LIT ZINEsummer 2011

william winter institute for racial reconciliation2nd annual summer youth institute

SYI logo designed by rui guizine created with the help of melody frierson

SPECIAL THANKS TOour guest speakers:

Leroy Clemons, Al White, Anya Groner, Chandra Williams, JoAnnEdwards, Kiesha Perry, Stan Wilson, Brian Doyle, Toran Dean, MyrlieEvers­Williams, Kirk Johnson, Detra Payne, Sharon Wright, DeVante

Wiley, Shamiski Collier,Rena Evers, Gov. William Winter

the Hawaii group:Dawn Mahi, Joseph Miller, Darla Simeona, Scotty Garlough,

our 2011 summer youth institute staff:Kaitlyn Barnes, Melody Frierson, Rui Gui, Jeremy F. Hawkins,Elliot Long, Jake McGraw, Treshika Melvin, Renee Ombaba,

Hope Owens­Wilson, Charles Taylor, Charles Tucker,Nathaniel Weathersby, Patrick Weems, Rondalyn Piers,

and Dr. Susan Glissonand last but not least, the fabulous 2011 SYI participants:

Joshua Anderson, Jessica Bader, Octavius Bethley, Jimmy Biggs,Courtland Brown, Latoysha Brown, Leigha Ellis, Willie Frierson, KortneyHaymore, Brittany Houseworth, Tymeka Hunter, Kierra Jones, Myeisha

Jones, Michael McCullum, Cortez McMillon, Damonte Morgen,Quezdon Nash, Telviontae Nash, Riya Patel, Christian Ratliff Mason,Johnny Robinson, Jonathan Smith, Steven Thompson, Joey Walden,Chelsey White, Kristen Williams, Hilary Word, Morgan Young, Anisha

Youngblood, Paige Brown, Miracle Kelly, Timeshia Green

Poetry is not a Luxury.It is through poetry that we give name to those ideas

which are, until the poem, nameless and formless ­ aboutto be birthed, but already felt.

That distillation of experience from which true poetrysprings births thought as dream births concept, as feeling

births idea, as knowledge births understanding....We can train ourselves to respect our feelings, and to

discipline them into a language that matches thosefeelings so they can be shared. And where that

language does not yet exist, it is our poetry which helpsto fashion it.

Poetry is not only dream or vision, it is the skeletonarchitecture of our lives.Audre Lorde

Where I Am Fromby Octavius Bethley

I’m from shotguns houses to mobilize trailers.I’m from robots that speak to me and say I can do you a favor.I’m from swings, playing basketball,and throwing rocks at tin signs.I’m from thinking successfully of any career that I find.You walk with your head held low,but you are the type of person who always wants to know.I’m from the 90`s.A sense of humor and class,to a place that will make you laugh.

Where I Am Fromby Myeisha Jones

I’m from a small community with dirt roadsthat took forever to be paved.From the smell of fresh cut grassto the smell of clorined water in the summer time.I’m from mud pies and forts builtwith hanging blankets off couches tables and beds.I’m from wise old people to crazy non­sense young folk.And with all that there’s no way I’ll forget where I’m from.

Knowing My Brainby Octavius Bethley

You know where it isYou use it every secondYou use it every dayTo think of what you have to sayIts protection is a physical feature that people judge a lotThey hate.They dislike.It’s used to confine myself.I think it’s my life.School, work, shower, public, restaurant, really everywhere.This organial thing seems to fit youbut how would you know if you didn’t know what to do?Hmmm, well now you where this organ comes in place.

Poetry is a natural medicine,that extends solace and relief,

gives a cathartic voice to the suffering,reveals insight and shows uswhat it means to be human.

John Fox

Where I am Fromby Latoysha Brown

I’m from the history that brung my city upA black man’s intelligence, just city luckI’m from the spot where boys want to bethugs or wann­besseeling crack to the kids in a 100 degreesWhere I’m from?I’m from the slumsIn the hood where the young girl tryingto raise their second childcreating their own organization of fatherless bumsI’m from the fights and violenceThere is no peace, no even in the silenceWhere I’m fromI’m from the Delta thatis underrated in the educationwhere people outside of us just think weare worthless creations.I’m from the tree where my great­greatgreat ancestry hungI’m from the tume of the freedom songsWhere I’m fromI’m from the scream and shoutsand the lost dreams where­a­ballsI’m from the sperm donor that got up and leftwith that same goodbye letter sitting on the shelfI’m from diseases and povertyI’m from the pain that makes you hurt

so bad, one would want to cry a seaWhere I’m fromI am from a small community with mehaving big dreamsWhere I’m fromI’m from the drunks and prostitutes,Lawyers and people that’s trying to create their own institutesWhere I’m from.

Where I Am Fromby Leigha Ellis

I’m from the soft cutgrass in the backyardwhere the trees grewhigh imaginationran wild.I’m from walkingbarefoot on the concrete.I’m from thewarm, muggy summernights where the cricketschirped and the soundsof the night blared likean orchestra.I’m from Saturday nightswith my best friend.I’m from jumpingin my auntee’s poolwhen the weather was nice.I’m from relaxingand letting my cares driftaway with each passing moment.I’m from living inthe moment andmaking the mostout of the present. Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinkingso that other people won't feel insecure around you."

Marianne Williamson

From Homeby Damonta Morgan

I’m from a place of difference,wounded humans and worn families.wounded by the depression ofnot knowing the next step.I’m from a place of diversity.where it seems that thereis no place to interact.I’m from the southside whereyou wonder, who’s peeping throughthe window of your life.I’m from a place wherelife between whites andblacks still don’t exist.I’m from light and dark.

A Little of Where I Am Fromby Kierra Jones

Where children always play.Where adults work hard to provide.Where something is always being fried.It isn’t the wealthiest but it’s far from poor.Happiness can make a person rich alone.Far from perfect, we fight.Some people are negative, but I’m making it.There isn’t much to do, so we “find things.”I want to, and will create things,new thingsfrom a placewhere segregation is still…Alive… but hey Kierra is too!I am from a place that isn’t the best,but it’s a test to make me better.I’m from Cleveland,Land of new hope.

Do your little bit of good where you are;it is those little bits of good put together

that overwhelm the world.Bishop Desmond Tutu

Where I Am Fromby Michael McCullum

I am from Sheeplo,From the real capital of Mississippi.I am from the sand on the beach front,I am from the pine trees, magnolias, and oaks too.I am from Anthony and Tonya,Not only them, but grandparents too.I am from Sheeplo,The real capital of Mississippi.

The Blizzard of the worldhas crossed the threshold

and it has overturnedthe order of the soul.Leonard Cohen

So YoungAnonymous

So young, and yet so full of anger.So young, and yet so full ofhatred, resent, and rage.So young, and yet so many disappointments.She's been disappointed so manytimes that "not givin' a damn"is almost like a reflex.So young, and yetSo mad at the world.She's screaming so LOUD,yet her voice is unheard...Silence...no one hearsher cries, no one bothers tocare why. but I guess evenyour shadow leaves you inyour darkest hour. She'sso young but yet, so alone...

The young do not know enough to be prudent,and therefore they attempt the impossible

and achieve it, generation after generation.Pearl S Buck

Philadelphia Tripby Damonta Morgan

Today when we went to Philadelphia, Miss., the trip wasGREAT! On the way there, we met many new peopleduring the switcher­roo exercise. When we got toPhiladelhia, there were many places that we visited, andmany things we learned that were very educational. Ireceived much insight on what happened there. I oncelearned in school about the three guys that visited but itdidn’t go into much depth as what we received today.So THIS TRIP WAS AWESOME!

If you do not see opportunityyou are not looking hard enough

Anonymous

BE the CHANGE you want tosee in the WORLD

Gandhi

Where I Am Fromby Cortez McMillon

I am SwagI am a blue devilI am my townI am from the sun that beats down on the deltaI am from a small place where one stoplightseparates me from the worldI am cotton which I was raised in the fieldsfor I remember planting corn, greens, and riceI am from a town where everyone knows everybodyWhere we’re all family, but at the same timehave our differences (violence)I am from a place with very few scholarsEvery young man wants to stand round waste’their life, on the street corners to nowherebut in the end I am the worldthe time yet to comeI am the delta which I carry on my back,I’m a delta boy.

Gather give growCourtland Brown