The 2016 Black Youth Write! (BYW) is a program 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. Participating youth read rich African American literature and think about their own identities and positions for improving the conditions for humanity.
I never understood The difference between me and you Black,White But we are also one Too Me and you are the same Live in the same instance Same space and time Thriving
I never understood I see you as a brother You see me as an annoyance I strive to be equal You want to be superior When I speak of my trouble It ends in quarrels
I never understood You tell me I’m an animal Not worth your time I say we are the same We should flow like rhymes
I never understood You want to be a master in control But there is one thing that you should know With all my soul I refuse to be inferior Understand?
You see me as an annoyance You see me of lesser standard You want me out of the picture like I just don't matter You wanna throw me out like yesterdays garbage want me "back where I belong" But I be long here I deserve the same opportunity I had to fight to get where You were blessed with at birth So just remember to consider that the next time you treat me like I'm nothing
Double Burden, by Sister Author 1 Being Black. Being poor. Together double burden. You blame me for being poor. When I am ten times venerable to be so. I am a little black boy. What can I do? My father works in a society where he is first fired last hired. My mother has to struggle just to make the ends meet. I am a little black boy. What can I do? Did you forget that I have dreams too?
Sister Author 15 Dreams (No Feeling) Smile and Truely be happy Hurt for all the right reasons For all that I know and love to be worry free No Hurt, No Pain, No Feeling I dream this for all eternity
Being black doesn't make me poor Being poor doesn't make me a irresponsible black But that's the part that some people will never get This 21st century views struggling as '' Oh they don't have a job'' or '' they not getting paid for their job.'' But the true definition of struggling is a strive to achieve or attain something in the face of difficulty or resistance Being black does make you strong, but Being black and struggling makes you a hard working individual who will never break down no matter how many obstacles you will experience.
Everywhere I look And the places I go I see black people No mo' I see black skin But ... No black sin Whites want to be our identical twin But ... Have you been? Has your kin Been taken away because of your skin But ... They could never be black Never copy our melanin Go ahead and play your tiny violin Dwelling in your tiny violin But ... In this social weigh-in They will always have leeway But ... Will never win
Steel by Brother Author 16 Inspired by Paul Lawrence Dunbar "Sympathy" “Let me out!” I bang my wings against my enemy. Remaining steadfast” Banging… against… Steel “Help me…” Nope peering upon the darkness I see cages and more cages… and more cages… Steel I look at the window Their happiness flies I can’t… I can’t take flight… And I won’t take flight… Cause I can’t take flight… Still… Cause of… Steel
Darkness by Brother Author 2 Darkness, Darkness, Darkness, i have put up with you too long. Tired of weaping it feel like im wrong. Tolerating this is no me. Darknss is troubling to see. Im looking up on my knees, crying to my master please help me please. Darkness, Darkness, Darkness, i have put up with thias too long, Tired of weaping it feel like im wrong
Exposed by Sister Author 7 Exposed Never closed Disposed like day old mold Behold! No longer exposed If I might have implode Unfold the many layers Untold
Power is amazing Power can bring people together But it can be evil and rip people apart Forever It can create your identity And tell you how your stories should Be told But it can give You strength and wealth And the courage to be bold
Being human now is precious, so bright and free Humanity in the past, abuse use torture hate But why judge a brother or sister by every move they make ? Humanity, Black Brown White in all the intersections But why judge a brother or sister by their unique complexion ? Be the change maker Encourage, your sister Now, not when future becomes the past Be the change today Day maker Essence of being human
Gun Violence weeping tears, eliciting fears Gun Violence creating endangered risk that is why black men are nine times more likely to be murder by a police bullet so we must be stead fast with the fist or else pain will let you abide in silence how is it that we are 2% of the population and 15% of all deaths by murder by killer police? ALL I HERE IS SILENCE so end the gun violence
It takes a lot when you take risks It could be anything I mean anything ! Risks is another level. You would have to have "CONFIDENCE" ! That's were its at... Be that one to make sacrifices Be that bigger person Be the one to thing positive while doing these things At the end of the day its worth it. Take a risk
Black is only a color by Sister Author 10 Black is only a color. Each race is unique We should say to each other No you say White is supreme Black is terrifying right? But I think your lying We are all connected to the world For all boys and for all girls No you say I could shoot you right now And STAY safe Because we ARE SUPREMEE No I say Maybe now But in the future you will see And then you will wish that you had Listened to me
THERE IS MORE TO THIS WORLD THEN BLACK AND WHITE WE HAVE MORE RACES IN THE WORLD SOME MORE BEAUIFUL OPEN YOUR SELFISH EYES PEOPLE WE HAVE UNIQUE COLORS
You brought us here against our will You beat us killed us chained us broke us apart took our parents away took our youth You enslaved us! And now you want us gone? Erased Removed from our place? We did nothing wrong You wouldn't have your Crops Cotton Your buildings or anything else Because we built it So no We aren't going ANYWHERE We will live free We will Fight for our rights We will Succeed And there is nothing you can do to stop us Or drive us out Because We Are America
Peeking through a small hole,where nobody seems to hear my cry Hating myself for something I didn't do Beating myself, worrying why I can't get out I'm Strangled I'm Stuck My brain is tighting, worrying if I would die if I tried to make one buck I'm Strangled I'm Stuck No one seems to understand The pain I cry in every hand Set me free, let me be I'm Strangled I'm Stuck
In my heart I see nothing As I watch it I se nothing No movement Not strong Not healthy My heart is like a piece of steel that can't be moved As I watch and watch I still get nothing As I say to myself I wish I get some type of love I want to see something I never seen before As I hear a little voice going in circles around me As it says what haven't you heard before I have never seen a heart beat because of the lack of love
Word: LOVE Sista Author 14 Love is the key to every piece. It puts life together as one. Without love , how would we have peace? How would the new people in our world? Ask yourself... Would we be here without love?
Eyes are Available for a Reason by Brother Author 2 I stoped and gazed, on what the world is coming to. A world that doesn't care for us, but my people do We have suffered in societies and civilizations, wait my people can feel your negative vibrations. We appeal to be free, yet that one moment you claim were free, you stand us up badly like an tree.
World, by Brother Author 12 A planet is solid made of thousands of things A world is solid and imaginative made of infinite things A world is what you live in Who you live with Your living conditions If only I could determine mine
Sister Author 15 Judgement Call If not judged by the color of ones skin, Judged by who they love Life that you are trying to live judged by equal who thinks they're above.
Sister Author 1 Equal Is it a crime to be equal? Is it my destiny to suffer double the pain? I hold to a string of hope, believing that one day we will be the same Black, White. Is a hue that defines me I am human, I am equal Why don't we break the chain? together we are the same
Sister Author 14 Kidnapping ALERT, ALERT, ALERT!!! Black young girl snatch... Wait, you didn't know? ALERT, ALERT, ALERT!!! White young girl snatched.. Oh, never mind, you're already aware Why would the race of a missing child matter??
AMBER ALERT AMBER ALERT AMBER HAS BEEN SNATCHED MOTHERS ARE GOING CRAZY OVER THERE DAUGHTERS THEN THEY FIGURE OUT A YOUNG BLACK AMBER HAS BEEN SNATCHED THEY DON'T CARE THEN THEY FIURE OUT A YOUNG WHITE AMBER HAD BEEN SNATCHED THEY GO ON A MISSION LOOKING FOR HER
Steel by Brother Author 12 Inspired by Paul Lawrence Dunbar "Sympathy" “Let me out!” I bang my wings against my enemy. Remaining steadfast Banging… against… Steel “Help me…” Nope peering upon the darkness I see cages and more cages… and more cages… Steel I look at the window Their happiness flies I can’t… I can’t take flight… And I won’t take flight… Cause I can’t take flight… Still… Cause of… Steel
Equality by Brother Author 16
ReplyDeleteI never understood
The difference between me and you
Black,White
But we are also one
Too
Me and you are the same
Live in the same instance
Same space and time
Thriving
I never understood
I see you as a brother
You see me as an annoyance
I strive to be equal
You want to be superior
When I speak of my trouble
It ends in quarrels
I never understood
You tell me I’m an animal
Not worth your time
I say we are the same
We should flow like rhymes
I never understood
You want to be a master in control
But there is one thing that you should know
With all my soul
I refuse to be inferior
Understand?
Annoyance
DeleteYou see me as an annoyance
You see me of lesser standard
You want me out of the picture
like I just don't matter
You wanna throw me out like
yesterdays garbage
want me "back where I belong"
But I be long here
I deserve the same opportunity
I had to fight to get where
You were blessed with at birth
So just remember to consider that
the next time you treat me like I'm nothing
Double Burden, by Sister Author 1
ReplyDeleteBeing Black.
Being poor.
Together double burden.
You blame me for being poor.
When I am ten times venerable to be so.
I am a little black boy. What can I do?
My father works in a society where he is first fired last hired.
My mother has to struggle just to make the ends meet.
I am a little black boy. What can I do?
Did you forget that I have dreams too?
Sister Author 15
DeleteDreams (No Feeling)
Smile and Truely be happy
Hurt for all the right reasons For all that I know and love to be worry free
No Hurt, No Pain, No Feeling
I dream this for all eternity
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteStruggle Sister Author 3
DeleteBeing black doesn't make me poor
Being poor doesn't make me a irresponsible black
But that's the part that some people will never get
This 21st century views struggling as '' Oh they don't have a job'' or '' they not getting paid for their job.''
But the true definition of struggling is a strive to achieve or attain something in the face of difficulty or resistance
Being black does make you strong, but Being black and struggling makes you a hard working individual who will never break down no matter how many obstacles you will experience.
Appropriation by Sister Author 7
ReplyDeleteEverywhere I look
And the places I go
I see black people
No mo'
I see black skin
But ...
No black sin
Whites want to be our identical twin
But ...
Have you been?
Has your kin
Been taken away because of your skin
But ...
They could never be black
Never copy our melanin
Go ahead and play your tiny violin
Dwelling in your tiny violin
But ...
In this social weigh-in
They will always have leeway
But ...
Will never win
Social Weigh-in by Sister Author #6
DeleteMy naturally tanned skin copycatted by a skeleton living lies.
Day by day trying to sympathize her none thick thighs.
No surgery can over come our natural beauty in any way.
Them Kylie Jenner lips PUHHHHHHHH I was born with it
Steel by Brother Author 16
ReplyDeleteInspired by Paul Lawrence Dunbar "Sympathy"
“Let me out!”
I bang my wings against my enemy.
Remaining steadfast”
Banging…
against…
Steel
“Help me…”
Nope
peering upon the darkness
I see cages
and more cages…
and more cages…
Steel
I look at the window
Their happiness flies
I can’t…
I can’t take flight…
And I won’t take flight…
Cause I can’t take flight…
Still…
Cause of…
Steel
Darkness by Brother Author 2
DeleteDarkness, Darkness, Darkness, i have put up with you too long.
Tired of weaping it feel like im wrong.
Tolerating this is no me. Darknss is troubling to see.
Im looking up on my knees, crying to my master please help me please.
Darkness, Darkness, Darkness, i have put up with thias too long, Tired of weaping it feel like im wrong
Asked for it ? by Sister Author #6
ReplyDeleteBecause my legs are exposed does does that make me a ho?
Does that mean I want to be attacked by the corner store?
why Uncle Buck? Why? Why did you pluck my cherry pie?
Ididnt want it ! I swear!
I was forced having NO will and now im stuck with the devils deal.
A child I didnt want to be mine or shared with a horrific lifeline.
So I ask... Did Iask for it?
Exposed by Sister Author 7
DeleteExposed
Never closed
Disposed like day old mold
Behold!
No longer exposed
If I might have implode
Unfold the many layers
Untold
LANGUAGE IS THE TOOL OF THE EMPIRE
ReplyDeleteSISTER AUTHOR 5
LANGUAGE IS POWER
POWER IS CONTROL
CONTROL IS GOVERNMENT
GOVERNMENT IS CONTROL
CONTROL IS POWER
POWER IS LANGUAGE
LANGUAGE IS POWER
Power is amazing
DeletePower can bring people together
But it can be evil and rip people apart
Forever
It can create your identity
And tell you how your stories should
Be told
But it can give
You strength and wealth
And the courage to be bold
Day Maker By: Sister Author 8
ReplyDeleteBeing human now is precious, so bright and free
Humanity in the past,
abuse
use
torture
hate
But why judge a brother or sister by every move they make ?
Humanity,
Black
Brown
White
in all the intersections
But why judge a brother or sister by their unique complexion ?
Be the change maker
Encourage, your sister
Now, not when future becomes the past
Be the change today
Day maker
Essence of being human
free by: sister author9
Deleteunrestricted African American's.
Gun Violence...Silence By:Sister Author 9
ReplyDeleteGun Violence
weeping tears, eliciting fears
Gun Violence
creating endangered risk
that is why black men are nine times more likely
to be murder by a police bullet
so we must be stead fast with the fist
or else pain will let you abide
in silence
how is it that we are 2% of the population
and 15% of all deaths by murder by killer police?
ALL I HERE IS SILENCE
so end the gun violence
Risk By: Sister Author 8
DeleteIt takes a lot when you take risks
It could be anything
I mean anything !
Risks is another level.
You would have to have
"CONFIDENCE" !
That's were its at...
Be that one to make sacrifices
Be that bigger person
Be the one to thing positive while doing these things
At the end of the day its worth it.
Take a risk
Black is only a color by Sister Author 10
ReplyDeleteBlack is only a color.
Each race is unique
We should say to each other
No you say
White is supreme
Black is terrifying right?
But I think your lying
We are all connected to the world
For all boys and for all girls
No you say
I could shoot you right now
And STAY safe
Because we ARE SUPREMEE
No I say
Maybe now
But in the future you will see
And then you will wish that you had
Listened to me
unique colors by sister author 5
DeleteTHERE IS MORE TO THIS WORLD THEN
BLACK AND WHITE
WE HAVE MORE RACES IN THE WORLD
SOME MORE BEAUIFUL
OPEN YOUR SELFISH EYES PEOPLE
WE HAVE UNIQUE COLORS
We are America
ReplyDeleteYou brought us here
against our will
You beat us
killed us
chained us
broke us apart
took our parents away
took our youth
You
enslaved
us!
And now you want us gone?
Erased
Removed from our place?
We did nothing wrong
You wouldn't have your
Crops
Cotton
Your buildings or anything else
Because we built it
So no
We aren't going ANYWHERE
We will
live free
We will
Fight for our rights
We will
Succeed
And there is nothing you can do to stop us
Or drive us out
Because
We
Are
America
Will
DeleteYou tried to take my will
I will not let you
You tried too use my will
I will use it too
You took a hammer
Shattered my will
But I will rebuild it
And be here still
Strangled by Sister Author 3
ReplyDeletePeeking through a small hole,where nobody seems to hear my cry
Hating myself for something I didn't do
Beating myself, worrying why I can't get out
I'm Strangled
I'm Stuck
My brain is tighting, worrying if I would die if I tried to make one buck
I'm Strangled
I'm Stuck
No one seems to understand
The pain I cry in every hand
Set me free, let me be
I'm Strangled
I'm Stuck
lack of love by sister author 13
ReplyDeleteIn my heart I see nothing
As I watch it I se nothing
No movement
Not strong
Not healthy
My heart is like a piece of steel that can't be moved
As I watch and watch I still get nothing
As I say to myself I wish I get some type of love
I want to see something I never seen before
As I hear a little voice going in circles around me
As it says what haven't you heard before
I have never seen a heart beat because of the lack of love
Word: LOVE Sista Author 14
DeleteLove is the key to every piece.
It puts life together as one.
Without love , how would we have peace?
How would the new people in our world?
Ask yourself... Would we be here without love?
Eyes are Available for a Reason by Brother Author 2
ReplyDeleteI stoped and gazed, on what the world is coming to. A world that doesn't care for us, but my people do
We have suffered in societies and civilizations, wait my people can feel your negative vibrations.
We appeal to be free, yet that one moment you claim were free, you stand us up badly like an tree.
World, by Brother Author 12
DeleteA planet is solid made of thousands of things
A world is solid and imaginative
made of infinite things
A world is what you live in
Who you live with
Your living conditions
If only I could determine mine
Sister Author 15
ReplyDeleteJudgement Call
If not judged by the color of ones skin,
Judged by who they love
Life that you are trying to live judged by equal who thinks they're above.
Sister Author 1
DeleteEqual
Is it a crime to be equal?
Is it my destiny to suffer double the pain?
I hold to a string of hope, believing that one day we will be the same
Black, White.
Is a hue that defines me
I am human, I am equal
Why don't we break the chain?
together we are the same
Sister Author 14
ReplyDeleteKidnapping
ALERT, ALERT, ALERT!!!
Black young girl snatch...
Wait, you didn't know?
ALERT, ALERT, ALERT!!!
White young girl snatched..
Oh, never mind, you're already aware
Why would the race of a missing child matter??
SISTER AUTHOR 13
DeleteWORD:ALERT
AMBER ALERT AMBER ALERT
AMBER HAS BEEN SNATCHED
MOTHERS ARE GOING CRAZY OVER THERE DAUGHTERS
THEN THEY FIGURE OUT A YOUNG BLACK AMBER HAS BEEN SNATCHED THEY DON'T CARE
THEN THEY FIURE OUT A YOUNG WHITE AMBER HAD BEEN SNATCHED THEY GO ON A MISSION LOOKING FOR HER
Steel by Brother Author 12
ReplyDeleteInspired by Paul Lawrence Dunbar "Sympathy"
“Let me out!”
I bang my wings against my enemy.
Remaining steadfast
Banging…
against…
Steel
“Help me…”
Nope
peering upon the darkness
I see cages
and more cages…
and more cages…
Steel
I look at the window
Their happiness flies
I can’t…
I can’t take flight…
And I won’t take flight…
Cause I can’t take flight…
Still…
Cause of…
Steel