This was hard for me since I am not prejudiced against police, and I know that this applies to a small, but significant fraction of the nation’s law enforcement. Its in response to the slaying of Terrence Crutcher in Oklahoma, but it could apply to the many other cases of unarmed black men (and children) being killed under circumstances where a white man most likely would not have been.
For this I have borrowed from an old sea shanty: Way, Haul Away, Haul Away Joe.
When I was a little lad
Or so my daddy told ta me
Way, shoot away, well, shoot away boys
That colored folks were scary bad
His hatred took a-holt-a me
Shoot away boys
Now that I’m a copper man
You see the badge I’m wearin
Way, shoot away, well, shoot away boys
If you cross me, shoot I can
It’s me you should be fearin
Shoot away boys
Now that I’m a copper man
No more will you be scarin
Way, shoot away, well, shoot away boys
I’d sure shoot you, if you ran
They’d free me in the hearin
Shoot away boys
9/21/16
I read this as if it had a little tune to it – very eerie and powerful.