1 HE TERLI>7G ALLEN BRO\\ N ENc;L1H SOC1ET
Inside this issue:
Bridging the Gap 2 Di
,
r’. 1 ja S rignt
4
\OLUME 7, ISsLE J
SPR17; 7014
Sterling Notes Sterling Allen Brown
Freedom to Run 6 Dismemberment Book Reviews
1.4 1.5
On Being Brown 20 in America 21 The African American Dream
SABES 20134 Executive Board
President: Marcus Tho mas Vice President: Nicholas Sheppard Co-Editors: Jenelle Davis and Clara Romeo
Born on May 1, 1901, on Howard University’s campus, Sterling Allen
Editorial Assistant:
Brown is an African American poet. After receiving his bachelor’s de gree from Williams College, Brown received his master’s at Harvard
Veronika Washington Public Relations: Tremecia Demby, Chelsea Anderson, and Alexis Boyd Event Planning: Radiah Shabazz, Myeshia Carter
University and in 1929 became a professor here at Howard. Sterling
Allen Brown published two books of poetry, Southern Road and The Last Ride of Wild Bill. Brown is best known for a writing style that incorpo rated authentic black dialect and his realistic portrayal of African Americans and their experiences.
I Page 2
Bridging The Gap
Bridging The Gap (continued)
By: Shane Lewis Sterling Notes Writer
blend various musical
What flows from their fin- all their own and subsequently use countries only one in 12 marriages gers and rings from their souis
this style to fight against racism
might one day change the world.
worldwide,
Whether with the old or new generation, Sousou and
consisted of mixed-race partners.
met after Sousou travelled to
Maher Cissoko want to be part of where the percentage of interracial Ziguinchor to study the Cissoko a changing mindset, not only in
C
1
ne connection or tne
styles and aspects of
music is really powerful, and it’s
their native cultures
part of our mission. The new gen
to create something
eration comes, and they need to
new. According, Sou see the connection,” Maher says.
Sousou and Maher have
According to the US Cen been together since 2006, having sus, even in the United States,
i
marriages has risen from 7 percent style of Kora playing, and marry
sou, the “Swedish
Sousou, on the other hand,
society is racist, and
slightly disagrees, “The old gen
[she is] from South
eration needs to see. The new
ttI
Sweden, the most generation coming, I think—I
racist part of Swe
hope they will be more open.
Europe and Africa but throughout in 2000 to 10 percent in 2010,
ing soon after. Since their union,
the entire world. They want to
there are still crimes committed
Sousou and Maher have been ad
usher in a new wave of under’
against interracial couples. A poll
vocating the need for unity with
1 couple, ousou arrirmea,1 we ye
standing and love, where people
done by Public Policy Polling
their multilingual music, and with
only ever received two negative
other interracial couples being
ther case, Sousou and Maher just
can exist outside of racial bounda shows that 21 percent of likely
conversations they hold on stage
comments on our YouTube, and
ridiculed by both the media and
want to spread good will and un
ries. Hailing from Sweden and
conservative voters in Mississippi
and at panels. Interestingly
they were both from Amen
the people, she states that she
derstanding to those who still
Senegal respectively, Sousou and
still believe interracial marriages
enough, the Cissokos have yet to
cans.”The comments essentially
and Maher have never experi
hate interracial love, even in this
Maher—nominated for Sweden’s
should be banned. This reflects
truly experience much hate,
asserted that Sousou was trying to enced this, despite their high visi day and age.
In an interview with the C’
CC.
Though she often sees
W1T
1 1 11 act 11 macK, oecause sne ana ner
There are so many people who
aen.
bility around town and
World Music Awards Band of the the persistent negative mindset
though they are in a multiracial
Year in 2011 and Album of the
held against many interracial cou
partnership.
Year in 2012—create an almost
pies present in many countries. A
inka dialect, ignoring the fact that media. They believe this
indescribable form of music.
study con
Maher also sings songs in Sou
is due to the genuine
These musicians blend the Swed
ducted by
sou’s Swedish tongue.
connection they share
ish oral tradition with that of the
Eurostat
husband sang songs in the Mand their presence in the
The couple finds that the
through the music, both
Senegalese griot in order to weave between
only negative comments people
adopting bits of each
tales and sounds that transcend
2008 and
have concern what outsiders see
other’s culture while
race, region, and culture. Using a
2010 con
as them trying to adopt the
remaining true to and
West African instrument known
firms that
other’s culture as their own. The
honoring their own
simply as the Kora, this couple has across 30
dynamic nature of the group
heritage at the same
In(’kled 1)0th cultures into a style
comes from the unique way they
time.
European
separate people so much,” In ei
I Page 2
Bridging The Gap
Bridging The Gap (continued)
By: Shane Lewis Sterling Notes Writer
blend various musical
What flows from their fin- all their own and subsequently use countries only one in 12 marriages gers and rings from their souis
this style to fight against racism
might one day change the world.
worldwide,
Whether with the old or new generation, Sousou and
consisted of mixed-race partners.
met after Sousou travelled to
Maher Cissoko want to be part of where the percentage of interracial Ziguinchor to study the Cissoko a changing mindset, not only in
C
1
ne connection or tne
styles and aspects of
music is really powerful, and it’s
their native cultures
part of our mission. The new gen
to create something
eration comes, and they need to
new. According, Sou see the connection,” Maher says.
Sousou and Maher have
According to the US Cen been together since 2006, having sus, even in the United States,
i
marriages has risen from 7 percent style of Kora playing, and marry
sou, the “Swedish
Sousou, on the other hand,
society is racist, and
slightly disagrees, “The old gen
[she is] from South
eration needs to see. The new
ttI
Sweden, the most generation coming, I think—I
racist part of Swe
hope they will be more open.
Europe and Africa but throughout in 2000 to 10 percent in 2010,
ing soon after. Since their union,
the entire world. They want to
there are still crimes committed
Sousou and Maher have been ad
usher in a new wave of under’
against interracial couples. A poll
vocating the need for unity with
1 couple, ousou arrirmea,1 we ye
standing and love, where people
done by Public Policy Polling
their multilingual music, and with
only ever received two negative
other interracial couples being
ther case, Sousou and Maher just
can exist outside of racial bounda shows that 21 percent of likely
conversations they hold on stage
comments on our YouTube, and
ridiculed by both the media and
want to spread good will and un
ries. Hailing from Sweden and
conservative voters in Mississippi
and at panels. Interestingly
they were both from Amen
the people, she states that she
derstanding to those who still
Senegal respectively, Sousou and
still believe interracial marriages
enough, the Cissokos have yet to
cans.”The comments essentially
and Maher have never experi
hate interracial love, even in this
Maher—nominated for Sweden’s
should be banned. This reflects
truly experience much hate,
asserted that Sousou was trying to enced this, despite their high visi day and age.
In an interview with the C’
CC.
Though she often sees
W1T
1 1 11 act 11 macK, oecause sne ana ner
There are so many people who
aen.
bility around town and
World Music Awards Band of the the persistent negative mindset
though they are in a multiracial
Year in 2011 and Album of the
held against many interracial cou
partnership.
Year in 2012—create an almost
pies present in many countries. A
inka dialect, ignoring the fact that media. They believe this
indescribable form of music.
study con
Maher also sings songs in Sou
is due to the genuine
These musicians blend the Swed
ducted by
sou’s Swedish tongue.
connection they share
ish oral tradition with that of the
Eurostat
husband sang songs in the Mand their presence in the
The couple finds that the
through the music, both
Senegalese griot in order to weave between
only negative comments people
adopting bits of each
tales and sounds that transcend
2008 and
have concern what outsiders see
other’s culture while
race, region, and culture. Using a
2010 con
as them trying to adopt the
remaining true to and
West African instrument known
firms that
other’s culture as their own. The
honoring their own
simply as the Kora, this couple has across 30
dynamic nature of the group
heritage at the same
In(’kled 1)0th cultures into a style
comes from the unique way they
time.
European
separate people so much,” In ei
I Bridging The Gap continued
Bi’Ja’s Fight
“The thing that some whites feel more connected to white and some Blacks feel more connected to Blacks, I hope that will disappear more and more because
it
doesn’t make sense really,” Sousou says. Sousou and Maher find
it
peculiar
that people who discover them place so much import on race, while at the same time they understand why. They say, “It’s 1 strange mat
.
it
“ 1 s strange, rererring to tne ‘
fact that so many people find novelty in them, while in actuality their relationship should be considered normal. The couple has a 6-year-old daughter and a son on the way. Sousou and Maher say they want their children to grow up understanding and loving both sides of their lineage, and accepting all people they say, “People are people. The skin color is just a color.” As they continue to tour and make music that touchies on political themes, love, and interconnectedness, they hope that people’s hearts will soften and change. As Sousou puts
it,
“When people
see a white girl and a Black man play to1 1 1 r ii some people, gemer, tney reei nope.
Bi’Ja’s Fight (continued)
By: Kirin Brown Sterling Notes, Writer
reason to give up, but she finds a way”others find Bi’Ja ewually inspiring. “Bi’Ja’s smile is just illuminating. Seeing what she goes
A ten-year-old girl is out at recess with her 4th grade class. She swings on the swings, plays hide and seek, and jumps rope
through just makes you want to push harder,” says Kajalen Pogue, sophomore chemical engineering major.
like an average child. She has the smile and energy that draws
A typical day in the life of Bi’Ja Thatch consists of oncology
You’ll Never Know By: Christopher-Gerard Isaac Harts Sterling Notes Writer The circumstances that a writer seeks just to draft his prose:
her classmates towards her. No one would ever guess that this
appointments, physical therapy, counseling, medication, and keeping
We live each lyric; each scenario
girl is terminally ill,
up with her studies and school work. And she does all this while using
becomes reality to one who really
a walker due to damaged nerves in her legs. “My inspiration to keep
cares. We make the general by tak
nosed with auto-immune hepatitis, a disease in which a person’s
pushing is I feel like I have too much to do with my life to die along
ing
immune system attacks their liver cells, and also hereditary ellip
with my family and friends that care so much about me,” says Thatch.
to you just the frank answer as to
tocytosis, which is when a person’s red blood cells are an ellipti
This past summer, Thatch’s organs failed, resulting in a seizure that
what did you do today. Did you
cal shape rather than their ical biconcave disc shape.
kept her hospitalized for a month. She was told thatshe would need a
love? Did you see? We feel before
bone marrow transplant, a session of chemotherapy, and her eggs har
we even scribe and let it roll from
ent illnesses, including rheumatoid poly-arthritis and Sjogren’s
vested if she ever planned to have children. “It’s going to be really ex
our memory, as its nothing ordi
syndrome. At the age of 18, she was diagnosed with hemophago
pensive. all the surgeries and procedures can cost up to $30,000. It
nary I’d never say. We dream then
cytic lymphohistiocytsis, which is when white blood cells build
really just depends,” says Thatch,
live we promise before we care,
Bi’Ja Thatch was only ten years old when she was diag
After that, Thatch was diagnosed with a variety of differ
up in different organs in the body and destroy other cells. It was
Thatch, along with some of her closest “riends and family, be
it
personal and sing, even cry
and we color to others what has
then that she was told that she was not expected to live any
gan a fundraiser called TeamBJ to help raise money to pay for these
been clear to us from start. We
longer than 8 more months, Now, two years later, she is a junior
procedures. Different members of TeamBJ have come up with various
enjoy the pain and organize our
legal communications major at Howard. She has beaten all the
ways to raise money. Just recently, her high school’s cheerleading team
struggle simply to relate
odds and still manages to keep a 4.0 grade point average. She
in Baltimore put on a fundraiser at the local Chick-Fil-A to raise
plans to graduate from Howard and attend law school to be
All just to invest in the pain of
money and to spread awareness about her story. Many people have got
come an attorney.
being a writer.
ten t-shirts and different apparel made or have shown their support by
“One word that comes to mind when I think of my best
simply donating to the online fundraiser. “I can’t express how grateful
friend is inspirational. Even in the face of adversity and medical
and honored I am to have such a great support system at a time like
problems she manages to keep a smile on her face,” saysJason
this. I wish saying thank you was enough, but it isn’t,” says thatch.
Smith, Thatch’s best friend since her sophomore year of high
If you would like to give your support or donate to TeamBJ you can
school .He adds, “There are a lot of people who find excuses not
go to:
to follow their dreams.
She is ill and has every
https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/2p 1 3/bi-ja-s-road-to-healing
it
to you—
I Bridging The Gap continued
Bi’Ja’s Fight
“The thing that some whites feel more connected to white and some Blacks feel more connected to Blacks, I hope that will disappear more and more because
it
doesn’t make sense really,” Sousou says. Sousou and Maher find
it
peculiar
that people who discover them place so much import on race, while at the same time they understand why. They say, “It’s 1 strange mat
.
it
“ 1 s strange, rererring to tne ‘
fact that so many people find novelty in them, while in actuality their relationship should be considered normal. The couple has a 6-year-old daughter and a son on the way. Sousou and Maher say they want their children to grow up understanding and loving both sides of their lineage, and accepting all people they say, “People are people. The skin color is just a color.” As they continue to tour and make music that touchies on political themes, love, and interconnectedness, they hope that people’s hearts will soften and change. As Sousou puts
it,
“When people
see a white girl and a Black man play to1 1 1 r ii some people, gemer, tney reei nope.
Bi’Ja’s Fight (continued)
By: Kirin Brown Sterling Notes, Writer
reason to give up, but she finds a way”others find Bi’Ja ewually inspiring. “Bi’Ja’s smile is just illuminating. Seeing what she goes
A ten-year-old girl is out at recess with her 4th grade class. She swings on the swings, plays hide and seek, and jumps rope
through just makes you want to push harder,” says Kajalen Pogue, sophomore chemical engineering major.
like an average child. She has the smile and energy that draws
A typical day in the life of Bi’Ja Thatch consists of oncology
You’ll Never Know By: Christopher-Gerard Isaac Harts Sterling Notes Writer The circumstances that a writer seeks just to draft his prose:
her classmates towards her. No one would ever guess that this
appointments, physical therapy, counseling, medication, and keeping
We live each lyric; each scenario
girl is terminally ill,
up with her studies and school work. And she does all this while using
becomes reality to one who really
a walker due to damaged nerves in her legs. “My inspiration to keep
cares. We make the general by tak
nosed with auto-immune hepatitis, a disease in which a person’s
pushing is I feel like I have too much to do with my life to die along
ing
immune system attacks their liver cells, and also hereditary ellip
with my family and friends that care so much about me,” says Thatch.
to you just the frank answer as to
tocytosis, which is when a person’s red blood cells are an ellipti
This past summer, Thatch’s organs failed, resulting in a seizure that
what did you do today. Did you
cal shape rather than their ical biconcave disc shape.
kept her hospitalized for a month. She was told thatshe would need a
love? Did you see? We feel before
bone marrow transplant, a session of chemotherapy, and her eggs har
we even scribe and let it roll from
ent illnesses, including rheumatoid poly-arthritis and Sjogren’s
vested if she ever planned to have children. “It’s going to be really ex
our memory, as its nothing ordi
syndrome. At the age of 18, she was diagnosed with hemophago
pensive. all the surgeries and procedures can cost up to $30,000. It
nary I’d never say. We dream then
cytic lymphohistiocytsis, which is when white blood cells build
really just depends,” says Thatch,
live we promise before we care,
Bi’Ja Thatch was only ten years old when she was diag
After that, Thatch was diagnosed with a variety of differ
up in different organs in the body and destroy other cells. It was
Thatch, along with some of her closest “riends and family, be
it
personal and sing, even cry
and we color to others what has
then that she was told that she was not expected to live any
gan a fundraiser called TeamBJ to help raise money to pay for these
been clear to us from start. We
longer than 8 more months, Now, two years later, she is a junior
procedures. Different members of TeamBJ have come up with various
enjoy the pain and organize our
legal communications major at Howard. She has beaten all the
ways to raise money. Just recently, her high school’s cheerleading team
struggle simply to relate
odds and still manages to keep a 4.0 grade point average. She
in Baltimore put on a fundraiser at the local Chick-Fil-A to raise
plans to graduate from Howard and attend law school to be
All just to invest in the pain of
money and to spread awareness about her story. Many people have got
come an attorney.
being a writer.
ten t-shirts and different apparel made or have shown their support by
“One word that comes to mind when I think of my best
simply donating to the online fundraiser. “I can’t express how grateful
friend is inspirational. Even in the face of adversity and medical
and honored I am to have such a great support system at a time like
problems she manages to keep a smile on her face,” saysJason
this. I wish saying thank you was enough, but it isn’t,” says thatch.
Smith, Thatch’s best friend since her sophomore year of high
If you would like to give your support or donate to TeamBJ you can
school .He adds, “There are a lot of people who find excuses not
go to:
to follow their dreams.
She is ill and has every
https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/2p 1 3/bi-ja-s-road-to-healing
it
to you—
1’ A Yellow Dress for a Black Skirt
The Freedom to Run
By: Miaya Curry Sterling Notes Writer
By: Jason Douglass Louie Sterling Notes Writer
I’ve traded a yellow dress for a black skirt, a form-fitting blouse. Call it my working woman shirt. As my yellow dress used to flow in the breeze, my brown skin would get dirty running through the grass and climbing up the trees. Sunshine surrounded me and joy filled my heart. Fun would begin after sunup and did not end until after dark. The yellow dress had a life of freedom from worry, but as the yellow dress flowed in the breeze, so did that life into a memory. Slipping my black skirt over my hips, my purse on my shoulder ,and my gloss on my lips, I realize that every stage is for a different age, and old ways must fade away. But one thing still remains. The yellow dress is never truly outgrown. Just because you’re “grown” doesn’t mean that a world filled with joy is unknown, Deep inside that little girl is playing hop scotch and “Little Sally Walker,” wearing a yellow dress ANDyellow bows with her face all a low. So glow girl, grow girl; know the girl that once was. After all, the woman you know now once traded in her yellow dress for a black skirt.
The Freedom to Run (continued)
He couldn’t run forever.
could hear was the thudding of his what he was running from. No,
he wasn’t too far from a Big
heart and his ragged breath.
that wasn’t true. He knew exactly
House. His best bet was to find her
what he was running to: freedom.
and hope that she could point him
No dogs, just the wind
In the back of his mind,
playing tricks on his weary mind.
deep in the murky blackness of his subconscious, the Runaway Slave knew this.
was nowhere to be seen. He hoped he was still headed north but it didn’t matter, for running away from the plan tation was all that mattered. He knew couldn’t run forever, but he would run until there was nothing left. There was nothing left for him in the South. He strongly doubted there was anything left for him in America. He was begin ning to wonder if there was anything left for him in this world.
He paused. Were those dogs he heard? He stood still, a frozen shadow indistinguishable from the darkness that surrounded him. He listened. All he
Telling him he would
mere triviality.
House she could help him without
“Get you ready,: There’s a 1 .1 meeting rtere tonigrtt.
He paused to hear the
said he’d just make it worse for the voice of a colored woman singing.
find a safe place to settle down, OR his heart and lungs
Mississippi sky. The North Star, “the Drinking Gourd,”
met far enough from the Big
warned him not to runaway. They
eventually he would have to come down. He would either
He looked up through the trees at the starless black
the North or in Heaven was a
slaves on the plantation had
lending swiftness to his bramble-scarred legs, but he knew
caught and put down.
He started running again.
never leave the state, the other
Right now he was flying high, the spirit of freedom
would give out and he would fall down, or he would be
Whether he found that freedom in away from that awful place. If they
him getting her in trouble or her getting him caught. “Come along: There’s a meet ing here tonight.”
He walked quietly through
rest of them, that “massah” would
He wondered if that meant that he
take out his anger on them. They
was near a plantation. He doubted the dense woods. As he got closer
said that if he was caught ,he
the colored woman was free, for a
he began to question his previous
would be burned alive. They said... runaway slave singing so loudly
assumption that the owner of the
Well, they said a lot of things.
would have been caught by now.
singing voice was a slave. There
Deciding that she was most likely
was something different about her
He didn’t focus much on
what they said. Instead, he focused a house slave running an errand on what they would say if he made it
safely to the north. They’d say, “One day he
for her mas ter, probably fetching Wa
just up and ran away. We all
ter, he
thought he’d be caught and killed
moved slowly
fo’ sho’ ,but by and by massah
in the direc
stopped lookin’ for him. We
tion of her
reckon he’s free now, where evers
voice. If she
I
was a slave
1 ne aone gone.
He didn’t know what he was running to; all he knew was
then that meant that
voice. He’d grown up on the plan-
1’ A Yellow Dress for a Black Skirt
The Freedom to Run
By: Miaya Curry Sterling Notes Writer
By: Jason Douglass Louie Sterling Notes Writer
I’ve traded a yellow dress for a black skirt, a form-fitting blouse. Call it my working woman shirt. As my yellow dress used to flow in the breeze, my brown skin would get dirty running through the grass and climbing up the trees. Sunshine surrounded me and joy filled my heart. Fun would begin after sunup and did not end until after dark. The yellow dress had a life of freedom from worry, but as the yellow dress flowed in the breeze, so did that life into a memory. Slipping my black skirt over my hips, my purse on my shoulder ,and my gloss on my lips, I realize that every stage is for a different age, and old ways must fade away. But one thing still remains. The yellow dress is never truly outgrown. Just because you’re “grown” doesn’t mean that a world filled with joy is unknown, Deep inside that little girl is playing hop scotch and “Little Sally Walker,” wearing a yellow dress ANDyellow bows with her face all a low. So glow girl, grow girl; know the girl that once was. After all, the woman you know now once traded in her yellow dress for a black skirt.
The Freedom to Run (continued)
He couldn’t run forever.
could hear was the thudding of his what he was running from. No,
he wasn’t too far from a Big
heart and his ragged breath.
that wasn’t true. He knew exactly
House. His best bet was to find her
what he was running to: freedom.
and hope that she could point him
No dogs, just the wind
In the back of his mind,
playing tricks on his weary mind.
deep in the murky blackness of his subconscious, the Runaway Slave knew this.
was nowhere to be seen. He hoped he was still headed north but it didn’t matter, for running away from the plan tation was all that mattered. He knew couldn’t run forever, but he would run until there was nothing left. There was nothing left for him in the South. He strongly doubted there was anything left for him in America. He was begin ning to wonder if there was anything left for him in this world.
He paused. Were those dogs he heard? He stood still, a frozen shadow indistinguishable from the darkness that surrounded him. He listened. All he
Telling him he would
mere triviality.
House she could help him without
“Get you ready,: There’s a 1 .1 meeting rtere tonigrtt.
He paused to hear the
said he’d just make it worse for the voice of a colored woman singing.
find a safe place to settle down, OR his heart and lungs
Mississippi sky. The North Star, “the Drinking Gourd,”
met far enough from the Big
warned him not to runaway. They
eventually he would have to come down. He would either
He looked up through the trees at the starless black
the North or in Heaven was a
slaves on the plantation had
lending swiftness to his bramble-scarred legs, but he knew
caught and put down.
He started running again.
never leave the state, the other
Right now he was flying high, the spirit of freedom
would give out and he would fall down, or he would be
Whether he found that freedom in away from that awful place. If they
him getting her in trouble or her getting him caught. “Come along: There’s a meet ing here tonight.”
He walked quietly through
rest of them, that “massah” would
He wondered if that meant that he
take out his anger on them. They
was near a plantation. He doubted the dense woods. As he got closer
said that if he was caught ,he
the colored woman was free, for a
he began to question his previous
would be burned alive. They said... runaway slave singing so loudly
assumption that the owner of the
Well, they said a lot of things.
would have been caught by now.
singing voice was a slave. There
Deciding that she was most likely
was something different about her
He didn’t focus much on
what they said. Instead, he focused a house slave running an errand on what they would say if he made it
safely to the north. They’d say, “One day he
for her mas ter, probably fetching Wa
just up and ran away. We all
ter, he
thought he’d be caught and killed
moved slowly
fo’ sho’ ,but by and by massah
in the direc
stopped lookin’ for him. We
tion of her
reckon he’s free now, where evers
voice. If she
I
was a slave
1 ne aone gone.
He didn’t know what he was running to; all he knew was
then that meant that
voice. He’d grown up on the plan-
•1 The Freedom to Run (continued) tation ,and he’d heard all manners
“I know you by your daily
of slaves singing. His own mama
walk.”
used to sing every night before she
He came upon a
was sold to another slave owner in small ,one-room shack, no bigger Virginia when he was five years
than the one he’d been raised in.
old.
The shack was well hidden by the Every slave that he’d ever
woods. There was no clearing, and
heard sing sounded the same.
if it hadn’t been for candle light
Sure, the voices differed physically illuminating the windows, he (some were raspy ,soulful ,tenors
would have mistaken the shack for
while others were high, celestial
another tree.
sopranos), but they all had the
The Runaway Slave cau
same heavy-hearted, hope-filled
tiously walked up to the shack’s
quality that let you know that you
window. The door swung open,
were listening to a song of a slave.
catching him off guard, and before
The woman now singing
he knew it, he was on his back.
sang with a voice that came as
Standing in the doorway was a
much from the earth as it did the
thin, short, old woman, smiling at
heavens. It was the voice of a
the sight of him.
daughter full of the unshakeable
“There’s a meeting here to
belief that her father could do any night!” she sang, finishing the song. thing. It was the loving voice of a wife telling her husband that they
The Runaway Slave stood up quickly.
would make it through the hard
“Come in, child, come in,”
times as long as they still had each said the old woman, waving her other. It was the comforting voice
hand invitingly, “I’se been waitin’
of a mother telling her children
ror you.
that everything would be all right.
1-
The Runaway Slave fol
I
The Freedom to Run (continued)
Blank Stare
lowed the woman inside. By candle African American. Nigga,” she light he was able to get a better
chuckled to herself:”But I’se a
1 1 1-” look at her. She had a black rose in gettin aneaa o myseir.
her hair. Her left leg was lame, and
Then she looked him dead
she walked with the aid of a
in his eyes, and he found himself
gnarled tree branch that had been
suddenly feeling as naked as a new
fashioned into a walking stick.
born babe.
There wasn’t much in the shack,
By: Jasmine Quarles Sterling Notes, Writer His eyes stare blankly Covering up the lies Concealing the hurt Blazing hope that burns inside
“I knows yo’ name, child.
He wishes for change
just two chairs, a table, and a kettle Yo’ tme name.”
Dreams of fantasies
boiling over an open fire. As he
Blocking the truth
Then she went over and
eyed her curiously, the woman mo started stirring the kettle. tioned for the Runaway Slave to sit. He’d heard the tales of a
Erasing the pain
“I would ask where you’s from ,but I ‘spose you don’t know
His blank stares
Hoodoo Lady that lived somewhere dat either.”
Caught her eye
in the woods by the bayous. Legend
His blank stares
had it she wasn’t a run-of-the-mill voodoo queen; she was something
The Runaway Slave said nothing.
Made her cry “Don’t matter none, no
more. There were those (those that how. I knows where you’s from. knew voodoo, hoodoo, and every
Wheres you’s really from. Kemet.
thing in between) that said that
Merita. Tamert. Alkebulan. Africa.
what she did wasn’t magic at all.
The Motherland.”
“What’s yo’ name, child?” He started to answer, but she cut him off. “T’
i
spose you aon t even
Other than Africa, the Run away Slave had never heard of the
named,but, after hearing them
know yo’ name, only know what
named out loud, they sounded
theys called you. Negro. Nigger.
strangely familiar.
Colored. Black. Afro-American.
i
11 wouia
Within his eyes He holds no name Has no shame
other places the Hoodoo Lady 1
His blank stares caused her love to die
But she will never be the same Broken and lost Left standing in the unknown Searching for what she never had His blank stares
1
asK
1 wnere you s
is all she has
•1 The Freedom to Run (continued) tation ,and he’d heard all manners
“I know you by your daily
of slaves singing. His own mama
walk.”
used to sing every night before she
He came upon a
was sold to another slave owner in small ,one-room shack, no bigger Virginia when he was five years
than the one he’d been raised in.
old.
The shack was well hidden by the Every slave that he’d ever
woods. There was no clearing, and
heard sing sounded the same.
if it hadn’t been for candle light
Sure, the voices differed physically illuminating the windows, he (some were raspy ,soulful ,tenors
would have mistaken the shack for
while others were high, celestial
another tree.
sopranos), but they all had the
The Runaway Slave cau
same heavy-hearted, hope-filled
tiously walked up to the shack’s
quality that let you know that you
window. The door swung open,
were listening to a song of a slave.
catching him off guard, and before
The woman now singing
he knew it, he was on his back.
sang with a voice that came as
Standing in the doorway was a
much from the earth as it did the
thin, short, old woman, smiling at
heavens. It was the voice of a
the sight of him.
daughter full of the unshakeable
“There’s a meeting here to
belief that her father could do any night!” she sang, finishing the song. thing. It was the loving voice of a wife telling her husband that they
The Runaway Slave stood up quickly.
would make it through the hard
“Come in, child, come in,”
times as long as they still had each said the old woman, waving her other. It was the comforting voice
hand invitingly, “I’se been waitin’
of a mother telling her children
ror you.
that everything would be all right.
1-
The Runaway Slave fol
I
The Freedom to Run (continued)
Blank Stare
lowed the woman inside. By candle African American. Nigga,” she light he was able to get a better
chuckled to herself:”But I’se a
1 1 1-” look at her. She had a black rose in gettin aneaa o myseir.
her hair. Her left leg was lame, and
Then she looked him dead
she walked with the aid of a
in his eyes, and he found himself
gnarled tree branch that had been
suddenly feeling as naked as a new
fashioned into a walking stick.
born babe.
There wasn’t much in the shack,
By: Jasmine Quarles Sterling Notes, Writer His eyes stare blankly Covering up the lies Concealing the hurt Blazing hope that burns inside
“I knows yo’ name, child.
He wishes for change
just two chairs, a table, and a kettle Yo’ tme name.”
Dreams of fantasies
boiling over an open fire. As he
Blocking the truth
Then she went over and
eyed her curiously, the woman mo started stirring the kettle. tioned for the Runaway Slave to sit. He’d heard the tales of a
Erasing the pain
“I would ask where you’s from ,but I ‘spose you don’t know
His blank stares
Hoodoo Lady that lived somewhere dat either.”
Caught her eye
in the woods by the bayous. Legend
His blank stares
had it she wasn’t a run-of-the-mill voodoo queen; she was something
The Runaway Slave said nothing.
Made her cry “Don’t matter none, no
more. There were those (those that how. I knows where you’s from. knew voodoo, hoodoo, and every
Wheres you’s really from. Kemet.
thing in between) that said that
Merita. Tamert. Alkebulan. Africa.
what she did wasn’t magic at all.
The Motherland.”
“What’s yo’ name, child?” He started to answer, but she cut him off. “T’
i
spose you aon t even
Other than Africa, the Run away Slave had never heard of the
named,but, after hearing them
know yo’ name, only know what
named out loud, they sounded
theys called you. Negro. Nigger.
strangely familiar.
Colored. Black. Afro-American.
i
11 wouia
Within his eyes He holds no name Has no shame
other places the Hoodoo Lady 1
His blank stares caused her love to die
But she will never be the same Broken and lost Left standing in the unknown Searching for what she never had His blank stares
1
asK
1 wnere you s
is all she has
‘1 The Freedom to Run (continued)
ask me,” the Hoodoo Lady contin
and went back to the kettle.
put the gourd to his lips and drank.
“I’se seen many things hap
And the Hoodoo Lady sang,
ued; “You’s wonderin’ if it’s all
pen. An’ I’se seen many things dat’s “We are tossed and driven on the rest
worth
1 .11 1. gon nappen, sne saia, iooiung into less sea of time. Somber skies and howl
it.
You’s runnin’ on faith,
child, and you’s wonderin’ just
the steaming brew. Then she
ing tempests oft succeed a bright sun
1 wnere s you s gon ena1 up.
looked sideways at the Runaway
shine. In that land of perfect day, when
Slave, her countenance solemn.
the mist have rolled away, we will un
The Hoodoo Lady walked over and sat down across from the Runaway Slave and took his hand in hers.
“You want to know where 1 .1 17 you s goin cnua.
derstand
it
by and by.”
Thoughts raced through the
The Runaway Slave nodded, mind of the Runaway Slave, and as “Let mama tell you some
The Hoodoo Lady motioned for
he chased after those thoughts,
thing, child. Life’s a race. From the
him to come over to her. Then she
they, took human form.
second you’s born, you’s handed a
picked up a drinking gourd from
torch an’ you runs with that torch
the floor and dipped
it
He saw a black man in
into the ket tribal garb running, chasing after
as far as you can as long as you can. tle. She offered the gourd to the
game, in a far off land that the Run
An’ when the day come dat you
away Slave had never been to— a
Runaway slave.
can’t run no more, you pass that
“Drink,” was all she said.
land called Africa. He saw a black
torch to the next fella, and they run
The Runaway Slave looked
man running from the police, but
as fast as they can as long as they
into the gourd. The drink was
can. All any of us really gots in this
blacker than the blackest coffee. His carriage with red, white, and blue
11. 1 1 woria is tne rreeaom to run.
reflection stared up at him in the
1’
The Hoodoo Lady shook her head knowingly as she got up
what they said. And even though
the black man had a brown ob
this black man was standing still,
The Hoodoo Lady stood
long ball in his hands. Then the
he was running at the same time,
up and walked to the door. She
field turned into a hardwood
running for public office.
put her hand on the Runaway
they were riding in a strange metal lights on the top and no horses to
liquid. He suddenly realized he was pull. He saw a black man running thirstier than he’d ever been. He
down a track. Then the track
became orange and spherical. The the next evening. He hadn’t even black man bounced the ball on
‘fore you starts runnin’ again.” -)
The Runaway Slave awoke Slave’s arm, right where he’d been
floor, and the brown oblong ball
The Freedom to Run (continued) goin’ ,but dat’s what you’s here to
turned into a field ,and suddenly
branded as a child. She led him
remembered falling asleep. He im outside and pointed him toward
the floor and then jumped up and mediately jumped up and headed
the sunset. They watched in si
slammed the ball into a hoop that for the door.
lence as the sun disappeared from
was suspended ten feet in the air.
“You’s leavin’ ain’t you?”
the sky. Then she looked deep
He saw a black running with a bag
He hadn’t seen the Hoo
into his bloodshot eyes. ,
of books strapped to his back. The doo Lady; she’d been sitting in the black man was at a university, and corner of the shack, in the shad he was late for class. He saw a black man standing at a podium
ows.
1 iou s nee now. o aon t 1.
C—’
you go hem’ a slave to the race now. You’s gots to keep runnin’,
1 ‘ir course you is, sne
it’s true, but don’t you go runnin’
speaking to a crowd of people
said, answering her own question. so fast that you miss out on all the
composed of different ethnicities.
“Can’t stay here, heart won’t let
There were signs and buttons with you. You’s got a fire in you, deep the black man’s name on
it,
but
the Runaway Slave had never
1 1 rreeaom arounas you, you 1near. (‘
The Runaway Slave nod
down in yo’ soul, an’ it’s been
ded solemnly. Then he kissed the
burnin’ you alive all yo’ life. Just
Hoodoo Lady on the cheek and
learned to read, so he didn’t know. let me give you a piece o’ advice
ran off into the blackness.
I
‘1 The Freedom to Run (continued)
ask me,” the Hoodoo Lady contin
and went back to the kettle.
put the gourd to his lips and drank.
“I’se seen many things hap
And the Hoodoo Lady sang,
ued; “You’s wonderin’ if it’s all
pen. An’ I’se seen many things dat’s “We are tossed and driven on the rest
worth
1 .11 1. gon nappen, sne saia, iooiung into less sea of time. Somber skies and howl
it.
You’s runnin’ on faith,
child, and you’s wonderin’ just
the steaming brew. Then she
ing tempests oft succeed a bright sun
1 wnere s you s gon ena1 up.
looked sideways at the Runaway
shine. In that land of perfect day, when
Slave, her countenance solemn.
the mist have rolled away, we will un
The Hoodoo Lady walked over and sat down across from the Runaway Slave and took his hand in hers.
“You want to know where 1 .1 17 you s goin cnua.
derstand
it
by and by.”
Thoughts raced through the
The Runaway Slave nodded, mind of the Runaway Slave, and as “Let mama tell you some
The Hoodoo Lady motioned for
he chased after those thoughts,
thing, child. Life’s a race. From the
him to come over to her. Then she
they, took human form.
second you’s born, you’s handed a
picked up a drinking gourd from
torch an’ you runs with that torch
the floor and dipped
it
He saw a black man in
into the ket tribal garb running, chasing after
as far as you can as long as you can. tle. She offered the gourd to the
game, in a far off land that the Run
An’ when the day come dat you
away Slave had never been to— a
Runaway slave.
can’t run no more, you pass that
“Drink,” was all she said.
land called Africa. He saw a black
torch to the next fella, and they run
The Runaway Slave looked
man running from the police, but
as fast as they can as long as they
into the gourd. The drink was
can. All any of us really gots in this
blacker than the blackest coffee. His carriage with red, white, and blue
11. 1 1 woria is tne rreeaom to run.
reflection stared up at him in the
1’
The Hoodoo Lady shook her head knowingly as she got up
what they said. And even though
the black man had a brown ob
this black man was standing still,
The Hoodoo Lady stood
long ball in his hands. Then the
he was running at the same time,
up and walked to the door. She
field turned into a hardwood
running for public office.
put her hand on the Runaway
they were riding in a strange metal lights on the top and no horses to
liquid. He suddenly realized he was pull. He saw a black man running thirstier than he’d ever been. He
down a track. Then the track
became orange and spherical. The the next evening. He hadn’t even black man bounced the ball on
‘fore you starts runnin’ again.” -)
The Runaway Slave awoke Slave’s arm, right where he’d been
floor, and the brown oblong ball
The Freedom to Run (continued) goin’ ,but dat’s what you’s here to
turned into a field ,and suddenly
branded as a child. She led him
remembered falling asleep. He im outside and pointed him toward
the floor and then jumped up and mediately jumped up and headed
the sunset. They watched in si
slammed the ball into a hoop that for the door.
lence as the sun disappeared from
was suspended ten feet in the air.
“You’s leavin’ ain’t you?”
the sky. Then she looked deep
He saw a black running with a bag
He hadn’t seen the Hoo
into his bloodshot eyes. ,
of books strapped to his back. The doo Lady; she’d been sitting in the black man was at a university, and corner of the shack, in the shad he was late for class. He saw a black man standing at a podium
ows.
1 iou s nee now. o aon t 1.
C—’
you go hem’ a slave to the race now. You’s gots to keep runnin’,
1 ‘ir course you is, sne
it’s true, but don’t you go runnin’
speaking to a crowd of people
said, answering her own question. so fast that you miss out on all the
composed of different ethnicities.
“Can’t stay here, heart won’t let
There were signs and buttons with you. You’s got a fire in you, deep the black man’s name on
it,
but
the Runaway Slave had never
1 1 rreeaom arounas you, you 1near. (‘
The Runaway Slave nod
down in yo’ soul, an’ it’s been
ded solemnly. Then he kissed the
burnin’ you alive all yo’ life. Just
Hoodoo Lady on the cheek and
learned to read, so he didn’t know. let me give you a piece o’ advice
ran off into the blackness.
I
ELEMENTS OF DISMEMBERMENT (excerpt)
ELEMENTS cont.
Since stereotypes against them formed an obtrusive part of the American zeitgeist of the mid19th century, African-Americans have been dismembered as a community and a race and have not yet been truiy re-membered. The root of all racial dismemberment is general ignorance and intolerance, but in the case of the African-American race in America, linguicide is the primary cause. One cannot discuss the dismemberment of the African-American community without discussing the promulgation of European
“The root of all racial dismemberment is
general ignorance and intolerance...”
With the exception of the capricious institution of slavery in the
Woman At Point Zero By: Veronique Joseph Sterling Notes Writer
Roman Empire, a slave who subscribes to any religion will not rebel because he is afraid of reprobation. A secular slave will not rebel out of fear for his life, but history is replete with examples of oppression and despondence transforming into irascibility, cynicism, and suicidal episodes of violence (Frederick Douglass’
ideas and the putative beginning of the “African Renaissance”. Regardless of which type of dismemberment one chooses to focus on, the methods of rectifying the lasting
struggle with Covey comes to mind). Like Carter 0. Woodson
effects of European colonization, or, as Ngugi Wa Thiong’o puts
says in his recently published book The Mis-Education of the
able work by Egyptian novelist and femi
it
in his book Some
Woman at Point Zero is a remark
thing Torn and New: An African Renaissance, “re-membering practices” are the same. These methods include revolutionary movements led by prominent African-American
Negro: “When you control a man’s thinking, you do not have to
nist Nawal El Saadawi that tells the life
worry about his actions.” (71). All deities in Abrahamic religions
story of a woman on death row for mur
leaders; movements like Pan-Africanism, the Harlem Renaissance, and Negritude. However, in light of the dismemberment visited upon the metaphorical African-
never censure slavery On speaking of the three major figures in
dering a pimp.
these religions, CNN’s John Blake writes: “One of these men
On the day that Firdaus was
owned slaves, another created laws to regulate-but not ban-
scheduled to die, El Saadawi finally met
slavery. The third’s chief spokesman even ordered slaves to obey
her and recorded her story. She immedi
most prominent forces in the separation of the African-American race from the rest of American society, Thiong’o describes linguicide as “.,.the linguistic equivalent of geno
their masters...”. Excluding deities and prophets, some of the
ately sensed that there was something
most avid proponents of slavery justify it using religion. General
different about Firdaus
cide. Genocide involves conscious acts of physical massacre; linguicide, conscious acts of language liquidation.” (17). Linguicide was the main oppressive tactic used by slav
Robert E. Lee once wrote in a response to a speech given by
painfully real about her and her experi
President Franklin Pierce that “How long their [slaves] servitude
ence in jail. “The woman sitting on the
may be necessary is known and ordered by a merciful Provi
ground in front of me was a real
dence. Their emancipation will sooner result from the mild and
woman, and the voice filling my ears
melting influences of Christianity than from the storm and tem
with its sounds, echoing in a cell where
pest of fiery controversy.” Thiong’o also commented on the role
the window and door were tightly shut,
of religion in the oppression of African-Americans when he
could only be her voice, the voice of Fir
wrote: “...what the presses produced were often starved of con
daus,” wrote the author. It wasduring
American body, the Back-to-Africa movement was the most ambitious but sadly, least effective re-membering strategy conceived. Stereotypes and linguicide were the two
ers; Africans were taken to all corners of the world and were prohibited from speaking their respective languages under the threat of capital punishment. On the long-term goal of this draconian system, Thiong’o writes: “Forbidden to use his language, and with the natural nurseries of language, families, and communities constantly broken up and relocated, the new world African is, over time, disconnected from his linguis tic base in the continent.” (18) In America, linguicide was taken a step further. Of
—
something
course, stereotypes and linguicide were not the only dismembering forces in American society. Religion, particularly Christianity, played a huge role in shaping the minds of
tent, leaving only that which served the needs of anthropology
this visit that El Saadawi, a confident
with its interest, at the time, in static pasts or that which
female psychologist and author, finally
slaves.
pointed to the means of Africans’ conversion from them
learned the tragic series of events com
selves.” (96)
promising Firdaus’ s story.
ELEMENTS OF DISMEMBERMENT (excerpt)
ELEMENTS cont.
Since stereotypes against them formed an obtrusive part of the American zeitgeist of the mid19th century, African-Americans have been dismembered as a community and a race and have not yet been truiy re-membered. The root of all racial dismemberment is general ignorance and intolerance, but in the case of the African-American race in America, linguicide is the primary cause. One cannot discuss the dismemberment of the African-American community without discussing the promulgation of European
“The root of all racial dismemberment is
general ignorance and intolerance...”
With the exception of the capricious institution of slavery in the
Woman At Point Zero By: Veronique Joseph Sterling Notes Writer
Roman Empire, a slave who subscribes to any religion will not rebel because he is afraid of reprobation. A secular slave will not rebel out of fear for his life, but history is replete with examples of oppression and despondence transforming into irascibility, cynicism, and suicidal episodes of violence (Frederick Douglass’
ideas and the putative beginning of the “African Renaissance”. Regardless of which type of dismemberment one chooses to focus on, the methods of rectifying the lasting
struggle with Covey comes to mind). Like Carter 0. Woodson
effects of European colonization, or, as Ngugi Wa Thiong’o puts
says in his recently published book The Mis-Education of the
able work by Egyptian novelist and femi
it
in his book Some
Woman at Point Zero is a remark
thing Torn and New: An African Renaissance, “re-membering practices” are the same. These methods include revolutionary movements led by prominent African-American
Negro: “When you control a man’s thinking, you do not have to
nist Nawal El Saadawi that tells the life
worry about his actions.” (71). All deities in Abrahamic religions
story of a woman on death row for mur
leaders; movements like Pan-Africanism, the Harlem Renaissance, and Negritude. However, in light of the dismemberment visited upon the metaphorical African-
never censure slavery On speaking of the three major figures in
dering a pimp.
these religions, CNN’s John Blake writes: “One of these men
On the day that Firdaus was
owned slaves, another created laws to regulate-but not ban-
scheduled to die, El Saadawi finally met
slavery. The third’s chief spokesman even ordered slaves to obey
her and recorded her story. She immedi
most prominent forces in the separation of the African-American race from the rest of American society, Thiong’o describes linguicide as “.,.the linguistic equivalent of geno
their masters...”. Excluding deities and prophets, some of the
ately sensed that there was something
most avid proponents of slavery justify it using religion. General
different about Firdaus
cide. Genocide involves conscious acts of physical massacre; linguicide, conscious acts of language liquidation.” (17). Linguicide was the main oppressive tactic used by slav
Robert E. Lee once wrote in a response to a speech given by
painfully real about her and her experi
President Franklin Pierce that “How long their [slaves] servitude
ence in jail. “The woman sitting on the
may be necessary is known and ordered by a merciful Provi
ground in front of me was a real
dence. Their emancipation will sooner result from the mild and
woman, and the voice filling my ears
melting influences of Christianity than from the storm and tem
with its sounds, echoing in a cell where
pest of fiery controversy.” Thiong’o also commented on the role
the window and door were tightly shut,
of religion in the oppression of African-Americans when he
could only be her voice, the voice of Fir
wrote: “...what the presses produced were often starved of con
daus,” wrote the author. It wasduring
American body, the Back-to-Africa movement was the most ambitious but sadly, least effective re-membering strategy conceived. Stereotypes and linguicide were the two
ers; Africans were taken to all corners of the world and were prohibited from speaking their respective languages under the threat of capital punishment. On the long-term goal of this draconian system, Thiong’o writes: “Forbidden to use his language, and with the natural nurseries of language, families, and communities constantly broken up and relocated, the new world African is, over time, disconnected from his linguis tic base in the continent.” (18) In America, linguicide was taken a step further. Of
—
something
course, stereotypes and linguicide were not the only dismembering forces in American society. Religion, particularly Christianity, played a huge role in shaping the minds of
tent, leaving only that which served the needs of anthropology
this visit that El Saadawi, a confident
with its interest, at the time, in static pasts or that which
female psychologist and author, finally
slaves.
pointed to the means of Africans’ conversion from them
learned the tragic series of events com
selves.” (96)
promising Firdaus’ s story.
Woman At Point Zero cont. Firdaus, born in Egypt to a that, Firdaus replied, “My work is peasant mother and father, en not worthy of respect. Why then
strate how easy it was to kill some
dured many hardships and suffer
do you join in it with me?” To Fir
one, the prince started screaming.
ings, including hunger, hard labor in the fields and at home, and sex
aus, the comment only showed the It was not long before the police hypocrisy of men and the fact that arrive and Firdaus was arrested.
ual abuse from family members
men and women live in separate
“All my life I had been searching
and other men. As a young child,
worlds with separate rules.
for something that would fill me
Firdaus’ sfather would sell her
derer. While attempting to demon
This was the first time it occurred to Firdaus that ,indeed,
make ends meet. Friaus also saw
she might not be worthy of respect. princes and rulers,” Firdaus stated Because of this incident, she set in the novel. While El Saadawi
her father frequently physically abuse her mother. It was a cycle that continued until both parents died. Firaus then went to live with
spectability. That effort would be
death, Firdaus explained that she
her uncle, who sent her off to a
short-lived. After discovering the
did not fear dying. Since life never
-
man three times her senior who
daus returned to prostitution.
the end, she discovered that men
was physically abusive. From then
Soon she was forced to work for a
werenot as powerful as they appear
on, she was in and out of abusive
dangerous pimp whom she grew to
relationships, involved in prostitu
hate. During one of his physical
afraid of the one thing they fear
tion, repeatedly raped, and be
attacks on her, she stabbed him in
most
trayed by both men and women.
the neck with his own knife. Fir
able to feel superior to them.
During a sexual rendezvous with
daus then walksedout into the
one of her clients, Firdaus was told street, met an Arab prince and that she was not worthy of respect sleept with him while trying to con because she was a prostitute. To
vince him that she’ was a mur
-
—
death
—
Firdaus was finally
is a truly hilarious book; it easily de-
jAfVIES FE. RiJ J’J’ All Crea
tures GrtirindSmall —‘-
-—
as he makes his way through Yorkshire’s country
experience a country
side, tending to a large number of different animals
veterinarian’s unfor-
and their eccentric owners.
gettable jour
The characters remain static throughout the book;
ney through an English countryside. Herriot’s writing
each one complements the other, in keeping with the has amazingly colorful characters, empathy for ani flow of the novel. The novel also maintains a pattern mals and humans, respect for uneducated but hard
mainly men. In
they are cowards. By not being
try veterinarian who writes his own story with in
riot encounters a number of extraordinary characters tains its readers who
Only in death would she be free -
tic book to read. It
ers since its first American publication in 1972. Her- lights and enter-
she looked forward to ending it.
from her abusers
—
warming novel by Dr. James Herriot, a British coun
humor, It has captured the hearts of American read
really brought her any happiness,
Upon returning home, Fir herself completely had gotten daus’s uncle married her off to a engaged to another woman, Fir
All Creatures Great and Small is an absolutely fantas
credible natural storytelling ability, insight, style, and and heartwarming
to everyone else, including kings,
out to get a job in an office so that wondered how Firdaus could be so he could learn the meaning of re calm in the face of impending
school frome which she graduated devastating news that her boy with honors. friend to whom she had given
All Creatures Great and Small is a heart
with pride, make me feel superior
body in exchange for money to
Page 15
All Creatures Great and Small By: Veronique Joseph Sterling Notes Writer
of humor—the eccentricity of most of Siegfried’s cus
working people, and an appreciation for the country
tomers, the unemotional demeanor of Mrs. Hall,
side of Yorkshire. Herriot’s flawless literary control
Tristan’s knack of drinking and avoiding work, and
should be the envy of some of the greatest writers in
James Herriot’s humorous way of storytelling.
literary history. He is a gifted artist in his own
Through the use of humor, romance, pathos, trag
right and exemplifies the human character that soci
edy, and subtle irony,
I
ety often lacks. For example, he would drive for miles
Herriot is able to bring in the worst weather to help farm animals. the novel to life while
His passion, love and dedication for his profession
creating realistic char
and the patients he serves are truly admirable.
acters. As a result, he
Throughout this engaging book, one can experience
makes the story quite
the joys and sorrows of the characters as well as the
interesting, funny, up
warmth and humor of James Herriot’s view of
lifting, informative, and enjoyable.
of life.
Woman At Point Zero cont. Firdaus, born in Egypt to a that, Firdaus replied, “My work is peasant mother and father, en not worthy of respect. Why then
strate how easy it was to kill some
dured many hardships and suffer
do you join in it with me?” To Fir
one, the prince started screaming.
ings, including hunger, hard labor in the fields and at home, and sex
aus, the comment only showed the It was not long before the police hypocrisy of men and the fact that arrive and Firdaus was arrested.
ual abuse from family members
men and women live in separate
“All my life I had been searching
and other men. As a young child,
worlds with separate rules.
for something that would fill me
Firdaus’ sfather would sell her
derer. While attempting to demon
This was the first time it occurred to Firdaus that ,indeed,
make ends meet. Friaus also saw
she might not be worthy of respect. princes and rulers,” Firdaus stated Because of this incident, she set in the novel. While El Saadawi
her father frequently physically abuse her mother. It was a cycle that continued until both parents died. Firaus then went to live with
spectability. That effort would be
death, Firdaus explained that she
her uncle, who sent her off to a
short-lived. After discovering the
did not fear dying. Since life never
-
man three times her senior who
daus returned to prostitution.
the end, she discovered that men
was physically abusive. From then
Soon she was forced to work for a
werenot as powerful as they appear
on, she was in and out of abusive
dangerous pimp whom she grew to
relationships, involved in prostitu
hate. During one of his physical
afraid of the one thing they fear
tion, repeatedly raped, and be
attacks on her, she stabbed him in
most
trayed by both men and women.
the neck with his own knife. Fir
able to feel superior to them.
During a sexual rendezvous with
daus then walksedout into the
one of her clients, Firdaus was told street, met an Arab prince and that she was not worthy of respect sleept with him while trying to con because she was a prostitute. To
vince him that she’ was a mur
-
—
death
—
Firdaus was finally
is a truly hilarious book; it easily de-
jAfVIES FE. RiJ J’J’ All Crea
tures GrtirindSmall —‘-
-—
as he makes his way through Yorkshire’s country
experience a country
side, tending to a large number of different animals
veterinarian’s unfor-
and their eccentric owners.
gettable jour
The characters remain static throughout the book;
ney through an English countryside. Herriot’s writing
each one complements the other, in keeping with the has amazingly colorful characters, empathy for ani flow of the novel. The novel also maintains a pattern mals and humans, respect for uneducated but hard
mainly men. In
they are cowards. By not being
try veterinarian who writes his own story with in
riot encounters a number of extraordinary characters tains its readers who
Only in death would she be free -
tic book to read. It
ers since its first American publication in 1972. Her- lights and enter-
she looked forward to ending it.
from her abusers
—
warming novel by Dr. James Herriot, a British coun
humor, It has captured the hearts of American read
really brought her any happiness,
Upon returning home, Fir herself completely had gotten daus’s uncle married her off to a engaged to another woman, Fir
All Creatures Great and Small is an absolutely fantas
credible natural storytelling ability, insight, style, and and heartwarming
to everyone else, including kings,
out to get a job in an office so that wondered how Firdaus could be so he could learn the meaning of re calm in the face of impending
school frome which she graduated devastating news that her boy with honors. friend to whom she had given
All Creatures Great and Small is a heart
with pride, make me feel superior
body in exchange for money to
Page 15
All Creatures Great and Small By: Veronique Joseph Sterling Notes Writer
of humor—the eccentricity of most of Siegfried’s cus
working people, and an appreciation for the country
tomers, the unemotional demeanor of Mrs. Hall,
side of Yorkshire. Herriot’s flawless literary control
Tristan’s knack of drinking and avoiding work, and
should be the envy of some of the greatest writers in
James Herriot’s humorous way of storytelling.
literary history. He is a gifted artist in his own
Through the use of humor, romance, pathos, trag
right and exemplifies the human character that soci
edy, and subtle irony,
I
ety often lacks. For example, he would drive for miles
Herriot is able to bring in the worst weather to help farm animals. the novel to life while
His passion, love and dedication for his profession
creating realistic char
and the patients he serves are truly admirable.
acters. As a result, he
Throughout this engaging book, one can experience
makes the story quite
the joys and sorrows of the characters as well as the
interesting, funny, up
warmth and humor of James Herriot’s view of
lifting, informative, and enjoyable.
of life.
r Diary of a Fat Sad Woman
Diary of a Fat Sad Woman (continued)
By: Lacrisha Holcomb Sterling Notes ‘\Vriter
Jenny Craig? Lean Cuisine? Weight Watchers? Wait.
Nobody
NO.
Deserves that.
There will be no watching of weight on my watch
Woe was me and I was woe, so
1 .1 1 uniess weignt is a tv snow.
be happy enough for the both of us even though...
She didn’t. Deserve that.
I’m fat.
Mmmmm. milk chocolate smothering nougat, nuts, and
As I lay in bed
caramel.. .1 think I want one of those now...
I feel. ..Pain. Anger. Tears.
Well
Thinkin. .hopin...wishin...
I’ve had plenty of those.. .that’s the problem...according to
But if I don’t start watching my weight.. .I’ll just be
I’m still in love with food.. .it will always be my guilty
That
the scale.
watching my life pass me by...
pleasure.
..
.
it
wasn’t the worse condition
But it is.
Seeking the comfort in food that I received from no per
I’m an overeater.
son
See. We are the most discriminated against. Hence,
Is kinda. .sorta. .EXACTLY the reason why I’m hurtin... .
.
you could be black, white, short, tall...but being fat literally Because sweet cinnamon rolls don’t roll their eyes outweighs them all Homosexual? Intellectual? Ok that’s cool, just eat your
Cakes, cookies, and pies don’t make me cry.. .call me cruel names.. .Or lie.
vegetables
I’m salty
Because you won’t be treated quite the same with excess
Like one french fry
meat upon your frame...
By itself in its cardboard container
It’s on my brain.
Me against the world simply because I’m not leaner...
All the time.
maybe New Me can
But our affair must be kept secret now...hidden like a I’m not being true.
buried treasure...
To myself.
consoling me whenever
Depressed.. .obsessed... I stress about my body mass
I need an escape from
index...
my grief. ..because underneath...
it
all. Helping me cope with
Don’t you shake your index finger at me! This is what I miss her dearly. you made me. From obese to a beast,
Uncaring, uncorrupted. ..but unhealthy physically...
I am no more than an exercising slave picking cotton Yet am I even healthy emotionally? I contemplate. calories on Body Image’s plantation
I’m an overeater. And I ate
Pain. Anger, Tears.
To avoid your damnation...
Everything on the enticing plate of Vanity that this
Food is my safe haven, guess that’s a crime.
I wanna punch somethin
I’m your creation.
brainwashed world fed me...
Because I love food they don’t love me.
So I munch somethin
Pain. Anger. Tears.
Just some food for thought...
They point...ridicule. ..judge me. I’m a joke, see. And they are determined to provoke me.
When I don’t even have the munchies. .but ooooh. if it’s crunchy.
More painful than anything physical.. .so they might as
I get high just off its texture...
well choke me...
Ohhh boy. Here goes another one of mom’s lectures
I’ve heard
Next to my ear
About how I need to get up out this room, stop eatin, and find a boy.. .friend.
the whispers dance
But boys don’t want a fat girl like me... .so food will bring
so do the giggles... .or that long glance...
me joy.. .then.
But not a chance
There goes that damn word again... “Diet”... .But I’m not
To show you I’m more than this crippling circumstance.
fat! I deny it...
You just snicker...
But society says I am, so I guess that I should try it...
it
all. Even the words not said to me, I hear...
.
.
.
I think about Old Me and what they put her through. As I lay in bed.
r Diary of a Fat Sad Woman
Diary of a Fat Sad Woman (continued)
By: Lacrisha Holcomb Sterling Notes ‘\Vriter
Jenny Craig? Lean Cuisine? Weight Watchers? Wait.
Nobody
NO.
Deserves that.
There will be no watching of weight on my watch
Woe was me and I was woe, so
1 .1 1 uniess weignt is a tv snow.
be happy enough for the both of us even though...
She didn’t. Deserve that.
I’m fat.
Mmmmm. milk chocolate smothering nougat, nuts, and
As I lay in bed
caramel.. .1 think I want one of those now...
I feel. ..Pain. Anger. Tears.
Well
Thinkin. .hopin...wishin...
I’ve had plenty of those.. .that’s the problem...according to
But if I don’t start watching my weight.. .I’ll just be
I’m still in love with food.. .it will always be my guilty
That
the scale.
watching my life pass me by...
pleasure.
..
.
it
wasn’t the worse condition
But it is.
Seeking the comfort in food that I received from no per
I’m an overeater.
son
See. We are the most discriminated against. Hence,
Is kinda. .sorta. .EXACTLY the reason why I’m hurtin... .
.
you could be black, white, short, tall...but being fat literally Because sweet cinnamon rolls don’t roll their eyes outweighs them all Homosexual? Intellectual? Ok that’s cool, just eat your
Cakes, cookies, and pies don’t make me cry.. .call me cruel names.. .Or lie.
vegetables
I’m salty
Because you won’t be treated quite the same with excess
Like one french fry
meat upon your frame...
By itself in its cardboard container
It’s on my brain.
Me against the world simply because I’m not leaner...
All the time.
maybe New Me can
But our affair must be kept secret now...hidden like a I’m not being true.
buried treasure...
To myself.
consoling me whenever
Depressed.. .obsessed... I stress about my body mass
I need an escape from
index...
my grief. ..because underneath...
it
all. Helping me cope with
Don’t you shake your index finger at me! This is what I miss her dearly. you made me. From obese to a beast,
Uncaring, uncorrupted. ..but unhealthy physically...
I am no more than an exercising slave picking cotton Yet am I even healthy emotionally? I contemplate. calories on Body Image’s plantation
I’m an overeater. And I ate
Pain. Anger, Tears.
To avoid your damnation...
Everything on the enticing plate of Vanity that this
Food is my safe haven, guess that’s a crime.
I wanna punch somethin
I’m your creation.
brainwashed world fed me...
Because I love food they don’t love me.
So I munch somethin
Pain. Anger. Tears.
Just some food for thought...
They point...ridicule. ..judge me. I’m a joke, see. And they are determined to provoke me.
When I don’t even have the munchies. .but ooooh. if it’s crunchy.
More painful than anything physical.. .so they might as
I get high just off its texture...
well choke me...
Ohhh boy. Here goes another one of mom’s lectures
I’ve heard
Next to my ear
About how I need to get up out this room, stop eatin, and find a boy.. .friend.
the whispers dance
But boys don’t want a fat girl like me... .so food will bring
so do the giggles... .or that long glance...
me joy.. .then.
But not a chance
There goes that damn word again... “Diet”... .But I’m not
To show you I’m more than this crippling circumstance.
fat! I deny it...
You just snicker...
But society says I am, so I guess that I should try it...
it
all. Even the words not said to me, I hear...
.
.
.
I think about Old Me and what they put her through. As I lay in bed.
r Faith
SAVAGE INEQUALITIES
By: Christopher-Gerard Isaac Harts Sterling Notes, Writer
By: Veronique Joseph Sterling Notes, Writer being nonchalant about rectifying
years ago,
public school issues like racial seg
“Americans
those rare books that takes readers
regation, inequality, and school
were unwilling
on an emotional journey, one pre
reform.
that any should
Savage Inequalities is one of
dominantly filled with anger and
Kozol’s travels show that
shame. The first three chapters grip the atmosphere in which some
absolutely deplorable. Over
able to compete intellectually and
America? America is supposed to
crowded classrooms, outdated and
in the job market. Yet today, it
tion are just a few of the major
the school system. After all, how
problems inflicting the schools that once strongly favored by the White
could America have become so
the author visits.
This in-depth book by
To have faith in prosperity and hope and to never sell myself short. Faith, is one of those things In life that you’ve got to hold ontoDon’t neglect or deny yourself From your father, who thou art in Heaven For man cannot agree on much in this world, Yet we all agree that we begin with One, In some ways, And in others in none We hold these truths true to The oniy thing, only reason, only fact of our here’s Jah, takes us closely Through a valley, taking all the work
As Kozol states in Savage Inequalities, “School of choice, as
House, should be encouraged, Par ents and children should be given
of the public education system,
the opportunity to take an active
Kozol learns the sad fact that stu
and informative role in choosing
Jonathan Kozol analyzes the type of dents are aware of their substan
hort
lack.
fit and excel in knowledge within
for all its children?
Avoid reminding me and calling me by the name I used to ex
thing that the education systems
existent technology, and segrega
Through his observations
But watch me wander, watch me, spiritless, yet fearful to die.
seems that this belief is the very
freedom to acquire, partake, bene
“rich” without a solid education
Let me continue on to keeping my head way from the sky,
means of competition.” This
wonder: Why is this happening in
portrays to the rest of the world the cooling systems, outdated or non
serve me.
be deprived in childhood of the
means that, all students should be
staff, problems with heating and
Preserve my joy, preserve my dream, and most significantly, pre
::tG00
children receive their education is
opportunities for all, a land that
By: Christopher-Gerard Isaac Harts Sterling Notes Writer Rest in peace to the person I used to be;
readers’ hearts, causing them to
be a land that symbolizes wondrous insufficient textbooks, shortage of
Obituary
the place and school that is best
Just reflect on who I was while I acquaint myself with who I am. Watch me continue through this hell falsely giving a damn. Hold my memory dear to your heart, and know I was loved be fore I hurt. I am wise now and almost humble, but never forget that I too stood smart.
Grant my peak with its resolution, and claim this ending a new start
public education system that poor
dard schools and have a hopeless
suited for their children’s holistic
As this journey too gives me peace but forces me to depart.
Americans endure. Kozol’s mis
outlook on life as a result. Addi
growth.” If politicians, school
To My University
sion, one to help raise awareness of tionally, he finds that their percep board presidents, and business the plight of education for poor
tions and the realities of their lives
children in America, is one to be
are quite valid and have been miss where dilapidated schools are run,
commended. In. his book, he de
ing from most educational confer
why should parents let their chil
mands that influential people stop
ences. It is ironic that over 130
dren attend?
By: Christopher-Gerard Isaac Harts Sterling Notes Writer
CEOs dare not work in places
I
I apologize, yet
Un-humbly take it all back
HOWARD UNIVERSITY
r Faith
SAVAGE INEQUALITIES
By: Christopher-Gerard Isaac Harts Sterling Notes, Writer
By: Veronique Joseph Sterling Notes, Writer being nonchalant about rectifying
years ago,
public school issues like racial seg
“Americans
those rare books that takes readers
regation, inequality, and school
were unwilling
on an emotional journey, one pre
reform.
that any should
Savage Inequalities is one of
dominantly filled with anger and
Kozol’s travels show that
shame. The first three chapters grip the atmosphere in which some
absolutely deplorable. Over
able to compete intellectually and
America? America is supposed to
crowded classrooms, outdated and
in the job market. Yet today, it
tion are just a few of the major
the school system. After all, how
problems inflicting the schools that once strongly favored by the White
could America have become so
the author visits.
This in-depth book by
To have faith in prosperity and hope and to never sell myself short. Faith, is one of those things In life that you’ve got to hold ontoDon’t neglect or deny yourself From your father, who thou art in Heaven For man cannot agree on much in this world, Yet we all agree that we begin with One, In some ways, And in others in none We hold these truths true to The oniy thing, only reason, only fact of our here’s Jah, takes us closely Through a valley, taking all the work
As Kozol states in Savage Inequalities, “School of choice, as
House, should be encouraged, Par ents and children should be given
of the public education system,
the opportunity to take an active
Kozol learns the sad fact that stu
and informative role in choosing
Jonathan Kozol analyzes the type of dents are aware of their substan
hort
lack.
fit and excel in knowledge within
for all its children?
Avoid reminding me and calling me by the name I used to ex
thing that the education systems
existent technology, and segrega
Through his observations
But watch me wander, watch me, spiritless, yet fearful to die.
seems that this belief is the very
freedom to acquire, partake, bene
“rich” without a solid education
Let me continue on to keeping my head way from the sky,
means of competition.” This
wonder: Why is this happening in
portrays to the rest of the world the cooling systems, outdated or non
serve me.
be deprived in childhood of the
means that, all students should be
staff, problems with heating and
Preserve my joy, preserve my dream, and most significantly, pre
::tG00
children receive their education is
opportunities for all, a land that
By: Christopher-Gerard Isaac Harts Sterling Notes Writer Rest in peace to the person I used to be;
readers’ hearts, causing them to
be a land that symbolizes wondrous insufficient textbooks, shortage of
Obituary
the place and school that is best
Just reflect on who I was while I acquaint myself with who I am. Watch me continue through this hell falsely giving a damn. Hold my memory dear to your heart, and know I was loved be fore I hurt. I am wise now and almost humble, but never forget that I too stood smart.
Grant my peak with its resolution, and claim this ending a new start
public education system that poor
dard schools and have a hopeless
suited for their children’s holistic
As this journey too gives me peace but forces me to depart.
Americans endure. Kozol’s mis
outlook on life as a result. Addi
growth.” If politicians, school
To My University
sion, one to help raise awareness of tionally, he finds that their percep board presidents, and business the plight of education for poor
tions and the realities of their lives
children in America, is one to be
are quite valid and have been miss where dilapidated schools are run,
commended. In. his book, he de
ing from most educational confer
why should parents let their chil
mands that influential people stop
ences. It is ironic that over 130
dren attend?
By: Christopher-Gerard Isaac Harts Sterling Notes Writer
CEOs dare not work in places
I
I apologize, yet
Un-humbly take it all back
HOWARD UNIVERSITY
On Being Brown in America By: Christopher-Gerard Isaac Harts Sterling Notes Writer “I am a restless disturber of peace.” David Walker In recent days, I have lost acquaintances, friendships, and familial relationships; however, it has done me nothing but good. I have debated with family on the suggestion of completing college; I have threatened a brother of my own blood to keep distance from our mother; I have lost the only relationship I have because of my own er rors and half truths; I have been neglected in a ways that I care not to simply acknowledge; in my opinion, I have lost it all, only to learn that I need nothing but the brown skin on my body and the support of my parents whom I deem my sole caregivers. However, I am compelled to again speak on the circumstances and of all that I am gaining—a pride in my self and my actions that no one can alter. I am not apologetic in any way, and to these latter understandings, I dedi cate these words: I’ve Been Writing Brother, I’ve been writing for us I’m not one to forget, so I’ve been reading too, but I’ve been writing I’ve been writing to record these days, and to sit and converse With the greats such as William—the brown one, of course. I’ve been repeating David’s protests for a family to move up and move out, Following another brother called Marcus’s journey back to a home we still refuse to know. I’ve been hearing when they all used to say that “I, too, sing America” Since neither of us knows for sure what’s beyond this place of wrath and fears, I’ve been writing, just in case Tomorrow, my new brother might still be singing and still humming aloud That old American, too hymnal; But instead, I’m a bit browner and frankly a little madder As two thousand a twelve more years have passed on And we’re saying the same thing, So I’ve been writing my brother But again, I’m tired of saying the same damn thing!
If I Could Get Around This Heart of Mine
By: Christopher-Gerard Isaac Harts Sterling Notes, Writer
The African American Dream By: Dr. Douglas Taylor Faculty, Department of English Howard University From Langston Hughes’s Montage of a Dream Deferred and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech to President Obama’s memoir, Dreams from My Father, dreams have always played an important role in African American culture. According to Anthony Shafton, author of Dream-Singers: The African American Way with Dreams
I might be worth something good but I can’t stop feeding the one part of me that I cannot live without.
like a broad vein through.., [African Americanl literature.
The heart, unlike the mind and the rest of this
There for anyone to see in novels, short stories, autobiog
body of mine never asks for much, Until not much turns into someone and that someone becomes too much.
raphies, plays, and poetry is plentiful evidence of the place
(2002): “...the African American way with dreams runs
of dreams in African American life” (3). While agreeing with Shafton’s claim about this
Then, there’s no escaping, no refuting, no argu ment,
“broad vein,” I would make an important qualification:
Its just you and whatever this young heart of
African Americans have dreams; African American litera
yours can’t seem to not hold
ture contains dream narratives. Dream narratives are the
This damn heart of mine
fictional representation of dreams and dreaming in litera ture. Thus, what Shafton refers to as the African American
It won’t let me love or at least hold onto any thing else but you
way with dreams when writing about the dreams of African
I’m sure I could go on
American persons, I refer to as the dream life of African
I could replace every longing for a have but if it ain’t the one thing that this heart asks for, its
American literature in regard to the African American liter
well known that it ain’t nothing worth having. Every fool knows that it’s the heart that leads the way and in the end it’s the heart who surely wins But I prolly never learn how to wander or pass over this young heart of mine,
And
it
for damn sure won’t be today.
ary tradition.
On Being Brown in America By: Christopher-Gerard Isaac Harts Sterling Notes Writer “I am a restless disturber of peace.” David Walker In recent days, I have lost acquaintances, friendships, and familial relationships; however, it has done me nothing but good. I have debated with family on the suggestion of completing college; I have threatened a brother of my own blood to keep distance from our mother; I have lost the only relationship I have because of my own er rors and half truths; I have been neglected in a ways that I care not to simply acknowledge; in my opinion, I have lost it all, only to learn that I need nothing but the brown skin on my body and the support of my parents whom I deem my sole caregivers. However, I am compelled to again speak on the circumstances and of all that I am gaining—a pride in my self and my actions that no one can alter. I am not apologetic in any way, and to these latter understandings, I dedi cate these words: I’ve Been Writing Brother, I’ve been writing for us I’m not one to forget, so I’ve been reading too, but I’ve been writing I’ve been writing to record these days, and to sit and converse With the greats such as William—the brown one, of course. I’ve been repeating David’s protests for a family to move up and move out, Following another brother called Marcus’s journey back to a home we still refuse to know. I’ve been hearing when they all used to say that “I, too, sing America” Since neither of us knows for sure what’s beyond this place of wrath and fears, I’ve been writing, just in case Tomorrow, my new brother might still be singing and still humming aloud That old American, too hymnal; But instead, I’m a bit browner and frankly a little madder As two thousand a twelve more years have passed on And we’re saying the same thing, So I’ve been writing my brother But again, I’m tired of saying the same damn thing!
If I Could Get Around This Heart of Mine
By: Christopher-Gerard Isaac Harts Sterling Notes, Writer
The African American Dream By: Dr. Douglas Taylor Faculty, Department of English Howard University From Langston Hughes’s Montage of a Dream Deferred and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech to President Obama’s memoir, Dreams from My Father, dreams have always played an important role in African American culture. According to Anthony Shafton, author of Dream-Singers: The African American Way with Dreams
I might be worth something good but I can’t stop feeding the one part of me that I cannot live without.
like a broad vein through.., [African Americanl literature.
The heart, unlike the mind and the rest of this
There for anyone to see in novels, short stories, autobiog
body of mine never asks for much, Until not much turns into someone and that someone becomes too much.
raphies, plays, and poetry is plentiful evidence of the place
(2002): “...the African American way with dreams runs
of dreams in African American life” (3). While agreeing with Shafton’s claim about this
Then, there’s no escaping, no refuting, no argu ment,
“broad vein,” I would make an important qualification:
Its just you and whatever this young heart of
African Americans have dreams; African American litera
yours can’t seem to not hold
ture contains dream narratives. Dream narratives are the
This damn heart of mine
fictional representation of dreams and dreaming in litera ture. Thus, what Shafton refers to as the African American
It won’t let me love or at least hold onto any thing else but you
way with dreams when writing about the dreams of African
I’m sure I could go on
American persons, I refer to as the dream life of African
I could replace every longing for a have but if it ain’t the one thing that this heart asks for, its
American literature in regard to the African American liter
well known that it ain’t nothing worth having. Every fool knows that it’s the heart that leads the way and in the end it’s the heart who surely wins But I prolly never learn how to wander or pass over this young heart of mine,
And
it
for damn sure won’t be today.
ary tradition.
F .
The African American Dream Dreams come in many
The African American Dream
standing of the social and histori
Their reluctance may be
they conceal desires that would
scribes a situation in which African
genres: daydreams, lucid dreams, cal context of a work of literature
due in part to the ways that psycho prove disturbing should we become
Americanists had not yet deter
recurring dreams, healing
analytic dream interpretation (the
mined “how to historicize the psy
enhance our understanding of
aware of them in waking life.
dreams, prophetic dreams, night the dream narrative(s) it con
dominant paradigm for dream
mares, social dreams, and race
I tains.7 How ao notions of race
analysis in the Humanities) con
orientation, the dream life of Afri
invade its hereditary premises and
dreams. ‘While the 116 African
and racism get refracted within
flicts with, and even contradicts,
can American literature is also at
insulations, and open its insights,
Americans interviewed by
an aleatory discourse in which
important aspects of the African
odds with the traurndeutung of ortho subsequently, to cultural and social
Shafton report that they only
traditional categories of time,
American way with dreams and the dox Freudian psychoanalysis. The
forms that are disjunctive to its origi
occasionally dream about race, a
space, and causality no longer
dream life of African American lit
racially themed dream narratives
nary imperatives.” However, with
disproportionate number of the
apply? How does the dream nar
erature. Traditionally, African
that pervade the African American
the publication of texts like Sander
dream narratives contained in
rative function to express, how
American dreamers view dreams as tradition cannot be adequately un
Gilman’s Freud, Race, and Gender
African-American literature are
ever elliptically, that which the
originating from God (Spirit, Di
(1995), Christopher Lane’s ‘The Psy
race dreams. The distinction be
text itself attempts to repress? To
vine Intelligence), the ancestors, or psychic exigencies of character/
cIioanalysis of Race (1998), Claudia
tween race dreams and dream
what extent do these dream nar
1 1 powers or one s subconscious tne
speaker/narrator alone; instead,
Tate’s Psychoanalysis and Black Novels:
narratives about race is impor
ratives crystallize the utopic and
mind. Dreams are also believed to
these narratives must be read against Desire and the Protocols of Race (1998),
tant because the kinds of ques
dystopic energies of the text?
contain valuable information that
the social conflicts upon which the
tions one would ask of a person
And how do dream narratives
the dreamer can apply to his or her broader text centers, and under
In Color: Essays on American Literature
who has had a race dream are
function to resist, subvert, or
life in the present and/or the fu
and Culture (2003), Edward Said’s
.
1.
‘
.
‘(/hile more secular in its
derstood through reference to the
stood within the context of the so
choanalytic object and objective,
Hortense Spillers, Black, White, and
different from the questions one transform existing hierarchies of
ture. In psychoanalysis, by contrast, cial and historical dynamics from
Freud and the Non-European (2004),
would ask of racially themed
gender, race, class, and sexuality?
dreams are day residue that pre
which both “dream” and text
and Badia Ahad’s Freud Upside
dream narratives. Of a person,
Eleven years have passed since
serves sleep by allowing for the
emerge. The intrasubjective bias of
Down: African American Literature and
one might ask about recent ex
the publication of Shafton’s
imaginary fulfillment of repressed
periences of a racial nature,
Dream-Singers, and scholars of
psychoanalytic dream interpretation Psychoanalytic Culture (2010), the po desire. Rather than being about the militates against such an approach. tential for politically nuanced, cul
childhood traumas involving
African American literature have
present and/or the future, they are
In her well-known essay, “All turally aware psychoanalytic dream the Things You Could Be by Now, interpretation is now more possible
race, what the person’s conscious yet to explore the “broad vein” of
about childhood and the recent
views are about race and racism,
past. And, in contrast to their func If Sigmund Freud’s Wife Was Your
dream narratives at the heart of
etc. Questions one might ask of a the tradition.
tion in the African American way
text are: How does our under-
with dreams, dreams do not reveal; Race” (1996), Hortense Spillers de
Mother: Psychoanalysis and
than ever.
F .
The African American Dream Dreams come in many
The African American Dream
standing of the social and histori
Their reluctance may be
they conceal desires that would
scribes a situation in which African
genres: daydreams, lucid dreams, cal context of a work of literature
due in part to the ways that psycho prove disturbing should we become
Americanists had not yet deter
recurring dreams, healing
analytic dream interpretation (the
mined “how to historicize the psy
enhance our understanding of
aware of them in waking life.
dreams, prophetic dreams, night the dream narrative(s) it con
dominant paradigm for dream
mares, social dreams, and race
I tains.7 How ao notions of race
analysis in the Humanities) con
orientation, the dream life of Afri
invade its hereditary premises and
dreams. ‘While the 116 African
and racism get refracted within
flicts with, and even contradicts,
can American literature is also at
insulations, and open its insights,
Americans interviewed by
an aleatory discourse in which
important aspects of the African
odds with the traurndeutung of ortho subsequently, to cultural and social
Shafton report that they only
traditional categories of time,
American way with dreams and the dox Freudian psychoanalysis. The
forms that are disjunctive to its origi
occasionally dream about race, a
space, and causality no longer
dream life of African American lit
racially themed dream narratives
nary imperatives.” However, with
disproportionate number of the
apply? How does the dream nar
erature. Traditionally, African
that pervade the African American
the publication of texts like Sander
dream narratives contained in
rative function to express, how
American dreamers view dreams as tradition cannot be adequately un
Gilman’s Freud, Race, and Gender
African-American literature are
ever elliptically, that which the
originating from God (Spirit, Di
(1995), Christopher Lane’s ‘The Psy
race dreams. The distinction be
text itself attempts to repress? To
vine Intelligence), the ancestors, or psychic exigencies of character/
cIioanalysis of Race (1998), Claudia
tween race dreams and dream
what extent do these dream nar
1 1 powers or one s subconscious tne
speaker/narrator alone; instead,
Tate’s Psychoanalysis and Black Novels:
narratives about race is impor
ratives crystallize the utopic and
mind. Dreams are also believed to
these narratives must be read against Desire and the Protocols of Race (1998),
tant because the kinds of ques
dystopic energies of the text?
contain valuable information that
the social conflicts upon which the
tions one would ask of a person
And how do dream narratives
the dreamer can apply to his or her broader text centers, and under
In Color: Essays on American Literature
who has had a race dream are
function to resist, subvert, or
life in the present and/or the fu
and Culture (2003), Edward Said’s
.
1.
‘
.
‘(/hile more secular in its
derstood through reference to the
stood within the context of the so
choanalytic object and objective,
Hortense Spillers, Black, White, and
different from the questions one transform existing hierarchies of
ture. In psychoanalysis, by contrast, cial and historical dynamics from
Freud and the Non-European (2004),
would ask of racially themed
gender, race, class, and sexuality?
dreams are day residue that pre
which both “dream” and text
and Badia Ahad’s Freud Upside
dream narratives. Of a person,
Eleven years have passed since
serves sleep by allowing for the
emerge. The intrasubjective bias of
Down: African American Literature and
one might ask about recent ex
the publication of Shafton’s
imaginary fulfillment of repressed
periences of a racial nature,
Dream-Singers, and scholars of
psychoanalytic dream interpretation Psychoanalytic Culture (2010), the po desire. Rather than being about the militates against such an approach. tential for politically nuanced, cul
childhood traumas involving
African American literature have
present and/or the future, they are
In her well-known essay, “All turally aware psychoanalytic dream the Things You Could Be by Now, interpretation is now more possible
race, what the person’s conscious yet to explore the “broad vein” of
about childhood and the recent
views are about race and racism,
past. And, in contrast to their func If Sigmund Freud’s Wife Was Your
dream narratives at the heart of
etc. Questions one might ask of a the tradition.
tion in the African American way
text are: How does our under-
with dreams, dreams do not reveal; Race” (1996), Hortense Spillers de
Mother: Psychoanalysis and
than ever.
Dr. Taylor’s Biography Burning the wounds of demons desperate to escape their Alcatraz Douglas Taylor is an associate professor of English at Howard University specializing in African American Literature and Critical Theory. He earned his Ph.D. in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Taylor’s current research interests include critical theory, Marxism, Psychoanalysis, Black Nationalism, The Black Arts Movement, Prison Literature, and African American Literature and Culture of the 60s and 70s. He co-edited Richard Wright’s Black Boy (American Hunger): A Casebook (2003). He also has published several articles and essays, such as “Prison Slang and the Poetics of Imprisonment” (2005). Taylor was awarded the Tony Hilfer Prize for his essay “Three Lean Cats in a Hall of Mirrors: James Bald win, Norman Mailer, and Eldridge Cleaver on Race and Masculinity” (Texas Studies in Literature and Lan guage, 52.1) in July 2010.
Those are girls who claim there’s only boredom in being sober, gripe about their hangover And swear they’ll never drink again, that’s of course until the aspirin kicks in Then there back to distraction, my curiosity kicks in and I wonder what’s worse Those who do it so they don’t think, or the ones that do it so they don’t feel
I know girls with an alabaster box for a smile Their deepest secrets tucked safely behind their twelve year old molars They got ambition under the tongues along with the memory of their first kiss
I Know Girls By: Daesha Smith, SABES Poetry Slam Winner
They got white picket fence dreams to make up for what they miss They got cracks in the family portrait that you’ll never see
I know girls searching for love under the belt buckles of guys who just called them beautiful
Because they won’t let you close enough
Or cute, and go mute when the pursuit of the same type of guy yields the same result
The secret service aint got a damn thing on the guards these girls have up
Scrubbing the scent of cologne out of their pores
Bricks made of fear of disappointment, cemented together with empty promises
Those are girls with legs open like they’re hoping to be diapered, held, and called baby
The saying goes, “if you build, it they will come”
In that order, on the border of being a stereotype and a statistic
But they’re not looking for someone to care enough to tear it down
Because it’s 2013 and they say monogamy isn’t realistic
Just for someone to care enough to guard with them
They’re quick to blame their dads, he never showed affection So they have to get it where it can be gotten
I know girls who are equal parts notice me and please don’t look at me
I know girls who don’t even know they’re one empty condom rapper away from being forgotten
Drawer full of sweatpants and hair ties, counter full of products to cover face and eyes
I mean those curves are great baby but they’ll never stop making hourgiasses
A magazine cover for motherly advice and a lustful eye for male validation
Because we as human beings need time to remind us
Those are girls with diet pills and workout dvds discarded for snack cakes and milkshakes
Whether our glory days are in front or behind us
Eaten in private to discourage judgment They spend their lives cycling and spinning through media motivated insanity
I know girls searching for answers at the bottom of a bottle
I don’t know if calling them beautiful boosts their self-esteem or encourages their vanity
Whose only message is “drink responsibly”
So I say nothing
There’s no ship in there, just a fiery sea that sloshes in their bellies
Dr. Taylor’s Biography Burning the wounds of demons desperate to escape their Alcatraz Douglas Taylor is an associate professor of English at Howard University specializing in African American Literature and Critical Theory. He earned his Ph.D. in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Taylor’s current research interests include critical theory, Marxism, Psychoanalysis, Black Nationalism, The Black Arts Movement, Prison Literature, and African American Literature and Culture of the 60s and 70s. He co-edited Richard Wright’s Black Boy (American Hunger): A Casebook (2003). He also has published several articles and essays, such as “Prison Slang and the Poetics of Imprisonment” (2005). Taylor was awarded the Tony Hilfer Prize for his essay “Three Lean Cats in a Hall of Mirrors: James Bald win, Norman Mailer, and Eldridge Cleaver on Race and Masculinity” (Texas Studies in Literature and Lan guage, 52.1) in July 2010.
Those are girls who claim there’s only boredom in being sober, gripe about their hangover And swear they’ll never drink again, that’s of course until the aspirin kicks in Then there back to distraction, my curiosity kicks in and I wonder what’s worse Those who do it so they don’t think, or the ones that do it so they don’t feel
I know girls with an alabaster box for a smile Their deepest secrets tucked safely behind their twelve year old molars They got ambition under the tongues along with the memory of their first kiss
I Know Girls By: Daesha Smith, SABES Poetry Slam Winner
They got white picket fence dreams to make up for what they miss They got cracks in the family portrait that you’ll never see
I know girls searching for love under the belt buckles of guys who just called them beautiful
Because they won’t let you close enough
Or cute, and go mute when the pursuit of the same type of guy yields the same result
The secret service aint got a damn thing on the guards these girls have up
Scrubbing the scent of cologne out of their pores
Bricks made of fear of disappointment, cemented together with empty promises
Those are girls with legs open like they’re hoping to be diapered, held, and called baby
The saying goes, “if you build, it they will come”
In that order, on the border of being a stereotype and a statistic
But they’re not looking for someone to care enough to tear it down
Because it’s 2013 and they say monogamy isn’t realistic
Just for someone to care enough to guard with them
They’re quick to blame their dads, he never showed affection So they have to get it where it can be gotten
I know girls who are equal parts notice me and please don’t look at me
I know girls who don’t even know they’re one empty condom rapper away from being forgotten
Drawer full of sweatpants and hair ties, counter full of products to cover face and eyes
I mean those curves are great baby but they’ll never stop making hourgiasses
A magazine cover for motherly advice and a lustful eye for male validation
Because we as human beings need time to remind us
Those are girls with diet pills and workout dvds discarded for snack cakes and milkshakes
Whether our glory days are in front or behind us
Eaten in private to discourage judgment They spend their lives cycling and spinning through media motivated insanity
I know girls searching for answers at the bottom of a bottle
I don’t know if calling them beautiful boosts their self-esteem or encourages their vanity
Whose only message is “drink responsibly”
So I say nothing
There’s no ship in there, just a fiery sea that sloshes in their bellies
I know Girls continued
Chemistry will tell us about the building blocks of the universe, but literature will tell us about heaven and hell. In a world where the only constant is change, literature is both adaptive and immutable. When every
I know girls with fake smiles, I know girls who cry themselves to sleep I know girls with the soul of a poet, I know girls who think they’re lions but are actually sheep
thing around us speaks of finiteness and endings, literature offers originality and immortality. Biology will tell us what happens to our cells when we die, but literature will tell us what it means to
I know size sixteen girls with more confidence than girls with a double zero
live a good life. Sociology will tell us the right way to hold prisoners, but literature will tell us the meaning of
I know girls with scars from cutting, I know girls afraid to get married
justice. Chemistry will tell us about the building blocks of the universe, but literature will tell us about
I know girls who feel like they’re nothing, I know girls who are faithful
heaven and hell. In a world where the only constant is change, literature is both adaptive and immutable.
I know girls who play games, and if you ever even start to think that we’re all the same
When everything around us speaks of finiteness and endings, literature offers originality and immortality.
Then you obviously don’t know girls
Literature is the only medium that conforms to its purpose’and audience across ages without compro mising the purity of its message. It gives words to the indescribable, significance to the trivial, and insight
Greetings,
The Sterling Allen Brown English Society President’s Welcome
About 40,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, The Epic of Gilgamesk was composed and inscribed on stone tablets. This epic poem is supposedly the first recorded story the world had ever seen. It’s engaging narrative and highly relatable content make it a classic in every sense of the word. However, this story symbolizes something much more than
into the inscrutable, It is an anodyne to the overburdened, a tonic to the timid, and a nepenthe to the griev ing. In our moments of deep despair and rapturous joy, we can turn to literature to complement our mood. Reader, I can write pages on the value of the written word, but to do so would mean a failure to fulfill my responsibility to you. Within these pages you have found original work ranging from free verse poetry to critical essays, shining examples of students and faculty carrying on the rich legacy of Sterling Allen Brown. With that being
the ability of ancient humans to tell stories; it symbolizes the first
said, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to our contributors for preserving the literary tradition at
instance of man reacting to his circumstances and producing cap
Howard, our editing staff for their diligent effort in compiling the volume you hold in your hands, and most
sules of original, creative thought. In short, it symbolizes the first
importantly, our readers; your support turns this collection of words and phrases into a body of work burst
instance of truth.
ing with potential.
This isn’t the truth you can get from any textbook or history chronicle. Literature has the unique ability to give us the truth about the things that matter the most to us. Biology will tell us what happens to our cells when we die, but literature will tell us what it means to live a good life. Sociology will tell us the right way to hold prisoners, but literature will tell
And so I thank you for the time you’ve spent with this issue of Sterling Notes. Whether you
came looking for the answer to a question, recourse to a problem, or simply entertainment, I hope you found that and so much more in what you’ve just read. I hope you move forward with the knowledge that every word you’ve consumed in this issue is part of a greater tradition of unvarnished veracity. I urge you to keep reading, keep writing, and keep considering the question: ‘When was the last time you heard the truth?
us the meaning of justice. Chemistry will tell us about the building blocks of the universe, but literature will tell us about heaven and hell. In a world where the only constant is change, literature is both adaptive and immutable. ‘(/hen everything around us speaks of finiteness and endings, literature offers originality and im mortality.
Enjoy,
Marcus Thomas
I know Girls continued
Chemistry will tell us about the building blocks of the universe, but literature will tell us about heaven and hell. In a world where the only constant is change, literature is both adaptive and immutable. When every
I know girls with fake smiles, I know girls who cry themselves to sleep I know girls with the soul of a poet, I know girls who think they’re lions but are actually sheep
thing around us speaks of finiteness and endings, literature offers originality and immortality. Biology will tell us what happens to our cells when we die, but literature will tell us what it means to
I know size sixteen girls with more confidence than girls with a double zero
live a good life. Sociology will tell us the right way to hold prisoners, but literature will tell us the meaning of
I know girls with scars from cutting, I know girls afraid to get married
justice. Chemistry will tell us about the building blocks of the universe, but literature will tell us about
I know girls who feel like they’re nothing, I know girls who are faithful
heaven and hell. In a world where the only constant is change, literature is both adaptive and immutable.
I know girls who play games, and if you ever even start to think that we’re all the same
When everything around us speaks of finiteness and endings, literature offers originality and immortality.
Then you obviously don’t know girls
Literature is the only medium that conforms to its purpose’and audience across ages without compro mising the purity of its message. It gives words to the indescribable, significance to the trivial, and insight
Greetings,
The Sterling Allen Brown English Society President’s Welcome
About 40,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, The Epic of Gilgamesk was composed and inscribed on stone tablets. This epic poem is supposedly the first recorded story the world had ever seen. It’s engaging narrative and highly relatable content make it a classic in every sense of the word. However, this story symbolizes something much more than
into the inscrutable, It is an anodyne to the overburdened, a tonic to the timid, and a nepenthe to the griev ing. In our moments of deep despair and rapturous joy, we can turn to literature to complement our mood. Reader, I can write pages on the value of the written word, but to do so would mean a failure to fulfill my responsibility to you. Within these pages you have found original work ranging from free verse poetry to critical essays, shining examples of students and faculty carrying on the rich legacy of Sterling Allen Brown. With that being
the ability of ancient humans to tell stories; it symbolizes the first
said, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to our contributors for preserving the literary tradition at
instance of man reacting to his circumstances and producing cap
Howard, our editing staff for their diligent effort in compiling the volume you hold in your hands, and most
sules of original, creative thought. In short, it symbolizes the first
importantly, our readers; your support turns this collection of words and phrases into a body of work burst
instance of truth.
ing with potential.
This isn’t the truth you can get from any textbook or history chronicle. Literature has the unique ability to give us the truth about the things that matter the most to us. Biology will tell us what happens to our cells when we die, but literature will tell us what it means to live a good life. Sociology will tell us the right way to hold prisoners, but literature will tell
And so I thank you for the time you’ve spent with this issue of Sterling Notes. Whether you
came looking for the answer to a question, recourse to a problem, or simply entertainment, I hope you found that and so much more in what you’ve just read. I hope you move forward with the knowledge that every word you’ve consumed in this issue is part of a greater tradition of unvarnished veracity. I urge you to keep reading, keep writing, and keep considering the question: ‘When was the last time you heard the truth?
us the meaning of justice. Chemistry will tell us about the building blocks of the universe, but literature will tell us about heaven and hell. In a world where the only constant is change, literature is both adaptive and immutable. ‘(/hen everything around us speaks of finiteness and endings, literature offers originality and im mortality.
Enjoy,
Marcus Thomas
Poetry Contest The Sterling Allen Brown English Society Poetry Contest: Award: $50.00 and publication in the next issue of Sterling Notes
Aspiration, by Aaron Douglas, The Estate of Aaron Douglas
To enter the poetry contest, create an original piece of poetry based on the above image, which is entitled Aspi ration and which was created by Harlem Renaissance painter Aaron Douglas. Entries can be any length and any genre. Submit your completed poem and a cover sheet that contains your name, telephone number, and email address to the main English office, 248 Locke Hall, by February 15, 2014. The winner of the contest will be selected by a panel of Sterling Allen Brown English Society members and will be notified via phone or email. The winner will receive a $50.00 cash award, and the winning poem will be included in the next issue of Sterling Notes.