To Be Young, Gifted and Black
Paul writes to Timothy, his young Christian prodigy
about what it takes to possess total spirituality
and how to go about getting your heart's desires
by be surrounded by those who have already aspired
someone to whom you can look up to who'll always have your back
a mentor to guide you on the right spiritual track
someone who'll encourage you to further succeed
someone who will push you and on your behalf will intercede
when it comes to the culture of being young, gifted and black
white racists will try anything to knock you off your track
they are still stuck on that Mandingo-slave mentality
they're still intimidated by a black man's superiority
we're faster, we're stronger and they now know we're just as smart
they'll attempt to keep us down and not allow us to make a head start
we're survivors and on little we have learned to live
be it the worst homes, jobs or whatever rations the slave master did give
society is under the misconception
that anything black has a bad reputation
but being black has power and the world needs to see
that a black man was the leader of all Christianity
Paul informs Timothy that of him he was proud
for Timothy had gotten the best traits from his ancestral crowd
he reminded him that his belief system was a blessed legacy
with a strength of faith that was passed down through his family
a true anointing was handed down
a Godly commitment in Timothy had been found
as adults and mentors it's up to us to be about truth
and not to be fronting not act pretentious to our youth
we need to be sincere in our criticism and in our praise
and remember as youths the hell we ourselves once raised
to be young, to be gifted and to be black
to know that there's nothing in this world that you can't hack
God gave you the power and capability
to face any challenge that comes before thee
God gave you His pure and unconditional love
so don't let anyone tell you that you're not good enough
God gave you a sound and functioning mind
with the ability to learn and the means to climb
God does not go about giving His children the spirit of fear
for a scared person can't function in this atmosphere
so go out and cultivate relationships through your shared faith
don't let the world hinder you with its bigotry and hate
you have intelligence and a survivor's skills
just let your will be God's will
God's grace has endowed you with a special knack
because you're young, you're gifted and blessed to be black
Copyright © Louise Nelson | Year Posted 2007
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