Black, Broke and Brilliant

Lorraine Hansberry said it's wonderful to be young and gifted
but in times like this, double that,
to be young, gifted and black.
What happens to the young, broke and gifted
Many smoke weed cause they want to get lifted
They can't see past their block
So they sell that rock
How many would-be C.E.O's are trapped in the hood?
How do we sit in our plush pews like everything's good?

Meet a broke Negro with a college degree
Somebody lied cause a degree don't make you free
It might be a one way ticket into the Matrix
Drinking every night tryin' to get that fix
Once a sister finds out my income is low
Don't matter how smart I am or how much I know
I ain't sayin' she's a gold digga
But, she ain't messin' with no broke nigga
It's funny, men will do anything to get the girl
We'll lie and steal to buy her the world
Whether you sell drugs
or embezzle millions and buy Persian rugs
If it's hard out here for a pimp
It's even harder for brothers
tryin' to make a few hard earned cents

Don't be fooled by my suit
Cause if you look in my wallet you'll see no loot
You see I pay my child support
Nobody had to take me to court
Mom and Dad I hate to ask, can you help me with the rent?
What can I say, my family's heaven sent
I know I couldn't have made it on my own
That's why I bow down to God's throne
Even when I'm singing the blues like Nina Simone
I want to rise like stock prices above this debt
When I want to quit, the Lord says "You can't give up yet"
Matter of fact, you can't give up at all
Never forget that you've been called"

What happens to the black, broke and brilliant?
Well we have a history of being resilient
We have to draw inspiration from the past
and remember "This too shall pass"
Can we go to college without putting
all our faith into a degree?
We need God to truly be free
Let us remember salvation is a process
And if you chase money you'll get a whole lot less


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