When the Lady Breaks by Faith Smith

When the lady breaks, she is broken forever

She cannot turn back, for there she lay in never

She dances on the tips of something called misery

For her entire life she was made to be leery

When the lady breaks, she is broken forever

Her life changes like the pull of a lever

She can’t control what is being undone

She crosses her fingers, and hopes for none

When the lady breaks, she is broken forever

She is forgotten like a lone endeavor

She is misplaced by emptiness inside

She is forgotten and put aside like pride

When the lady breaks, she is broken forever

She can’t help herself; she thought she was being clever

She thought that her world would be great

But turns out, it is nothing but fake

When the lady breaks, she is broken forever

Charlottesville by Nasty Woman Newsletter Gang

To be an American
Part 1
(Faith Smith)

August 11 th to August 12 th , 2017…Charlottesville, Virginia…what a shame. Earlier in the week I was asked by my Humanity’s teacher at my high school what it means to be an American, and you know what I said? To me, an American is someone who doesn’t have the mentality of the stereotypical society we live in today. As an American, you are okay with adjusting to change fairly quickly and you accept all different races, religions, political viewpoints ,etc. that this country has to offer. You have a free mindset, hence America being named the “land of the free.” An American looks like you and me—not seeing any color, income differences, etc. Then my teacher proceeded to ask if I had ever felt ashamed to be an American. My first reaction was to not say anything, because I didn’t know. I never thought about that before, so I didn’t have an answer. However, that question stuck with me for the rest of the day, and I now know my answer…I am absolutely ashamed to connect the American name to my identity and the events that transpired on the weekend in Charlottesville and before only puts more explanation to my opinion. August 11 th , 2017,, according to the Washington Post, a group of white nationalists staged a torch lit march on the campus of the University of Virginia to burn down the statue of Thomas Jefferson. A group of about 30 students banded together—some of color and some White—to lock arms and protect the statue and the white nationalists made monkey noises at the Black counter protesters…When I read this, all I could think of was why? Why have we come to a world of so much hatred and dominance that we seek out violence and verbal abuse to make what we have to say matter? We live in a world today where it doesn’t matter about who you are and what makes you unique. It only matters if you’re white with an unlimited amount of power, and it saddens me. This country has never been perfect, but history is repeating itself ten times worse. When I was a little girl, I thought what I lived in was perfect. I thought I would never have to worry about a thing, I would always be protected and I would always feel loved wherever I go. Here we are years later and I’m beyond terrified, but I refuse to lay down and act like I’m ignorant to what is going on today. August 12 th , 2017, everything worsened. Riots broke out and there were basically three sides—white supremacists, alt. rights, and counter protesters. This was no longer about race, this was about power and once again, who really had it. White nationalists threw rocks, water bottles, tear gas, chemicals, and anything they could get their hands on at the other protestors. Most of my life, I tried to create a world of sunshine and roses in my head. A world where nothing goes wrong, no one gets hurt, and everyone cares for one another. I was naïve. The riots in Charlottesville only further proved how far off track we are. Instead of tearing each other down, we need to be building ties with one another to fight against what’s happening with the political system. While we’re killing off each other, Donald Trump is sitting in office basically declaring war with the Koreans. Not only does all of this disappoint me, but it angers me. Maybe I am crazy for ever thinking that we can all get along. That’s a long shot that I understand. However, what I can’t understand is why we’re ignoring what’s right in front of our faces. We can’t do better if we clearly don’t know better, and that’s a problem. We’re teaching future generations that this behavior, these beliefs, these lifestyles are okay when they’re clearly unethical. I can’t tell anyone what to think or what to believe, but I know what’s right and what will forever be wrong. We’re destroying ourselves, and until we see that we’re damaging this country faster than any president, any enemy, any outside influence can do—events like Charlottesville and Ferguson will continue to happen.

Invasion of the Tiki Torches
 Part 2
(Kaylia Walker)

“Black males are violent” “Black females have attitude problems” well, white people walk around with tiki torches and set things on fire but who’s pointing fingers, right? It’s amazing how black people cause problems by being black and white people are free to do whatever with no problems, better yet let’s point out how headlines say “white nationalists uses tiki torches to light up Charlottesville” instead of calling it what it really was, because personally I prefer to call it racist people...being racist, but you know, that’s just me and every other colored person I’ve had this conversation with. People who call this act of prejudice a march or a rally is the same people who says “racism doesn’t exist anymore” and that’s totally true, right? Thanks white people and sorry for being black and that my skin is so dark that it makes you uncomfortable. That’s what you all like to hear, right? It was an invasion of the tiki torches, should we be more afraid of the tikis or the white racist people yelling “niggers” and “unite the rite”? Black males are violent? Than what is a white racist?

The Bullshit Seen
Part 3
 (La’Quita Parker)

If you say we didn’t contribute to the land you call home , than that’s a lie. Claiming that this land is freedom but there are rules to oblige. Don’t be black and believe you're anything but cattle. Treated like a profit not a person or being like the others. And God forbid as minorities we stand together as one with more power than the white men behind the guns. Trust and believe our war is not won, it’s just begun. On the land that was built on the back of slaves and yet color is such a disgrace. Young black boys not even men yet will never reach the goals they set. And please don’t take offense to the words heard behind those white picket fence. As we struggle to make a living from the homes they think suits us. Project buildings rise to the 10 th floor with no way to escape when fire knocks at your door. Behold the mother who refuses to let her child mingle with the dark. But yet racism doesn’t exist. I laugh because that’s bullshit. You don’t see it because you don’t go through it or maybe you’re the one promoting it , so open your eyes and give us the right that we shall call rightfully mine. Stop claiming that you have 2 black friends as if that makes you sound less racist. Furthermore let's not forget the “N” word only seems restricted to you because 400 years ago it was used to oppress and abuse. We the brown , lovely , light skin, and dark are beautiful and don’t give a damn about being liked by the likes of you. You can choose to stand with us by all means but never forget that we .Share equal needs.

WTF
 Part 4
 (La’Kresha Parker)

Now here’s a story all about how a white man runs over a crowd,

 and I’d like to take a minute and sit right here

 and question why white men aren’t feared. 

….. In Maumee, Ohio gathered in fear white supremacist, are on their rear. 

Counter protesters run in fear cause a car, was coming near. 

37 people not in the clear. 

The car came crashing in their rear. 

…. Rushing on in came an ambulance 3 people were pronounced dead 34 they were injured.

 And who do you know was behind the wheel, 

A white man, looking to kill. 

James Alex Fields second degree murder of Charlottesville. 

The Defeat Speech
Part 5
 (Esperanza Flores)
As I reflect on what has been acted upon my flat tv, I can hear his words echoing amongst my ear drums. “Hatred, bigotry and violence..on many sides.”It caused a trigger in my mind. It blew me to pieces. Violence? Was police brutality not the cause of the birth of Black Lives Matter. Police brutality targeting Black Men is the issue and yet the other side seem to have a problem with people against violence. It doesn’t make sense to me. I have eyes too, I saw white men chasing after black men with wooden bats. I saw videos of black men getting jumped by the white supremacist. It reminded of those pictures I once saw on display in a civil rights museum. Horrid and petrifying. My bones grew so stiff and my blood froze still. I couldn’t believe it is happening again, yet I could believe it to be true. Must I remind trump that the Black Lives Matter protest started off in peace. Yet the police let white militias haunt the streets with different shapes and variations of firearms. Yet when a single black male roams the street unarmed they are hazardous because they’ll assume he automatically has a shotgun hidden in his pants. What was their wrong for protesting in peace? They did not protest with guns fully out on display. White supremacists found victory in his speech; the rest found a loss of hope in this country.

We Assemble; We Ignite
Part 6
(Nasty Woman Newsletter Gang)
So here is the deal, we won’t simply shut up and forget. We will speak in bold words and create stronger bonds with our peers. Though we may explore this country in fear that we may never have social justice, common respect, and be represented as human beings, we must stay patient and rowdy against our oppressors. For our day will come for power and justice to be equally distributed amongst every race. That way our country, our complex country, will become puzzled. But for now, the pieces are scattered, broken, and it continuously stays unfixed.

A Mindless Act by Esperanza Flores

I sat along the chipped windowsill in my Grandparents kitchen. I sat along the windowsill peering out at the sun set its lips upon the edge of earth. I was not in such mood for mouthing out words to pretend that I was okay. So I shut the luminous reflections out of my eyes for a split minute. And yet I found trouble with the shuffling of another's feet. I could tell it was my Grandfather by the sound of his feet pattering. A heavy scratch sliding his way across the torn floor to me. Tugging out the chair across, he began to babble and reminisce about his 20th century years. Fiddling his dry bare fingers, he started out by speaking about the Steel Mill. Through his exertions he received nothing but racism. 12

As a refugee he was always a castaway in the midst of the working class. It was such a shame to see men who share the same color blood act  inhumane toward another. He could only earn respect if he ,in some magical world, morphed into some white man. Aren’t we all innate people, created by the cycle of life? All the same but different ideologies and color. So what? Do they, you, or anyone need to suck someone else's dignity out of their corpse due to their color?

There is no justified reason for such belligerent behavior. We are not reckless animals savaging around towns to take folks down. In fact we are all are homo sapiens trying to get by in life. So why cause destruction when we are all trying to do the same?

Go Girl! by Kaylia Walker

Look at you girl, with your smile on your face waiting to take on the the world. Yeah look at you girl with your hardworking tail not giving a damn about what a man got to say. Yes! we see you girl or should I say woman, when you walk that tall walk with you swaying your hips, look at you, speaking that calm language with your soothing voice and words of confidence you're all we want to be, can’t you see the way we look when we look at you and see you walk when you walk or when you talk when you talk yeah, you go girl!

Lady in a Glass Dress by Faith Smith

Meet the lady in the glass dress

Here lies her pain

She waltz inside the darkest room and you can still see her veins

Lady in the glass dress, where do you remain?

Do you realize that your journey is filled with nothing but depression?

Even the oppressed know that this is beyond stretching

And you are stressing

Lady in the glass dress, who are you?

Where lies your truth and what will get into you?

Where will you be?

Who will you become?

It seems to me as if your story will always remain undone

Your start is never your finish

And your end seems to be another beginning

Lady in the glass dress, what lies beyond thy self?

What is your worth?

What can you become?

For that is unknown

You’re lost in the shadows, broken and disturbed

You’ve disappeared while life goes on around you

You’re in despair and sit in your sorrows that are supposed to be around you

Lady in the glass dress, guess what, I am you

You’re apart of me that I just can’t shake loose

You’ve become my weakness, something I see straight through

Against all odds, I still have you

I want you gone because you can’t stay

But even when I try to push you away you still remain my biggest mistake

And my motivation and self esteem as a young woman all gets erased

A Real King by Kaylia Walker

Maybe my skin is a little too dark for your taste, maybe my hair is a little too big to fit your liking, maybe my crooks and curves isn't in the exact place that pleases you but who are you to judge me? See I am a queen fit for any king no matter race or religion but you, you are not a real king because a real king doesn't judge the young queens of the world based off her physical a real king thinks about her spiritual. A real king doesn't see her race as a problem nor a situation that has to be "fixed" A real king is mindless too the darkness of his queen because a real king knows that what Tupac Skakur said is true that "the blacker the berry the sweeter the juice and the darker the flesh the deeper the roots" so if you're not a real king, what are you?

To the Woman Who Got it Wrong by Gabrielle Gousman

Dear Woman,

What is your problem?

Who taught you that your only purpose

Is to please ‘the Man’?

Was it your mother and her mother before her?

Were you brainwashed by society?

Or maybe you learned from all the men in your life.

Dear Woman,

Who told you you only matter when you look ‘attractive’?

That you can only be heard with your clothes off?

That your privates are the best part of you?

Dear Woman,

Who taught you to be seen and not heard?

To shrink into yourself until you’re almost not there at all?

Who taught you not to take up His space too much?

Dear Woman,

Who taught you not to love yourself?

Who taught you not to take solidarity in other women?

That loving another woman, even loving yourself,

Is wrong.

I was taught that He is the problem.

That Man is the enemy and Women are saviors.

I was taught by the women before me.

I was taught Sisterhood,

Self-love,

Love of woman kind.

I was taught the bitterness of a woman to a man.

Dear Woman,

Which one of us got it wrong?

Trapped by Faith Smith

     Sometimes you never know what you’re up against. Being a girl, a young girl in society, I’m held to a lot of expectations. Straight hair, light skin, slim waist, beautiful face. I drown in the thoughts that trap me from what is on the outside of an individual. I choke on the burdens of being considered a “phenomenal woman.” I am depressed. I tip toe across the edge of the suicide we call society. I’m not considered human. I am not normal. I am not what I’m supposed to be—an American with pride. Instead, I curse myself into the nightmares of being me. I blame myself for being a part of a world that doesn’t need me

Dear America by Gabrielle Gousman

Dear America,

Why can’t you hear me? Why can’t you see me? Why is it that every time I speak you seem to think you talk over me? Or ignore me altogether? Do you think I’m not good enough? Or that you’re better than me? Why? You live in a country that was built off the backs of my people. Those pretty southern mansions that you call “family manors” were built by my ancestors. Are you afraid that if you acknowledge my power it’ll lessen your’s? Are you afraid that I’ll take over? Afraid that one day I, a strong black woman, will run this little country of your’s? Is that why you make “colorblind”, so that they won’t acknowledge people of color, people like me? No, that can’t be it. Because, you see, ignore your own kind. Your white men go out and run this country while you leave your women unheard and ignored. But at least they exist, in this country not only am I not heard but I am not real. To be a black woman in America is to be magic, but it also to be the one that no one sees.

From,

A Black Woman In America

I Welcome You by Kaylia Walker

Welcome to my laboratory, where I keep my eldest secrets, a place that knows more about me then I know myself, welcome to the place that holds my self doubts and the place who remembers every single flaw apart of me, welcome to the place that holds my insecurities, the place that reminds me that even though I am in America, the land of the free me myself has limited freedom,  to the place where people words haunts me, the place that has no boundaries, welcome to the place that picks me apart inch by inch and show the raw form of me, the place that always lets me know that I am a female in the dark who's scared to really glow not because of what people questions, comments or concerns might be but simply because I am a female and supposedly, according to society I am not allowed to break from my strict role, welcome to my mind, where I can never forget, welcome to my cell where I can never escape, I welcome you with open arms to see where the hatred for my gender lives, I welcome you into my own personalized hell.

The Wall (A Mockery of Donalds’ Promise) by Esperanza Flores

Setting: An amusement park advertisement. However the advertisement is the “super tall” Border Line that Trump promised to build. Mainly dry land. However, tons of Mexicans turned it into this fun excitement. Built underground tunnels, Boat rides, and playing tag. In the Underground, they built a rollercoaster made to look like a gold mine with lights hanging on top. The other side of the wall Mexican families will be “ playing one sided freeze tag” with border patrol. The boat rides show Mexicans having a party crossing over to American soil. Borderline by Madonna is playing in the background.

Teens:*sitting on the couch, texting, sighing, and watching TV*

Teenagers Mom: Get up off the couch and go outside! Come on, *points at window* the sun is shining. it’s summer. Go have some fun.

Teens:*Looks up at mom. Then turns away and continues to text and watch Tv*

Teenagers Mom:* turns at camera and sighs with disappointment*

Commercial Voice: Does this happen to you? Your kids stuck at home doing nothing?! Well now there’s a solution.

[ Madonnas’ Borderline song plays fadely. Camera changes to view of the border line. Camera shots at different angles.The words, “BORDERLINE AMUSEMENT PARK” spread across screen. ]

Commercial Voice: WELP, come on down to Borderline Amusement. Your kids will absolutely love it here.

[ Show mexican kids running around in the dry lots around wall.]

Commercial Voice: Here we have everything to keep your child busy. From underground roller coasters... *5 second pause.*

[Camera shot of immigrant families walking through an underground tunnel. Lights are set up to look like a underground train station. *there seems to appear a mexican conductor collecting tickets from the immigrants. He allows to pass through a darker tunnel handing them a flashlight. Everyone seems to be smiling and enjoying their day*]

Commercial Voice: For the more athletic, we have a game zone on the mainland. *says with excitement* It includes our widely popular game,Super Freeze Lazer Tag!

[Camera shot of border patrol cars chasing after immigrants running. Another camera shot of border patrol running on feet with tasers, shooting at immigrants running]

Commercial Voice: If you're a water kind of person, we have something for you too. Our very own water ride!

[camera shot of immigrants a boarding boat, while some dive in and swim. Another camera shot of cop boat stopping the immigrants boat. Another camera shot shows a few lucky mexicans making it to American shore on a party boat.]

Commercial Voice: If you like what you’re seeing, well hurry up and don’t miss your chance. It will be closing at the end of summer 2017 for remodeling. Yes that’s right! In the summer of Twentyneverteen it will reopen and be renamed… ahuh, you guessed it, the new and improved...BIGGER BORDERLINE AMUSEMENT! Funded by Mexico's Government. Now it will include a rock climbing station!

[Camera shot of immigrants climbing the wall by rope. Another camera shot of police helicopters swarming around the wall trying to tell them to “get down from the wall”]

Commercial Voice: So don’t waste your time and come on down to…. BORDERLINE AMUSEMENT!!!

[Last camera shot of the borderline. Back to camera shot in the teenagers moms’  house parking lot. There is their minivan being packed to leave on vacation. Action shot of the teens mom closing the trunk filled with luggage.]

THE END.

Forbidden Woman by Faith Smith

She is strong, she is tall, she keeps her head held up high

She has wings, she can do almost anything

Forbidden Woman, that’s what they call her

She’s the woman that doesn’t make it to the blogs or gets caught on tape

She’s the one that works behind the scenes and know her role is more to play

She is the leader, the Wonder Woman, the creator of all things

No, she isn’t God, and no, she isn’t outside of mankind

She’s that woman that you see in your dream

The one that’s almost perfect, and has everything together for reality

Forbidden woman, you can say that’s me

We’re the ones that make a dream become reality

Hardworking at best, and nevertheless earning little recognition

Forbidden woman, for she is a queen

No messiness comes in between her and her favorite color green

Forbidden woman, yeah…that’s me

Only if.

When it is my time, I’d choose to preach to all of my American sisters and brothers. To say this:

“In this country. The one below our tiny toes. There are millions waiting to be detangled from the prejudice system of government that our founding fathers built. The government officials now defeat the purpose of what this country meant to be. The land that ALL men and women seek to live in. Not just one race. If I were to run for this title, I’d make promises to do the best that I can for those who are victimised by our own country who promised to keep them safe. To make them comfortable in their own skin. A country that they can benefit from. Doesn’t matter who. Black, White, Muslim, Latino, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, e.t.c. My purpose as a civilized person is to reach out with the palms of my hands to those who’ve suffered for too damn long. To give my oppressed brothers and sister a country they deserved since that very day they were born. To give each child in America hope that one day they will actually become what they want without being stereotyped down to the core.  To give anyone reason to live, that this country will actually move on to be better. That society will learn to accept that we all believe in different concepts. We all can agree that we can relate to is that the color of our blood is red. That we all want die knowing that we did everything possible for our next generation to carry on our legacy. We have more in common despite how we were raised. All of us want to be successful. So why do we choose to rip each other to pieces instead of building each other up? There is no competition with each other. The only competition is the time that we are wasting bullying one another.

No more wars. We must fix the domestic terrorism going on in our home before we can fix anything else.  When has a president decided to really focus on education before war? When did our past presidents spend more money on education than weapons? Don’t expect to defeat your opponent when you can't even defeat the negativity going on within your team…”

But you know what? A speech like this would work only if America was ready to vote for a Hispanic Woman in office.

-Azúcar Mind

Lonely Woman by Faith Smith

DEAR SOCIETY,                                           

SOMETIMES I SLEEP ALONE, AND NO, NOT PHYSICALLY. SOMEONE IS ALWAYS BESIDE ME, BUT MENTALLY, I BLOW WITH THE WIND. I GET LOST, I FEEL USELESS. I FEEL I’M NOT GOOD ENOUGH. I CAVE INTO THE EXPECTATIONS OF A WOMAN: WHAT THEY SHOULD LOOK LIKE, HOW THEY SHOULD TALK, HOW THEY SHOULD WALK. I DON’T BELONG, OR AT LEAST THAT’S WHAT I THINK. EVERYONE MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I SHOULDN’T BE A BREATHING CREATURE ON THIS EARTH. LIKE I SHOULDN’T BE A PART OF HUMAN SOCIETY. LIKE I SHOULDN’T BE AN IDEA IN SOMEONE’S MIND. LIKE I’M THE UGLIEST PERSON IN THE WORLD. I’M A JOKE, SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T FEEL THE MEANS OF EARNING RESPECT. I LOVE TO SMILE AND LAUGH, BUT I’M FILLED WITH SO MUCH NEGATIVITY BECAUSE OF WHAT OTHERS CHOOSE TO DO TO ME. THEN AGAIN, IT’S NOT THEIR FAULT. IT’S NO ONE’S FAULT BUT MY OWN. I CHOOSE TO BE A QUIET PERSON. I CHOOSE TO BE NOT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, AND I GET STONES CASTED AT ME BECAUSE I CHOOSE TO BE THIS WAY.

IF I TELL YOU MY HAPPINESS WAS STOLEN FROM ME, I WOULD BE LYING. I GAVE IT AWAY. I LET EVERYONE TAKE MY JOY AWAY. I LET EVERYONE STUMP MY HEART IN THE GROUND, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY…I DROVE AWAY PEOPLE WHO’S ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ME BECAUSE OF ALL THE HURT OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THEM HAVE CAUSED. I’M ANGRY, WHICH MAKES ME BECOME A LONELY WOMAN. I DRIVE EVERYONE AWAY BECAUSE I THINK EVERYONE IS ALL THE SAME. THEY ALL EXPECT ME TO BE “PERFECT” LIKE SOCIETY SAYS. THEY ALL EXPECT ME TO BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. THEY ALL WILL SOMEDAY HURT ME IN THE WORST WAY POSSIBLE. THEY ALL WILL LEAVE ME LIKE SO MANY OTHERS HAVE…THEY ALL WILL MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I DON’T HAVE A PLACE ON EARTH. LIKE I DON’T HAVE A SAY IN THIS WORLD. LIKE I SHOULDN’T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE BREATH OF LIFE. LIKE I SHOULD DIE.

I HATE WAKING UP IN THE MORNINGS, BECAUSE I KNOW I’M AWAKE. I KNOW I’M NOT NUMB FROM THE PAIN. I KNOW I’M NOT ABLE TO STOP ALL THE DESTRUCTION THAT’LL SOON COME MY WAY. I ALSO HATE FALLING ASLEEP, BECAUSE I KNOW I WON’T STAY ASLEEP. I WANT TO DROWN IN MY OWN THOUGHTS. I WANT MY EMOTIONS TO CHOKE ME IN DESPAIR. I WANT TO SEE BLACKNESS IN THE CLEAR BLUE SKY. I WANT TO DECEASE MY PHYSICAL BEING ON HOLY GROUND AND RUN AWAY FROM ALL HUMAN KIND. I WANT TO BE GONE, BECAUSE I AM A LONELY WOMAN, AND LONELY WOMEN, BY SOCIETY, DON’T DESERVE TO LIVE.

SINCERELY,

LONELY WOMAN

Untitled by Endeah Huey

I know what the problem is, she is congested. Sick with the flu, with aches and pains demolishing every blood cell that is set to fight for her. They are doomed because of her thrill to touch. They are doomed because her finger tips danced along the brim of every indulgence. She lived in the moment. No mere future or past could interpret her  captured moment. That is how her blood cells were doomed. The day when she lived in the moment and died.
But the moment was not hers. The moment did not belong to her. The moment was not meant for her. It was not meant for her the second she couldn't breath. The very second she could taste the vile and feel it in between her legs. It seemed as though it was everything she had dreamed about every night. With a teddy bear to cuddle with and a pillow to clutch on to. To her It was more than just a dream because it was meant to be lived.
So, there she was, with her moment, but never thought about what happens next,
What to do.... next. Next is such a scary word for someone who doesn't know what that means for them. It's so scary because it's an aggressive attack on the moment. It unveils everything she was comfortable with knowing. It uncovers everything she knows until she knows nothing at all. 
She lives with the flu, but something  phenomenal happens, 
The flu isn't the flu anymore, but it instead becomes encrypted into the vessels of her consciousness. It is a reminder of that moment, it will continue to live in her consciousness until her moment, is actually fulfilled.
But that is what made her, someone else. She died when she discovered that the moment, did not belong to her. It died once she realized that everyone is armed with moments and they utilize these moments to kill one another and also themselves.

I am not Sorry by Kaylia Walker

I am not sorry...

I will not apologize for my sex.

I will not feel sorry for myself that I am looked down upon.

I will not give anyone the satisfaction of seeing me frown because I am not who they think I am.

I will not live up to the worlds low expectations of the women society because of their fear that I will overcome.

Instead I will prove them all wrong.

You look and see a woman whose most difficult job in life is fixing a man meals.

I look and I see a woman whose most difficult job in life is being whatever she puts her mind to.

You will not bring me down, for I am a strong independent woman regardless of what anyone says.

I am and unapologetic woman, and I am not sorry for being a woman not now, not ever.

She was asking for it by Gabrielle Gousman

She was asking for it,

Who told you to wear those short shorts?

That tight skirt?

Who told you to show all that skin?

She was asking for it,

How dare her tell me no?

Like she’s too good for me.

Wicked temptress, A modern day Eve.

She was asking for it,

She was into it,

She did it with all the others,

Whores can’t say no.

She asked for it, I’ve done nothing wrong.

I just showed her what she’s meant for.

Strangling the Neck of Freedom by Faith Smith

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background or his religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” -Nelson Mandela

On July 5th, 2016, Alton Sterling was gunned down by two white Baton Rouge police
officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was an innocent Black man standing on the corner
selling CDs, even being known as the “CD man.” The police were not put away in jail. On
February 26th, 2012, Trayvon Martin was killed by George Zimmerman, who claimed to had “felt threatened,” by Martin, who was unarmed. Zimmerman served a short sentence and was released from jail, when a murder sentence is at least ten years. Sandra Bland died in her jail cell and authorities claimed she “hung herself” in protest to her arrest. The list continues to go on and on with all our Black men and women being killed at the expense of a White man’s hands or the hands of authority. The repetitive excuse for these deaths is that the officers felt “threatened.” How can you be threatened by someone who is unarmed? How can you kill an innocent life just to kill? I feel like there is a mission going on, and that mission is to make the minority population become extinct. People celebrated Thanksgiving and paid their homage of thanks to their families, however what about all those who are locked away in prison? George Zimmerman killed a young high school boy and he only serve a short sentence and was quickly released from jail. However, Bernard Noble had to serve 13 years in prison over a marijuana charge. I think that this is a way to just keep minorities from ever prospering in this world like the rich White men and women are. They don’t want us to be on their level because, in my opinion, I feel they are afraid. The Black man and woman are so powerful. Our president of the United States before Donald Trump was President Barack Obama who served not one, but two terms in the White House. We have the power to run this world, and that makes a White man that is on the same
status fearful.

They are straining our necks of our freedom. We are human beings. We don’t deserve to
be treated as though we don’t belong here, because we do. We matter. Our lives matter just as much as the next person’s does. Just because we don’t share the same skin color as everyone else doesn’t mean we’re all not equal. We deserve to live the life we want, not get it taken away just because of how someone chooses to “feel.”

A letter to my girls

Dear Nasty Women,

I want to take international woman's day as an opportunity to thank you. Your art, ideas,and everything about you is amazing. I also want to share some things I know to be true about you so that you can read this if you ever need a reminder.  

Firstly,do you even know how cool you are? Right now you may think you are just 6 girls in your teacher's room after school writing, talking, and goofing around. But, you are so incredibly cool. You are sharing your thoughts with the world, and talking about things that matter. That is the coolest. Never listen to anyone who tells you differently. They do not know the magic of art, ideas, and girls who have fire in their souls to make this world more loving. 

There are two reasons why older people say that children are the future. 1. It is most literally true; generations will die and newer generations will replace them. 2. The youth are the only ones still imaginative enough to believe that changing the world is possible. Without your ideas there is no future (at least one worth living in). Never loose that youthful ambition, doing so will make you jaded and give you wrinkles.  I totally still believe changing the world is possible (that's why I have no wrinkles), and I know for a fact that each of you are going to create that change. People will call you a dreamer or naive, take it as a compliment and ignore them.

That might feel like pressure, and being brilliant and creative is a burden. However, never forget that by just being you, you are changing the world for the better every day.  As women society loves to put the weight of the world on our shoulders and when we fail, we feel like we failed everyone. You did not. Just by trying you are 100% better than the man who did not even attempt it. All the pressure can compress you and make you hard to the people and the system. Fight that pressure with love. After all, loving is the most rebellious act. The world is so afraid of what a woman could do with the power of genuine self-love  that it has tricked us into believing we aren't worth loving and that loving is a sign of weakness. Love yourself. Love others. Love who you please. Love this world and the people in it enough to protect what is sacred and fight for what is right. 

I think you are persistent, strong, smart, and everything I want my future daughter to be. I am proud to teach you, and honored to carry this world with you. 

With love,

Ms. Nicholson 

america.

This land was made for the straight white man. None other. It's based on hypocrisy, lies, and unfulfilled promises. Why set guidelines when people in power can not follow the constitution and or abuse it? Why create a constitution solely meant for one gender and race? It became an invitation reserved for the pale masculinity.

How can a country be referred to “the land of the free?” There are Muslims, Mexicans, Blacks, Natives, Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and  Transgenders who are in a constant state of fear. This land is only free to the ones who took it away. To those who committed genocide. And the ones who were victims are still in slaved. Stripped to our bare skin and walking through a fog. Fending for our lives.

How can there be a slogan that sums up that this country was great for EVERYONE. “Make America Great Again.” What time in America was ever great? The invasion among the Natives? Maybe when slaves were out picking cotton? When women were treated as lesser than a disabled dog on three limbs? Or when every colored human being would have to fight for everything that was taken away from them? Education, rights, and their own life. When an entire religion was/is being blamed for someone else's actions? All the way to the LGBTQ being denied access to marriage and dining in? So tell me what time is this slogan speaking of?

This land in which we call free and great is at the boiling point. This country is a paper with smudges filled with a variety of colors. And now comes the whiteout.
-Azúcar Mind