I can't breathe:

I can't breathe, 
he said again and again 
with fear trapped in his eyes
please I can't breathe

I have a dream rooted in the American dream

please please 
please sir, I can't breathe. 
They're going to kill me 
I can't breathe. 

I have a dream one day this nation will rise up

I do not know 
what it is like, 
to have my heart in my throat 
when a police officer tells me I 
was going too fast 
around a sharp turn  

I have a dream that my four little Children

and I do not know 
the worry that my father 
or brother will leave the house 
and never come back 
because they said the wrong thing 
to a boy in blue 

will one day live in a nation where they will be judged not by the color of their skin

mama 
mama 
I can't, my knee.
I'm claustrophobic 
my stomach hurts, 
my neck hurts 
please please 

but by the content of their character

I do not know 
how to wear oppression 
on my skin 
like a coat always too 
close around my neck 

I have a dream today!

but I have hope 
stitched into the back of my palm 
as we all raise our hands and 
yell 
'it is time to stop' 

this is our hope 

man I can't breathe, my face. 
just get up 
please please 

and this is our faith

hands up don't shoot 
I don't have a gun, stop shooting.