Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories: Contemplating the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories | 2021

Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories | 2021

Beginning on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and extending through the end of Black History Month, students were invited to submit forms of artistic/ academic expression centered around the theme of Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories: Contemplating the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and our Nation’s Struggle for Racial Justice.

Three winners and three honorable mentions were selected, The three winners presented their work during our Prayer Service at the Community Center on February 27th, closing the scheduled activities for Black History Month, and will be honored by the Office of Diversity and Belonging and Campus Ministry.

All entries were powerful examples of the importance of voices and will be uploaded to Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month Celebration and are contained in this booklet. Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories: Contemplating the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and our Nation’s Struggle for Racial Justice will become an annual event.

Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories | 2021

1st Place

Jacqueline Jewell, SGPS – Collection of Poems

Prologue:

She was just a 26-year-old woman. She was a black woman. She was an EMT, a medical worker, a kind soul who liked to help others, and so much more…

On March 13th, 2020, Breonna Taylor lay asleep next to her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker; they had just spent the day together relishing in their love and strong friendship.

Outside their building, police were gathering, preparing themselves to raid what they assumed was a residence housing drug dealers. Unexpectedly, Breonna and her boyfriend were awoken by loud noises at the door. Scared of it being a possible home invasion, Breonna yelled out, “Who is it?” several times and received no response. Fiercely protective of his woman, Breonna’s boyfriend reached for his legally-owned firearm to reassure their safety. Not one officer knocked nor responded to Breonna’s calls. That is when pieces of broken hinges to the door flashed before Breonna and her boyfriend. Kenneth in reaction fired one shot just before the officers returned fire with over 20 rounds. Breonna screamed in agony as Kenneth rushed to her side. She had been shot at least 8 times. Frantically, Kenneth dialed 911 while he held the love of his life in his arms, as she lay dying before him. Pleading out of confusion with the dispatcher on the phone to send for help, Kenneth could not understand why this was happening. A beautiful young black woman died that day.

Police have found no drugs, no cause for suspicion or illegal activity in, on, or around Breonna Taylor and her boyfriend. They simply were guilty of being black.

Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories | 2021

Say Her Name By: Jacqueline Jewell

Police Miscalculation Leads to Death of a Local Woman in Louisville, Kentucky.

B

Louisville Woman Fatally Shot by Local Police in Her Home for Suspect Drug Charges

R

Officers Serving a Narcotics Warrant Fatally Shoot Taylor in Her Home in Louisville, Kentucky

E

Police Announce the Arrest of Kenneth Walker in the Wounding of an Officer During an Exchange of Gunfire; Unresponsive Woman is Later Pronounced Dead at the Scene.

O

Walker Initially Faces Criminal Charges of First-Degree Assault and Attempted Murder of a Police Officer.

N

Kenneth Walker, Boyfriend of Breonna Taylor, Has Been Charged with Attempted Murder of a Police Officer After Louisville Officers Bust into Taylors Home.

N

Taylor’s Family Files a Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against the Police Department and City, Challenging the Police Narrative.

A

Top Louisville Prosecutor Tom Wine Rescues Himself from Reviewing Police Investigation, Attorney General Daniel Cameron is Named as the Special Prosecutor.

T

Neighbor of Breonna Taylor, Chelsey Napper, Sues Officers Brett Hankinson, Myles Cosgrove and Jonathan Mattingly, accusing them of Disregarding Human Life by Spraying Gunfire into Napper’s Apartment.

A

Prosecutors Announce They Will Drop Attempted Murder Charges Against Walker, Who Shot at Officers in his Girlfriend’s Home.

Y

Walker’s Anguished 911 Call is Released, Three Days After the Death of George Floyd at the Hands of Police in Minnesota, Sparks Large Protests in Louisville.

L

Today Mayor, Greg Fischer Has Suspended the Use of No-Knock Warrants by Louisville Police.

O

Fischer Fires Police Chief Steve Conrad After Officers Failed to Turn on Body Cameras in the Shooting of Barbecue Cook, David McAtee During Protests for Breonna Taylor in Louisville.

Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories | 2021

R

Death of Breonna Taylor, a Black Medical Worker Who was Shot and Killed by Louisville Police Officers in March During a Botched Raid on Her Apartment, Has Resonated Around the World Inspiring More Movements of Racial Justice.

D

What You Don’t Know About Breonna Taylor: Award Winning EMT and Model Citizen.

E

Louisville Metro Council Unanimously Pass the “Breonna’s Law” Which Bans the Use of No-Knock Warrants.

S

Popstar, Beyonce Knowles-Carter, Writes to Attorney General Daniel Cameron, Urging Him to Charge the Police Officers Involved in Breonna Taylors Death.

E

Officer Brett Hankinson, One of Three Officers Who Fired Shots on the Night of Taylor’s Death, is Fired for “Blindly” Firing into Taylor’s Apartment.

R

Celebrities Join Hundreds of Demonstrators Outside State Capitol Calling on Cameron to Charge Officers.

V

Protestors Are Arrested for Demonstrating on Cameron’s Front Lawn.

E

Taylor’s Mother, Tamika Palmer, is Set to Meet with Attorney General, Daniel Cameron.

D

Kenneth Walker, Boyfriend of Breonna Taylor, Files Lawsuit Claiming he is a Victim of Police Misconduct and Asks for Immunity for Firing Bullet Wounding a Police Officer During the Botched Raid Killing Taylor.

B

Hundreds Peacefully Protest Outside Kentucky Derby, Urging Cameron to Criminally Charge the Officers.

E

Mayor Greg Fischer Names Yvette Gentry, the First Black Woman to Lead Louisville Police Department, as Interim Chief Beginning October 1st.

T

City Announces Civil Settlement Providing Taylor’s Family with $12 Million and Promising Police Reforms.

T

City of Louisville Imposes Strict Curfews Days Leading to the Grand Jury Decision in Breonna Taylor Case.

E

Kentucky Grand Jury Indicts Hankinson for Shooting into Neighboring Apartments but Did Not Charge Any Officers for Their Role in Taylor’s Death.

R

Grand Jury Ruling Sparks More Demonstrations and Protests Around the U.S.

.

Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories | 2021

Central Figure in Louisville’s Breonna Taylor Protests, Shameka Parrish-Wright, Plans to Run for Mayor.

S

Cameron Ezike Giles, Better Known as Cam’ron, the American Rapper, Pushes to Keep Breonna Taylor’s Legacy Alive.

A

Grand Jury is More Empathetic to the Walls of Breonna’s Apartment Than They Are Her Life: When Will We Address This Pandemic of Racial Divide?

Y

Breonna Taylor’s Mother Reacts to Grand Jury Decision: Bashes the System and Says that Her Daughter Deserves Better.

H Breonna Taylor Cops Declare, “She’s Done” in Bodycam Footage.

E

‘Say Her Name. Don’t Say Mine’: Breonna Taylor’s Boyfriend Remains Haunted by Her Death.

R

911 Call from Breonna Taylor Shooting Released: ‘Somebody Kicked in the Door and Shot my Girlfriend’.

N New Video Shows Kenneth Walker’s Arrest as Police Draw Weapons.

A

Taylor Family’s Lawyers: Police Lied About Search Time, Acted on ‘Stale’ Intelligence.

M

Kentucky Lawmaker Introduces 3 New Bills in Wake of Breonna Taylor Case.

E

Justice for Breonna Taylor.

Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories | 2021

Black and Blue

Written by Jacqueline Jewell

NO AIR,

As I am looking down at my blood splattered jeans faulted from a formidable hand grappling with unease.

NO AIR,

As I look to my friend fraying unconsciously on the grey concrete, his body taunting me.

NO AIR,

For the natives, whose ancestors’ graves got invaded, the numbers of their people depleted-we grieving.

NO AIR,

For the Asian descendants because their loved ones were dying and Trump got offended, looking for his presidency to be extended.

NO AIR,

For the burka wearing Arab women seeking education for their rights to be driven but no man’s land will listen.

NO AIR,

In the Latinx communities searching for immunity, escaping a hard life so they can come here and live in unity.

NO AIR,

For our sons and daughters of a different skin color who keep getting slaughtered because you in the badge who cannot see that there aren’t any differences between you and me under one race called humanity.

NO AIR IN HERE. . .

when you take away our right to breathe.

Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories | 2021

“Little Mike”

Written by Jacqueline Jewell

A brilliant ray of summer haze, that beats down upon a well-dressed back, Two-hundred and fifty thousand pairs of feet marching along the black concrete of Constitution Ave, Signs of big bold colors waved high in union along with the star striped flag...

All in forward movement down Independence Ave. Politicians, Civil Leaders, and dream chasers make their way to the memorial of number sixteen.

Rising up to be heard... and be seen.

Late August and the sun is still beating, but, time remains still, for all the concentrated woes and Emmett Tills that endured lifetimes of pain and ill will.

This fight carries on still.

A minister strides up the podium after Rabbi Prinz, when the Queen of Gospel shouts, “Tell them about the dream, Martin!”

His speech begins...

Words of wisdom and passion spewing over thousands of ears, Young faces and a mass of different races, lifelines and raisin hands, children of God and believers of Allah alike... all together steady and still, Listening to freedom words.

Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories | 2021

2nd Place

Joseph Richards, UC Class of ’24 – Poem

Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories | 2021

3rd Place

Isabel Acosta, UC Class of ’22 – Collection of Poems

There Are So Many More

By Isabel Acosta

There is a wall, you know.

A wall that holds all the names of the people who died in Vietnam.

Over 57,000 names on that wall.

They’re there because they were lost too early And fought for what they believed was right.

It’s a beautiful site, But where is their wall?

The names of the people who died innocently.

The people who were walking home, Free of any crime, And died because their skin color made them a threat?

Where is their wall?

You know, I am only 20, But I have lived long enough to experience racism for 20 more years worth.

I have seen it within my friends who I would call family, And I have seen it through the media Where they don’t show you everything.

I have read it through books and articles.

I have seen it with my eyes and ears.

I don’t want to live in a world where I can say that I see and hear this.

I don’t want my future children to either.

I don’t want to constantly worry that every time my lover steps foot outside the door, He will be pulled over for being Black.

I don’t want that.

This world doesn’t want that.

They don’t want to fear that eventually being Black can earn you 20 years in prison.

They don’t want to see tear gas crumble the lungs of their family more than a cigarette.

Because one of those was an option, and one of them wasn’t.

We watch our brothers and sister walk along the streets With their fists in the air, Praying for a change.

For a moment that people recognize them as humans, too.

We stand in front of police officers, Begging for them to not see us by our appearance But by our hearts.

They say that racism is no more, But race still matters in the U.S.A. If t didn’t, We wouldn’t hear names like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, Emmett Till.

And those are only a portion, A very small portion, Of the names of the victims of racism.

There is a wall, you know.

A wall that holds all the names of the people who died in Vietnam.

They’re there because they were lost too early And fought for what they believed was right.

And yes, Vietnam was a war, But who’s to say that what we are living isn’t one either?

Because Vietnam may have had thousands of names, But people can only remember 7 names of the race victims.

But there are so many more names of people who lost their life because of the color of their skin.

There are so many more names that we haven’t heard of yet.

Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories | 2021

Do You Want to Save the World?

By Isabel Acosta

“We watch this world go blind.

Masks cover the bottom half of our face, Only revealing our eyes, Yet we watch this world go blind in seconds.

A virus with too many symptoms to detect Takes away our sense of smell and taste, Yet we watch this world go blind in minutes.

We hold our firsts in the air supporting a race whose lives matter, Yet we watch this world go blind in hours.

We fight for our rights against people who are supposed to make us feel safer, Yet we watch this world go blind in days.

We do countless hours of homework through a screen that tires our eyes, Yet we watch this world go blind in weeks.

The Earth around us slowly crumbles under society’s stigmas, And we watch this world go blind in months.

Generations from before judge us for how we have treated this world, Yet we watch as this world will become blind in years.

We watch riots take place in streets And get teargassed by police officers.

We watch people shrug off the thought That a virus has taken millions of lives.

We watch people drop out of school Because online school has become too hard to handle.

We watch everything, And we receive responses that don’t solve the problems.

We watch this world become blind to the problems that it holds, And we watch as people die for their answers.

It’s a mad world where we live, Yet it’s even more mad to know that we may never receive our answers.

We watch.

We speak.

We listen.

We fight.

We try.

But when?

When will our world open its eyes And watch us back?”

Our world has become a battleground for racism, selfishness, and brutality. It has become a place where “hope, freedom, and equality” do not feel reasonable anymore. We watch the news in fear of the stories we will read, and we cover children’s ears to protect them from the hateful world we have survived in.

But are we truly surviving? Our world is a plant that we overwater.

Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories | 2021

Honorable Mention

Talaya Martin Smith, UC Class of ’21 – Video

Hello, My name is Talaya Martin-Smith, I am a senior and Resident Assistant here at Rosemont College.

In honor of Black History Month and Martin Luther King Jr. I wanted to share my short film that I created during my internship with Big Picture Alliance this semester. Due to COVID-19 the theme for student films was resiliency and I thought there was no better way to showcase resilience other than filming my journey of going to school during a pandemic. I found out my mother contracted the virus one month after I started interning and it wasn’t until then that I knew my film was meant to be created, seen and heard. I want my film to not only encourage and inspire everyone that things will get better, but I also want to inform. I want it to reach all those who have been and still are impacted by COVID-19.

Thank you for allowing me to share my voice and tell my story of the uncertainty of our nation.

Click Here to watch film.

Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories | 2021

Honorable Mention

Mason Dennis, UC Class of ’22 – Essay

LAND OF THE FREE Mason Dennis

When thinking of my own story, it is hard to convey my feelings into words. I was raised in an area where I was one of maybe 50 black students max in my schools, where I wasn’t introduced to others until middle school. Luckily most people in my area were never negative toward me. There were times at athletic events where I might get a slur shot my way. When I think of Martin Luther King, I think of his message and the change he wanted to bring about. Though it has been years since MLK spoke in front of people, his message stays present. Rappers and artists are excellent with words and, since the majority of rappers are people of color, they speak so people of likeness can relate. In songs such as Johner Lucas’s “On This Way” and Joey Bada$$’s “LAND OF THE FREE,” artists convey their feelings on being a black american in modern day america.

“LAND OF THE FREE” has a powerful chorus singing, “Three K’s two A’s in america,’’ talking about the Hate Group “KKK” and the actual spelling of “America.” Being raised in Pennsylvania, specifically in Northeast Philadelphia, I never had an encounter with this hate group, but that doesn’t mean that the fear of them just being in existence doesn’t strike a horror in my soul.

Joey also has a line saying “Obama was not enough. I need some more closure and Donald Trump was not acquitted to take this country over.” As Donald’s last act of the presidency in January, he had his followers perform an attack on the capitol building.

Joey talks about post slavery and the effects, saying we still have the names of our slave owners on top of us -- not really learning our (black) history and the country disorganizing African American History throughout the country. Depending on where you live you learn different aspects of history whether that is due to budget or just the curriculum.

Joey has other songs talking about his feelings on his album “ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$,” but “LAND OF THE FREE” holds a spot in my heart because it really makes me think everytime I listen to it, and it has too many lyrics to talk about. “On This Way” talks about Johner Lucas’s perspective and experiences in this country. The bar that sticks with me the most is “Protest until we flatline paralyze, they throw stones at my Black Lives Matter sign.” This lyric resides with me because as a black male in this country, it seems that every other day another person who looks like me or someone in my family, is dead in the streets--after seeing images of peaceful protestors getting harassed by the officers sworn to protect them. In addition, Johner speaks about people throwing stones at his BLM sign which is literally an appalling thing to hear. When people who get angry with others fighting for equality in a country that preaches “All men are created equal,” this shows a country full of lies at least, from my perspective.

Many different artists of color, with many different perspectives on what it feels like to be an African American in a country that isn’t built for blacks, but built by the blacks. Growing up I find myself pondering on what the message of MLK sent the white people. You can not tell others what to see, but only things you see. Having musicians such as Joey and Johner allows everyone to hear and feel their lyrics. I wish to see a country that brings and respects all people and opinions, though that might be a fever dream with how this country is proceeding. Hopefully the dream that many have heard will become a reality one day.

Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories | 2021

Honorable Mention

Abigail Brooks, UC Class of ’22 – Poem

My Moment of Indignation Abigail Brooks

Have you ever felt so Black that you felt everywhere Just like they see it everywhere Anywhere you go Sometimes I travel through the streets Adorned in yellow Just to slow down time Just to really let this Black girl shine.

I’m so Black you can see itched on my back Written in Black each line connected to Both past and present So I never forget my presence I’m so Black you can see it in my mouth Not my teeth but in my gums. My Black ran out of room and you got to let Black breathe That’s why when they say freeze They have taken the life from me before the metal ever did With my Black you can see the melanin forcing its way into the light Almost like I’m forcing life out of me And into you because Baby you look like need some color So then when I utter words that make you uncomfortable Like these words don’t sound right They don’t feel white I mean like Why I got to force my Cantu to fit in with you I’m brown skin girl that was birthed A shea butter baby So that means my Black got soul and songs I used to hate my Black everywhere My Black wasn’t fair so I thought it wasn’t fair that I wasn’t treated fairly and frankly I didn’t like it because my Black didn’t fit in My Black was both too kinky and too proper My Black broke the monolithic because she didn’t want to run in the Olympics Their Black girl was entertainment My Black girl was intelligence And they be dammed if Black and smart was ever seen as anything other than any apart They wanted me to play a part. They called my Black fake. My Black was more fantasy than reality So my false reality was animated and recreated Reshaped to be anything but education and knowledge Because how can you control a person that understands.

They have the right to breathe, a right to be.

Sharing Our Voices, Telling Our Stories | 2021