Congo
Daddy always played his congo near the shore
the way that drum played the lessons of the ancestors, more precious than gold
I’d swear daddy’s congo had a soul
see that provided a safety net for mommy and me
we could sleep easy to the sound of daddy’s drumbeat
well, this particular night I couldn’t sleep
instead of daddy’s drumbeat, all I heard were screams
I walked out to shore, wondering what I’d see
only to find my daddy being taken away from me
Bring Him Back! Bring Him Back!
I cried until I couldn’t see
I was only 10 and you were gonna answer me
but you couldn’t say a damn thing cause my language you didn’t speak
now all responsibilities fall back on mommy and me
Black man, you have been detached far too long
Daddy come home
Without you, this family isn’t strong
10 Years Later
Standing there on the auction block in this new world of terror, humiliation, and demise
A new family you’re forced to abandon, leaving another daughter with teary eyes
why has thou forsaken me, you cried
how did I fall victim to these criminal minds
but you stayed strong, when all you had to value was dear life through these troubled times
your kids and wife left behind
you held on and kept peace of mind
but through your soul, you heard your family’s cries
Black man, you have been detached far too long
Daddy come home
Without you, this family isn’t strong
10 Years Later
No more shackles on your feet or whips on your back
they’ve been replaced with miseducation and crack
limiting your possibility for prosperity
hoping you’ll stay off track
generation after generation you struggle to make ends meet
only to be continuously faced with defeat
so your family suffers
a continuous struggle, ending in separation
leading to the negation of your responsibilities
your responsibility to be there for them
your responsibility to nurture, cherish, and care for them
after generations of separation, black man it’s time for you to see
that no she can’t do it alone because it’s her history
it’s a history that’s plagued the black family for 400 years
until you bring about a change
you will continue to leave daughters behind crying rivers of tears
Black man, you have been detached far too long
It’s time for you to come home
Without you, this family isn’t strong
