Artist: Gil Scott-Heron
Album:  Small Talk at 125th and Lenox
Song:   Evolution (and Flashback)
Typed by: AZ Lyrics

In 1600 I was a darkie
Until 1865, a slave
In 1900 I was a nigga
Or at least, that was my name

In 1960 I was a negro
And then brother Malcolm came along
And then some nigga shot Malcolm down
But the bitter truth lives on

Martin is dead
With Martin as our leader
We prayed, and marched
And marched, and prayed
Things were changing
Things were getting better
But things were not together

With Malcolm as our leader
We learned
And thought
And thought we had learned
Things were better
Things were changing
But things were not together

And now it is your turn
We are tired of praying, and marching, and thinking, and learning
Brothers wanna start cutting, and shooting, and stealing, and burning
You are three hundred years ahead in equality
But next summer may be too late
To look back

In 1600 I was a darkie
And until 1865 a slave
In 1900 I was a nigga
Or at least that was my name

In 1960 I was a negro
And then Malcolm came along
Yes, but some nigga shot Malcolm down
Though the bitter truth lives on

Well now I am a black man
And though I still go second class
Where as once I wanted the white man's love
Now he can kiss my ass