Sunday, July 11, 2010

Wrong Color, Wrong Place: The Murder of Oscar Grant

What was your crime, Oscar Grant
Other than being born black
In Oakland, CA?

Face down on the cement
Handcuffed
Harmless
Shot in the back by a white transit cop
While witnesses recorded on cell phones

Born black in Oakland
Born black in America
Wrong color
Wrong place

47 years after the 16th Street Baptist Church
Bombing in Birmingham
18 years after Rodney King
Look at how far we have not come

Another white cop walks away
After murdering a black man

Though not scot free
Officer Merserle may serve less time
For killing Oscar Grant
Than Michael Vick served for killing a dog

That’s perversity not justice

Oscar Grant was killed twice
Once on that station platform in Oakland
And a second time in an LA
Courtroom

No comments: