What do I teach my son? What do I teach my son? Do I teach him - TopicsExpress

What do I teach my son? What do I teach my son? Do I teach him to be Martin or Malcolm? They were both slain by the same gun Do I teach him to be peaceful or militant? To fight or to pray To provoke or retreat To lead the revolution or to follow the rules To conform or to confront To march or to take up arms To question everything or question nothing To obey or to defy To love or to hate To assimilate or segregate To be color blind or color conscious Do I teach him he is different or the same That he is equal to or better than Do I teach him to beware or to be brave? To blend in or stand out To tip toe quietly or to say it loud To be humble or to be Black and Proud To fear pale faces and blue uniforms Or blue/red rags and faces as his own? To be street wise and not just book smart To choose the “ballot or the bullet” To serve his country or be a conscious objector To be happy go lucky or fighting mad Do I teach him to worship at the cross? Or, kneel three times a day to the east Do I teach him to walk fast in the rain? (Trayvon) To stay away from Fruitville trains (Oscar) No hoodies, no loud music (Jordan) What do I teach my son? What do I teach my son? Do I teach him to be Martin or Malcolm? They were both slain by the same gun Ferguson Stay out of the middle of Ferguson streets Michael When you see the black and white comply no I mean run...bullets whizzing past Freeze, turn around, put YOUR HANDS UP no I mean run...lay on the ground no I mean stay very still...no I mean run March peacefully in the streets Martin along side armor vehicle, dogs, rubber bullets By any mean necessary Malcolm just know they too are armed with assault riffles tear gas and bombs Sleep under your bed in Carrolton, Georgia son your neighbor will shoot you in the sleep be fearful, be a sheep What do I teach my son by homicide or genocide he is a target