Dr. Cornel West - Born in the Struggle lyrics

[Verse] I had to hand-wash my clothes, didn't have a washing machine or a dryer Momma used to have to hang her period panties out on a clothes line wire The vacuum broke, used the broom We got company coming over this afternoon You know our family like to gossip Clean up your room, throw everything in the closet' I like to talk to the old schoolers, O.G. playas Cause they was my age - I ain't never been theirs I count on em for guidance, leadership and advice Cause everything I'm goin' through they done been through twice Or three or four times, five, six, seven, eight We can learn from they mistakes before it's too late Communication is everything, conversation's abandoned People die every day because of misunderstandings The ins and outs, whys and won'ts History repeats itself, opportunities don't Sad true story, unintentionally, not on purpose Only time I see my family's at a funeral service Her stomach keep hurting, but she didn't bother Cause you and I both know that black folk don't like to go to the doctor One thing about us, mane, we creators And at the end of the day we all related Through the slaves and the Indians and natives They brought us here on a boat, whipped us and raped us Scraps from a pig they gave us So we grub pork chops, chitlins, ribs and bacon