June 19, 1865

You can’t decreed me free you see God made us free
All you white folks wanted was as many black bodies as possible hanging from trees
So don’t you dare decree the day you think you made us free
If we were freed explain Rosewood, Elaine, Greenwood, Chicago, Colfax, Wilmington, explain Red Summer, since we were free
If we were free explain Birmingham, Selma, Augusta, Montgomery, Jackson
If we were free explain why Louis Till and Emmitt Till was lynched a decade apart
So don’t tell me about June 19, 1865 and black folks being set free
Don’t think I will be singing songs about celebrating with glee
You see June 19, 1865 isn’t about me because I don’t think in this nation we were ever free.