Small town 1993
Two kids different sides of the street
Jus' laughing and playing games
They didn't know one day they'd share a name
They grew up headed off to school
A Couple years came back to jump the broom
But things got tense when they couldn't get
The pretty house with the white picket fence
But don't you know that where he came from they don't have those things?
It took him long enough to save up just to buy that ring
She hears him singing, no one knows the trouble that I've seen
She grew up in a happy home, he had to make it own his own as a black male

Is it something that we do to ourselves?
Blackmail, blackmail
Blackmail, blackmail

She seemed a little nervous on the way home
Got a lost no signal on the phone
When he realizes where they are
He's thinking maybe she should drive the car
Lights start flashing red and blue
She's afraid he's thinking nothing new
She says: Sir, what did we do?
He says: It has nothing to do with you
They put a call out for a suspect that looks just like him
Around his height, around his weight, and he's got darker skin
Sir, I need you out the car, I'm calling backup in
She looks up, I could see her eyes
Another tear, but I ain't surprised cause I'm a black male, baby

Is it something that we do to ourselves?
Blackmail, blackmail
Just a Black male, Black male

It's hard, I know, and you deal with it everyday
Trust God, be strong, He'll never lead you astray
I'm here for you no matter what comes our way
To be in love, this is the price that we pay

Monday night in the living room
Caught chills when they turned on the news
Missouri full of misery
Had to kiss his wife on the cheek
They'll get over it after a while
He's more concerned about what to tell his child
Don't give into the worldview
Cause either way you didn't choose to be a black male

Is it something that we do to ourselves?
Blackmail, blackmail
Something you don't wanna do to yourself
Blackmail, no, blackmail
Just make sure you're not too hard on yourself
Beautiful Black male, Black male
Black male, Black male