Priorities.

So last night, I went to a poetry slam/jazz open mic up in East Harlem and while I was listening to some of the music...I was motivated to write a 16. I may or may not read this at a poetry slam in the near future; here goes:

How'd we go from I Have A Dream by Dr. King
To worryin about those who on the streets got STDs.
Once we used to be all about the struggle
Now lookin at cats sideways will get you in a tussle.
United we stand, divided we fall
We only unite when we see our brethren fall.
Our knowledge used to be harnessed with books in the library
Kinda scary that now they know everything bout Nick Cannon & Mariah Carey.
Aspiring to be a librarian, no more, now you wanna be a Kardashian
Or to practice for hours to be a highlight on ESPN.
Our parents preached for us to grab goals we can reach
But it feels like a contract we breached watchin intelligence bein put under siege.
Keep your eyes open, mind right all day & night
And you'll never lose sight of what's wrong & what's right.
To conclude we all have the intelligence to overcome ignorance
So set a precedent to rediscover the relevance that we hold to be self-evident.