this is one of countless
stories of Black & Indigenous
survival

our legacy to resist, our legacy to exist

this is post-apocalyptic
our world has ended so many times
it keeps burning
we keep fire fighting genocide
for 500+ plus years of a pandemic here
i'm realizing it's a cycle and it's very clear
masked up like Zapatistas
for the land is life
if we don't find a balance then trust me, we won't survive
old ways die for the young ones to thrive
it comes back around though
we're learning from the tribes
of Suquamish, Duwamish, Tulalip, and Muckleshoot nations
Puyallup, Makah, Snoqualmie, and Chehalis
there's too many to name but all who fight colonization
Northwest Coast off the Sea they called Salish
shouts to Calina for holding on to the language
and every elder who was kidnapped but managed
to envision what you'd make generations ahead
with culture as a weapon
this is how i was led

a Black immigrant's son, i know our freedom is one
with Indigenous liberation right here we are from
different circles and ceremony and ways we hold on
you burn sage, we roast coffee, they both keep me calm
a Black immigrant's son, i know our freedom is one
with Indigenous liberation right here we are from
the opposite end of the same officer's gun
our legacy to resist, our legacy to exist

Black Panthers and AIM both taught us how to fight
Fort Lawton occupation, United of All Tribes
free breakfast for the kids in the morning when the sunrise
a free clinic for the Central and the Southside
that came together when our elders got organized
we take for granted the gains they made when they unified
they gave us Daybreak Star and El Centro de la Raza
remember when you sipping coffee sitting in that plaza
this was land reclamation just a generation ago
so many paid a toll, and they had greater goals
there was war in our city and most just don't know
imperfect as it was they laid some groundwork to grow from
so learn some mistakes, before you try to say you starting
what was already in motion
connect with your folks
this is a very old visionary struggle for home
and not a single one of us are gonna make it alone

a Black immigrant's son, i know our freedom is one
with Indigenous liberation right here we are from
different circles and ceremony and ways we hold on
you burn sage, we roast coffee, they both keep me calm
a Black immigrant's son, i know our freedom is one
with Indigenous liberation right here we are from
the opposite end of the same officer's gun
our legacy to resist, our legacy to exist

our legacy to connect, our legacy to persist

our legacy to resist, our legacy to exist