fix
black holes, dark matter, stars; all a waste of time and money
your childish thinking is funny
so get up and go to school
and be sure to use that mental tool
but dreams don't try to find
because us black folk, we think practically
and leave that kind of stuff behind