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Somebody Lied to Us

They told us selling drugs was the way to go.

Get money and share with your boys,

you spread unity.

What they didn’t tell us

was that we’d be killing our community.

They told us to stay strapped.

Keep that hammer on your side,

And if you see an opp you better ride.

They told us get down with a gang

no matter red or blue,

Stay loyal to your gang

they will stay loyal to you.

They told us religion is not for us

so fuck church on Sundays.

If we do go with Nana it’s back to thuggin on Mondays.

They told us a lot of stuff

we believed it.

Now I think enough is enough.

I’m no longer listening cause somebody lied to us.

📬

These stories arrive by mail.

Every month, a physical envelope arrives at your door, postmarked from San Quentin Village, California. Inside, you will find original artwork, writing, and recipes from real contributors, along with a personal letter from me, Diane Kahn, founder of Humans of San Quentin, about the people who made them. You read it. You keep it.

Every piece comes from someone serving a sentence. Every piece reminds you they are so much more than that.

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