Angie, the point of this song is the exact opposite of what the song is saying. Its pointing out the fact that an individuals struggle to be himself and overcome is pulled down. Not in particular to us but them. The people who are against you and me. Black Maybe, is a statement that comes from a view point of us not changing, not striving for better futures. Each verse is an individual situation that we all know all too well. The fact is that what we show to each other, and the way treat each other has become a staple of being black. So he's saying that you being you is black,maybe...why, because what is known is what is being excepted,maybe...u not being the regular black man or woman, isn't black maybe...We have the choice to except what we live with or change our future,maybe...You become an outkast because you aren't "them", or you can be you and live free,maybe...

Listen to the original song by Syreeta and Stevie Wonder it will give you a better idea of why he chose this song....Peace

one of the most underrated mc and person out there!!!! never heard anything negative about common!!!!

I love this song CHI-Town stand up love u common

Man, I love this song. The melody is so lovely and Common comes with it. This is "That One"! Oh, one more thing, Kanye get's a big hi-five for this beat

t o o , d o p e .

You know what I always thought something was backwards about this song too Angie but I couldn't quite put my finger on what exactly it was even though I knew I didn't really agree with the message I wasn't sure how I'd reiterate it to someone if they asked me what was wierd about the song.Anyway nice point and I agree even about Common he's good still (well Kanye's production fits him nicely anyway) but he's not I used to love H.E.R. good,just good(which is better than the majority of artist today).

I cant get enough of rthis. Common is like...THE rapper for deep, meaningful songs.

@ Angie B, He used to love you too........ aka
I used to love her..........

Ok am I supposed to hate the world now and hate who I am? Of course Common would say differently... Am I supposed to go to work tomorrow with another layer of defenses like this is how the world is and no change is happenin? Get off the cliff and do somethin... I used to love him, meanin Common.... I just find it hard when they come off with this ish, cause he might have moved past it but what message is this really saying?

This is like a "We Oppressed, talk shit and validate" and "Yeah, it ain't the same, but why keep the spark going before it happens?" "Struggle of just being us".

Why repeat the chorus, who is this toward? I'm sorry, I've had enough of this justification. This is Now, go out there and prove them and yourself differently, why do I want to listen to a song and this is how I need to map out what I can do in life? Of course, I'm not White, but you can't say this to people. This is not Motivating, this is not Positive towards Goals and Life, this is not how to be an Example, this is Justification and telling those who don't think this way that they can try, but it won't work.

Man, this is 09! Stop it, please. If you know what the hell you are doing, you put in the time and better yourself, you don't need to rely on music like this to justify what you know is not the wrong thing.

On the other hand, if you are hustlin in the RIGHT way, don't have to look behind your back and doing it and come against obstacles, just keep doing you and don't think like this. This is so backwards. Like I said earlier... I used to Love Common...

Dope Kidd.