At approximately 12:40 a.m., on February 4, 1999, a young man named Amadou Diallo was entering the vestibule of his apartment and was confronted by four New York City Police Department in plain-clothes. The police officers claimed he was identified as a rape suspect that happened a year prior. Diallo was reaching for his wallet to show the officers his identification when the officers began shooting. A total of 41 shots were fired and 19 stuck Diallo and killed him. The four officers were charged with second-degree murder only to be acquitted at a trial in Albany, New York.

During Bruce Springsteen's 1999-2000 reunion tour the band premiered the song "American Skin (41 Shots), at a concert in Atlanta, GA. The lyrics of this song are a timeless tragedy happening to black and brown men and women across this country.

Imagine Diallo's mother having to walk through the vestibule to enter his apartment to retrieve his belongings. Then imagine seeing the same thing happen to more and more innocent people since 1999. The words in this song ring true today just like they did twenty years ago.

American Skin (41 Shots) by Bruce Springsteen:

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots, and we'll take that ride

Across this bloody river to the other side

41 shots, they cut through the night

You're kneeling over his body in the vestibule

Praying for his life

Is it a gun?

Is it a knife?

Is it a wallet?

This is your life

It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)

It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)

Ain't no secret my friend

You can get killed just for living in your American skin

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots, Lena gets her son ready for school

She says now on these streets Charles

You got to understand the rules

Promise me if an officer stops you'll always be polite

Never ever run away and promise mama you'll keep your hands in sight

Cause is it a gun?

Is it a knife?

Is it a wallet?

This is your life

It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)

It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)

No secret my friend

You can get killed just for living in your American skin

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots

Is it a gun?

Is it a knife?

Is it a wallet?

This is your life

It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)

It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)

It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)

41 shots and we'll take that ride

Across this bloody river to the other side

41 shots my boots caked in mud

We're baptized in these waters and in each other's blood

Is it a gun?

Is it a knife?

Is it a wallet?

This is your life

It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)

It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)

No secret my friend

You can get killed just for living in

You can get killed just for living in

You can get killed just for living in

Your American skin

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots

41 shots

Springsteen's final concert on this tour was in Madison Square Garden, a ten-show run, the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association called for a boycott of the shows. It was played there is a live version, the Live In New York City album. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=american+skin&docid=608023968491966074&mid=9A9BA7C6326179E8E5909A9BA7C6326179E8E590&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

In 2012, he sang the song on his Wrecking Ball tour, and in Limerick, Ireland, he said before the song, "I want to send this one out as a letter back home. For justice for Trayvon Martin."

Rock and Roll and the Civil Rights Movement go back as far as the 1950s. In January 1957, Elvis Presley sang the gospel song, "Peace In The Valley." On the Ed Sullivan Show. Elvis was involved in raising money and awareness for Hungarian relief, in the wake of the Hungarian revolution which had been crushed by the Soviets.

When the Beatles landed in America and was told they had to play in segregated venues, they refused and put in all contract's segregation was not allowed when they performed. The Rolling Stones followed suit and the music was appreciated by all Americans no matter the color of their skin.

Some bands and songs keep the memory of an injustice alive for example, Rage Against The Machine's song, Killing In The Name, compares the Rodney King beating to that of the Ku Klux Klan. Bruce Hornsby's, The Way It Is, represents the muse of wealthy Americans living the high life speeding past others as he addressed that the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964. Marvin Gaye's, What's Goin' On, represents the violence that occurred in at Berkeley over the Vietnam War protests. And of course, it would not be complete without Stevie Wonder's, Living For The City, a tale of a young black countryman moving into the big city and finding the racial hardships did not change with location.

I applaud the musical talents of these performers and their ability to raise the social conscience, but how nice would it be if one day these songs are not relevant to our current society.