We, the Brother and Sister Authors, free our Black minds for the past, present and future. We choose to write our stories to show who we really are with our voices high and our pens in our hands. We shall come forth as one to show others what we were built for, as we strive to break down the barriers from the unjust and unloving societies. With respect for each other and for our Blackness, we are all equal when we pick up our pens. While taking pride in every word, we will leave behind an imprint with every pen stroke.
Friday, June 17, 2016
Thursday, June 16, 2016
“But surely to tell these tall tales and others like them would be to spread the myth, the wicked lie, that the past is always tense and the future, perfect.” -Zadie Smith (White Teeth)
“As long as we are not ourselves, we will try to be what other people are.” -Malidoma Patrice Somé (Of Water and the Spirit)
“When you know your name, you should hang on to it, for unless it is noted down and remembered, it will die when you do.” -Toni Morrison (Song of Solomon)
“As long as we are not ourselves, we will try to be what other people are.” -Malidoma Patrice Somé (Of Water and the Spirit)
“When you know your name, you should hang on to it, for unless it is noted down and remembered, it will die when you do.” -Toni Morrison (Song of Solomon)
“If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.” -Maya Angelou (The Heart of a Woman)
“Oppressive language does more than represent violence; it is violence; does more than represent the limits of knowledge; it limits knowledge.” -Toni Morrison (Nobel lecture, 1993)
“Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.” -James Baldwin (No Name in the Street)
WELCOME TO THE BLACK YOUTH WRITE! BLOG SPACE
The 2016 Black Youth Write! (BYW) is a literacy program for Black adolescent boys and girls who are between the ages of 12-17 years old. The BYW literacy program is aimed at advancing intellect, identity development and literacy proficiency of youth while focusing on reading and writing about Black protest movements from the 1800s to #BlackLivesMatter. Youth will understand what it means to write for social change and create awareness about critical issues affecting their lives through the study of history and Black activist writers of the past and present. We will read rich African American literature and think about their own identities and positions for improving the conditions for humanity. Each session will focus on writing for activism, advocacy and social change. The instructor is Dr. Gholdy Muhammad. She is a writing teacher, researcher and professor at Georgia State University. Her research focuses on the literacy development of African American youth. She will engage the youth in learning that will help to advance their writing, identity, and critical thinking. Specifically, youth will:
− Learn about the histories and identities of Black activists
− Engage in resistance forms of writing
− Understand wider purposes for writing
− Study genres of writing through model mentor texts
− Have visits from authors who are activists
− Engage in political discussions of social ills
− Engage in debate about urgent issues affecting Black lives
− Learn about the histories and identities of Black activists
− Engage in resistance forms of writing
− Understand wider purposes for writing
− Study genres of writing through model mentor texts
− Have visits from authors who are activists
− Engage in political discussions of social ills
− Engage in debate about urgent issues affecting Black lives
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