ChickenBones: A Journal

for  Literary & Artistic African-American  Themes

   

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When we were poor /we laughed, we cried
we remembered history / and those who died
now we live without that pride.

 

 

 

Books by Latorial Faison

Secrets of My Soul: A Collection of Poetry  / Immaculate Perceptions 

28 Days of Poetry Celebrating Black History I  / 28 Days of Poetry Celebrating Black History  II

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When We Were Poor

By Latorial Faison

When we were poor
we had more ambition
more self respect
we knew the value
of a week's paycheck

When we were poor
we praised one God
shared one love
had a common goal
to rise above

When we were poor
we laughed, we cried
we remembered history
and those who died
now we live without that pride.

Now that we have
we seem to have forgotten
the requirements, the dreams
and the core of self respect
instilled way down inside us.

Now that we have
it's often every man for himself
to get and to get more
so that for the next man
there's not much left.

Now that we have
we love less, we hate more
the sisters and brothers
we walked hand in hand with
when we were poor.

posted 10 September 2005

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Latorial Faison, a native of Courtland, VA, studied English and Religious Studies at the University of Virginia and VA TECH. Faison has been writing poetry since adolescence, but in March 2000 she walked onto the literary scene as the founding editor of Poetically Speaking, a globally read online poetry magazine. In 2001 Faison's first book collection of poems, Secrets of My Soul, was published. This collection set the stage for what would follow in later publications such as Immaculate Perceptions in 2003, and two collections, 28 Days of Poetry Celebrating Black History I (2006)  and  28 Days of Poetry Celebrating Black History  II ( 2008).

Faison has been published in various literary journals, magazines, anthologies, and online publications. She has been published in the US and abroad in the following:  Anointed Magazine, Whispers of Inspiration, The Digital Drum sponsored by BET, Facets Literary Magazine, RiverSedge, The Nubian Chronicles, Seeker Magazine, Timbooktu,  The Taj Mahal Review, Red River Review, and many other venues.

Latorial's story "On Good Ground" is featured in the 2003 NAACP winner, Keeping the Faith,  a collection of nonfiction essays on love, courage, healing and hope from Black America edited by Tavis Smiley.  Her work has also received notice on radio shows like The Tom Joyner Morning Show and PowerTalkFM.com.

She has taught for various colleges and universities in the U.S. Currently, Faison is an Online Instructor for DeVry University. Latorial Faison is currently accepting speaking engagements as well as opportunities to appear and read poetry. For information on upcoming events, visit the EVENTS page of this site. Invite Latorial Faison, Poet & Author, to your next community, church, school, college, or university event. http://latorial.faithweb.com/Biography.html

Visit her online at http://www.latorialfaison.com/

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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)

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Ancient African Nations

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Negro Digest / Black World

Browse all issues


1950        1960        1965        1970        1975        1980        1985        1990        1995        2000 ____ 2005        

Enjoy!

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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

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The Journal of Negro History issues at Project Gutenberg

The Haitian Declaration of Independence 1804  / January 1, 1804 -- The Founding of Haiti 

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updated 9 July 2011

 

 

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Related files: Sounds of Blackness  When We Were Poor  Revelations  Chaos After Katrina . . .  A Poem for Rudy