Janelle Monáe

Day 23 of #BlackHistoryMonth Black Theory:

Janelle Monáe

“Return whole, my children, your eyes a constellation of stars. Full of the knowledge that I love you, that we are what we carry—the years, the nights, and the seconds, and all the spaces in between. It flows through us, flows from within us. This love cannot be stopped. It grows—and it must be free. The time to dream is a sacred thing, Trell. It heals, lifts us up. Ola, every child, not just my own, needs it. Our world demands it. You’ve got to dream a future before you can build a future. Together, let us begin this dreaming awake.” The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer

“how every inch of life’s purpose was to find love, freedom, and your people. To embrace your own weirdness and other folks’ wildness.” The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer

“Now they cast their votes 'cause the people wanna speak

And they checking their balance 'cause the people wanna eat

What they do process 'cause they seek equality

And we pay for the world so the people in the streets

And they love America, where the people wanna be

And they all know their rights from the sea to shiny sea

From the sticks to the ghettos, yeah the people gonna sea

That the people hold the power and together we're a little bit stronger

Ah, we the people, we the people

The people getting stronger” Stronger

“Let me help you in here

Until women can get equal pay for equal work

This is not my America

Until same gender loving people can be who they are

This is not my America

Until black people can come home from a police stop without being shot in the head

This is not my America

Until poor whites can get a shot at being successful

This is not my America

I can't hear nobody talkin' to me

Just love me baby, love me for who I am

Fallen angels singing, "clap your hands"

Don't try to take my country, I will defend my land

I'm not crazy, baby, naw

I'm American (love me baby)

I'm American (love me for who I am)

Until Latinos and Latinas don't have to run from walls

This is not my America

But I tell you today that the devil is a liar

Because it's gon' be my America before it's all over

Please sign your name on the dotted line” Americans

“But I'm asking you will you stay with me

In this land where we are free

And I know it's rough

And you've had enough

But one day we'll be happy

And when I look into the future I see danger in its eyes

Hearts of hatred rule the land while love is left aside

Killing plagues the citizens while music slowly dies

I get frightened, I

See, I get frightened, I...

Oh how, oh how I need you baby

To keep me from going crazy

I really need you baby

Need you to stay

Oh how, oh how I love you baby

These people are so crazy

I really need you baby

Need you to stay

She's quick to fight

For her man but not her rights

Even though it's 3005

When will we end this genocide?

And that's not right

Her children cry

No food to eat and afraid as flies

The color black means it's time to die

And nobody questions why

Cause they're too scared to stop the man

But I'm asking you will you stay with me

In this land where we are free

And I know it's rough

And you've had enough

But one day we'll be happy

When I look into the future

I see danger in its eyes

Babies die before they're born

And no one ever smiles

The writers and the artists, all are paid to tell us lies

To keep us locked inside, they keep us locked inside” Locked Inside

“Hey Mr. President,

Tomorrow I’m paying my rent

My Fuel is runnin’ low

And I’ve got places to go

Quit slowin’ me down

Can we talk about the education of our children?

A book is worth more than a bomb any day

And remember a mirror to Africa

Who will bring the cure before it’s too late.

Don’t you see the hurt in their eyes?

So much disappointment in many faces

Use your heart and not your pride

We can’t go on and keep pretending

Please Mr. President

Where’s all the money you spent,

Food is fallin low

And they have nowhere to go,

Quit slowin me down.

I ask you to have mercy on us father,

You think we know the rules by now,

We can’t go starting wars with hearts of hatred

Out nations greed won’t make it better

Or quiet the fears in our hearts

Don’t you see the hurt in their eyes?

So much Disappointment in all of their faces

Use your heart and not your pride

We can’t go on and keep pretending

O please Mr. President

Dear Mr. President

I hope you got the letter I sent

A Dollar only goes so far

And we need help here, no matter who we are

See we come from different worlds and different places

Until there’s one great land, one nation under god,

Times are getting harder and we need you to be like Moses

And lead your people through

Please be careful, Be Careful” Mr President

Links:

Lyrics -

https://www.azlyrics.com/j/janellemone.html

Music -

https://www.youtube.com/JanelleMonae

Book -

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/66758062/download-free-pdf-the-memory-librarian-by-janelle-monae