Father Figure
A lot can be said
About the disappearing acts
Of some fathers in today’s households
When the only male role models
Some see on a regular basis
Are handcuffed in the back of a cop car
A lot can be said
About the fact that young men
Are more celebrated
When they’ve served their term in prison
Than those who have served
Four school terms in college
Some don’t even know that
There is more out there
Than petty crimes and incarceration
A lot can be said
About today’s youth
When more desire street knowledge
Than academic knowledge
We wonder why there’s not
More professionals in some of our communities
When the opportunity for success
Is available for all
Who aspire for greatness
If only our young brothers
Could see that there were people
Who are just like them
In high places throughout corporate America
If only young boys had father figures
To show them how to be
Productive young men
The ceiling over so many young lives
Would be completely torn down
And they would finally
Be able to reach for those stars in the sky.
