Keith Jones and I have a lot in common. Both Black both have CP, both are activists and into Hip-Hop. We also both have been targets of racial/disabled profiling at hotels Keith in ATL & Leroy in Oakland. Now we went into studios and recorded a song, Disabled Profiled, about our experiences of being profiled as Black disabled men. Keith on the beats, raps and mixed it and Leroy spits his poetry. More to come. Another edited version of this song is on the Krip-Hop/5th Battalion Ent's cd, Broken Bodies PBP, Police Brutality Profiling Mixtape that came out 2012 Keith Jones was profiled in ATL at a hotel in which he was staying at for a Krip--Hop event. He was using the computer and the guard thought he was homeless that led to Keith who had to prove that he was staying there. And peeps know about my experiences in the Bay Area and in NY where I was approached by NYPD and a store manager that said "I was making them nervous!"
Lyrics here:
Disabled Profiled (Song Keith & Leroy)
Leroy:
Yeah I’m a Black man
Known about racially profiled
Two Black hotel workers
Same race but in my face
Disabled profiled
Making assumptions upon appearances
Blocking the entrance
Can’t be race because we are both Black
Black Disabled Man
Must be a drunk
Slur speech drugging feet
Must be begging for money
Disabled profiled
Making assumptions upon appearances
Blocking the entrance
Can’t be race because we are both Black
Must protect others from this bum
Got to do my job
I summed him up from across the street
Poor cripple homeless beggar
Confused, disabled and black
The fear builds
As he approaches
Looking at him like he’s a roach
Firing out questions upon questions
No not racially but disabled profiled
Here in the home of ED Roberts
Disabled profiled
Making assumptions upon appearances
Blocking the entrance
Can’t be race because we are both Black
Mocking my walk
Didn’t read my tense body talk
Friends saw my anger,
“Mr. We’re together!”
Disabled Profiled
And I’m tired
Twice in one week
Its not race it happened from Black & White
Disabled Profiled
And I’m tired
Twice in one week
Its not race it happened from Black & White
Disabled Profiled
And I’m tired
Disabled Profiled
And I’m tired
I’m so tired
Keith:
The wheelchair got no diamond in da back and no sun roof top but I still run da scene wit a disability lean nah what I mean and every day dat im speakin and try to reach ‘em cause they be lookin at me tryin to profile the black man talking bout what happen to you damn see there was not no gun shot matter of fact I have my own kind of plot I have to run da block shut down because ya tryin to hold me down laughin at the way that I talk the way that I walk the way that I speak but ya girl likes da way that I freak ya betta get it right man understand cp is only part of da man I got something for the rest of yall listen something for the best of yall ya betta sit back and try to contemplate can you really demonstrate what it takes to create somehin kinda great in the face of hate ….
Leroy:
Hey Keith just like you
I was triggered last week
Memories floating back
Makes this grown man weep
Paul Dunbar’s mask didn’t hold up
Felt like I was shot no bulletproof vest
Two days ago & I still can’t rest
Memories coming back
Woowooowoo “up against the wall
Hahaha are you drunk can’t walk?”
“No officer I’m disabled
Just coming home from work!”
“What what can’t understand?”
I was triggered last week
Memories floating back
Makes this grown man weep
Beep beep
“Mr. You is out late
Can I see your I’d?”
Why me
Don’t feel like being a teacher
Please just let me be
Black man in a uniform
Sees me as a threat
Or a charity case
Can’t look at me in my face
His mind is made up
Looking for my tin cup
I was triggered last week
Memories floating back
Makes this grown man weep
By Leroy Moore & Keith Jones
Yes this is a true story!
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