The Coup-Underdogs Explained.

  Boots Riley possible means that "they" meaning the government would tear their house down if they really loved you.  But in reality, the government would rather oppress us rather than help us.  For example when Riley says, "Somebody's getting strangled by the systems and its tentacles Misconceptions raise questions to be solved."  The system that was made by the government does not really help the poor.  People on welfare are still struggling in debt.  However the government may have money for different things such as war.  The underdog in this poem is the people who are struggling in the working class.  They are also the people without jobs struggling to pay bills etc.  When Riley says ,"This is for my folkers who never lived like a hog, Me and you, toe to toe, I got love for the underdog." The "hogs" may be also known as the rich, since they have so much money, they are a hog.  Riley agrees that he has come from the same roots as the "underdogs".  What stands out to me in this poem is how relatable it is.  I grew up in Oakland, and I witnessed some of my friends go through this struggle.  For example, they would not have enough money to even get a bus ride because of insufficient funds.  Even some of my family members struggled to pay their bills while residing in Oakland.   Overall a very relatable poem that shows the true side of our government and how they are not willing to solve the problem of national poverty.