Tomorrow's Titans: Poetry to Grow a New Future

By 826CHI

Tomorrow's Titans: Poetry to Grow a New Future is a collection of poetry and creative writing from 6th graders at Chicago Math & Science Academy. The young poets engaged their imaginations to dream of new worlds, reflect on this one that we all share and deepen their understanding of themselves, each other and what it m

• Language: English
• Publisher: 826CHI
• Release date: Oct 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9798868960635

826CHI

826CHI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.

Book preview

Tomorrow's Titans

TOMORROW'S TITANS

POETRY TO GROW A NEW FUTURE

826CHI

826CHI

CONTENTS

Tomorrow's Titans: Poetry to Grow a New Future

Foreword

Benji Hart

On Earth

Desirey A.

Emotional Body

Mujeeb A.

Elizabeth D.

Carlos J.

PROMPT: Emotional Body

On My Planet

Abdulahi A.

Jesus A.

Ebo A.-P.

Talese S.

Anthony G.

Joshua L.

Nicole O.

Dominick T.

PROMPT: On My Planet

Abecedarian

Hannat B.

Herma A.

Abdulbasit O.

Marwa W.

Teniola S.

PROMPT: Abecedarian

Museum of Ancient Human History

Olamide A.

Alessandra A.

Hannat B.

Jasmine C.

Tyler J.

Siham K.

Eric C.

Sharokina M.

PROMPT: Museum of Ancient Human History

We Must Believe in Spring

Mohammad A.

Gisel A.

Alexa M.

Jacop N.

Dominick T.

PROMPT: We Must Believe In Spring

Tomorrow’s Titans

Alessandra A.

Mahera A.

Sean Austin Caillou C.

Rafael L.

Nicholas O.

Shark T.

Hassan A.

Jonathan C.

Jayla G.

Anna I.

Byron L.

Armidee L.

Heq L.

Cayden L.

Eliza M.

Abrar A.

Sanga A.

Sally O.

Sally O.

Ulises P. C.

Emory R.

Fathia S.

Jeady T.

Bryan V.

Farouq A.

Momina Z.

Ife B.

Sawburah T.

Discussion Around Creation of Tomorrow’s Titans

About the Artist

About the Foreword Writer

Teachers

Acknowledgments

About 826CHI

TOMORROW'S TITANS: POETRY TO GROW A NEW FUTURE

Writing by the 6th Graders of Chicago Math and Science Academy

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Tomorrow's Titans: Poetry to Grow a New Future is a collection of poetry and creative writing from 6th graders at Chicago Math & Science Academy. The young poets engaged their imaginations to dream of new worlds, reflect on this one that we all share and deepen their understanding of themselves, each other and what it means to write. Inside these pages is evidence of the radical and transformative qualities of creative play, unfiltered imagination and what can happen when adults willingly get 👏 out 👏 of 👏 the 👏 way.

This book is a work of both fiction and nonfiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the products of the authors’ imaginations, are used fictitiously, or are totally realistic representations of these students’ experiences. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Or incidental. Or an instance of synchronicity, if you’re looking for it.

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Cover art: Abigail Hernandez

Book design: Yadi Arias

Director of Programs: Asia Calcagno

Manager of Education: Natasha Mijares

Publishing Programs Coordinator: Joshua Bohnsack

Teaching Artist: Robin Reid Drake

Print ISBN: 979-8-88694-003-9

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All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part of any form. Published by Moody Publications.

Proceeds from your purchase of this publication support 826CHI, a non-profit creative writing, tutoring, and publishing center. www.826chi.org

The views expressed in this book are those of the authors and the authors’ imaginations. We support student publishing and are thrilled you picked up this book!

First Edition 826CHI 2022 // Printed in the United States by McNaughton & Gunn

Vellum flower icon Created with Vellum

FOREWORD

BENJI HART

There is so much brilliance in the pages you are about to read.

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I was geeked when Robin Reid Drake reached out to me about writing the introduction for 826CHI’s Young Author’s Book Project. I was even more excited when I learned that the project's current cohort of middle schoolers hadn’t only taken the time to read one of my poems–Layleen’s Bill (With Revisions)–but that they had used it as a prompt to discuss trans liberation, prison abolition, and to flesh out their dreams for their own neighborhood and city.

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Visiting these students in their classroom at Chicago Math and Science Academy wasn’t just side-splittingly funny, but genuinely touching. I was asked by all three sections if I am related to Kevin Hart. I was asked about my favorite food, favorite color, and favorite anime. I was also asked how I came to be an advocate for abolition, when I wrote my first poem, and if I ever feel hopeless. I got to listen to these students read their own poetry out loud, to hear them articulate their visions for a world without sexual violence, without bullying, without policing.

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These youth are using poetry to identify their emotions, and locate where in their physical bodies they reside–a skill that I as a 32-year-old am just now learning to develop. Their pieces describe electrified legs, poison tattoos, slain ashes, and wisteria leaving. I was introduced to Nicoleans–residents of Planet Nicole, the first ever anti-racist celestial body. Goaded by the work of Franny Choi and Kemi Alabi, I heard students describe the phenomena they would one day look back on in the annals of ancient human history: guns, bullets, insecurity, abuse. Their words take on the form of rooms, of faces, of great graphite clouds on their notebook pages. I clearly heard the call: Come on, let’s be free. We can do it, let’s be free. I