Speak Young Brown People, Speak. We Are Listening!

By Alberta Lampkins

Speak, Young Brown People, Speak. We are Listening!

Sixteen young minds from across our nation speak up and let us know they have something to say. Whether it is their written essay, poetry, affirmations or their

• Language: English
• Publisher: A.L. Savvy Publications
• Release date: Feb 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9780990380566

Book preview

SPEAK YOUNG BROWN PEOPLE, SPEAK.

WE ARE LISTENING!

______________________________________________________

Our youth are speaking up and letting their voices be heard.

A.L. SAVVY PUBLICATIONS

Speak Young Brown People, Speak. We are listening!

Copyright © 2022 A.L. Savvy Publications

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means electronic, mechanical, or photocopying, recording or otherwise without the permission of the author.

The views and opinions in this book are solely those of the author and artists. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the publisher or staff.

For more information, please contact

A.L. Savvy Publications

www.alsavvypublications.com

[e-mail]

ISBN: 978-0-9903805-7-3

Dedication

To all of our young people bold enough to speak and striving to build a better world.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction                    Alberta Lampkins 11

Inspirational Message            Suzetta Perkins  17

Aaliyah Burke                Misunderstanding 24

Gisselle Smith-Echevarria    Homeless  32

Ildeanis Martinez            Hispanic Families 40

Jasmine Robinson            Pain 52

Lanasia Melvins                Gender Bias 60

Paris Lauren Mears            Environment 70

Shaniya Bates                Police Brutality 80

Trinity Martinez                Harassment 90

Killiam Cato                    Pollution 100

Monae Clayton                Camden 108

Reflection…Women of the Dream  117

Dorian Withrow                Realistic 122

Affirmation…Breaking Barriers  132

Amaya Patrick                Melanin 140

Zoe H.                            Tsk, Tsk 150

Sedrick Brown                Liberation 162

Serenity Shipp                Equality 172

Malachi Jones                Black America 180

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Acknowledgments

This book wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing young writer’s, poets and artists that allowed A.L. Savvy Publications to share their stories, poems and visual art. Thank you, Aaliyah Burke, Gisselle Smith-Echevarria, Ildeanis Martinez, Jasmine Robinson, Lanasia Melvins, Paris Mears, Shaniya Bates, Trinity Martinez, Killiam Cato, Monae Clayton, Dorian Withrow, Amaya Patrick, Zoe H., Sedrick Brown, Serenity Shipp and Malachi Jones!

A.L. Savvy Publications also owes an enormous amount of gratitude to, Leslie Morris, CEO and founder of Women of the Dream, based out of Camden, NJ, Gaylene Gordon, Project Leader for Women of the Dream, Daniel Robertson, Breaking Barriers, Say Yes Buffalo, New York, Author Suzetta Perkins, Mary Farmer, Tracey Morrison, and Al Lampkins.

Thank you all for supporting such a dynamic project!

Introduction

By Alberta Lampkins

Take notice. Ongoing racism, gaps in educational achievement, police brutality, unequal access to fair housing, high unemployment rates, high incarceration rates among Black and Latinos, environmental racism and economic disadvantages for black, brown and indigenous people exist.

Silence is a form of approval, and failing to speak up makes it appear as if what our black and brown youth see, hear and feel in the forms of injustices is okay. It is not okay. The unique experiences of our youth must be understood and critically evaluated. We must give attention to the sound of their voices, the messages in their words and the emotions expressed through their forms of art.

W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963) wrote, and it still rings true today, Blacks are unusually handicapped in the midst of a nation which excels in its extraordinary economic development. The Study of the Negro Problem (1898), page 73, W.E.B. Du Bois on Sociology and the Black Community.

Systematic racism continues to restrict and limit the availability of opportunities for true freedom, justice and equality. Awareness of racial inequalities are deeply rooted in our nation. The time has come and the change starts right where we are.

Just listen. Our youth are under the pressure and stress of what is happening in our world; circumstances and conditions that they did not create. Just as we are, they are subjected to a society that sees people of color, particularly black men, women, and children as inferior. Struggle is a part of who we are as people. However, we were made to pull ourselves up