Incarceration Nation

On American streets the war on drugs is a war on the poor. WARNING: The N word is in this poem so if you're so politically correct you can't stand to see that word used in any context just move along.

When American Nation means incarceration 

for young black men on drug convictions 

When Habeas Corpus means you're fucked n****r

barrel to his head with justice on the trigger

All he had on him was twenty of rock 

throw him in a cage and slam down the lock 

Got hit with a five year felony sentence

so now his family has to pay his penance 

Sons see their fathers behind plexiglass

Daughters with no daddies in the poverty class

Grandma's raising baby with no mama around 

floor of a crack house is where she was found 

Police on the street like an occupying force

with racial profiling as a matter of course 

Where you can get searched for wearing a hoodie 

When cops come at you like a school yard bully 

Throw you to the ground and kick you around

Stuck you in a holding cell somewhere downtown 

White knight politicians they don't want to know

Their war on drugs is a war on the poor

It's an epic failure bleeding a generation 

The flower of youth for incarceration nation 

Author's Note

Have you ever noticed the county jail is fairly often the biggest building in town? What the fuck is up with that?

Reviews

[Vidya Bacchus]

Harsh realities my friend.

[Baby Ricochet]

thank you Vidya

[Vidya Bacchus]

You are welcome :)

[Blue]

Frank and straightforward. Daring, too! You exposed us to the truth of what's happening in society. Clap, clap!

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Arzel

[MsJewel]

Raw and honest, your words are powerful BR. I've seen racial profiling in my line of work and it is all too real. I volunteer in shelters and help the families of these individuals that are incarcerated. Do they deserve to be locked up - some do - some perhaps not. It is a sad world where a teenager falls victim to dealing drugs for his gang because his older brothers and father did the same. I could go on and on, but I won't - instead I want to thank you for writing poetry like this - It is "real".
:) Julie

[Baby Ricochet]

Mandatory drug sentencing did nothing to stem the tide of drugs flowing into the United States, locked up nonviolent offenders for years over piddly s**t, overcrowded the prison system and left many young men with "x con " tattooed on their forehead making a difficult life worse. It's a lot of injustice in the name of justice.

[Robbie~xoxo~]

WOW! This is truly powerful... a serious peek into the drug world and it's victims (the youth)... the turmoil infused drug war is the downfall of society...

Riveting write, Baby! xx

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Robbie. It's nice to hear from you.

[#SecretWriter]

This piece is so powerful and I feel like so many people I know don't even know what the habeus corpus is or how important it is. This is brilliantly written, the rhythm and the flow. Its important to take a stand with your writing and say what so many people don't see, or don't wish to see. Racial profiling is such an issue because I think some people don't even realise they're doing it, some are ignorant to it and some live in nicer areas where they don't have to worry about it. So well done on bringing this issue into the forefront of some people's minds and on a great piece

[Baby Ricochet]

Thanks for stopping by secretwriter. I appreciate it

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Telling, raw and holds no punches, a dwelling for all thought and sadness really, well done, good read.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Thomas

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Your welcome x

[Raymond Federle]

Awesome write BR. Harsh and raw. Well done! :)

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Raymond

[Tai Ryens]

The prison system in America is ridiculous; it's no wonder why Norway's system is far more effective! In America, they sentence you to years, decades even, to punishment and a world entirely isolated from society as it is: then suddenly they toss you out of there, a stamp that might as well say "Don't hire me!," no education, and no knowledge of how the world has changed since your incarceration. They're labeled, shunned, and with nothing to fall back on, it's no wonder why freed outlaws often turn back to the life of crime to make a living.
(Not to mention that many present-day banks now have stakes in the private prison system, that continues to flourish, more so because of this supposed "War on Drugs!" proving that the prison system is being manipulated for money)
It's all so maddeningly sickening, and you couldn't have presented it better. You speak the truth, Baby R.

[Baby Ricochet]

That's for sure. Thank you Tai

[Pryde Foltz]

It's an epic failure bleeding a generation
The flower of youth for incarceration nation

Certainly not making things any better for anyone. Great, great write. Who knew you could rap?

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you pryde. I've been watching slam poets on YouTube.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and the ones who really should be in jail most often are the richest segment of society...but then money talks, and the dirty white folk walk.

[Baby Ricochet]

Yes they do. Who went down for the 2008 economic meltdown? No one