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"White Folks Walk Their Dogs" by Truth Thomas

Updated: Jul 20

White Folks Walk Their Dogs

(after Gil Scott Heron)

Gentrification done bit my brother Phil

As White folks walk their dogs

His property taxes began to swell

And White folks walk their dogs

Can’t get no money to shake my hand

And White folks walk their dogs

‘Cause east of the river is a Bantustan

While White folks walk their dogs

Another Black child fell in a grave

As White folks walk their dogs

He tripped up on the murder rate

But white folks walk their dogs

On U Street now, tanning beds grow

Since White folks walk their dogs

Will they spoon one in Ben’s Chili Bowl

‘Cause White folks walk their dogs?

Ain’t no heat in my baby’s school

As White folks walk their dogs

Her classroom is a trap house view

And White folks walk their dogs

Got ethnic cleansing in Barry Farm

Developers say that they mean no harm

Tell torn down blocks we can all come back

And as if that ain’t a leash to crap

Gentrification done bit my brother Phil

As White folks walk their dogs

His property taxes began to swell

And White folks walk their dogs

Bike lanes matter and running shoes

And White folks walking privilege, too

Statehood must be coming soon

‘Cause White folks walk their dogs


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2024


Truth Thomas is a singer-songwriter, poet, and photographer born in Knoxville, Tennessee and raised in the sacred DMV. An NAACP Image Award-winner, he is the Inaugural Poet Laureate of Howard County, Maryland.


(Photo: Cherry Thomas)



 

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