Man, the hardcore nerds came at us with that word,
thinking it was an insult,
meaning it as a slur
When we embraced it,
they were caught off guard.
When we thought it was cool, dope, or
(fill in your generation’s vernacular here)
it died on their lips because:
Number 1: they didn’t expect it.
Number 2: they felt stupid.
Number 3: they did not understand
what we do about our ancestors:
It was at night they planned to leave,
and ran, and ran, and ran, and died
for their freedom
It was at night they sang the music to
to strengthen them for the next day’s labors and trials.
It was at night they made the babies for massa,
(or by massa) and took no comfort,
crying out for the days that brought
the grief of their sale and separation,
the gratitude for family that stayed,
for rare moments that brought peace of mind and solitude,
for vigorous health and hard earned joy
All in the middle of the madness they faced
on this hostile cotton colored colony hellbent
on keeping and making the concept of ‘us and them’ viable,
while allegedly following a God they claim says ‘All.’
But here, I’ll always be ‘them,’ no matter what I do.
We don’t need you, your presence, approval, or permission.
We are the NightSkins, and you’ll never be that
cool, dope, or (fill in your generation’s vernacular here).
Beyond Panic 