"I Believe": My Response to Charlottesville & Modern Day Racism
I DON'T USUALLY DO THIS.
I don’t often talk about the painful things I see in the news or on social media, because… well… it’s painful. But, this weekend I couldn’t keep myself from dialoguing with some people I trust and enjoy. It was no longer about me and my pain, but about our reality and what’s going on in our nation right now.
Most of my conversations this past weekend were about modern day hateful racism and how it’s hurtful to know that it still exists. After seeing what happened in Charlottesville, it's even more hurtful to know that many have failed to acknowledge or be aware of the fact that racism still affects others... until now.
So, to be honest with my friends and listeners on social media: my heart hurts to still see the the hate in our world unmasking itself and my thoughts seem to be endless, but one thing that has been getting me through is my divine hope for change.
That’s why I’m sharing this right now.
I don’t have any solutions or slants to sell you. And I’m DEFINITELY not trying to make anyone feel guilty... I just believe that like a detox, our nation’s impurities are coming to the surface and we’re having to face the reality of what’s been going on for many years now. But, with every detox there is good news: once those impurities come to the surface, we can truly face what’s on the inside of ourselves and take the next best steps to be healthy like we should have been all along.
To all those who have been feeling heavy hearted from the hateful events that have been breaking out in our society, I stand with you. Even more, I’m praying for all of us and believe that there’s going to be a change. I encourage you to not give into the doubts and to believe with me. God hasn’t turned a blind eye to us and all that’s happening.
With all this reflection I’ve been doing, I sat down and couldn't help but write a song. It's my truth. It's where I stand in the midst of all this turmoil.
I don’t usually release songs (so raw and in demo form) before they’re fully recorded, but I think that for such a time as this… I want to share. I love you all.
Keep the faith.
xO - Martay
Lyrics:
I BELIEVE
by Martay
My momma told me, don’t be afraid baby
Guard your heart from what they say baby
cause we all made the same way baby
one day you gon’ be the change
And if you knew her, you’d feel it too
right down on in your roots
make you bow down, praise the Truth
force hate to wanna change it’s rules
I believe, that a change is happening
dripping down the veins of eternity
it’s neither black or white, wrong or right
I know, that no matter our color, our souls
are aching just to be known
We’re better together, one day we’ll know
What many don’t know, I've felt it too
cut me right down at the root
that hate that pierced my truth
made me want to go change my tune
only 4 words, that beat me down
Got me feeling less cause I’m brown
made me change the way I walked around
made me wanna go leave this town
But momma told me, don’t be afraid baby
Guard your heart from what they say baby
cause we all made the same baby
one day we gon’ see a change
And if you knew her, you’d feel it too
right down on in your roots
make you bow down, praise the truth
force hate to wanna change it’s rules
I believe, that a change is happening
dripping down the veins of eternity
it’s neither black or white, wrong or right
I know, that no matter our color, our souls
are aching just to be known
We’re better together, one day we’ll know
no matter our color, it’s red we bleed
no matter our color, it’s air we breathe
no matter our color, it’s love we need
no matter our color, it's you and me
I believe, that a change is happening
dripping down the veins of eternity
it’s neither black or white, wrong or right
I know, that no matter our color, our souls
are aching just to be known
We’re better together, one day we’ll know