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 was walking down the street and saw a group of black people, shouting and holding posters, screaming until their voice grew hoarse. I walked up to them and asked, “What are you doing?” A young man with a shiny bald head said, “We are fighting for are rights,” while an old lady screamed, “We are changing what society thinks of us!!!” I ask the shiny bald head guy, “Is it a problem?” His brown eyes turned sharp, and his mouth twisted into a frown. “Of course it is,” he shouted. “We are still human!!” Then I walked over to a group of white people who were shaking their heads at the group of black people and shouting back at them. And I asked them, “What are you doing?” “Those group of black monkeys over there are trying to get there rights when they don`t deserve them, and we are against it,” an old white lady spat at me. “Is it a problem?” I ask. “Of course,” she yelled. “Those monkeys aren’t even human!!” I am a mixed girl, and I didn`t know which side to take. Both sides have guided me through my life. How could I choose one over the other? Back then I was 12, young, foolish and dumb. And even though I am 23, I still remember it like it was yesterday, and I still feel the butterflies in my stomach. The question still pounding in my head, a voice asking me over and over, is it a problem?
Everyone knows it. When you grow up your choosing shall begin. “Oliver come here.” My mom calls from the kitchen. I walk in trying to stay relaxed but I can’t keep my hands from shaking. I don’t know what my mom looks like. Everyone is blank before you get chosen. After you do get chosen, then you start to see. I sit down on a chair trying to look naive and innocent. But I and she both know what’s coming. The biggest decision of my life that is in no way determined by me. She nods at me without saying a word and beckons for me to follow. We walk with everyone else to the town square. I glance at some other kids and some are as nervous as me. We reach the center of the town and the ceremony begins. Tribal music surrounds the area while people cast their votes. It’s my turn but I can hardly move. My mom gives me a nudge and I walk in front of everybody. I give a nervous smile and receive no smiles in return. “You are now of age. Let judgement begin.” Everyone echoes. They pass around votes to each other and after long silence the elder steps up and clears his throat. “Oliver Wilson, it has been decided that based on your social interactions and school performance, society has decided that you are no more than black and shall join all the others.” I see my mom crying and my face falls. I did everything right, I spoke like a white person, carried myself as such. I avoided gang bangers and appeased everyone I met. But no matter what I do, I am still black to everyone else. And lord knows I would’ve preferred to be white.
Pai sat on her regal smoked couch that viewed the outskirts of the city, Pai came a long way, from Bankhead to Buckhead. Living with her 12 year old son Tye and her husband Rafael. Rafael plops down on the couch next to Pai and throws arm around her. "The program is getting larger. We`re going on a field tripnext week." Pai nods and leans into him sighing. Rafael kisses her forehead and says "We did it, it took a long time and we had some difficulties but we made it!"
-------------------------13 years earlier----------------------------
Pai POV*
*errerrerrerr Mama walked in my room as Uncle Charles had his way with me, this isn't the first time its happening but it sure as hell wont be the last. Just this year Uncle Charles moved in my home after his wife cheated on him. He pays all of the bills, food, gas, and he even gives Mama extra cash for new clothes. Uncle Charles really wanted to be close to the family but what he really wanted was me. I`ve always thought of reasons why Mama let it happen, maybe she hates me, maybe she didn't know what to do, or maybe she didn't want him to leave us. All the weight on your shoulders, who would want that?
--------------------------5 years later-----------------------------
Graduation day is supposed to be the day that you gain freedom, but for me it was the day I was locked away, I was locked into my past of horror, here I was sitting on the steps of an abortion clinic wondering what I should do. Abort my rape baby? I don`t want to but I also don`t want to have a forever memory of my horrific past, the past that I hated to most.
Have you ever meet a fun, open-hearted, smart, and respectful girl who everyone seems to hate? Well that's me, Jakayla Foster. I am a raising 10th grader at Brookheaven High School. Today was our first day back to school from summer break and my day went awful. It all started from when I walked up the stairs of Brookheaven big yellow school bus. As I walked up the stairs, I was praying in my head and when I looked up it was completely silent and everyone was staring at me. It was like one of those moments in church when you sneeze and everyone in the church stares at you. I got to my seat and got ready to seat and my seat partner poured water on my seat and made it seem like I peed on myself, but that wasn't even the worse. 17 minutes later, we were in front of the school. '' Everyone enjoy your first day of school and be careful when walking down the steps!'' Ms.Hicks yelled through the microphone on the school bus. Soon as I walked off the bus I saw my best friend. His name is Jackson and he gets bullied or ''judged'' because he's gay. I saw him crying in a corner in front of the school building and before I got to get to him and ask what's wrong this group of boys walked up to him and starting jumping him and I ran to him to help but instead I jumped too. In a blink of an eye all the boys were gone and Jackson and I were the center of attention. I looked at Jackson and Jackson looked at me and I couldn't even explain how bad Jackson faced look. His eye was red, his shirt was ripped, his mouth was bleeding, and he was out of breath as if he wasn't getting any oxygen. Then I started to worry how I looked so I ran to the bathroom and when I looked in the mirror I dropped to my knees in sadness and dispair. For the rest of the day I was sitting in the office waiting on my mom to come pick me up. That's how awful my day went and all that happened to me but no one would have ever know that I'm the daugther of August Alsina because they judged a book by it's cover not the words in it.
Southern By:Sis Author 8 Black Americans would get treated so wrong.You would have those types that goes with the flow or those that spoke up.The ones that went with the flow were the ones that had no say so and was in fear about certain situations they might been in. The ones that spoke up were the ones that had enough confidence and weren't as scared as the quiet Black Americans.Many whites thought that they were better than us Black Americans.What I mean by this is that they thought they were to good for us. Thats a false ! I believe that we all should be treated equal without any hatred. We should all stick together as one and try to make our community lovable and equal.
old Ms. Daisy who smelled like gravy . Had a bestfriend name which was Ms. Rosy which was very very noisy . Ms. Daisy and Ms. Rosy which was trouble when they got together . They had been together for a whole week . They had been making trouble all that week until Friday . Then the other trouble makers came out which was a group of little girls . that Friday the two bests friends came out side to get some fresh air the little girls was out side playing and having fun Ms. Daisy and Ms. Rosy was looking at the little girls and the captain of the little girls was bad they had nick names and every thing the head of the group . Her nick name was bug . She seen them looking she said to them "Hay how are you may I please have my face back " . But once again I told you that they had been trouble that whole week . She told bug you sure you want to go that route sweet cakes . then the little girls start being messy with Ms. Daisy and Ms. Rosy they had been fighting of an whole ten minutes I was hiding I didn't want any thing to do with and if you ask where I was hiding I was in the trash can it wasn't that bad either . But back to the story then finally they had went in to eat bout time the little girls came back out from eating it was dark . Ms. Daisy and Ms. Rosy had already gotten they self together for bed had done laid done and went to sleep . The little girls went in the house and got a few tools to crash Ms. Daisy house they had got some eggs and some tissue and had put it all over her house . I had ran home and told my mom she called the cops because that's property destruct to another person house . The little girls had got in so much trouble they was scared to go in the house then bug mom came out the house and told them it was time to come in then probably fifteen minutes later you heard screaming every ten minutes I think they got a whooping because they next they didn't want to sit down they just said they bottoms hurt and they had went to say sorry about the mess they made on Ms. Daisy house and they cleaned it up and that was the END!!!!
The War was Won in Years to Come, by Brother Author 12 Hiding behind cover...ducking behind statues...running for our lives...that's what that was. Bullets were flying everywhere, but they weren't aimed at us, even though we were the ones fighting. Mostly, they aimed their guns at the innocent, assault rifles fighting against fists. But they weren't just any fists, but fists of the struggling, the fists of the weak, the fists of the ruined... It's just me and Ben. Ben and I have been fighting against them for years, but we never succeeded, not until now. "Ben!" I said. "What?" he replied while reloading shotgun. I put out my hand and signaled for my notebook. He tossed it to me, and then took off to shoot down an enemy firing squad, which consisted of propaganda, social media, and a whole army of gangster pigs. While Ben distracted them, I threw my pen. It flew through the air and spit out tons of words into the enemy camp. Explosions of protest, freedom fighting, and ink destroyed the enemy camp. "J!" Ben yelled. "Did it work?" "Um, yes and no..." I replied nervously. "What?" he yelled back. "What do you mean yes and no?" The building is still crumbling. More of my friends and family killed. I still saw them however. Me and Ben knew where the were. We knew how they lived their afterlife. And we won the war in years to come. Because everyone saw my pen explosion, and saw my words. My words...the words that won the war, 137 years down the road. And they got their freedom...finally...
The Night Before by BA4 I woke up in my cell one day with my best friend on the top bunk. He peaked over and said “Bro we are LEGENDARY. I was like “come on wasn’t that great.” He hopped down and said “Don’t you EVER say that again, we are in history.” Well my memory was still jumbled up, I was gonna ask him to explain but he was already starting.
The Morning Before
News: (Another African American teen was shot on another racial issue) I called my best friend and he was already watching it. He sounded fed fed up over the phone and sure enough he was. He said “Tonight we WILL take a stand.” I just told him he always does this and its getting old so I dared him to actually do it. He told me “Lets burn our names in the city.” I immediately told him to stop with the nonsense because I knew he’d actually do it. I said “Nothing that will imprison us idiot!” He said “Fine, lets do fireworks."
Is it a Problem by Sister Author 10
ReplyDeleteI was walking down the street and saw a group of black people, shouting and holding posters, screaming until their voice grew hoarse. I walked up to them and asked, “What are you doing?” A young man with a shiny bald head said, “We are fighting for are rights,” while an old lady screamed, “We are changing what society thinks of us!!!” I ask the shiny bald head guy, “Is it a problem?” His brown eyes turned sharp, and his mouth twisted into a frown. “Of course it is,” he shouted. “We are still human!!”
Then I walked over to a group of white people who were shaking their heads at the group of black people and shouting back at them. And I asked them, “What are you doing?” “Those group of black monkeys over there are trying to get there rights when they don`t deserve them, and we are against it,” an old white lady spat at me. “Is it a problem?” I ask. “Of course,” she yelled. “Those monkeys aren’t even human!!”
I am a mixed girl, and I didn`t know which side to take. Both sides have guided me through my life. How could I choose one over the other? Back then I was 12, young, foolish and dumb. And even though I am 23, I still remember it like it was yesterday, and I still feel the butterflies in my stomach. The question still pounding in my head, a voice asking me over and over, is it a problem?
Blank by BA 16
ReplyDeleteEveryone knows it. When you grow up your choosing shall begin. “Oliver come here.” My mom calls from the kitchen. I walk in trying to stay relaxed but I can’t keep my hands from shaking. I don’t know what my mom looks like. Everyone is blank before you get chosen. After you do get chosen, then you start to see. I sit down on a chair trying to look naive and innocent. But I and she both know what’s coming. The biggest decision of my life that is in no way determined by me. She nods at me without saying a word and beckons for me to follow. We walk with everyone else to the town square. I glance at some other kids and some are as nervous as me. We reach the center of the town and the ceremony begins. Tribal music surrounds the area while people cast their votes. It’s my turn but I can hardly move. My mom gives me a nudge and I walk in front of everybody. I give a nervous smile and receive no smiles in return. “You are now of age. Let judgement begin.” Everyone echoes. They pass around votes to each other and after long silence the elder steps up and clears his throat. “Oliver Wilson, it has been decided that based on your social interactions and school performance, society has decided that you are no more than black and shall join all the others.” I see my mom crying and my face falls. I did everything right, I spoke like a white person, carried myself as such. I avoided gang bangers and appeased everyone I met. But no matter what I do, I am still black to everyone else. And lord knows I would’ve preferred to be white.
Family ties by Sister Author #6
ReplyDeleteNarrator POV*
Pai sat on her regal smoked couch that viewed the outskirts of the city, Pai came a long way, from Bankhead to Buckhead. Living with her 12 year old son Tye and her husband Rafael. Rafael plops down on the couch next to Pai and throws arm around her. "The program is getting larger. We`re going on a field tripnext week." Pai nods and leans into him sighing. Rafael kisses her forehead and says "We did it, it took a long time and we had some difficulties but we made it!"
-------------------------13 years earlier----------------------------
Pai POV*
*errerrerrerr
Mama walked in my room as Uncle Charles had his way with me, this isn't the first time its happening but it sure as hell wont be the last. Just this year Uncle Charles moved in my home after his wife cheated on him. He pays all of the bills, food, gas, and he even gives Mama extra cash for new clothes. Uncle Charles really wanted to be close to the family but what he really wanted was me. I`ve always thought of reasons why Mama let it happen, maybe she hates me, maybe she didn't know what to do, or maybe she didn't want him to leave us. All the weight on your shoulders, who would want that?
--------------------------5 years later-----------------------------
Graduation day is supposed to be the day that you gain freedom, but for me it was the day I was locked away, I was locked into my past of horror, here I was sitting on the steps of an abortion clinic wondering what I should do. Abort my rape baby? I don`t want to but I also don`t want to have a forever memory of my horrific past, the past that I hated to most.
The Book Not the Cover Sister 3
ReplyDeleteHave you ever meet a fun, open-hearted, smart, and respectful girl who everyone seems to hate? Well that's me, Jakayla Foster. I am a raising 10th grader at Brookheaven High School. Today was our first day back to school from summer break and my day went awful. It all started from when I walked up the stairs of Brookheaven big yellow school bus. As I walked up the stairs, I was praying in my head and when I looked up it was completely silent and everyone was staring at me. It was like one of those moments in church when you sneeze and everyone in the church stares at you. I got to my seat and got ready to seat and my seat partner poured water on my seat and made it seem like I peed on myself, but that wasn't even the worse. 17 minutes later, we were in front of the school. '' Everyone enjoy your first day of school and be careful when walking down the steps!'' Ms.Hicks yelled through the microphone on the school bus. Soon as I walked off the bus I saw my best friend. His name is Jackson and he gets bullied or ''judged'' because he's gay. I saw him crying in a corner in front of the school building and before I got to get to him and ask what's wrong this group of boys walked up to him and starting jumping him and I ran to him to help but instead I jumped too. In a blink of an eye all the boys were gone and Jackson and I were the center of attention. I looked at Jackson and Jackson looked at me and I couldn't even explain how bad Jackson faced look. His eye was red, his shirt was ripped, his mouth was bleeding, and he was out of breath as if he wasn't getting any oxygen. Then I started to worry how I looked so I ran to the bathroom and when I looked in the mirror I dropped to my knees in sadness and dispair. For the rest of the day I was sitting in the office waiting on my mom to come pick me up. That's how awful my day went and all that happened to me but no one would have ever know that I'm the daugther of August Alsina because they judged a book by it's cover not the words in it.
Southern By:Sis Author 8
ReplyDeleteBlack Americans would get treated so wrong.You would have those types that goes with the flow or those that spoke up.The ones that went with the flow were the ones that had no say so and was in fear about certain situations they might been in. The ones that spoke up were the ones that had enough confidence and weren't as scared as the quiet Black Americans.Many whites thought that they were better than us Black Americans.What I mean by this is that they thought they were to good for us. Thats a false ! I believe that we all should be treated equal without any hatred. We should all stick together as one and try to make our community lovable and equal.
sister author 13
ReplyDeletetrouble friends
old Ms. Daisy who smelled like gravy . Had a bestfriend name which was Ms. Rosy which was very very noisy . Ms. Daisy and Ms. Rosy which was trouble when they got together . They had been together for a whole week . They had been making trouble all that week until Friday . Then the other trouble makers came out which was a group of little girls . that Friday the two bests friends came out side to get some fresh air the little girls was out side playing and having fun Ms. Daisy and Ms. Rosy was looking at the little girls and the captain of the little girls was bad they had nick names and every thing the head of the group . Her nick name was bug . She seen them looking she said to them "Hay how are you may I please have my face back " . But once again I told you that they had been trouble that whole week . She told bug you sure you want to go that route sweet cakes . then the little girls start being messy with Ms. Daisy and Ms. Rosy they had been fighting of an whole ten minutes I was hiding I didn't want any thing to do with and if you ask where I was hiding I was in the trash can it wasn't that bad either . But back to the story then finally they had went in to eat bout time the little girls came back out from eating it was dark . Ms. Daisy and Ms. Rosy had already gotten they self together for bed had done laid done and went to sleep . The little girls went in the house and got a few tools to crash Ms. Daisy house they had got some eggs and some tissue and had put it all over her house . I had ran home and told my mom she called the cops because that's property destruct to another person house . The little girls had got in so much trouble they was scared to go in the house then bug mom came out the house and told them it was time to come in then probably fifteen minutes later you heard screaming every ten minutes I think they got a whooping because they next they didn't want to sit down they just said they bottoms hurt and they had went to say sorry about the mess they made on Ms. Daisy house and they cleaned it up and that was the END!!!!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThe War was Won in Years to Come, by Brother Author 12
ReplyDeleteHiding behind cover...ducking behind statues...running for our lives...that's what that was. Bullets were flying everywhere, but they weren't aimed at us, even though we were the ones fighting. Mostly, they aimed their guns at the innocent, assault rifles fighting against fists. But they weren't just any fists, but fists of the struggling, the fists of the weak, the fists of the ruined...
It's just me and Ben. Ben and I have been fighting against them for years, but we never succeeded, not until now.
"Ben!" I said. "What?" he replied while reloading shotgun. I put out my hand and signaled for my notebook. He tossed it to me, and then took off to shoot down an enemy firing squad, which consisted of propaganda, social media, and a whole army of gangster pigs.
While Ben distracted them, I threw my pen. It flew through the air and spit out tons of words into the enemy camp. Explosions of protest, freedom fighting, and ink destroyed the enemy camp. "J!" Ben yelled. "Did it work?" "Um, yes and no..." I replied nervously. "What?" he yelled back. "What do you mean yes and no?" The building is still crumbling. More of my friends and family killed.
I still saw them however. Me and Ben knew where the were. We knew how they lived their afterlife. And we won the war in years to come. Because everyone saw my pen explosion, and saw my words. My words...the words that won the war, 137 years down the road. And they got their freedom...finally...
The Night Before by BA4
ReplyDeleteI woke up in my cell one day with my best friend on the top bunk. He peaked over and said “Bro we are LEGENDARY. I was like “come on wasn’t that great.” He hopped down and said “Don’t you EVER say that again, we are in history.” Well my memory was still jumbled up, I was gonna ask him to explain but he was already starting.
The Morning Before
News: (Another African American teen was shot on another racial issue)
I called my best friend and he was already watching it. He sounded fed fed up over the phone and sure enough he was. He said “Tonight we WILL take a stand.” I just told him he always does this and its getting old so I dared him to actually do it. He told me “Lets burn our names in the city.” I immediately told him to stop with the nonsense because I knew he’d actually do it. I said “Nothing that will imprison us idiot!” He said “Fine, lets do fireworks."