THE DISCONNECT (Interlude)

Bell Hooks, in her book, The Will to Change

Recounted an experience that she heard from many men

Albeit in different ways, and she writes on their behalf (Black)

"Again and again, a man will tell me about

Early childhood feelings of emotional exuberance

Of unrepressed joy (Boys)

And then a rupture happened (Don't)

Somehow the test of manhood, men told me

Was the willingness to accept this loss (Cry)

With that pressure, he can't just exist"

I can't find no serenity in this whole city

Man'll step on you like gravel till your soul's gritty

Now my heart's a little colder than it's supposed to be

Look at what these motherfuckers done exposed to me

Finna riddle holes in them 'cause there's holes in me

Blood spilling on the crip, my inner soles sticky

Now my heart's a little colder than it's supposed to be

You reaping what you sow, ****, this is how it go ****, whoa

Black boys, black boys don't cry

(Black boys don't cry)

Black boys, black boys don't cry

(Black boys don't)

Patriarchal masculinity is in all ways and forms

Destructive to both women and to men as well

It leads them to anger

The only emotion that has been championed since they were children

He gives into the severance of his former self

Because violence and anger, that is what men respect

This is the disconnect