Black or White

I took my baby on a saturday bang
Boy is that girl with you
Yes we’re one and the same
Now I believe in miracles
And a miracle has happened tonight
But if you’re thinkin’ about my baby
It don’t matter if you’re black or white

They print my message in the Saturday Sun
I had to tell them I ain’t second to none
And I told about equality
And it’s true either you’re wrong or you’re right
But if you’re thinkin’ about my baby
It don’t matter if you’re black or white

I am tired of this devil
I am tired of this stuff
I am tired of this business
Sew when the going gets rough
I ain’t scared of your brother
I ain’t scared of no sheets
I ain’t scared of nobody
Girl, when the goin’ gets mean

(Rap)
Protection for gangs, clubs, and nations
Causing grief in human relations
It’s a turf war on a global scale
I’d rather hear both sides of the tale
See, it’s not about races just places, faces
Where your blood comes from
Is where your space is
I’ve seen the bright get duller
I’m not gonna spend my life being a color

Don’t tell me you agree with me
When I saw you kicking dirt in my eye
But, if you’re thinkin’ about my baby
It don’t matter if you’re black or white

I said if you’re thinkin’ about my baby
It don’t matter if you’re black or white
I said if you’re thinkin’ of being my baby
It don’t matter if you’re black or white

I said if you’re thinkin’ of being my brother
It don’t matter if you’re black or white

Alright, alright
Ooh ooh, alright
Yeah, yeah, yeah, now
Alright, alright
Ooh, ooh, sure ‘mon
Yeah, yeah, yeah, now
Alright

It’s black, it’s white
It’s tough for you to get by
Yeah, yeah, yeah
It’s black, it’s white
It’s black, it’s white
It’s tough for you to get by
It’s black it’s white

{Song written by Michael Jackson & Bill Bottrell, 1991}

Catatan Bhayu M.H.: Agak berbeda dari biasanya, pada hari Sabtu ini saya tidak memuat puisi melainkan lagu. Mengenang Michael Jackson alias Mikaeel yang wafat kemarin, hari ini saya tampilkan lirik lagu “Black or White” yang dirilis dalam album Dangerous tahun 1991. Meski memiliki beat cepat dan riang, sesungguhnya makna lagu ini dalam. Michael mengangkat persoalan rasisme yang kerap mengemuka dan berbagai perbedaan yang menyebabkan manusia berseteru. Ia mengharapkan agar manusia bisa bersatu tanpa memandang segala perbedaan seperti warna kulit. Seperti halnya cinta yang muncul saat kita memandang seorang bayi yang suci.