MAGGIE LENA WALKER

"LET US PUT OUT MONEY OUT AT USURY AMONG OUTSELVES REAP THE BENEFITS OURSELVES." MAGGIE LENA WALKER TAUGHT & SHOWED BLACK PEOPLE THAT WE COULD COUNT ON OURSELVES. SHE GRADUATED FROM COLORED NORMAL SCHOOL BEGAN TEACHING WHILE ATTENDING NIGHT SCHOOL FOR ACCOUNTING. SHE BELIEVED THAT PEOPLE COULD TURN PENNIES INTO NICKELS. IN 1903 SHE FOUNDED & SERVED AS THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE PRESIDENT OF ST. LUKE PENNY SAVINGS BANK.

IDA B. WELLS

"ONE HAD BETTER DIE FIGHTING AGAINST INJUSTICE THAN DIE LIKE A DOG OR A RAT IN A TRAP!" BORN INTO SLAVERY IDA B. WELLS REFUSED TO BE ENSLAVED. FORCED OFF A TRAIN BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT GIVE UP HER SEAT TO A WHITE PASSENGER SHE FILED A LAWSUIT SUING THE TRAIN COMPANY. GAINING NOTARY DUE TO HER FEARLESSNESS SHE BEGAN WRITING FOR LOCAL NEWSPAPERS SHE BLASTED THE COWARDNESS OF SOUTHERN WHITE MAN WHO LYNCHED BLACK MEN. IN 1909 SHE WAS ONE OF OF THE TWO ONLY BLACK WOMEN TO SIGN "THE CALL" THAT FORMED THE NAACP. IN 1913 SHE MARCHED IN THE FIRST WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MARCHED IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

"THE AIR IS THE ONLY PLACE FREE FROM PREJUDICES." AFTER HEARING THE STORIES OF BLACK PILOTS ELIZABETH BESSIE COLEMAN DECIDED TO BE A PILOT. NO PILOT SCHOOLS IN THE U.S. WOULD ACCEPT HER BECAUSE SHE WAS BLACK & A WOMAN. IN 1921 IN PARIS SHE BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE PILOT & THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO HAVE A INTERNATIONAL PILOT LICENSE. SHE RETURN TO THE U.S. AND WAS KNOWN AS "QUEEN BESSIE." IN 1994 THE U.S POSTAL SERVICE HONORED "QUEEN BESSIE" WITH A COMMEMORATIVE STAMP BEARING HER IMAGE. IN 1995 "QUEEN BESSIE" WAS INDUCTED INTO THE WOMEN AVIATION HALL OF FAME.

MARY ELIZA MAHONEY

AFTER 15 YEARS WORKING AT NEW ENGLAND HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN MARY ELIZA MAHONEY BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN TO STUDY NURSING AND BECOME A PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED NURSE IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1879. KNOWING THE DIFFICULTIES PERSONALLY SHE CO-FOUNDED THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLORED GRADUATE NURSES. IN 1908 TO ENCOURAGE MORE BLACK WOMEN INTO THE FIELD OF NURSING. IN 1911 SHE WAS THE DIRECTOR AT HOWARD ORPHAN ASYLUM FOR BLACK CHILDREN. IN 1976 SHE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE AMERICAN NURSING ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME.  IN 1993 SHE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME.

MARY ELIZABETH BOWSER

HER DATE OF DEATH IS UNKNOWN AND MANY PERSONAL DETAILS OF HER LIFE AS WELL BUT WHAT SHE DID FOR WOMEN AND THE UNITED STATES WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN! MARY ELIZABETH BOWSER SERVED AS A SPY FOR THE UNION SPY DURING THE CIVIL WAR. SHE WAS A SERVANT FOR PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS. BECAUSE NO ONE EXPECTED A SLAVE TO BE ABLE TO READ OR WRITE SHE WAS ABLE TO PASS INFORMATION GATHERED TO THE UNION INTELLIGENCE. IN 1995 THE UNITED STATES GOVERMENT HONORED MARY ELIZABETH BOWERS BY INDUCTING HER INTO THE MILTARY INTELLIGENCE CORPS HALL OF FAME.

APOLOGY

I APOLOGIZE TO SOJOURNER TRUTH FOR BEHAVING LIKE A GIRL YOU TOLD ME I WAS WOMAN. HARRIET TUBMAN FREED ME BUT I REMAINED LOCK IN MY FEARS. MY PASSION JUST AS IDA B. WELLS WAS MY STRENGTH BUT I FORGET MARY CHURCH TERRELL TOLD ME WITH EDUCATION I AM AT MY BEST. I THOUGHT MY NONSENSE MADE SENSE EVEN WHEN MAGGIE LENA WALKER... TAUGHT ME HOW TO COUNT. I SIT LIKE MALCOM & I KNOW THAT I WAS WRONG IN DELIVERY BUT NOT IN THOUGHT.

SOPHIA SMITH

SMITH COLLEGE LOCATED IN NORTH HAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTES RECEIVED ITS NAME BECAUSE OF A PRICELESS GIFT GIVEN BY SOPHIA SMITH IN 1870. AT THE AGE OF 40 SOPHIA SMITH BECAME DEAF AND WAS SOON TO BE THE LAST OF HER IMMEDIATE FAMILY. AFTER SPEAKING WITH HER PASTOR SHE DECIDED THAT UPON HER DEATH HER MONEY WOULD BE ENDOWED TO ...CREATE A SCHOOL FOR WOMEN THAT WOULD BE EQUAL TO THE EDUCATION THAT WAS PROVIDED FOR MEN. OVER 60,000 WOMEN HAVE ATTENDED SMITH COLLEGE FROM AROUND THE WORLD. IN 2000 SOPHIA SMITH WAS INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME FOR BEING A PIONEER FOR THE EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN AND EDUCATION.

VIRGINIA HAMILTON

"THE PAST MOVES ME & WITH ME ALTHOUGH I REMOVE MYSELF FROM IT. IT'S LIGHT OFTEN SHINES ON THIS NIGHT TRAVELER & WHEN IT DOES I SCRIBBLE IT DOWN. WHATEVER PLEASURE IS IN IT I NEED PASS ON. THAT'S HAPPINESS." VIRGINIA HAMILTON WROTE OVER 35 CHILDREN BOOKS THE MAIN CHARACTERS WERE AFRICAN AMERICANS. IN 1974 SHE WON THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR HER NOVEL, "M.C. HIGGINS THE GREAT."

MACON BOLLING ALLEN

"JUSTICE DENIED ANYWHERE DIMINISHES JUSTICE EVERYWHERE." MACON BOLLING ALLEN WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO PRACTICE LAW IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1844. A YEAR LATER HE PASSED THE BAR EXAM IN MASSACHUSETTES & OPENED THE FIRST BLACK LAW FIRM IN THE UNITED STATES. MACON BOLLING ALLEN CONTINUED TO CREATE FIRST FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN 1848 HE COMPLETED THE EXAM AND BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

HOT ASS

I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT YOU ABOUT UNTIL TODAY. I REMEMBER SEEING YOU AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD THERE WERE PLACES YOU WENT THAT I COULDN'T GO. BUT I NEVER FORGET ABOUT YOU. IT WAS FUN TO BE AROUND YOU BECAUSE IT WAS SO MANY THINGS YOU KNEW THAT I DIDN'T OR COULDN'T IMAGINE! I REMEMBER ME SITTING ON TOP OF THE MONKEY BARS AND YOU WERE HANGING BY YOUR FEET AS IF YOU HAD WINGS. I REMEMBER SAYING, "I WISH I COULD DO THAT!" YOU WOULD ALWAYS SAY,"IT WAS NOTHING."







AS SOON AS THE SUN MET THE MOON IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO GO. I USED TO THINK YOU WERE QUIET FOR THAT INSTANCE SO I KNEW IT WAS TIME TO GO HOME. EVERYTIME I WAS HALF HOME I REMEMBER YOU RUNNING UP STOPPING BESIDES ME SAYING,"I HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU GET HOME." I NEVER ASKED YOU WHERE YOU'RE HOME WAS I JUST ASSUMED YOU HAD ONE. WHEN I THINK ABOUT THOSE FEW WEEKS WHEN THE DAYS WERE LONG I WISHED IT NEVER ENDED. I SHOULD HAVE KEPT YOU TO MYSELF BUT YOU KNEW I COULDN'T NEVER KEEP A SECRET.






THE MOST IMPORTANT SECRET YOU HAD YOU NEVER SHARED WITH ME! EVERYONE ELSE KNEW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT ME AND EVEN THEN I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. I JUST REMEMBERED I COULDN'T WATCH YOU FEET HANG FROM THE MONKEY BARS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU DID THAT. I COULDN'T HEAR YOU RUNNINING AS I WAS WALKING HOME. I WOULDN'T KNOW EVERYTHING MORE BECAUSE YOU WASN'T THERE.






IT WASN'T UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON THAT I SAW YOU AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME! I WAS IN SHOCK I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU AT ALL! BUT WHEN I HEARD YOUR NAME, "HOT ASS," I KNEW IT WAS YOU. I JUST NEVER KNEW! IT WAS NEVER A SECRET YOU WERE KEEPING FROM ME YOU JUST DIDN'T WANT ME TO KNOW. YOU DIDN'T WANT ME TO KNOW WHERE YOU LIVED BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T WANT ME TO EVER KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR. YOU NEVER WANTED TO TAKE THE CHANCE OF ME KNOWING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I GO HOME. I STILL WISH YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT TO DO! YOU WERE MY FRIEND.






I NEVER KNEW THE REASON WHY WE COULDN'T BE FRIENDS WAS BECAUSE YOU'RE NAME WAS "HOT ASS." I THOUGHT THE NEIGBORHOOD KNEW THAT ANY GIRL NAMED "HOT ASS" IS A GIRL WHO WAS TOUCHED BY A MAN OR WOMAN WHO DIDN'T CARE THAT SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL. SO WHEN I HEARD YOUR NAME TODAY IT BOUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES!

WOMEN IN ISLAM

Islam emphasizes the equality of all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or social status. Islam has prescribed different roles and responsibilities for men and women, with each gender complementing the other. Centuries before the modern world recognized women's rights, Islam acknowledged the equality of the two genders, and abolished the barbaric ritual of burying infant daughters alive, an outrageous crime practiced by the Arabs before the time of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).

Islam made women aware of their rights and gave them an identity, a personality, freedom, and independence. These rights, among others, include the right to inherit, to own property, to obtain a divorce, to collect a dowry, and to gain child custody. Regarding the equality of the genders, the Holy Qur'an states:


"Surely the men who submit and the women who submit, and the believing men and the believing women, and the obeying men and the obeying women, and the truthful men and the truthful women, and the patient men and the patient women and the humble men and the humble women, and the almsgiving men and the almsgiving women, and the fasting men and the fasting women, and the men who guard their private parts and the women who guard, and the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember-Allah has prepared, for them forgiveness and a mighty reward." (33:35)

According to Islam, being a human, woman is even superior to angels and all other living organisms. If she performs any good task or deed, she will be equally blessed as much as a man will for his good deeds.

She is the benefactor and patron of Islam, as lady Khadija (Wife of Holy Prophet [saw]).

She is a partner of prophethood, as lady Fatima (Daughter of Holy Prophet [saw]).

She is one of the greatest leaders, as lady Zainab (Daughter of Imam Ali [as])

She superior to man, as a mother.

She's respectable like a saint.

She is precious like an expensive pearl.

She is honorable like a delicate rose.

A woman is a flower vase of beauty and fragrance. So smell her gently, do not wrestle with her! - Imam Ali (as)

Women are like flowers. Do not put on them responsibilities they can not bear! - Imam Ali (as)


Islam emphasizes the equality of all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or social status. Islam has prescribed different roles and responsibilities for men and women, with each gender complementing the other.

 MODESTY & DECENCY

HOLY QUR'AN PROCLAIMS: O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. ( Soorah-e-Ahzaab, verse 59)


And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss. ( Soorah-e-Noor, verse 31)


Islam does not allow free and unrestricted intermingling of the sexes. The rule of modesty applies to men as well as women.


CORRUPT VS PURE: Women impure are for men impure, and men impure for women impure and women of purity are for men of purity, and men of purity are for women of purity: these are not affected by what people say: for them there is forgiveness, and a provision honorable. (Holy Quran 24:26)


A woman's best Jewelry is her Shyness. - Lady Fatima Zehra (sa)


Nice girls are with Hijaab. - Prophet Muhammad (saw)



PROPERTIES OF THE BEST WOMEN:

She is content: Such woman is the best one who becomes happy and content when her husband puts a loving glance on her, and when he orders her for something right, she obeys him immediately, and never does any thing against his will. - Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw)


She is a great cook and a good administrator: A woman who cooks neat, clean and delicious food for her husband. Allah has provided great food for such nice wife in paradise. In heaven, she will be asked to drink and eat whatever you wish, as this is the reward for the pain and services which you performed for your husband! - Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw)


The best woman among your women is one who cooks delicious food, spends the money justly and does not waste it. Such women are the workers of Allah, and the workers of Allah never get hopeless and regretful! - Imam Jafer-e-Sadiq (as)


She is priceless: A woman doesn't have any price, whether she is good or bad. A good and nice lady can not be measured with money or gold or silver, as she is far more expensive and precious than money or gold. Similarly, a woman with bad character and worst nature can not be compared with sand, as sand is far more higher and good than her. - Imam Jafer-e-Sadiq (as)


She is loving, caring and patient: Do not you want me to tell you about those ladies who will enter paradise? A woman who is loving and caring to her husband, and gives births to his children and when he gets angry with her, she instantly says My hand is in your hand like she does not get satisfied until her husband becomes happy with her. - Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw)


She is obedient: Lucky and fortunate woman is one who respects her husband and does not give him any pain, hurt or discomfort and does not makes him worried and obeys him in all the right aspects of life. - Imam Jafer-e-Sadiq (as)


She does Jehaad: The Jehaad of woman is that she must not lose her patience if she gets hurt from her husband. Her patience is her Jehaad. - Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw)


And the paradise is under the feet of your mothers. - Prophet Muhammad (saw)


Islam has greatly emphasized the issue of loving and respecting the parents, the father and the mother. In our infancy and childhood, we needed the protection, love and nurturing of the parents; but when they become old, they need us to protect them and take care of them.


"Your Lord has commanded that you shall not worship (anyone) but Him and to be good to the parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them (so much as) 'Ugh' nor chide them, and speak to them a generous word. And lower for them 'the wings of humility' out of mercy; and pray; 'O my Lord! Have mercy on them as they brought me up (when I was) little.'" (17:23-24)


However, out of the two, the mother has been given greater priority as far as kindness is concerned. Once Hakim bin Hizam came to the Prophet of Islam and asked: "To whom should I be kind?" The Prophet replied, "Your mother." Hakim asked, "Then to whom?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." Hakim asked, "Then to whom?" The Prophet replied, "Your mother." Only when Hakim asked the fourth time that, "Then to whom?" the Prophet replied, "Your father." This shows that the right of mother upon the children is three times more than the rights of father as far as kindness is concerned.


Imam Ali bin Hussain, the great-grandson of the Prophet, said: "Coming to the rights of relatives, it is the right of your mother that you should appreciate that she carried you [in her womb] as nobody carries anybody, and fed you the fruits of her heart which nobody feeds anybody, and protected you [during pregnancy] with her ears, hands, legs, hair, limbs, [in short] with her whole being, gladly, cheerfully and carefully; suffering patiently all the worries, pains, difficulties and sorrows [of pregnancy], till the hand of God removed you from her and brought you into this world."


"Then she was most happy feeding you, even if she herself had no clothes; giving you milk and water; not caring for her own thirst; keeping you in the shade, even if she had to suffer from the heat of the sun; giving you every comfort with her own hardship; lulling you to sleep while keeping herself awake."


"And [remember that] her womb was your abode, and her lap your refuge, and her breast your feeder, and her whole existence your protection; it was she, not you, who was braving the heat and cold of this world for your safety."


"Therefore, you must remain thankful to her accordingly, and you cannot do so except by the help and assistance from Allah." (The Charter of Right, p.18)

WORD PLAY

I TALK DIRECT AND NOT INDIRECT.

SO WHAT I SAY IS CLEARLY HEARD.

I DO NOT REFER TO HIM, HER OR THEY BECAUSE I KNOW

WHAT I SAY WILL BE MISUNDERSTOOD.

I DO NOT SPEAK IN CODES NOR DO I SPEAK WITH LETTERS.

NO NEED FOR CODES OR USELESS LETTERS I HAVE WORDS

TO DESCRIBE DIRECTIONS.

FEELINGS ARE SIMPLY ACTIONS!

MEANINGLESS VERBS IF NOT USE IN A SENTENCE.

CATCH PHRASES ARE SIMPLE AS WELL.

MEANINGLESS WORDS IN A INCOMPLETE SENTENCE.

AT TIMES I FIND MYSELF SPEAKING VERY FAST.

IF THE HAND IS FASTER THAN THE EYE THAN MY

TONGUE WILL NEVER COME IN LAST.

ITS MY WAY OF MAKING YOU LISTEN

BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ONE WORD.

I PRONUNCIATE WORDS TO GIVE THEM DIRECTION.

THE WORDS WILL TAKE MY LEAD AND FOLLOW MY ACTIONS.

I HAVE NO NEED TO TALK INDIRECT

MY WORDS LISTEN AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS.

WERE WE TALKING OR ARGUING?

I WAS TALKING TO LOVE TODAY AND I SAID LOVE YOU KNOW WHO I LOVE? LOVE SAID WHO?

SO I TOLD LOVE WHO I JUST LOVE!

LOVE SAID I LOVE THEM, TOO!

SO I TOLD LOVE YOU DON'T LOVE THEM AS MUCH I LOVE THEM!

LOVE SAID I LOVE THEM AS MUCH AS I LOVE LOVE!

AFTER THAT LOVE SAID YOU CAN'T LOVE THAT MANY PEOPLE?

I SAID WHY CAN'T I LOVE THAT MANY PEOPLE I LOVE ALL OF THEM!

LOVE SAID YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH LOVE LIKE I DO I HAVE A LOT OF LOVE SO I CAN LOVE ALL THOSE PEOPLE.

SO I TOLD I LOVE I DO HAVE THAT MUCH LOVE BECAUSE I LOVE LOVE

SO I HAVE ENOUGH LOVE TO LOVE ALL OF THEM.

AFTER ARGUING WE WITH LOVE WE BOTH AGREED THAT WE JUST LOVE THEM!

BESIDES IT WAS VALERIE FISHER'S FAULT BECAUSE SHE SAID SHE JUST LOVES LOVES!

HIS SCENT

YOUR SMELL HAS BECOME A PART OF ME.



I SMELL ON MY SKIN!


I SMELL IN MY MIND!


WHEN THE SKY IS COLORED IN BLUE AND I FEEL


THE WARMTH OF THE SUN, I SMELL OF YOU!


AT NIGHT WHEN THE BREEZE ROLLS ALONG SIDE


THE OCEAN WAVES, I SMELL YOU!


WHEN DAY MEETS NIGHT DURING


THE FIRST MOMENTS OF STILLNESS, I SMELL OF YOU!


I SMELL OF LUST!


I SMELL OF HURT!


I SMELL OF HOPES OF LOVE!


I SMELL OF YOU!

LEARNING ME

I NO LONGER HAVE THE PATIENCE TO LEARN ANYONE ELSE.



I'M QUITE BORED WITH THOSE I HAVE LEARNED.


AND I STILL DON'T KNOW MUCH.


ITS RACE I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD TO RUN.


I CAME IN LAST BUT MANAGED TO STILL BE FIRST.


SO MUCH TIME I HAVE LOST!


BUT I NEVER KNEW TIME WAS MINE TO KEEP.


THE IDEA OF RIDING THIS TO THE END IS LIKE A DEAD END STREET.


IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS NO END IN SIGHT.


TRAVELING IN TIME AND SPACE I THOUGHT I WOULD FLY.


I CLIPPED MY WINGS AND DECIDED TO WALK.

COSTLY

IF IT WASN'T FOR THE TICKET I WOULD NOT KNOW HOW TO COUNT.



I CAN'T IMAGINE SKIPPING THAT MANY TOLLS AT ONE TIME.


CHANGE IN MY POCKET, CHANGE IN PURSE, DOLLARS IN MY WALLET.






MAYBE I WAS BEING LAZY AND I DIDN'T WANT TO COUNT.


I PROBABLY COULDN'T REACH IT'S SOMEWHERE ON THE GROUND.


ARE YOU GIVEN CHANGE WHEN IT'S UNDER A DOLLAR?






I WONDER SHOULD I FIGHT IT OR GIVE IN AND PAY IT.


IS IT WORTH A FIGHT WHEN I KNOW I'M GOING TO LOSE?


COULD JUST PAY IT BUT IT'S LIKE MONEY BURNED.






CHECKING THE DATES LISTED I REMEMBER YOU WERE THERE.


RIGHT BY MY SIDE WINDOW DOWN ENJOYING THE NIGHT AIR.


A SONG WAS PLAYING ON THE RADIO MAYBE I DIDN'T HEAR IT.






DID YOU SAY HERE COMES THE TOLL?


OR MAYBE YOU THOUGHT I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN.


IF I TALK NOT RAISE MY VOICE IT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

NIGHTS OF RAIN

LOOKING AT THE RAIN REMINDS ME OF THE NIGHTS YOU



HELD ME CLOSE BUT WAS SO FAR AWAY.


AT TIMES I FOUND MYSELF CRYING WITH THE RAIN.


IT REPLENISHES THE SOUL AND CLEANSES THE SPIRIT.






HOLDING THE THOUGHTS OF YOU.


I FEEL YOUR ARMS CLOSE TO MY HEART.


NEAR MY NECK I REACH FOR YOU.






THE RAIN AGAINST THE GLASS REMINDS ME I AM HERE.


IT FEELS LIKE YOUR FINGERTIPS TAPPING ME EVERYWHERE.






IF THE RAIN CLEARS I KNOW THIS IS THE LAST OF YOU I WILL SEE.


NOT A DROP NOR A TEAR I SAVE THEM ALL


HOPING YOU WILL COME BACK AND BE WITH ME AGAIN.






THE RAIN IS COUNTLESS DROPS OF TEARS AND FEARS.






HOPING YOU BELIEVE ONE AND NOT THE OTHER.


AFRAID OF LOSING I STARE LONGER.


TRYING TO COUNT EACH ONE BUT NO ONE IS THE SAME.






IT SERVES PURPOSES AND GIVES NEW MEANING.


TWO OF THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT IN MEANING.


THERE IS NO ONE OR THE OTHER.






I NEED THEM BOTH JUST SO I CAN FEEL THE RAIN.

PROFESSIONAL OR UNPROFESSIONAL

"I KNOW THAT IF POISON IS IN A VIRAL WHICH SAYS P-O-I-S-O-N AND HAS A SKULL AND THE CROSS BONES, THAT IT IS POISON. BUT IF YOU POUR THE SAME THING INTO BAVARIAN CRYSTAL IT IS STILL POISON?" MAYA ANGELOU



I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT MAYA ANGELOU MEANT BY THAT! WE CANNOT EXCUSE OURSELVES WHEN WE SPEAK AND BEHAVE IN SUCH DEROGATORY MANNERS. OUR GENERATION AND CULTURE HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY WERE BAD MEANS GOOD AND HATE MEANS LOVE. THE REASON FOR THIS CHANGE IS SIMPLY BECAUSE OUR GENERATION AND CULTURE HAS MADE IT SO EASY.


YES, THERE ARE SEVERAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL REASONS BECAUSE OF THIS BUT THIS CANNOT BE OUR EXCUSE. AS ONE WHO DESIRES TO BECOME PART OF THE SOLUTION BY EDUCATING MYSELF AND OTHERS. WHAT AM I TO DO?


I KNOW I AM NOT TO SPEAK NOR BEHAVE IN SUCH A DEROGATORY WAY BUT WHAT IF I AM USING THAT AS AN EXAMPLE, ANALOGY OR METAPHOR JUST TO ILLUSTRATE TO GIVE MEANING. NOT MEANING TO THE DEROGATORY ACTIONS BUT THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE LESSON I AM TEACHING.


DEALING WITH THE SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT ARE OUR GENERATION IS NOW FACING SHOULD OUR CONCERN BE WITH THE DELIVERY OR THE APPROACH. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DELIVERY SHOULD NOT BE AN AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL TO APPROACH. BUT ARE WE TRULY ENSURING THAT WE ARE DELIVERING THE IDEA OF EDUCATION TO ALL. THAT IS THE QUESTION I HAVE WITHIN MYSELF. MY CONCERN IS WITH THOSE WHO DEFINE BAD AS MEANING GOOD AND HATE AS MEANING LOVE. I KNOW THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE NOT APPROACHED. DO I BELIEVE THIS IS THE ONLY APPROACH? NO! I BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY BE JUST THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND DRAMATIC APPROACH.


POISON IS POISON REGARDLESS OF THE COLORFUL LABEL OR WITH A BOW BUT WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT MANY OF US HAVE TASTED OR DRANK THIS POISON AND GROWN A LIKEN TO THE TASTE.

GREAT JUGGLING

IT SEEMS LIKE IN LIFE WE ARE ALWAYS GOING FROM ONE TO THE NEXT.



FROM A BABY TO A CHILD TO A TEEN THEN TO ADULTHOOD.


IN THE MIST OF ALL THAT WE REMAIN SOMEONE'S CHILD, SOMEONE'S SISTER.


WERE ALWAYS SOMEONE TO SOMEONE ELSE.






WE ACCEPT ITS THE LIFE CYCLE AS LIFE IS MEANT TO BE.


NOTHING TO DISPUTE OR PROVE TO BE TRUE.


IT'S A BLESSING TO MAKE IT FROM ONE TO NEXT.






FROM FRUSTRATIONS WE ARE ENCOURAGE TO GROW.


WITH GROWTH COMES INDEPENDENCE TO BE FREE AS WE THINK.


LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE AS A PLANNED ESCAPE.


BUT WHAT WE PLAN FOR IS TO BE FREE!






NO LONGER SOMEONE'S CHILD, SOMEONE'S SISTERS JUST SOMEONE!


NOT A BABY FAR FROM A CHILD NOW WE ARE ADULTS.


BACK AT THE BEGINNING WITH NEW FRUSTRATIONS.

LIST OF WORTHY BOOKS FOR KIDS TO READ

"THE PAST MOVES ME & WITH ME ALTHOUGH I REMOVE MYSELF FROM IT. IT'S LIGHT OFTEN SHINES ON THIS NIGHT TRAVELER & WHEN IT DOES I SCRIBBLE IT DOWN. WHATEVER PLEASURE IS IN IT I NEED PASS ON. THAT'S HAPPINESS. THAT I AM" VIRGINIA HAMILTON IS ONE OF THE MOST HONORED AFRICAN AMERICAN WRITERS FOR CHILDREN'S NOVELS.




HERE IS A LIST OF THE BOOKS SHE HAS WRITTEN. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SHARE THESE BOOKS WITH THE CHILDREN IN YOUR LIFE!



ZEELY

THE HOUSE OF DIES DREAR

THE TIME-AGO TALES JAHDI

THE PLANET OF JUNIOR BROWN

TIME-AGO LOST: MORE TALES OF JAHDI

M.C. HIGGINS THE GREAT

ARILLA SUN DOWN, JUSTICE AND HER BROTHERS

DUSTLAND

THE GATHERING

SWEET WHISPERS: BROTHER RUSH

THE MAGICAL ADVENTURES OF PRETTY PEARL

WILLIE BEA AND THE TIME THE MARTIANS LANDED

A LITTLE LOVE

JUNIUS OVER FAR

THE PEOPLE COULD FLY

THE MYSTERY OF DREAR HOUSE

A WHITE ROMANCE

ANTHONY BURNS: THE DEFEAT AND TRIUMPH OF A FUGITIVE SLAVE

IN THE BEGINNING: CREATIONS STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

THE BELLS OF CHRISTMAS

COUSINS

THE DARK WAY: STORIES FROM THE SPIRIT WORLD

DRYSLONGO

PLAIN CITY

WHEN BIRDS COULD TALK & BATS COULD SING: THE ADVENTURES OF BRUH SPARROW, SIS WREN AND THEIR FRIENDS

A RING OF TRICKSTERS: ANIMAL TALES FROM AMERICA, WEST INDIES AND AFRICA.

SECOND COUSINS

THE GIRL WHO SPUN GOLD

BRUH RABBIT AND TAR BABY GIRL

WEE WINNIE WITCH'S SKINNY.

SARAH E. GOODE

AFTER THE CIVIL WAR SARAH E. GOODE GAIN HER FREEDOM MOVED TO CHICAGO AND OPENED A MODEST FURNITURE STORE. DEALING WITH THE DIFFICULITIES OF NOT HAVING A ENOUGH SPACE SHE WORKED ON A IDEA OF COMBINING A FULL SIZE MATTRESS WITH THE FUNCTIONS OF A CABINET, DESK & SHELF. IN JULY 1885 SARAH E. GOODE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO APPLY FOR A PATENT AND AWARDED FROM THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE.