Author Information
Product of my Environment
I’m a product of my environment an offspring of my hood,
A “thuggish” like white boy that is constantly misunderstood.
Getting judged by my appearance and never given a fair chance,
Just because I wear my hat leaned and big shirts and baggy pants.
Ridiculed by black people saying I’m trying to be black,
Judgmental white people just stick up their nose and turn their backs.
Everyday I seen hustlin, cats just trying to make money any way they can,
Then there was the little dudes who wanted to prove they were a man.
Little drug runners, did all the dirty work,
So when something went down they was the one’s getting hurt.
Block parties and dog fights, police cars and flashing lights,
They always ended the same way, broken up by the end of the night.
Been through some drive-bye’s and was shot at once before,
It still ain’t the best hood, but it ain’t that bad no more.
The street life wasn’t fun, had to take my piece and grind,
Neva was the worst kid, but I had my little time.
But now I am older and have a better understanding of things,
But it doesn’t change the fact that a lot of people still judge me.
If they could look past my leaned hat and baggy clothes and give me a chance
to show it, well then-
Then they would see that this “thuggish” white boy is really just a poet-
A product of my environment.
Michael C. Lucas
