ourselves to blame

I heard you tryin to holla
claimed to be a "balla"
said that you could rhyme
asked me for the time
that you could take me out
make me shout
and writhe about
so you could grind one out

and your game was slick
your wit kinda quick
country slang so thick
makin me sick
ooo, baby, I'm feelin it

I let you step to me
get up next to me
ride it out, find out
what it's gon be
wait and see
patiently
could you connect with me
show respect for me

but you tryin to rush
and do it on the hush
not even afraid to push
too used to that shit cush
you're up the wrong tree
cause that ain't me
couldn't let you turn me out
that easily

too tired of listenin
to disin brothas whistlin
and see sistas spreadin
I know where it's headin
with this indiscriminate copulating
we're all overpopulating
the ghetto-
we don't know
how to even care for ourselves

too many of us don't care
livin off welfare
get vouchers from WIC
pray our babies don't get sick
but can you blame us
with the way ya'll shame us?
leavin or creepin
worst of all beatin
perpetuating cycles of disfunction
and instability
all the while ignoring the spread of HIV

still you refuse
to lose
this machismo attitude
maybe show a little gratitude
to the Almighty
for the life He
allows you to waste
in all your haste
to make a buck
get a quick fuck

and the big question
of the oppression
being brought down by "the man"
when will we
accept responsibility
for the part we play
each day
in shaping our own existence?

it's not about a black-white thing
just doin the right thing
steppin up
instead of givin in
letting the images portrayed on tv
define me
change who I am?
what a sham
more like a shame
and we've only got ourselves to blame