Andre’s
mother abandoned her family when Andre was a baby. Andre and his sister spent
many days alone while their father worked as a maintenance man for an
electronics company. Now the children
live with their aunt and visit their father at least once a month at SoleDad
prison in Salinas, California. When I asked Andre for his last name he told me,
“What does it matter? I’m just another
Thug.”
My
Dad’s behind bars.
When
you’re cleaning toilets
to
feed your kids
people
don’t see you
especially
when you’re black
I
remember when they took Dad to prison.
Ever
hear the words murder one?
When
they’re talkin’ about your Dad,
it
ain’t like TV, it sounds a lot worse
People
say Dad made a bad choice.
Six
bullets leaving a hole
where
CPR couldn’t help.
His
third grade daughter stripped like a Barbie,
blood
flowing down her virgin legs,
Shouldn’t
he react?
My
whole life changed in an instant.
One
night I’m hangin’ out with Pops,
next
I’m told he’ll never come home again.
Yeah,
a white judge convicted him of murder.
Ain’t
Dad supposed to protect us?
If
Dad would’ve been white
If
the dead dude would’ve been black
Judge
would’ve given Dad manslaughter
Judge
would’ve given Dad six years
Dad
says he had to protect us
The
police wouldn’t
They
didn’t for Aunt Bea
He
says it’s hard to explain
But
one day I’ll understand
He
shouldn’t be doing time
He
was protecting his family
The
bad choice wasn’t Dad’s
The
judge was wrong
I
try to visit Pops every chance I get
I once asked him Was it worth it?
My Daddy told me,
For
my family, yes it was son,
And
I'd do it again if I had to.
