My deadly birthmark

[Applause]

my birth mark could kill me one day

that might sound strange considering

what we know about birthmarks

birthmarks are common and usually

harmless

they could be vascular or pigmented

some type of birthmarks can be removed

through medication

lasers or surgery

my birthmark is different

it is hereditary and can’t be removed

it’s not a disease and it’s not always

lethal

it limits mobility it contributes

to depression i

have a higher risk of dying young

than people without this birthmark

it has also gotten me in trouble with

the police

that’s because i have the same birthmark

as george floyd

brianna taylor

ahmad aubry

elijah mcclain

and jacob blake and 13

of the u.s population

i understand the sudden urge

to resist arrest

to escape to feel guilty

even when i haven’t done anything wrong

to know that if i were killed

it would mean much less than if a white

man were killed

i’m not an activist i just can’t stay

silent any longer

sometimes it’s easier for people to hear

song lyrics so that’s one way i’ve

learned to use my voice

going forward i’ll use my words even

more effectively

i want my brothers and sisters of color

to learn how to stay calm in moments of

conflict

and give themselves time

to think through the issue

don’t be afraid to say no to unlawful

demands

get educated on your rights and exercise

them

i want white people to know that if i

look evil

then you have something inside you

that needs to be addressed

i’m a father a son

a brother a hard worker

and an artist who was just spiritually

mentally and emotionally

exhausted

someone who just wants to go for a jog

someone who just wants to be the

protagonist sometimes

someone who just wants to go home at

night

and give everything i have to my family

so they could have the things i’ve never

had

our lives mattering should not

be a trending topic

mattering is the minimum

i’m glad i’m here and i’m educating

myself

so i could use my platform in my voice

i hope these steps

make my son’s generation feel empowered

and fearless and loved

so that someday not long from now

they’ll be walking

and running and even jogging

in their own neighborhood safely thank

you

one two three

four

[Music]

i’ll go by the name of c valente

[Music]

i’ve been trying to find peace another

man down that’s the reason why this

piece is in my hand now

identify the killer is it that clown

staring back

at me wearing that smile i bet it is

said he loved you than his knife winning

your rib

teddy died for you but praying you don’t

live steady ain’t it to build but build

his own ship

now he’s selling the waters you dread on

another honest mistake you dead wrong

i’m placing all of the blame you did

wrong you know that feeling you feel

like when you can’t move

taking nails even though you can’t

afford to lose thinking if only you

could afford new shoes

but trust me it’s the soul that’s what

gets you through

that’s what gets you

that’s what gets you cool

i have evan taylor on the trumpet

zach novak on the base

michael collins on the drums

dave cress balls on the guitar

[Music]

and i go by the name of si valente

america

don’t you love me

say hello

america don’t you love me

uh

[Music]

america don’t you love me

say it loud i can’t hear you over the

crowd

say it loud they can’t hear you over the

sound of

our children women and men shot down cuz

they black or brown tears from the

innocent tend to drown you out

are you feeling ambivalent to what we

need now

are you witnessing do you see it now

are you listening america

don’t you love me

say it loud i can’t hear you over the

crowd

[Music]

say it loud i can’t hear you over the

sound of

[Music]

baby screaming cause they daddy got

surrounded

by white supremacists with a badge

that’s mounted

shouting shot him down to the ground

with

seven at his back like he was kaepernick

now we can’t take any pull through jacob

please

america

what don’t you see are you blinded

like lady liberty have you cried yet

alone in agony i have

actually

america don’t you love me

say it loud i can’t hear you over the

crowd

say it loud i can’t hear you over the

sound of

america

america do you love me

say it loud

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

america don’t you love me

say it loud can’t hear you over

[Music]

are you witnessing what you see now are

you listening

america

do you like me

[Music]

i can’t hear you

[Music]

america don’t you love me

[Music]

say it loud i can’t hear you over the

crowd

say it louder can’t hear you over the

sound of

america

you