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Above (left to right):
Jim
Beckworth discovered the High Sierra pass that became a a
major emigrant route to California.
George Glenn
and Bose Ikard--two of many black cowboys who rode the
Chisholm and Goodnight-Loving Trails.
Jean Baptiste
Point DuSable, fur trader, friend to Indian, founder of
settlement that became Chicago
Harriet Tubman,
liberator of over 300 slaves, nurse, spy and scout for North
during Civil War.
Peter Salem
(Bunker Hill, 1775), former slave, cited for extraordinary valor
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During
the months of February and March Cecil Elementary School,
located in East Baltimore, conducted several Black History
cultural sessions for students and the school community.
Students and staff participated in fashion shows, cultural
enrichment programs, essay contests, door decorating activities,
and a poetry contest.
Kiwana
Terry, a fourth grade teacher, sponsored a Black History
Poetry Contest. Some of the poems submitted by the students
are posted below. The ChickenBones: A Journal staff
hopes that all enjoy the poems of some of our youngest writers.
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Harriet Tubman
By
Leo Johnson
Harriett
Tubman was a slave.
And
she did not like to misbehave.
She
led many to freedom, a hundred times.
She
wasn't trying to commit a crime.
Her
family had no money not even a dime.
Her
master was not very kind.
Harriett
wanted a free life.
But
she didn't want to kill anyone with a knife.
She
was happy,
To
be free! To be Free
! |
| Leo Johnson is
an energetic fifth grader who loves play baseball and
chess. He wants to be a lawyer or computer technician
later in life. He lives in Baltimore with father, mother
and two brothers. His role model is his father because he
is smart and tough. |
 |
* *
* * *
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. |
* *
* * *
|
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. |
* *
* * *
|
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 |
* *
* * *
|
My
Future
By
Nathaniel Penick
My
future will be bright.
You
will see me go to college.
Forever
learning.
Understanding
past mistakes.
Taking
part in my own education.
Under
pressure I will shine.
Remembering
past heroes.
Eventually
I will prevail. |
* * * * *
Frederick Douglas Wanted Freedom
By Tashera Smith
Frederick
Douglas was a great man you see
An
African-American who wanted to be free.
He
escaped the South and went to the North
As
a slave for life he did what he ought.
He
became a great writer and speaker you see,
and
he made things better for you and for me.
and
for other slaves who wanted to be free.
Now,
that's the kind of writer I'll like to be.
He
never knew his right age, but that's all right with me,
because
he became a great writer and set himself free.
He
may have been black and he could have been white
But
now he is in heaven sleeping peacefully tonight.
* * * Tashera
is an active and thoughtful young lady who enjoys typing on
her computer. These skills will be useful when she grows up
and becomes a teacher. Tashera who lives with her father
identifies her grandmother as her role model. Tashera has
five sisters and one brother. |
* * * * *
|
 
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. |
* * * * *
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. |
* * * * *
| 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. |
* * * * *
|
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! |
* * * * *
|
Thankful for my Heritage
By Kieara Manley
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! |
* * * * *
|
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. |
* * * *
*
|
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. |
* * *
* *
* * * * *
|
The New Jim Crow
Mass Incarceration in the Age of
Colorblindness
By Michele Alexander
Contrary to the
rosy picture of race embodied in Barack
Obama's political success and Oprah
Winfrey's financial success, legal
scholar Alexander argues vigorously and
persuasively that [w]e have not ended
racial caste in America; we have merely
redesigned it. Jim Crow and legal racial
segregation has been replaced by mass
incarceration as a system of social
control (More African Americans are
under correctional control today... than
were enslaved in 1850). Alexander
reviews American racial history from the
colonies to the Clinton administration,
delineating its transformation into the
war on drugs. She offers an acute
analysis of the effect of this mass
incarceration upon former inmates who
will be discriminated against, legally,
for the rest of their lives, denied
employment, housing, education, and
public benefits. Most provocatively, she
reveals how both the move toward
colorblindness and affirmative action
may blur our vision of injustice: most
Americans know and don't know the truth
about mass incarceration—but her
carefully researched, deeply engaging,
and thoroughly readable book should
change that.—Publishers
Weekly |
 |
*
* * * *
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Blacks in Hispanic Literature: Critical Essays
Edited by
Miriam DeCosta-Willis
Blacks in Hispanic Literature is a
collection of fourteen essays by scholars and
creative writers from Africa and the Americas.
Called one of two significant critical works on
Afro-Hispanic literature to appear in the late
1970s, it includes the pioneering studies of
Carter G. Woodson and
Valaurez B. Spratlin, published in the 1930s, as
well as the essays of scholars whose interpretations
were shaped by the Black aesthetic. The early
essays, primarily of the Black-as-subject in Spanish
medieval and Golden Age literature, provide an
historical context for understanding 20th-century
creative works by African-descended, Hispanophone
writers, such as Cuban
Nicolás Guillén and Ecuadorean poet, novelist,
and scholar
Adalberto Ortiz, whose essay analyzes the
significance of Negritude in Latin America. This
collaborative text set the tone for later
conferences in which writers and scholars worked
together to promote, disseminate, and critique the
literature of Spanish-speaking people of African
descent. . . .
Cited by a
literary critic in 2004 as "the seminal study in the
field of Afro-Hispanic Literature . . . on which
most scholars in the field 'cut their teeth'."
|
* * * * *
The White Masters of the
World
From
The World and Africa, 1965
By W. E. B. Du Bois
W. E. B. Du Bois’
Arraignment and Indictment of White Civilization
(Fletcher)
* *
* * *
Ancient African Nations
* * * * *
If you like this page consider making a donation
* * * * *
Negro Digest /
Black World
Browse all issues
1950
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
____ 2005
Enjoy!
* * * * *
The Death of Emmett Till by Bob Dylan
/
The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
/
Only a Pawn in Their Game
Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson Thanks America for
Slavery /
George Jackson /
Hurricane Carter
* *
* * *
The Journal of Negro History issues at Project Gutenberg
The
Haitian Declaration of Independence 1804
/
January 1, 1804 -- The Founding of
Haiti
* * * * *
posted 2003
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