Switching Between Gangsters

The inspiration for this Joint is the fact that blacks in America have to play many different roles. From talking slang with their friends, to talking professional in the corporate world. The man that says "What up homie?" is the same man that says, "Good afternoon sir, how are you today?" I'm making an everyday occurance known to others...Enjoy...


So I wake up & think, "Should I dress up, or dress cool? Should I be suave or be perceived as a mindless fool? Today I don't care, I'll just throw on the do-rag wit a fitted and sweats, but the kicks gotta be clean, that's why my forces are scuff-less." On my way to class, it's a frigid morning, wondering the weather for later, cuz the gray clouds I see now tells me it may be storming. It's about 7:15 in the AM, class starts in fifteen, but who do I run into on the way, that racist Justine. Now she won't admit it, "I have a lot of black friends! I love 50 Cent too, 'What Up Gangsta' is my jam!" I hate this girl but I play the polite demeanor, cuz if I act how I feel Lord knows it will displease her. I get enough of her jokes & I grin just to make her think I find them funny, deep down I wanna pimp slap her & ask her, "Where's my money?!?!" Now I'm no woman beater, but I should be paid for putting up with this shit, she even has something racist to say when she's putting on lipstick. "Did you know those nice Negroes used to jump in the ocean & catch the sharks for the white men so they could make this lovely product?" ….I should have let her say that to a Black Panther & laugh after he shot her. As if that wasn't enough she had another joke behind that…"What's the difference between a black man & a large pizza?" Me being falsely interested, I ask, "I don't know what?" She says, "Well, both can be bought but only one can feed a family of four! HAHAHA!" She tickled herself pink, I can't even think, if murder was a limit, well now I'm at my brink. I say I gotta run or I'll be late for class, she says, "Ok, I understand you go on & practice!" I'm perplexed…"What do you mean, 'practice'?" She replies, "Well I know you blacks have to stay in shape, you never know when you have to run from a cop when he scans your stolen car's license plate!" I just sprint as fast as I can before I incur a murder rap. If I said that to her she'd prolly reference music & have a joke for that. Class is not interesting... maybe it's cuz it's 8:20 in the morning & I'm one of four in the room. I get startled when behind me I hear a "boom". One of my classmates fell asleep & fell out of his desk, funny...but not that funny, so I digress. 10:20 now, time to head to work, but first I have to change this tee shirt. Barnes & Nobles is not an interesting job; it's just books & stuff, good thing I love to read otherwise I'd be bored as fuck. Oh wow, there she is…Pauletta. I noticed her the first moment she entered the store about two weeks ago. She is beautiful, long hair, nice teeth, & a great body. The only snag is she's white. I know that it's 2007 & people are more accepting of it, but that makes me no difference. There are still people who would kill both of us in an instant. Nah, she will be my unrequited love, my inspirational muse, she will be the reason I am the best to another woman cuz I can't be it for her. Besides, I can't be thinking about girls anyway, I got an interview tomorrow for an office position….

Next morning…

Which suit should I wear? I'm liking the dark navy blue with a navy blue tie & a shirt that's pear, I may be worrying too much but I know they'll care. Gotta run can't be late for an interview, that's a very bad impression, & even if I get the job that may be a factor which causes limitation to my progression. I walk erect, when I shake his hand I look him the eye as a sign of respect. I keep my shoulders relaxed, fidgeting is not present, I'm not nervous here I get it. We banter back & forth, then we get to business, he wants to know what I can offer this place, & what would motivate him to hire me so he could see more of my face. I go into the spiel, given him all the good qualities I'm able to wield. This job is pivotal to me. I would be permanently avoiding the home violence, the gunshots, the hookers, the teen mothers with no fathers to help, this is that shit no person should ever have felt. Unfortunately I did not get the position, so I go home saddened by the results, as I walk to the door you can guess who pops up with another one of her insults…
"You look nice in your suit!" She says. I'm waiting for it though…"I didn't know apes cleaned up so well!" There it is…I wanna dump her pale ass off the side of a building for that & tell her "You're white! You'll be iight!" Instead I just walk past her, I ain't got time for racist pranksters, she'll never understand I was switching between gangsters...

***I have never worked @ a Barnes & Noble nor is there a girl named Pauletta, this one is based on experiences blacks face, part of it is me, the other parts are imaginary but it's based on true events.***

**Fueled by passion, driven by pain before I die the world will know my name**

- JioVanni