Black Love
Written by Hodari B. Davis
Adapted from Lyrics by Mos Def and Talib Kweli
1.
This is a tribute to those who not
Part of our conscious memory cause we forgot
Wiped from history we can’t factor in
What they said about our freedom way back then
We lost Robeson, Garvey and Mary Bethune
We lost Delaney, Moore and Marian too
We lost names and dates and facts about lives
Lived so African people could survive
2.
We got confused with what we were taught
Turned us into immigrants forgot we were brought here
On boats kidnapped from our homeland
History’s not lost realize it was stolen
Like you and our families too
We paid a holocaust to be able to do
All we can now like read and vote
The only reason we really have to hope
what they overcame harder than what we get
But we won’t survive if we forget
(All)
We gotta remember who we are
We gotta Love
the work of the Black Stars!
What is a Black Star?
Who is a Black Star?
3.
Black, my family thick like they’re striped molasses
Star on the rise in the eyes of the masses
Black is my past without history
Star shining bright guiding light for the free
4.
We Black like the kid in the back of your class
Contemplating dropping out cause he aint gonna pass
It all seems irrelevant whatever you teach
Everything he needs to know is out there in the streets
5.
We Black like the stare deep in our eyes
Off in the distance you would be surprised
At what we dream about each and every day
Freedom, Justice and an African way
We Black like the veil that Muslimina wear
Black like the planet you fear, why you scared?
Black like the slave ship that later brought us here
Black like the cheeks that are roadways for tears
We Black like the blues leavin’ us bruised and beat
Black like ash left after they turn up the heat
Black like Ghana, Trini, and Oakland too
Black like me, and Black like you
(All)
Black people unite and let’s all get down
We got to love
to turn this all around
Black people unite and let’s all get up
We got to love
if we gonna change this up
We need Love
L-O-V-E and we’ll be, LOVE
L-O-V-E to be free its, LOVE
L-O-V-E history, Black LOVE
L-O-V-E what we need is LOVE
between you and me is LOVE
What we need to be free is LOVE
Learning our History it’s LOVE
If survival is our Destiny
You gotta love somebody
Love some body body body
(repeat)
You gotta love somebody
Love some body body body
(repeat)
YGB making history