Clearly, this is about Racism and civil rights.
the lyrics are hardly senseless.
they took pride in their clothes, but got sprayed with fire hoses during "riots."
"keep your nose tho the grindstone,...will that redeem us?" is saying: If we work hard for what we want, will we get it, and will people respect us?
or, the other side of the story:
i cant wait till my fro is full grown etc, knock the jockeys off the lawns etc is probably the violent black panther-esque aspect of the civil rights movement
Clearly, this is about Racism and civil rights. the lyrics are hardly senseless. they took pride in their clothes, but got sprayed with fire hoses during "riots." "keep your nose tho the grindstone,...will that redeem us?" is saying: If we work hard for what we want, will we get it, and will people respect us? or, the other side of the story: i cant wait till my fro is full grown etc, knock the jockeys off the lawns etc is probably the violent black panther-esque aspect of the civil rights movement
probably on of his most heavy-hitting songs