Talib Kweli - Manifest Destiny lyrics
[Intro] Can you be objective for a minute? I know you're handicap But are you capable of being really objective? Cause I wanna tell you something: You say we won't get anywhere Because what we're doing is founded on a lie.. Tell me something: Where you gonna find a bigger lie than the one this countries founded on? “All men are created equal.” Everything this countries suppose to live by Right? You're a Negros with some friends You could use a little education They got you so mixed up; You're singing, “My cons rated!” And meanwhile they WALK ALL OVER YOU! [Instrumental Break] Justice, equality (huh? Yeah, haha..) My crew you see? It's Talib Kweli, K. Valentine, Niko-IS. Corey Moe Kris Remy, Joel Ortiz, Yowwa, Curren$$y, Big K.R.I.T Kendra Ross, Russell Gunn, Jessica Care Moore Res, Pharoh Monche, Ca**per Nyovest, Alexander O'Niel YZ, Colonel Abram, Webby, Hebro Brisson, Rockwell Pheness & Synquest, The Whispers, Jessy Johnson Young Black Teenagers And two of the Negus from Hi-Fi (yeah) [Trumpet Solo] Followed by Saxophone / Piano Accompaniment / Scatting Black Statue of Liberty (Poem by Jessica Care Moore) I stand still above an island, fist straight in the air Scar on my face, thick braids in my hair Battle boots tied, red blood in the tears I've cried Tourists fly from all over just to swim near my tide Or climb up my long flight of stairs But they trip on their shoestring lies Piece by piece they shipped my body to this country Now that I'm here, your people don't want me I'm a symbol of freedom, but I'm still not free I suffer from cla**, race, and gender inequality I wear a crown of knowledge, 'cause I'm a conscious queen My mask is one of happiness, though my history here is full of misery Done deliberately I am America's true statue of liberty You placed a bible under my arm, after you ripped me of my faith And made me pray to a fictional imposter So, if you were trying to maintain liberty Too late, you just lost her ‘Cause her torch is about to serve as the night light for truth In the slums and the ghettos that you find so uncouth Education will be delivered not from the tree, but the root So, little black girls and boys will check their pockets For spirituality rather than loot ‘Cause liberty is just old mother nature And although you don't lover her, she'll never hate ya She's earth, wind and fire, don't tempt her to show her power Turning all weeds to flowers Looking into her wise eyes will make a blind man see How can you dare name a eurocentric girl after me? Assata Shakur Barbara Jordan Nikki Giovanni and Angela Davis Look it up! These are the real symbols of liberty ‘Cause that stone-faced French woman ain't gonna save us The same folks who enslaved us I'm sitting at the back of the bus, 'cause I feel like it And I play ball Not 'cause you pay me to dunk it, dribble it or hike it I'm taking all my people back home, and breaking them mentally free I am the walking, talking, breathing, beautiful statue of liberty I sweep crack pipes out of schoolyards I nurture my man when times are hard So, where the hell's my statue? What's the liberated woman gotta do? Place my name in wet cement Every month I pay the rent Put my silhouette on a stamp I'm not a ho, s*ut or tramp My children aren't on crack, and neither am I I want to see the words, “Go, strong Black woman,” When the Goodyear blimp flies by I can bake cookies, bear babies, preside over revolutions Get rings out of tubs, wear a suit, sport baggy jeans, slick my hair back Or tie it up in braids My aura is unafraid So, no statue in the big apple can mess with me I am the walking, talking, surviving, breathing, beautiful Black Statue of Liberty