We People Who Are Darker Than Blue

We people who are darker than blue
Don't let us hang around this town
And let what others say come true
We're just good for nothing they all figure
A boyish grown up shiftless jigger
Now we can't hardly stand for that
Or is that really where it's at?

We people who are darker than blue
This ain't no time for segregating
I'm talking 'bout brown and yellow too
High yellow girl can't you tell
I'm just the surface of our dark deep well
If your mind could really see
You'd know your color same as me,
Pardon me, brother, as you stand in your glory
I know you won't mind if I tell the whole story

Now I know we have great respect for the sister, and mother
It's even better yet
But there's the joker in the street loving one brother and killing the other
When the time comes and we are really free
There'll be no brothers left to see

We people who are darker than blue
Don't let us hang around this town
And let what others say come true
We're just good for nothing they all figure
A boyish grown up shiftless jigger
Now we can't hardly stand for that
Or is that really where it's at?

Curtis Mayfield, 1970