For Oscar

Hear
They let him out
say
say it was for good behavior
like back in the day
like batons on the heads
of Rodney King
I
thought you knew
keepin' niggas in line
is good behavior
is
the only thing explain
NYPD stop and frisk
blatant
violations of our rights
takin'
uncivil
liberties
to remind us
of that shadow on the ground
cast by Dredd Scott
I
thought you knew
capturin' niggas be
good behavior
go
way back
like heads on sticks in Stono South Carolina
like strung up rebels
refusing names like
Toby
Washington
Secreting into cemeteries
to put marks of the motherland
on grave sites
I
though you knew
shootin niggas in the back be
good behavior
ask
Diallo
ask
Bell
Burn an incense for them
And they'll let you know
you
less than a dog to them
that's why
I hear they
let him out
for good behavior
I thought you knew
ask
Ayanna Jones
They knock down niggaz doors
with no knock warrants
with no regards
to our safety
Bladoww
there goes your babies brain
bladowww
there goes your babies life
face down
on the hard concrete
I thought you knew
killin' niggas be
good behavior
Like back
when Emmet Till
got familiar with
Riffle butts and barbwires
back when juries let
killer crackers walk
not guilty
cause it's no crime
killin' niggas
face down
Hands behind back
tryin' to maintain dignity
I
thought you knew
Keepin' niggas in line is
good
Behavior.