22nd Street

you said you'd never go past 22nd street
"it's dangerous" you said
even though you've never been
and you can't understand the train conductors
but i'm not sure i understand you now
and your racism may be a product of your history
but your ignorance is all your own
and you look like an asshole when you wear your privilege on your sleeve
and i'm willing to bet you're not as broke as you make yourself out to be
if you don't like it here you can just go back to new jersey
tell your friends how dangerous it is past 22nd street
you said the families were moving out of your part of town
it was kind of cool to have your friends around
but now families are moving back
and you are so glad to see that
and i was so glad to hear you say
that you look like an asshole when you wear your privilege on your sleeve
and just because i live here doesn't mean that this neighborhood belongs to me
every restaurant or record shop or vegan food co-op
doesn't mean that we're progressing in a positive way
and if we are not cautious we will forget what it means
to be conscious of the kind of change that we make
and if you don't like it here you can just go back to new jersey
tell your friends how dangerous it is past 22nd street