Tugboat Jackson - How Do You Feel Now?

It's fitting that the latest by Tugboat Jackson would be released on Martin Luther King day. As a man of color, he's seen the effects of racial profiling and prejudice against his race,  and others of differing races and creeds, as well as the poor of all races. Tugboats comments:

I talk to lots of folks from bein' in the hardware business for many years. Sometimes when the topic goes to race and such, some people say, "But Tug, things have gotten better, don't you think?" Now I admit, in my younger days that used to get me riled, but some are insulated from things still going on, some want to just dismiss it and not talk about it, some think that because it's better means people need to quit bitchin'. Better is better. Can't accept that as the final answer when I know we can do more. I'll never see the day when people look at me and see just a man, instead of a black man. And that goes for anyone, whether black or white, skinny or fat. Whatever your physical appearance is what you're going to be recognized as. Whether that will change, if it's even possible to change because it's human nature, is the issue. Maybe if we all acknowledge we do it, and come to terms with it, understand that we should work hard not to categorize people from a first impression, is the way to go. But I'm just a blues singer. You wanna know what I think, listen to my songs.

Yes indeed. 'Tug' has a lot to say, and we at Big And Tall Records are lucky to have him as one of our artists!

How do you feel now, honored sir? 

Tell me, how you feel now, honored sir? 

Now that you've put 'nother brother in stir? 

 

Made yourself feel better, your honor? 

Bet you made yourself feel better, your honor? 

Throwin' an immigrant family asunder! 

 

Don't get me wrong, person should pay 

For skirtin' a law get his way 

But why should the color of their skin 

Make a difference, any way? 

 

 Just look at who's in jail, 

The ones who can't make bail, 

Many times the same old song, 

Got a skin color that's wrong. 

 

Did you do a good thing, patrolling the street? 

Did a real good thing, patrolling the street? 

Man with a badge, watching your beat? 

 

 Arrested a man, didn’t give him slack. 

Arrested a man didn’t give him slack. 

He had the nerve to walk the street while black! 

 

 Don't get me wrong, not just the ones of color,

 Get ill treated, but you'll discover 

Proportionally, you got to be careful 

Make sure you keep a good cover.

 

 Just look at who they've got it in for 

The black, the brown, and the poor, 

But the ones who get to walk away 

Are the rich, who don't have to pay.