Brian Webb: Affirmative Compassion

We walk across a broken line to find
A broken life, maybe a broken heart
A broken soul where nothing is the rest
But I think this is where we usually talk best

Here is a struggle for a black man
The painful scar of an oppressed past
But here is a struggle for this white man
To endure his natural backlash

Well it ain't a sin not to understand
Its only a sin if I don't try
But then I go and darken the face of a racist
So I can scream, "man it ain't just my side"
you must be sick of it and tired of it
Try to love me in spite of it
Oh Lord could it be
That there is so much more to setting free
Oh Lord I've got love in me
But there is much, much more to setting free

Here is a rich white man who can't see his greed
Screaming, "I hire who I... Well please, not me
No I am far from racist it just happens
all of my clients seem trust white faces

But I can't respect a brother, or any other
who claims himself martyred
Looking at me like owe something to you
Ok, I do

But you know I got more love and more hope
Its just frustrating brother
If you're getting a job just because you're black
We're not getting passed your color
You must be sick of it, and tired of it
But try to love me in spit of it

Oh Lord could it be
That there is so much more to setting free
Oh Lord I've got love in me
But there is much, much more to setting free

Now I am not a rich white man
and maybe I am blessed for that
But I am not a black man
and I have never been oppressed like that
So I can sit here and let my thoughts unfurl
Nice and freely in my poor white world
Freely praying for compassion
while 10 million white women thank affirmative action

So throw your hands up, and people stand up
Go on and love me, and don't let up
Throw your hands up, and people stand up
Go on love me and don't you let up

Oh Lord could it be
That there is so much more to setting free
Oh Lord I've got love in me
But there is much, much more to setting free