My teachers were there....they were there they were there
They heard the cries for freedom and they saw the blood shed
They were there...they were there
They marched on Washington
Those elementary teachers of mine
And they told us about it
Time after time after...time
Time has changed since then, and i'm glad for that because my teachers showed me how hard
they had to fight...for this...

They told us the stories with tears in their eyes, they sang us the hymns and the taught us the lines
They showed us the videos...
Of men being attacked by dogs and scalded by the pressure of water from fire hoses
Women brutally pulled away from the scene, screams ripped from their lungs
Guns are not far off and burning crosses are not far behind them
Bricks through windows and bombs through basements
To kill little girls that did nothing but go to church
I saw the videos...I saw their victories
Saw their hurts

So at night I hurt
That is what got me here
In West Compton, relatively safe
THAT is what got me here.

What is stopping them from wanting to take everything back?
What is keeping them from coming here?
Will they come through my window?
Will they burn me alive?
Will I cry for freedom too?

My teachers taught me how to fight
For what I believe are my rights
They also taught me to stay awake at night
And how to fear.