We live through trauma. The legacy of our ancestors being enslaved, the systematic racism that still exists today, and the trauma of an image of us that was made by others, is the kind of trauma constantly being reinforced every day and can weigh heavy on the psyche. What we and others must know is that these are things that happened to us; not things that we did. Thus, the message We Were Never The Problem was created. We Were Never The Problem is as much a message to ourselves as Black people as it is to others. It’s about living an unapologetic affirmation of truth. Knowing that we aren’t the cause, lifts a weight that sits on our self-esteem, confidence, and potential.
lyrics
As I sit here alone and glance at the time on my phone
I catch a glimpse of my reflection above the numbers that’s shown
The blank stare warmed by the glow from the glare
Of the LED screen, makes me, think how dare
They still blame my skin tone, when the truth has been known
And frame my kinfolk, for the ills of their own
Calling us savages, like our history don’t have thrones
For those past slain, its about time we spoke
I make no apologies for what I believe you need to hear
More importantly, for we, and the self esteem we need to rear
Check the stat sheets, through history, across all columns
All facts, We Were Never The Problem
We’re the product, of the diabolic-al methodology
Consciously implemented over centuries on our psychology
The middle passage wasn’t passive and didn’t happen by chance
And something so massive couldn’t have lasted without plans
Listen
(Chorus)
you can hate all day but
We Were Never The Problem
send that blame our way but
We Were Never The Problem
you can lie to your own face but
We Were Never The Problem
you know it’s true when I say
We Were Never The Problem
Tell me who raped who? Who carried that noose?
Who gathered groups to watch trees bear strange fruit?
It is a deranged mind to liken human to beast
And at the same time seek to satisfy sexual needs
While babies warming their feet, But I’m the one tripping,
the Central Park 5 were framed south of Seneca village
What about Black Wall Street, yo tell me who’re the villains
Please refresh my mind on who did the Rosewood killings
Tamir Rice from Emmet Till, there’s no justice still
Generational wealth works if you live long enough to leave a will
Abduction, slavery, murder, segregation
Jim Crow, lynching, voter intimidation
Mississippi is burning with racial discrimination
stop and frisk, war on drugs, and mass incarceration
redlining, blockbusting, anti-miscegenation
cross burning and government sponsored assassination
Listen
(Chorus)
So yea you’re right, I’m feeling some kind of a way
cus’ You can present the same, still in present day
It may not be you who did the things in the past
and you might not like hearing about it but that’s too bad
green book in hand, I try to plan a safe path
in a world that hates where I stand but loves how I dance
just not in public parks, Starbucks, or college dorms
CVSs and golf courses seem to be out of the norm
or them cell phones come out, and those guns get drawn
and my brains are at risk of being spilled on the lawn
Pool parties, Nordstrom, what’s got you so triggered?
That you think this is no place for melanated figures
There’s no acceptable excuse for detestable attitudes
And I won’t be deterred by your absurd platitudes
It’s not worth my nerves nor any more of my time
I refused to carry the burden of a guilt that’s not mine
listen
(Chorus)
credits
released February 28, 2022
Produced by GG.
Mixed and mastered by NewBorn Noise.
From Johannesburg, South Africa, terrence? delivers an EP of gorgeous soul and moody hip-hop surrounded atmospheric production. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 13, 2022
