Ms. Rosa Parks 

By Devon Dixon

Coming home from a day at work and they treated her like dirt.

They wanted her to give up her seat, but all she wanted was some sleep.

"Oh my God what they did".

They put her in jail and made her scared.

They got everyone in fright,

Wondering what they'll do tonight.

We couldn't go to some schools back then.

What could we do?

How could they treat us like that?

Why we were mad, they were glad.

They treated us so badly.

Do you see what Rosa Parks went through?

to help you and me?

We love you Rosa.

Devon is an energetic and inquisitive fourth grader. He loves to ask questions and play football. He wants to be an entertainer when he grows up. He lives with his mother, father, and brother. He identifies his father as his role model.

My Future

By Jermaine Mamillan

My future will be bright!

You will see me be successful.

Forever growing.

Using my knowledge to improve life.

Trying to be the best that I can.

Understanding the past.

Realizing dreams.

Everyone can succeed!

 Harriet Tubman

By Brenda Nichols

Harriet Tubman didn't take no stuff

and wasn't scared of nothing either.

She didn't come in this world to be no slave

and was going to stay one either.

She escaped and ran back to free three hundred others

Harriet was great. Harriet was proud!

She put on a smile and did not die a slave.

She helped a lot of people and she constantly gave.          

Brenda is a thoughtful fourth grader who likes to read and go to the beach. She lives in Baltimore with her mother and father. Brenda has aspirations of becoming a lawyer. Her grandmother is her role model and encourager.

Thankful for my Heritage

As I close my eyes and see the world today

I know in your dreams, you did not imagine it this way.

People are doing things unnecessarily.

The sights I see I hope are only temporary.

You were great women and men; you did all you could.

I'm blessed by your intelligence because you understood.

We are all-equal and created the same.

Even to this day we celebrate your fame.

Martin, Malcolm and Harriet fought that we would have our rights.

We are destroying one another, not Blacks against Whites.

I'm writing this poem because I understand.

You're heroes, strong, courageous Black women and men.

People search your soul and let's build the bridge

Come to realize" A bright future is built upon our heritage"!

Kieara really enjoys acting in drama class. She is thoughtful and loves a good debate. She would like to be a lawyer later in life. She lives in Baltimore with her grandmother, brother and sister. Her older sister Ciarra is her role model because she attended college and is contributing to the community in a positive way. Kieara has six brothers and six sisters!

 A Poem about Rosa Parks   

By Jordan Wallace

Rosa Parks didn't give up her seat.

Rosa Parks had tired feet.

Rosa Parks went to jail

Rosa Parks made bail.

Rosa Parks had a speech.

She wanted her friend Martin to preach.

Rosa Parks was a fighter.

She helped the black community to grow tighter.

Jordan, an energetic fourth grader, likes to play video games. He wants to be a teacher when he reaches adulthood. His mother is his role model and encourager. He lives with his mother, cousin and grandmother. He has one sister and one brother.

My Future    

By Rukiyah Myles  

My future will be bright.

You will see me be successful.

Following the footsteps of the others,

Using my skills in life.

Trying to be the best I can be.

Under pressure I will shine

Rukiyah will rule!

Everyone can succeed!

Rukiyah is an active second grader who likes to ride her bike, play with dolls and read. Rukiyah says she wants to be a police officer when she grows up so that she can help people. She says her mom is her role model. She lives at home with her mother and two brothers.

Harriet the Conductor   

By Briana Robertson

Hero! Hero! That she is.

She led the slaves through the railroad.

To Freedom's Way

She sacrificed her time

and was not paid a dime.

Thanks to Harriet Tubman

Who helped to free the slaves?

From all their agony and pain.

On her Underground Railroad train.

Even though she could not read or write.

She fought for black and whites.

to have all the same equal rights.

Briana wants to be an obstetrician when she grows up. She is a thoughtful fourth grader who enjoys drawing, painting, and reading. Briana lives in Baltimore with her mother, two brothers, and sister. She says her mother is her role model because she tea chess her right from wrong.

My Aunt May 

By  Saytia Kingwood

My Aunt May has to fight many fights

To help other countries get their rights.

She is also my inspiration

Because she helps them get back civilization.

To help these places

Around the world

She has to move

In different spaces.

I salute my Aunt May in every way

Because of what she does for countries

Everyday.

All these things that she can do

Is because she is in the army

For me and you.

My Aunt May says she takes her job seriously.

When people ask her very curiously.

She has nothing to be afraid of

But she is sad that she has friends above.

I salute my Aunt May in every way.

All day, every day.

Saytia is an active fourth grader who loves to skate and dance. She aspires to be an actress when she reaches adulthood. Her role model is her Aunt May. She lives in Baltimore with her mother, grandmother, two sisters and her grandmother’s friend. She has one other sister who does nit live with her.

L. L. Cool J

My African-American Hero  

By Joyce Whitfield

L.L. Cool J is fine

L.L. Cool J is a singer

L.l.   Cool J is on the right line

L.L. Cool J is hot

L.L. Cool J has a big song

L.L. Cool J is not a Banger!

Joyce is a creative fifth grader who loves to draw. She lives in Baltimore with her mother and father. Her mother is her role model. She has one sister. Joyce aspires to become a teacher.

The Midnight Train

By Christina Knox

The conductor said, "come, come" aboard

There is a train that traveled during the still of the night.

I will part the dark sea of slavery,

to freedom you see.

Don't let this train pass you by,

because it doesn't know the time or the hour that it will come back by.

You ask me if there is a price?

"I say yes, you must fight to free your life."

One may ask who are you?

I reply, "Some may call me the creeper of the night,

or some may call me the Black Moses of my time".

However, I know myself as Harriet Tubman.

Oprah Winfrey  

By Jasmine Brooks

Oprah Winfrey was nineteen

when she appeared on the TV screen

She won awards in ninety-eight,

She played in movies and was in magazines

She even did this as a teen.

She was young, but she was so strong.

How can anyone prove her wrong?

Jasmine a fifth grader loves to read, draw and do math. She has decided whether she wants to be a teacher or a doctor. She lives in Baltimore with her mother and father. She says her mother is her role model. She has one sister and one brother.

Harriet Tubman

By Tamira Garris

Harriet was born a slave,

One more thing, she was oh so brave.

Harriet Tubman was very strong

and told the slaves to follow along.

However, she was gorgeous and wise

and told herself to save more lives.

Boy, I wish she were still here

So everyone could give her cheers!

Tamira is a fifth grader who loves to read and do math because it helps to educate me. She wants to be a pediatrician because she loves children. Tamira says her mother is her role model because she is very responsible. She lives with her mother, brother and great-grandmother. She has a sister who does not live with her

Rosa Parks

By Ke`Asia Williams

She got on the bus,

In a rush.

she sat down in a seat,

To rest her hard working feet.

Because of the laws back then,

Time in jail is what she would spend.

Rosa Parks contributions have helped

laws get better for you, me and our kin.

Ke`Asia is fifth grader who loves to read and draw. She feels that she may become the first female president of the United States. She lives with her stepfather, aunt, 2 cousins, 2 sisters, and mother. Her mother is her role model.