lean in I remember the first time I heard sheryl sandberg
heard sheryl sandberg
heard sheryl sandberg utter those words about women being more
utter those words about women being more
utter those words about women being more ambitious in the workplace the only
ambitious in the workplace the only
ambitious in the workplace the only thing I could think about was my
thing I could think about was my
thing I could think about was my creative writing course that I took at
creative writing course that I took at
creative writing course that I took at 8:00 a.m. my junior year of college
8:00 a.m. my junior year of college
8:00 a.m. my junior year of college our professor had asked us that morning
our professor had asked us that morning
our professor had asked us that morning to write a story about how we had gotten
to write a story about how we had gotten
to write a story about how we had gotten to class with vivid imagery minds went a
to class with vivid imagery minds went a
to class with vivid imagery minds went a little like this after hitting the
little like this after hitting the
little like this after hitting the snooze button no less than four times I
snooze button no less than four times I
snooze button no less than four times I awakened wearing the same clothes I had
awakened wearing the same clothes I had
awakened wearing the same clothes I had on from the day before one glance at my
on from the day before one glance at my
on from the day before one glance at my alarm clock lets me know that I’ve woken
alarm clock lets me know that I’ve woken
alarm clock lets me know that I’ve woken up about 15 minutes late and I still
up about 15 minutes late and I still
up about 15 minutes late and I still have to get us both out the door
have to get us both out the door
have to get us both out the door the thought enters my mind that maybe I
the thought enters my mind that maybe I
the thought enters my mind that maybe I don’t have to take a shower but then the
don’t have to take a shower but then the
don’t have to take a shower but then the very next thought in my mind is my mom’s
very next thought in my mind is my mom’s
very next thought in my mind is my mom’s nagging words about being in the back of
nagging words about being in the back of
nagging words about being in the back of an ambulance with dirty drawers on so
an ambulance with dirty drawers on so
an ambulance with dirty drawers on so I’m gonna get in the shower it takes me
I’m gonna get in the shower it takes me
I’m gonna get in the shower it takes me about 15 minutes I hurry up get myself
about 15 minutes I hurry up get myself
about 15 minutes I hurry up get myself dressed and now I’ve just got a hope he
dressed and now I’ve just got a hope he
dressed and now I’ve just got a hope he hasn’t peed the bed I walk into my
hasn’t peed the bed I walk into my
hasn’t peed the bed I walk into my two-year-olds room and tickle his little
two-year-olds room and tickle his little
two-year-olds room and tickle his little chin and what do you know he’s peed the
chin and what do you know he’s peed the
chin and what do you know he’s peed the bed but that doesn’t stop me from waking
bed but that doesn’t stop me from waking
bed but that doesn’t stop me from waking him up the same way I always wake him up
him up the same way I always wake him up
him up the same way I always wake him up which is by singing our good rising song
which is by singing our good rising song
which is by singing our good rising song good morning good morning hello and good
good morning good morning hello and good
good morning good morning hello and good morning how are you I love you it’s
morning how are you I love you it’s
morning how are you I love you it’s really nice to see you I tickle his
really nice to see you I tickle his
really nice to see you I tickle his little chin drag his little soggy butt
little chin drag his little soggy butt
little chin drag his little soggy butt into the bathroom I washed him up brush
into the bathroom I washed him up brush
into the bathroom I washed him up brush his teeth and get his clothes on but now
his teeth and get his clothes on but now
his teeth and get his clothes on but now another glance at the clock lets me know
another glance at the clock lets me know
another glance at the clock lets me know that we have 15 minutes to get to the
that we have 15 minutes to get to the
that we have 15 minutes to get to the bus stop
bus stop
bus stop mcfist is going to have to be on the go
mcfist is going to have to be on the go
mcfist is going to have to be on the go I grab his baby bag which is always
I grab his baby bag which is always
I grab his baby bag which is always packed a true testament to my full
packed a true testament to my full
packed a true testament to my full commitment to leaning in I stuff some
commitment to leaning in I stuff some
commitment to leaning in I stuff some apple juice and a pop-tart in and we’ve
apple juice and a pop-tart in and we’ve
apple juice and a pop-tart in and we’ve got to go we walk as swiftly as we can
got to go we walk as swiftly as we can
got to go we walk as swiftly as we can to the bus stop or as swiftly as one can
to the bus stop or as swiftly as one can
to the bus stop or as swiftly as one can dragging a two-year-old wearing a snow
dragging a two-year-old wearing a snow
dragging a two-year-old wearing a snow suit we get to the bus stop and we board
suit we get to the bus stop and we board
suit we get to the bus stop and we board the bus it’s late it’s always late so
the bus it’s late it’s always late so
the bus it’s late it’s always late so we’re on time and we board the bus and
we’re on time and we board the bus and
we’re on time and we board the bus and we’re accompanied by our usual group of
we’re accompanied by our usual group of
we’re accompanied by our usual group of black women who all share the common
black women who all share the common
black women who all share the common denominator of being the sole
denominator of being the sole
denominator of being the sole breadwinners of their house we make our
breadwinners of their house we make our
breadwinners of their house we make our descent out of the hood into downtown
descent out of the hood into downtown
descent out of the hood into downtown Pittsburgh by the time we get there it’s
Pittsburgh by the time we get there it’s
Pittsburgh by the time we get there it’s about 7:05 a.m. and this is where the
about 7:05 a.m. and this is where the
about 7:05 a.m. and this is where the story gets interesting
story gets interesting
story gets interesting I’ve got my book bag on my back his baby
I’ve got my book bag on my back his baby
I’ve got my book bag on my back his baby bag on one arm my purse on another arm
bag on one arm my purse on another arm
bag on one arm my purse on another arm I grabbed the stroller with this arm and
I grabbed the stroller with this arm and
I grabbed the stroller with this arm and with my other hand I grabbed his hand we
with my other hand I grabbed his hand we
with my other hand I grabbed his hand we begin to walk down the bus stop the bus
begin to walk down the bus stop the bus
begin to walk down the bus stop the bus steps and his leg gets stuck in the door
steps and his leg gets stuck in the door
steps and his leg gets stuck in the door I yell stop the sweat is dripping down
I yell stop the sweat is dripping down
I yell stop the sweat is dripping down my temple because I’m so furious but in
my temple because I’m so furious but in
my temple because I’m so furious but in that moment I realized that I have six
that moment I realized that I have six
that moment I realized that I have six city blocks to walk to get down to the
city blocks to walk to get down to the
city blocks to walk to get down to the daycare and I do not have time to argue
daycare and I do not have time to argue
daycare and I do not have time to argue with the bus driver
with the bus driver
with the bus driver so I strap him into his stroller make
so I strap him into his stroller make
so I strap him into his stroller make sure his legs are okay and we haul ass
sure his legs are okay and we haul ass
sure his legs are okay and we haul ass down to the river I get super daycare
down to the river I get super daycare
down to the river I get super daycare they buzz me in and now it’s time to do
they buzz me in and now it’s time to do
they buzz me in and now it’s time to do the one thing that I know every mom in
the one thing that I know every mom in
the one thing that I know every mom in this room is familiar was doing I put on
this room is familiar was doing I put on
this room is familiar was doing I put on the mom face you know that face
the mom face you know that face
the mom face you know that face it’s the face that lets everyday care
it’s the face that lets everyday care
it’s the face that lets everyday care worker know with no uncertainty that if
worker know with no uncertainty that if
worker know with no uncertainty that if anything happens to this kid while I’m
anything happens to this kid while I’m
anything happens to this kid while I’m gone I’m going to at the very least
gone I’m going to at the very least
gone I’m going to at the very least break somebody’s leg and at the worst
break somebody’s leg and at the worst
break somebody’s leg and at the worst this whole damn daycares getting blown
this whole damn daycares getting blown
this whole damn daycares getting blown up it takes about 15 minutes of eye to
up it takes about 15 minutes of eye to
up it takes about 15 minutes of eye to eye contact with every single person in
eye contact with every single person in
eye contact with every single person in the daycare to make sure everybody’s on
the daycare to make sure everybody’s on
the daycare to make sure everybody’s on guard and then I’ve got to give my baby
guard and then I’ve got to give my baby
guard and then I’ve got to give my baby kisses and hugs for at least five
kisses and hugs for at least five
kisses and hugs for at least five minutes by now it’s about 7:40 a.m. and
minutes by now it’s about 7:40 a.m. and
minutes by now it’s about 7:40 a.m. and I’ve still got to get down to the school
I’ve still got to get down to the school
I’ve still got to get down to the school I walked down to the school 7:50 my
I walked down to the school 7:50 my
I walked down to the school 7:50 my stomach starts to grumble 755 I’m in my
stomach starts to grumble 755 I’m in my
stomach starts to grumble 755 I’m in my seat I’m tired I’m hungry I’m just plain
seat I’m tired I’m hungry I’m just plain
seat I’m tired I’m hungry I’m just plain old exhausted but I made it to class
old exhausted but I made it to class
old exhausted but I made it to class this was every day for seven years this
this was every day for seven years this
this was every day for seven years this is how I leaned in so the first time
is how I leaned in so the first time
is how I leaned in so the first time that I heard Sheryl Sandberg say that
that I heard Sheryl Sandberg say that
that I heard Sheryl Sandberg say that women needed to lean in at the workplace
women needed to lean in at the workplace
women needed to lean in at the workplace the only thing I could think about was
the only thing I could think about was
the only thing I could think about was well goddamn how much farther in do
well goddamn how much farther in do
well goddamn how much farther in do black women need to lean I mean I was
black women need to lean I mean I was
black women need to lean I mean I was working a full-time job when that was
working a full-time job when that was
working a full-time job when that was going on my mother has been working for
going on my mother has been working for
going on my mother has been working for the same company for 30 years
the same company for 30 years
the same company for 30 years she’s leaned in leaned over lean
she’s leaned in leaned over lean
she’s leaned in leaned over lean backwards lean forward and whatever
backwards lean forward and whatever
backwards lean forward and whatever other way they wanted her to lean so she
other way they wanted her to lean so she
other way they wanted her to lean so she could keep a roof over our heads and
could keep a roof over our heads and
could keep a roof over our heads and food on the table my aunt has been
food on the table my aunt has been
food on the table my aunt has been working for the same nonprofit for just
working for the same nonprofit for just
working for the same nonprofit for just about the same amount of time she too
about the same amount of time she too
about the same amount of time she too has leaned in lean back been demoted
has leaned in lean back been demoted
has leaned in lean back been demoted been promoted been laid off and then
been promoted been laid off and then
been promoted been laid off and then brought back on my cousin who also
brought back on my cousin who also
brought back on my cousin who also dubbed as my childhood beautician she
dubbed as my childhood beautician she
dubbed as my childhood beautician she has also been working for the bank for
has also been working for the bank for
has also been working for the bank for nearly two decades and has done the same
nearly two decades and has done the same
nearly two decades and has done the same thing my aunt and my mother have done
thing my aunt and my mother have done
thing my aunt and my mother have done historically I don’t know that black
historically I don’t know that black
historically I don’t know that black women have ever had the opportunity to
women have ever had the opportunity to
women have ever had the opportunity to consider what the opposite of leaning in
consider what the opposite of leaning in
consider what the opposite of leaning in might look like and if Sheryl Sandberg
might look like and if Sheryl Sandberg
might look like and if Sheryl Sandberg had been thinking of us when she told
had been thinking of us when she told
had been thinking of us when she told women to lean in she may have realized
women to lean in she may have realized
women to lean in she may have realized that we have been leaning in since the
that we have been leaning in since the
that we have been leaning in since the day we step foot off of southern
day we step foot off of southern
day we step foot off of southern American plantations and out of northern
American plantations and out of northern
American plantations and out of northern American kitchens black women have been
American kitchens black women have been
American kitchens black women have been the
the
the runners of the American nation we’ve
runners of the American nation we’ve
runners of the American nation we’ve been nine to five and since there’s been
been nine to five and since there’s been
been nine to five and since there’s been nine to five and to be done we’ve been
nine to five and to be done we’ve been
nine to five and to be done we’ve been your frat cooks we’ve been your customer
your frat cooks we’ve been your customer
your frat cooks we’ve been your customer service reps we’ve been your nurses
service reps we’ve been your nurses
service reps we’ve been your nurses we’ve been your child care workers and
we’ve been your child care workers and
we’ve been your child care workers and everything in between we have struggled
everything in between we have struggled
everything in between we have struggled with children in tow and one toe in
with children in tow and one toe in
with children in tow and one toe in poverty to grad degrees to help us to
poverty to grad degrees to help us to
poverty to grad degrees to help us to lean further in hence our status as the
lean further in hence our status as the
lean further in hence our status as the most educated women in America since we
most educated women in America since we
most educated women in America since we know that according to Census Bureau
know that according to Census Bureau
know that according to Census Bureau statistics there are more black women on
statistics there are more black women on
statistics there are more black women on college campuses than any single
college campuses than any single
college campuses than any single demographic in America hmm absolutely
demographic in America hmm absolutely
demographic in America hmm absolutely but despite all this educational in
but despite all this educational in
but despite all this educational in economic gains for black women do not
economic gains for black women do not
economic gains for black women do not equate to thriving black communities and
equate to thriving black communities and
equate to thriving black communities and thriving black families in fact despite
thriving black families in fact despite
thriving black families in fact despite black women gaining college degrees at a
black women gaining college degrees at a
black women gaining college degrees at a higher rate than everybody else
higher rate than everybody else
higher rate than everybody else marriage still evades us while we know
marriage still evades us while we know
marriage still evades us while we know that an educated women woman is far more
that an educated women woman is far more
that an educated women woman is far more likely to go on to marry and sustain a
likely to go on to marry and sustain a
likely to go on to marry and sustain a one-way ticket out of poverty this
one-way ticket out of poverty this
one-way ticket out of poverty this outcome is just not true for black women
outcome is just not true for black women
outcome is just not true for black women as America continues its legacy of
as America continues its legacy of
as America continues its legacy of imprisoning black men at a higher rate
imprisoning black men at a higher rate
imprisoning black men at a higher rate than everybody else let’s talk about
than everybody else let’s talk about
than everybody else let’s talk about communities our community still lag
communities our community still lag
communities our community still lag behind everybody else’s in terms of hoe
behind everybody else’s in terms of hoe
behind everybody else’s in terms of hoe Mecca
Mecca
Mecca and economics and in the one area where
and economics and in the one area where
and economics and in the one area where you would absolutely expect that black
you would absolutely expect that black
you would absolutely expect that black communities would gain from more black
communities would gain from more black
communities would gain from more black women being in college
women being in college
women being in college hello education nope not there either
hello education nope not there either
hello education nope not there either black children still continue to lag
black children still continue to lag
black children still continue to lag behind everybody else in standardized
behind everybody else in standardized
behind everybody else in standardized tests
tests
tests black children still continue to have
black children still continue to have
black children still continue to have that achievement gap that gets wider and
that achievement gap that gets wider and
that achievement gap that gets wider and wider and wider black communities are no
wider and wider black communities are no
wider and wider black communities are no better off the day a woman graduates
better off the day a woman graduates
better off the day a woman graduates from college
from college
from college they are the day after she go the day
they are the day after she go the day
they are the day after she go the day before she goes to college so what do we
before she goes to college so what do we
before she goes to college so what do we do about this these are facts not for
do about this these are facts not for
do about this these are facts not for City facts
City facts
City facts maybe black women should just wait maybe
maybe black women should just wait maybe
maybe black women should just wait maybe we should wait for America to end its
we should wait for America to end its
we should wait for America to end its legacy of imprisoning black men at a
legacy of imprisoning black men at a
legacy of imprisoning black men at a higher rate than it does everybody else
higher rate than it does everybody else
higher rate than it does everybody else maybe we should just wait for America to
maybe we should just wait for America to
maybe we should just wait for America to produce the nuts good enough teachers to
produce the nuts good enough teachers to
produce the nuts good enough teachers to come into our school districts and
come into our school districts and
come into our school districts and improve them that’s definitely a
improve them that’s definitely a
improve them that’s definitely a possibility
possibility
possibility we could do that but I think I have a
we could do that but I think I have a
we could do that but I think I have a better solution the only problem is a
better solution the only problem is a
better solution the only problem is a lot of you might not like it black women
lot of you might not like it black women
lot of you might not like it black women do not need to lean in black women need
do not need to lean in black women need
do not need to lean in black women need to lean back now I wait for the
to lean back now I wait for the
to lean back now I wait for the collective pearl clutch because I know
collective pearl clutch because I know
collective pearl clutch because I know some of you are real tied to y’all jobs
some of you are real tied to y’all jobs
some of you are real tied to y’all jobs up in here but the reality is I think we
up in here but the reality is I think we
up in here but the reality is I think we need to consider this option a little
need to consider this option a little
need to consider this option a little bit more you see I was a woman after
bit more you see I was a woman after
bit more you see I was a woman after Sheryl Sandberg’s own heart but somebody
Sheryl Sandberg’s own heart but somebody
Sheryl Sandberg’s own heart but somebody came along and told me that maybe I
came along and told me that maybe I
came along and told me that maybe I should consider taking a more proactive
should consider taking a more proactive
should consider taking a more proactive role in my children’s lives as well as
role in my children’s lives as well as
role in my children’s lives as well as in the lives of my family and when she
in the lives of my family and when she
in the lives of my family and when she told me that I kind of wanted to smack
told me that I kind of wanted to smack
told me that I kind of wanted to smack her because I thought to myself do you
her because I thought to myself do you
her because I thought to myself do you know how hard I worked to get that
know how hard I worked to get that
know how hard I worked to get that degree to get that job to give up my
degree to get that job to give up my
degree to get that job to give up my goals of an endless bank account but
goals of an endless bank account but
goals of an endless bank account but before you do what I did and rewind your
before you do what I did and rewind your
before you do what I did and rewind your mind back to the 40s and 50s and put a
mind back to the 40s and 50s and put a
mind back to the 40s and 50s and put a black face on the woman you see there
black face on the woman you see there
black face on the woman you see there barefoot and pregnant I think we need to
barefoot and pregnant I think we need to
barefoot and pregnant I think we need to consider that woman’s advice just a
consider that woman’s advice just a
consider that woman’s advice just a little bit more you see when I looked up
little bit more you see when I looked up
little bit more you see when I looked up when I took that woman’s advice and I
when I took that woman’s advice and I
when I took that woman’s advice and I realized that maybe it was time for me
realized that maybe it was time for me
realized that maybe it was time for me to take a little bit more of a proactive
to take a little bit more of a proactive
to take a little bit more of a proactive role in my family and in my community I
role in my family and in my community I
role in my family and in my community I started to do a journey on a journey to
started to do a journey on a journey to
started to do a journey on a journey to do my part I see
do my part I see
do my part I see my son’s languishing and struggling in
my son’s languishing and struggling in
my son’s languishing and struggling in culturally incompetent and ineffective
culturally incompetent and ineffective
culturally incompetent and ineffective learning environments I joined the PTA
learning environments I joined the PTA
learning environments I joined the PTA and one year later I pulled my son’s out
and one year later I pulled my son’s out
and one year later I pulled my son’s out and I started homeschooling them that
and I started homeschooling them that
and I started homeschooling them that alone was worth my newfound commitment
alone was worth my newfound commitment
alone was worth my newfound commitment to home as I realized that now my sons
to home as I realized that now my sons
to home as I realized that now my sons could learn in an environment where they
could learn in an environment where they
could learn in an environment where they were loved and wanted and not disdained
were loved and wanted and not disdained
were loved and wanted and not disdained and they could not only get an education
and they could not only get an education
and they could not only get an education that provided for them to be you know
that provided for them to be you know
that provided for them to be you know capable in corporate America but now
capable in corporate America but now
capable in corporate America but now they could get an education that
they could get an education that
they could get an education that provided for them to navigate the world
provided for them to navigate the world
provided for them to navigate the world as black men I got I looked up again and
as black men I got I looked up again and
as black men I got I looked up again and I saw in my community it was crumbling
I saw in my community it was crumbling
I saw in my community it was crumbling so rather than waiting around to be
so rather than waiting around to be
so rather than waiting around to be whisked away on the bus stop I felt at
whisked away on the bus stop I felt at
whisked away on the bus stop I felt at the bus stop of success I started
the bus stop of success I started
the bus stop of success I started rehabbing a vacant lot in my
rehabbing a vacant lot in my
rehabbing a vacant lot in my neighborhood I cleaned up garbage I
neighborhood I cleaned up garbage I
neighborhood I cleaned up garbage I raked leaves I fell in love with
raked leaves I fell in love with
raked leaves I fell in love with gardening and I just made my community a
gardening and I just made my community a
gardening and I just made my community a better place to exist in and those
better place to exist in and those
better place to exist in and those journalistic skills that I gained in
journalistic skills that I gained in
journalistic skills that I gained in college dense communication expertise
college dense communication expertise
college dense communication expertise that I got it did not go to waste
that I got it did not go to waste
that I got it did not go to waste I saw the moms that I used to ride the
I saw the moms that I used to ride the
I saw the moms that I used to ride the bus with downtown also struggling with
bus with downtown also struggling with
bus with downtown also struggling with mothering with intention and with care
mothering with intention and with care
mothering with intention and with care and I started blogging about it a few
and I started blogging about it a few
and I started blogging about it a few years later that blog morphed into a
years later that blog morphed into a
years later that blog morphed into a support group that for black moms that
support group that for black moms that
support group that for black moms that reaches nearly 2,000 mothers every week
reaches nearly 2,000 mothers every week
reaches nearly 2,000 mothers every week we do things we buy groceries for each
we do things we buy groceries for each
we do things we buy groceries for each other y’all go make me crap in here we
other y’all go make me crap in here we
other y’all go make me crap in here we buy bus passes for each other we create
buy bus passes for each other we create
buy bus passes for each other we create community they do those women you are
community they do those women you are
community they do those women you are crossing they create community and we
crossing they create community and we
crossing they create community and we just we do what we know we need to do
just we do what we know we need to do
just we do what we know we need to do for each other see the Leanback movement
for each other see the Leanback movement
for each other see the Leanback movement it is not about whisking women back to a
it is not about whisking women back to a
it is not about whisking women back to a time when they were barefoot and
time when they were barefoot and
time when they were barefoot and pregnant
pregnant
pregnant it is about blood
it is about blood
it is about blood women working alongside black men to use
women working alongside black men to use
women working alongside black men to use our collectively brilliant minds
our collectively brilliant minds
our collectively brilliant minds brilliant minds to create communities
brilliant minds to create communities
brilliant minds to create communities that our children can thrive in it says
that our children can thrive in it says
that our children can thrive in it says in mark 8:36 for what shall it profit a
in mark 8:36 for what shall it profit a
in mark 8:36 for what shall it profit a man to gain the world or show what
man to gain the world or show what
man to gain the world or show what excuse me it says in mark 38 36 for what
excuse me it says in mark 38 36 for what
excuse me it says in mark 38 36 for what shall it profit a man to gain the world
shall it profit a man to gain the world
shall it profit a man to gain the world but to forfeit his soul well America we
but to forfeit his soul well America we
but to forfeit his soul well America we lose our souls when we give black
lose our souls when we give black
lose our souls when we give black mothers the singular choice of providing
mothers the singular choice of providing
mothers the singular choice of providing for their children are being good
for their children are being good
for their children are being good stewards of the communities they’ve been
stewards of the communities they’ve been
stewards of the communities they’ve been divinely placed in we lose the soul of
divinely placed in we lose the soul of
divinely placed in we lose the soul of warm communities where children can
warm communities where children can
warm communities where children can become the problem solvers of their own
become the problem solvers of their own
become the problem solvers of their own neighborhoods and just ride their bikes
neighborhoods and just ride their bikes
neighborhoods and just ride their bikes without fear of being shots black
without fear of being shots black
without fear of being shots black mothers and fathers and fathers and
mothers and fathers and fathers and
mothers and fathers and fathers and fathers lose our souls when we neglect
fathers lose our souls when we neglect
fathers lose our souls when we neglect to take up the cross of finding out why
to take up the cross of finding out why
to take up the cross of finding out why the inner garden us bore a sense of this
the inner garden us bore a sense of this
the inner garden us bore a sense of this skin at this time of struggle and strife
skin at this time of struggle and strife
skin at this time of struggle and strife for black people in the neighborhoods
for black people in the neighborhoods
for black people in the neighborhoods that we grew up in the beauty of the
that we grew up in the beauty of the
that we grew up in the beauty of the Leanback movement is that it does not
Leanback movement is that it does not
Leanback movement is that it does not require that a woman negates the full
require that a woman negates the full
require that a woman negates the full expression of her mind
expression of her mind
expression of her mind or that we give up the creative work
or that we give up the creative work
or that we give up the creative work that we do with our hands it just asked
that we do with our hands it just asked
that we do with our hands it just asked us to consider relocation relocate your
us to consider relocation relocate your
us to consider relocation relocate your abilities so that you can be a good
abilities so that you can be a good
abilities so that you can be a good steward of the communities that you’ve
steward of the communities that you’ve
steward of the communities that you’ve been divinely placed in and to corporate
been divinely placed in and to corporate
been divinely placed in and to corporate judicial judicial the nonprofit America
judicial judicial the nonprofit America
judicial judicial the nonprofit America I say you’ve had your time in the Sun
I say you’ve had your time in the Sun
I say you’ve had your time in the Sun how much more will you require of black
how much more will you require of black
how much more will you require of black America
America
America how much longer do we need to suckle
how much longer do we need to suckle
how much longer do we need to suckle your children before we can nourish our
your children before we can nourish our
your children before we can nourish our own we ask not that you bear our burdens
own we ask not that you bear our burdens
own we ask not that you bear our burdens but we ask that you do not obstruct our
but we ask that you do not obstruct our
but we ask that you do not obstruct our paths and we won’t throw off our burdens
paths and we won’t throw off our burdens
paths and we won’t throw off our burdens as we run and to my mama’s to my
as we run and to my mama’s to my
as we run and to my mama’s to my sister’s to the woman women who carry me
sister’s to the woman women who carry me
sister’s to the woman women who carry me here I say to you you can’t serve two
here I say to you you can’t serve two
here I say to you you can’t serve two masters system choose you this day whom
masters system choose you this day whom
masters system choose you this day whom ye shall serve either we will continue
ye shall serve either we will continue
ye shall serve either we will continue to support the American systems and
to support the American systems and
to support the American systems and corporations who do very little to
corporations who do very little to
corporations who do very little to uplift our communities our we will begin
uplift our communities our we will begin
uplift our communities our we will begin the work of building new realities for
the work of building new realities for
the work of building new realities for the black for our children and birthing
the black for our children and birthing
the black for our children and birthing the communities of their dreams so in
the communities of their dreams so in
the communities of their dreams so in the words of Fat Joe all I got to say is
the words of Fat Joe all I got to say is
the words of Fat Joe all I got to say is just lean back laying down
just lean back laying down
just lean back laying down [Applause]
”
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