Outspoken (feat. Tea Fannie)

We in the future now.

But it can't give me what's needed.

Sacrifices made in the past for my deeper meaning.

Ancestors treated like less than dirt,

Not included in many books.

Misunderstood and overlooked.

I can't trace that side so far back,

With or without technology I can't change that.

But the future of my people will be televised.

No surprise, 100 years from now we can look back to see the rise.

But today I'll get a job and won't get paid like "Katie."

I speak up louder than "Kent," they feel allowed to call me crazy.

Or I must be lazy,

Then they're confused at the end of my long fuse

When I say "okay, I'm out or pay me."

"I'm a dude," "I'm a boss," "I'm white," "I'm CEO,"

"I'm straight"— I get airplay.

Guess what? I'm none of those.

I speak out then I'm an angry black woman,

But I look in the mirror, and I just see a human.

Token, I can never be open.

They only pushin' back cause they know they can feel me pullin'.

Token, I can never be open.

Seem like they only appreciate me when I'm broken.

Token, I can never be open.

Run and give me props 'cause they surprised I'm well-spoken.

But I can't be outspoken,

'cause then I'm "mispoken"

And seem a little bit too awoken.

Token, I can never be open.

They only pushin' back cause they know they can feel me pullin'.

Token, I can never be open.

Seem like they only appreciate me when I'm broken.

Token, I can never be open.

Run and give me props 'cause they surprised I'm well-spoken.

But I can't be outspoken.

I walked in the mall today.

And I heard a passing conversation,

"Well, she had to do it

'cause, y'know, a minority's sayin' it..."

Then it faded off and I shook my head,

'cause I won't weigh in.

On stupidity who don't even attempt to have the decency to know a name.

And what I heard was they don't care what was comin' out.

Just who it was from; I'm feelin' kinda done.

Why fight a brick wall with a fist?— Yup, just one.

'Cause the other is playing defense to another box I'm on.

"Equality and opportunities is unity."

But the quality of humanity is based on a society that doesn't even look at you and me equally.

It's pretty simple man, try it out for size:

Next scenario you question, flip it in your mind.

Switch it around, and see if it's still even.

If not, the "comm denom" is the one that's deceivin'.

Token, I can never be open.

They only pushin' back cause they know they can feel me pullin'.

Token, I can never be open.

Seem like they only appreciate me when I'm broken.

Token, I can never be open.

Run and give me props 'cause they surprised I'm well-spoken.

But I can't be outspoken,

'cause then I'm "mispoken"

And seem a little bit too awoken.

Token, I can never be open.

They only pushin' back cause they know they can feel me pullin'.

Token, I can never be open.

Seem like they only appreciate me when I'm broken.

Token, I can never be open.

Run and give me props 'cause they surprised I'm well-spoken.

But I can't be outspoken, 'cause then I'm "mispoken."