Poet Describes The Frightening 'Adrenaline Rush' That Comes With Being Black

"It must be nice to feel so safe you have to invent new ways to put yourself in danger,"

That's how Rudy Fransisco describes the frustration of being black and constantly at risk in his poem "Adrenaline Rush." Fransisco, who performed the poem last month at a Button Poetry Live event, explains how people of color don't have to look far to know how it feels to live in danger.

"Being black is one of the most extreme sports in America," he said. "We don't need to invent new ways of risking our lives the old ones have been working for decades."

In the poem, Fransisco recounts the first time an officer pulled him over when he was just 18-years-old.

"He asks for my license, registration, wants to know what I'm doing in this neighborhood, if the car is stolen, if I have any drugs," Fransisco says repeating the officer's line of questioning.

Fransisco describes the sensation of fear, risk and danger of his experience with the officer before he delivers the final mic drop of the performance.

"I have an adrenaline rush every time a police officer drives past without pulling me over."

Well said sir.

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