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I Know What You’re Thinking © by Katrina Smith-Jackson
I know what you’re thinking
Standing here
A young youth
Dressed this way and talking like this
I must be the stereotype
A stereotype
There on a hype
And doing my own thing
I know that’s what you’re thinking
That I always have a hoody on my head
And carry a knife in the front pocket
Yeah…what? WHAT?
If you mess with me you know…I will spark you differently
You understand me blad?
You man…
Don’t hate…appreciate!
Appreciate the fact that my gang is providing your boy a family
But just make sure he don’t come from Dalston E8
Look at you man
Judging me
I bet you thought I was some next youth
Rolling deep
Cussing and swearing
Spiting on the street
You were ready to chastise me, weren’t you?
A young black male with no ambition
No drive or determination
Court cases here and there
A baby mamma or two
And some next sket on speed dial
You know what?
This ain’t me
Yes, I’m a young male
And I come from East London
But believe it or not…this ain’t me
I am a young man with ambition
To make something of my life and help others
Yeah my friends call me Shank
But it ain’t nothing but a pet name…not no gang name
Yeah I sometimes where Nike tick crepes and a hoody of my head
But clothes shouldn’t define you
It’s about what’s in here
That’s all that matters
But you all just like to stereotype…
Judge…
Label me…
Bring me down and get me into trouble
All because of your own troubled perceptions
Ready to find any little thing to blame me for
Did I really look suspicious to you lot?
I was just standing there like everyone else
Why me?
Why not him? Or him? Or him?!
Why me?
I know what you’re thinking
