When I heard that Troy Davis got his 4th execution date, this one scheduled for Wednesday September 21, I was as shocked and upset. Anyone with any knowledge of this case knows the only reason Troy Davis is on death row is because the probable killer gave the police his name and they manufactured a case because one white police officer was killed. But what could I do about it?

I wanted to do a song but I knew I had to move fast cause time is short, so I came up with the idea to use the beat from the  classic Hip-Hop song by Pete Rock and CL Smooth “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” dedicated to another Troy, Heavy D’s dancer Trouble T-Roy, may he rest in peace. So during my weekend flight from Oakland CA to Pittsburgh PA I studied the case and wrote the song.

Since we started our New Media Academy (teaching African-American boys how to interpret and create media), I knew shooting the video wouldn’t be a problem, but this was the first video where our students actually participated in the shooting and directing of the video (you see some of our students at the end of the video). I thought this was very significant because it gave them a deeper understanding of the perils of being a young black man in this society.

My only hope is the video, I Am Troy Davis (T.R.O.Y.) helps to bring even more attention to this injustice. Executing Troy Davis in the face of 7 out of 9 witnesses recanting their testimony and no physical evidence is barbaric, but it will happen if we chose not to get involved.

Take action by going to:

http://www.naacp.org/pages/too-much-doubt

http://www.colorofchange.org/campaign/save-troy-davis-life/

http://blog.amnestyusa.org/deathpenalty/dont-let-georgia-kill-troy-davis/

Sign a petition, send a tweet, post on facebook, or organize an event.

Just do something

LYRICS
Does the court system employ racists?
Then why are so many black boys in cages?
Why shouldn’t I be paranoid of hatred?
Just look at the curious case of Troy Davis
Let travel on down to savannah
In the state of Georgia just south of Atlanta
Where they wave the rebel flag like a bandanna
Hung our ancestors then posed for the camera
A white police officer was shot and killed
Over and argument he tried stop and heal
And here’s where the plot gets real
The main suspect blamed Troy went to the cops and squealed
And with no physical evidence or weapon
Troy was arrested for a 187
He said he was innocent man was a when he was questioned
But they said that he did it who needs a damn confession
They just need is a witness they can press to cry
Tell em what to say or they arrest the guy
Then Put em on the stand and make em testify
Swear to god to tell the truth and do they best to lie
And they did so troy was found guilty
Sent to death row by police so filthy
Even though his innocence is true
We pray they don’t reminisce over you

But the truth always comes to light
And Troy Davis didn’t give up the fight
He kept filing appeals until it was reveled
The state of Georgia wants an an innocent man killed
That’s why a who’s who wants him out
cause there’s just too much doubt
And witness after witness came forward and admitted
the only reason they did it cause the police insisted
so wicked so vicious
The system’s broke so fixed
2 decades no Christmas
Execution dates 4 listed
get organized show resistance
go online sign those petitions
Black Americans know the difference
It’s a new day but the same old lynchings
I am Troy Davis
families destroyed be cases
why can’t we avoid the Matrix
instead of giving his children toys to play with
he’s waiting his execution hoping the court stays it
I’m praying and doing
we need action we need movement
cause his innocence is true
I pray they don’t reminisce over you

Related Posts with Thumbnails