Suburban Ghetto
by Jamilla C. Williams of New Orleans, LA
Welcome to the Ghetto
You know why it's called the ghetto?
Because you "get to" do whatever you want.
That music is so loud!
Those clothes are really tight.
Stop those boys, before they fight.
The candy lady is gone but the corner store is open
Put on some shoes those beer bottles are all broken.
Whatever food you don't use, give it to JuJu to eat.
We can't be wasting no money, bills are due and we are trying to make the ends meet.
Forced out of the concrete jungle.
Scattered into a tree lined brick laid hope.
Leaving conditions that made it impossible to cope.
Welcome to the Suburbs
We mow the lawns.
Pick up our trash.
Sweep up broken glass.
Put our kids in time out when they act bad.
Play in the park until it gets dark.
Throw out the food we don't eat.
Consume healthy snacks not sweets.
We are just trying to make the ends meet.
Torn up grass, neighbors get mad.
Eviction trash, we've got to move away from here fast.
Broken up glass, oh someone will sweep it up.
Punish those kids first, when they act up, then whip them if that isn't enough.
We play in the street, even though we have a yard.
Times are hard but we have a little bit of something to eat.
We are just trying to make the ends meet.
Welcome to the Suburban Ghetto
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