“Willful Defiance”
They don’t care if our babies thrive at school Long as they get by at school Get by institutionalized racism and intergenerational oppressions systems That keep prison pipelines thriving Disguised as willful defiance I’m trying To figure out why urban schools have the highest rates of incarceration Instead of culturally relevant curriculum that should be motivation leading to liberation Suspensions from school feel like eternity Strategically guide the black and brown kids out When we truly come to school with the intention to get free Stifle academic and social/emotional education I’m just saying Could this be racially motivated?
Outcomes means primarily black and brown youth become academically stagnated Leading to suspensions, expulsions, less school participation Stereotypes perpetuated Is your school pedagogy student discipline or human elevation? Discipline data from the Department of Education Found that Black girls are over five times more likely than white girls to be suspended at least once from school This data infuriating When Black girls are seven times more likely to receive multiple out-of-school suspensions Where is the healing, motivation and rebuilding? How do we stand in our confidence after is it disciplined away How do I come to school ready to learn when you are trying to strip my intelligence and make it seem like I am insane? Black girls three times more likely to receive referrals to law enforcement when white girls are getting away with behaving the same way. And we already know what they are doing to Black and Brown boys it’s insane Just check the data it’s been staying the same I mean steady increasing it’s definitely a shame Do we want to teach Black boys or do we want to lead them away To trajectories that don’t lead to trade school or higher education degrees Schools act like they are paid to lead them to the police When it’s supposed to be a safe haven to keep the youth off the streets Expand opportunities increase the chances to succeed Shouldn’t school be focused on how to keep young people engaged and excited to be in their seats? Stop mistaking our pride for reasons to collide us with suspensions, infractions eventually leading to police We are attempting to dismantle the school to prison pipeline Restorative practices instead of going to court to testify Why my child deserves to be at school Why does it seem like only the students of color are always breaking the school rules
Is it willful defiance or a term disguised as a way to label black and brown kids? That engage in school determined behavior infractions Exile them Profile them Initiate wrap sheets cause they speak in a way you may not understand Demenors may not be what you deem appropriate but school learning should be cultural so teachers can comprehend Who their students are and the environment they are living in What students have to go through when they go home and live through before they can make it back to school again. Have you taken out the time to comprehend The life experiences of the children you are teaching and how your experience greatly differs from them. We have to remember school can empower or be a major hindrance Is your school pushing towards prison or the most beautiful existence This difference is we fighting for educational justice Trust us We won’t stop until we get our babies free Educational liberation means we have to fight for what we believe You can’t suspend the truth out of our youth and you can’t expel a generation that’s meant to prevail We demand an education where we can be more than our ancestors wildest dreams We want to go to school and truly be free Can somebody explain to me? Why! we try to go to school As soon as we enter the class the teacher says, “Bye-bye, we’re not getting paid enough, why should I Care for kids who don’t care for self? That’s just one less person of color We have to worry about getting wealth.” Can somebody explain to me? Why! Our young sista’s being suspended disproportionately? Hands bounds with zip ties for throwing a tantrum, Kicked out of zoom for sending messages. Pipe down black girl; you’re too domineering! Push out; harshly disciplined; over criminalized. Schools not meant for a black girl to shine.
Is it willful defiance or a term disguised as a way to label black and brown kids? That engage in school determined behavior infractions Exile them Profile them Initiate wrap sheets cause they speak in a way you may not understand Demenors may not be what you deem appropriate but school learning should be cultural so teachers can comprehend Who their students are and the environment they are living in What students have to go through when they go home and live through before they can make it back to school again. Have you taken out the time to comprehend The life experiences of the children you are teaching and how your experience greatly differs from them. We have to remember school can empower or be a major hindrance Is your school pushing towards prison or the most beautiful existence This difference is we fighting for educational justice Trust us We won’t stop until we get our babies free Educational liberation means we have to fight for what we believe You can’t suspend the truth out of our youth and you can’t expel a generation that’s meant to prevail We demand an education where we can be more than our ancestors wildest dreams We want to go to school and truly be free Can somebody explain to me? Why! we try to go to school As soon as we enter the class the teacher says, “Bye-bye, we’re not getting paid enough, why should I Care for kids who don’t care for self? That’s just one less person of color We have to worry about getting wealth.” Can somebody explain to me? Why! Our young sista’s being suspended disproportionately? Hands bounds with zip ties for throwing a tantrum, Kicked out of zoom for sending messages. Pipe down black girl; you’re too domineering! Push out; harshly disciplined; over criminalized. Schools not meant for a black girl to shine.
Can somebody explain to me? Why! all my beautiful Black and brown faces, Sitting in the courtrooms over classrooms. Juvenile offenders, minors, underage, Facing life rather than graduating. Something is wrong with this country’s education? We’re losing our babies, Perpetuating racism in a system That is supposed to be set up for us to win. If parents don’t send their kids to school, They criminalize them. It’s clear to me Education is not for liberation; It’s for disciplining Can somebody explain to me? Why! Officer on campus arresting teens, Place the minors in custody, Body slamming youth to prove inferiority. It’s a shame we live in a nation, That doesn’t invest in education. Can somebody explain to me, WHY? Being black in school is a crime. My skin ain’t willful defiance, It’s just a dirty trap used, To keep us stuck in the School-to-prison pipeline.