American people listen to that which I'm fittin' to mention
An uncomfortable truth that invokes thoughts of lynchin'
No, not another era, time, place or even dimension
I'm talkin' bout right and the state of our system
Say I'm just walking down the street or the boulevard --
Maybe I'm 12 years old and ain't even lookin' hard,
And over my right shoulder I'm seeing a police car
Creepin' up on me slow – been watching me from afar
Then out comes these officers, hell-bent on stopping me
Oh, you're just 12 years old? I thought you were like 16!
Anyway what you doing walking these city streets?
Now that I think about it, you kinda look like a thief,
That we've been looking for and why is your hat to the back?
They put their hands in my pocket, thinking I'm slangin' crack.
That's when my Pops came out; what if he wasn't there?
They'd continue to violate my rights, though it wasn't fair!
And I keep thinkin'!
What's it gonna take for me
For me to be treated like I need to be
Will it be a tragedy?
That's the life of a young minority
What's it gonna take for me
For me to be treated like I need to be
When's it gonna give,
What's it gonna take
Am I gonna break
Can I be set free, uh uh
What's it gonna take for me
For me to be treated like I need to be
Will it be a tragedy?
That's the life of a young minority
What's it gonna take for me
For me to be treated like I need to be
Or will I continue to be and endangered species