Reimagining Destiny: Reflective Poems of a New Generation

By Dr. Carolyn Princes

This book is a collection of reflective and celebratory poems based on phrases received from diverse graduating students for annual ethnic precommencement programs. From the selective works of several scholars, a young writer, and one who did not even participate in the programs, it gives insight into the thinking, feelings, beliefs, joys, values, and vision of contemporary students. It reflects how the next generation, the architects of tomorrow, envisioned their past and see their present and future roles as majority people. Individually and collectively, the book gives voice to an often-unheard silent youth. It evokes thoughts about the importance of involving diverse students in their education and todays matters. It serves as an instrument for reimagining a new generation of queens and kings to come. The destiny they foresee combined with rethinking a greater urgency and a renewed look at people of color is precursory, hopeful, and preparatory.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543462517

Dr. Carolyn Princes

Dr. Carolyn Princes is an accomplished, creatively innovative educator, scholar, professor, and advocate of diversity, multiculturalism, inclusion and social justice. After nearly 26 years as Director of an African American Cultural Center with various concurrent roles, and ten years as Director of a Student Support Services/Disabled Student Services TRIO program, shes transitioning to a private venture as a Chief Diversity Resource Specialist. Her research interests include fostering the diversity spectrum as a mental, cultural, educational, and social health priority. She possesses a bachelors in Psychology, a master and doctoral degree in Education, raised two adult male children, and has two grandsons.

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by Dr. Carolyn Princes. 759694

ISBN:    Softcover    978-1-5434-6252-4

EBook    978-1-5434-6251-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 04/26/2018

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

Contents

Acknowledgements

Prologue

Introduction

Section 1 Coming

1.1 Cybernoids

1.2 Rethinking Thinking

Section 2 Voices of the Past

2.1 Wisdom I: Langston

2.2 Wisdom II: W.E.B.

2.3 Wisdom III: W.E.B. (II)

2.4 Wisdom IV: Carter G.

2.5 Wisdom V: Carter G. (II)

2.6 Wisdom VI: Margaret

2.7 Wisdom VII: Alice

2.8 Wisdom VIII: Alice (II)

2.9 Wisdom IX: Chinua

2.10 Wisdom X: Chinua (II)

Section 3 Frankly: Non-Class Related Poems

3.1 Fall 1998: Soul FOOD EXTRAORDINAIRE

3.2 Fall 2014: ME

3.3 Fall 2016: Cultural Centers in the 21st Century

Section 4 The Foretelling 90’s

4.1 Respect

4.2 Wowllin’ Out (Recognize)

4.3 To Be a Man

4.4 Holocaust (How Intelligent is a Man?)

4.5 The Graduate Elixir

4.6 Professor

4.7 Grandma E

4.8 If We Try

4.9 Grazing

Section 5 Synopsis of Generation X

5.1 Fall 1993: Synopsis from Friends Forever*

5.2 Spring 1997: Synopsis from Jazz Part One*

Section 6 Before the Tide

6.1 Revering

6.2 Soaring

6.3 Friends Forever*: A Revelation

6.4 Social Media

Section 7 A Blooming Millennial 1993-1995

7.1 My Mom (1993)

7.2 Exploring Walking (1995)

7.3 Exploring Butterflies (1995)

7.4 As We See It

Section 8 Changing Thoughts: Graduating Diverse College Students 2006 - 2015

8.1 If I Had Too (Spring 2006)

8.2 Making A Change (Fall 2006)

8.3 The Journey We Have Traveled (Spring 2007)

8.4 Now That I Am Finished (Fall 2007)

8.5 Retracing Steps, Moving On (Spring 2008)

8.6 It’s A Wonderful Day (Fall 2008)

8.7 The Call to Service: It’s Now Up to Us (Spring 2009)

8.8 Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (Fall 2009)

8.9 The Future is a Mystery (Spring 2010)

8.10 What If…. (Fall 2010)

8.11 Not Tomorrow, Today (Spring 2011)

8.12 Endless Possibilities (Fall 2011)

8.13 With This Degree (Spring 2012)

8.14 If It Wasn’t for Me (Fall 2012)

8.15 Diversity Counts, Because…. (Spring 2013)

8.16 Understood, Not Feared: My Role Now (Spring 2014)

8.17 Conquering the Journey, But… (Spring 2015)

Section 9 Capturing The Journey: Graduates of Different Genres

9.1 Spring 2007: A Special Gift to the Class: We’re Still Making History

9.2 Spring 2013: Angels by Hamissou Ousseini

9.3 Spring 2015: Synopsis of A Graduation Speech

Section 10 Expletives

10.1 Anticipation

10.2 Generations

10.3 The Future: 2017 and Beyond ….

10.4 Epilogue

Section 11 Appendices

11.1 Appendix A: A Generation Guide and Mentor’s Timeline of Students Served

11.2 Appendix B: Vision for Fostering A New Generation

11.3 Appendix C (Form )1: Write Your Own Poem of Fostering of A New Generation

11.4 More About the Author

11.5 Notes

Acknowledgements

Special thanks and appreciation are extended to all who were the source of my encouragement, inspiration, and strength, before, during, and throughout the production of this manuscript, especially Ganda, Willa, Raymonde, Regina, Cathy, Festus and my beloved children who were most endearing. Without their unedited insight, critical review, and intellect, this project would still be an unfinished challenge.

My wisdom, achievements, motivation, and persistence, however, go first and foremost to the most heavenly father and to my mom and dad, the root of my guidance in death as in life. Also, I acknowledge my family who keep me grounded and never let go; my dear friends and colleagues who help to shape my thoughts, ideas, and intellect; and my many graduate and undergraduate students, and children, an unending source of hope.

Prologue

Margaret, Langston, Alice, and before that

Booker T., W.E.B., Garvey, Ida B.

And so many more.

Foreshadowing possibilities.

Setting the tone.

For what was always there.

From the beginning, throughout humanity.

For all of us, lest we see.

History, education, and the truth.

Diversity, it will be.

A fact which stood

And made us strong.

Colorism, and culturalism

Humanism, Multicolored!

Quite simply, multidimensional.

It’s all just and good, for society, not wrong.

1865 is long gone, but wait!

The remnants still live on.

Slavery, civil rights, reconstruction.

The Great Migration, Urbanization.

The Harlem Renaissance.

And yes, Social Justice.

In mindsets and consciousness.

For greatness, strength, telltales

So, all could prevail.

Surround us, lead us, be our reasoning.

Share the source, Look anew!

Rethink, Reimagine.

The pearls of our destiny.

400 years!

Now though, their words, values, and beliefs.

Lived experiences, achievements too.

Telling, revealing, setting the agenda

Of modernity, commodity.

And things to be.

Rich, lustrous, grand history.

Derived through the years.

Too often, unrecognized, unrealized.

Or just too stubborn to see.

This can No longer be.

Rethinking!

Nubia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the Western Sudan.

Free speech, Black Power, War, Anti-War, and all that mattered.

Racial injustice, Equal Opportunity, Social justice, and