A child is born with no state of mind Blind to the ways of…
““A child is born with no state of mind Blind to the ways of mankind God is smilin' on you but he's frownin' too Because only God knows what you'll go through You'll grow in the ghetto livin' second-rate And your eyes will sing a song called deep hate The places you play and where you stay Looks like one great big alleyway You'll admire all the number-book takers Thugs, pimps and pushers and the big money-makers Drivin' big cars, spendin' twenties and tens And you'll wanna grow up to be just like them, huh Smugglers, scramblers, burglars, gamblers Pickpocket peddlers, even panhandlers You say I'm cool, huh, I'm no fool But then you wind up droppin' outta high school Now you're unemployed, all non-void Walkin' round like you're Pretty Boy Floyd Turned stick-up kid, but look what you done did Got sent up for a eight-year bid Now your manhood is took and you're a Maytag Spend the next two years as a undercover fag Bein' used and abused to serve like hell 'til one day, you was found hung dead in the cell It was plain to see that your life was lost You was cold and your body swung back and forth But now your eyes sing the sad, sad song Of how you lived so fast and died so young””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Life in marginalized communities can trap individuals in cycles of crime and despair, highlighting systemic neglect.
In simple terms: Poverty and environment shape choices, often leading to tragedy.
Key Takeaway
Address systemic inequality.
Themes
poverty
urban decay
crime
systemic oppression
Mood
somber
urgent
Type
social commentary
poetic
When to use this quote
- community outreach
- policy reform
- education programs
Key Concepts
sociology
structural violence
Questions to Reflect On
- What interventions could break this cycle?
- How does society view those in the ghetto?
A Different Perspective
Complex realities may be oversimplified.