Woman of the Ghetto

I was born and raised in a ghetto I was born and raised in a ghetto I'm a woman of the ghetto Listen to me, legislator How do you raise your kids in a ghetto? How do you raise your kids in a ghetto? Feed one child and starve another Tell me, tell me, legislator How do make your bread in the ghetto? How do make your bread in the ghetto? Baked from the souls in the ghetto Tell me, tell me, Legislator? Break free Black me I'm a woman of the ghetto Strong true My eyes ain't blue I am a woman of the ghetto How do we get rid of rats in the ghetto? How do we get rid of rats in the ghetto? Do we make it one black and one white in the ghetto? Is that your answer, legislator? Now, how do you legislate, brother? Listen to me How do you legislate, brother? When you free one man and try to chain up the other Tell me, tell me, legislator How does your heart feel late at night? How does your heart feel late at night? Does it beat with shame, does it beat with pride? Won't you tell me, tell me, legislator? Break free Black me I am a woman of the ghetto Strong true My eyes ain't blue Listen to me legislator My children learns just th same as yours Long as nobody tries to close the door They cry with pain when the knife cuts deep They even close their eyes when they wanna sleep We must all have identities That's the only way that we can live free Now, peace you say, is all that you ask? But self-respect is a separate task You sitting up there In your ivory tower 60 stories tall Now you may have seen one ghetto But have you lived there at all? Places like Watts Detroit Fillmore Chicago Holland Washintong Seen all voices Seen all voices Seen all voices from the ghetto Seen all voices from the ghetto Seen all voices Seen all voices 'Cause I am the woman of the ghetto See a woman cry See the children die