The Trayvon Lesson

What do I tell my son when he comes home, who's in the first grade,

And says Daddy,  "I heard about Trayvon Martin today",

How do you explain that someone might find you suspicious or call you a thug, because of the clothes you wear and the color of your skin,

And there's certain places you can't walk when it's dark, that's just the way it is son, make sure you know where that line ends and begins,

"Daddy, What's a thug?" "it's a word they use to describe black kids they think are bad, because of the way they act and dress"

"What do they call the other bad kids?"  "Troubled, confused, acting black, hanging with the wrong crowd, A.D.D, or depressed"

Son, some people are going to look at you and treat you bad, just because you're different than they are,

I was hoping we wouldn't have to have this talk, but this Trayvon Martin thing picked open a horrible scar,

You'll be assumed to be a good dancer, a rapper and fast, picked first for the basketball team,

They'll be shocked when you're a superstar in the classroom and not on the field, you'll see what I mean,

It's ok to be friends with a girl that's white, as long as that's all it is,

The guys you on see on TV aren't like me and you they're Professional Athletes and in show biz,

They won't come right out and say it, but you'll hear words under their breath and you'll be able to feel their stare,

He's nice for a black kid, but I'm glad it's not my daughter over there,

You'll be called lazy, even though it was the back of young men like yourself in which this countries great wealth was built, through slavery or with little or no pay,

Some people will be surprised to see that you're a young gentleman and hear you talk so well, cause they expect you to speak  and act a certain way,

Son, don't think all people are like this, most are going to respect and love you, just for being you,

The saddest part is that some of the people who are going to treat you like this, are going to look, just like you do,

It would be wrong to judge them like they judge us, refer to them as all, when there's really only a few,

Most importantly, keep your hands where they can be seen, follow directions and always say yes sir and ma'am when approached by the neighborhood watch and the police,

Cause you're the same color as the guy who robbed someone last week, they don't care what's in your heart or underneath,

While I must say it's better now than when I grew up, it's definitely not where it should be,

Freedom is a beautiful word, but there isn't anything about freedom that's free,

So son walk strong and proud, but please, I beg you look before you leap,

And I'll thank God every night for not making my son another Trayvon, before I lay down to sleep.

Terrill Snead