I go to college next year
and I'm scared
to go to a land where my skin attracts hate.
‘America’s racist’, everyone said
yet my heart is set.
 
I picked up my phone yesterday
and I'm scared
ten kids killed in a school shootout
the news read.
‘That could’ve been you’, they said
still better than suffocating to death.
 
Thought about staying home
and I'm scared-
scared of my independence being clipped
away at its bone.
Guns, racism, violence, and bloodshed
‘That’s what you’ll get’, they said.
 
call me crazy for all I care
because I am scared
maybe
I'm walking in to end up dead.
but I’d rather have
that drop of frenzied freedom
than rot away in this jail cell.