Student Work From a SpeakTogether virtual workshop, Talent Unlimited High School, Spring 2020 This poem was composed during a six-week session conducted by author and spoken word artist Sheri Booker, who worked with a class of 10th-grade students to develop their voices. This workshop took place during a global pandemic, a national lockdown, and uprisings across the country to end police brutality and structural racism. Read more about the works in this collection, which are artifacts of this period and a true testament to the vision, creativity, and resilience of these students. Listen to a recording of the following poem above.  The Book That Was Chosen by Rose Macias There was a boy who opened books Whenever they opened, He traveled inside a brown nook He left the red door reopened So the monsters broke and they took The young boy who was roped Against a long, low, thin, black hook He was left unspoken Boy braced before birds bolted books, To the door unopened The brave young boy ran and spoke shook How could he have chosen The wrong way out of the brown nook There he was left frozen The birds stared with a crooked look The wrong […]

Student Work From a SpeakTogether virtual workshop, Talent Unlimited High School, Spring 2020 This poem was composed during a six-week session conducted by author and spoken word artist Sheri Booker, who worked with a class of 10th-grade students to develop their voices. This workshop took place during a global pandemic, a national lockdown, and uprisings across the country to end police brutality and structural racism. Read more about the works in this collection, which are artifacts of this period and a true testament to the vision, creativity, and resilience of these students. Listen to a recording of the following poem above.  Final Poem by Lynzie Hamilton Every part of me belongs to you as much to me. But summer won’t fade Lighting up her face The summer breeze blows Alone together Why can’t we all just be equal As if I won’t put up a fight To look at the beauty of this world Lynzie Hamilton was a sophomore at Talented Unlimited High School in NYC at the time of this recording.

Student Work From a SpeakTogether virtual workshop, Talent Unlimited High School, Spring 2020 This poem was composed during a six-week session conducted by author and spoken word artist Sheri Booker, who worked with a class of 10th-grade students to develop their voices. This workshop took place during a global pandemic, a national lockdown, and uprisings across the country to end police brutality and structural racism. Read more about the works in this collection, which are artifacts of this period and a true testament to the vision, creativity, and resilience of these students. Listen to a recording of the following poem above.  Life Today by Leezum Regensburg The sun shot laserbeams today I hopped on the train home I sat down and saw men staring Up and down their eyes roam I covered up myself with fear As they started to drool I got up and walked to move seats So I just kept my cool I thought “Why can’t people see me For who I really am?” Someone sweet, kind, funny, and smart That’s how I should be judged I just wanted to wash away I’m going to melt I longed to be invisible Wish they knew how I felt […]

Student Work From a SpeakTogether virtual workshop, Talent Unlimited High School, Spring 2020 This poem was composed during a six-week session conducted by author and spoken word artist Sheri Booker, who worked with a class of 10th-grade students to develop their voices. This workshop took place during a global pandemic, a national lockdown, and uprisings across the country to end police brutality and structural racism. Read more about the works in this collection, which are artifacts of this period and a true testament to the vision, creativity, and resilience of these students. Listen to a recording of the following poem above.  Final Poem by Lee Sabre To gender norm benders She is a girl and she has been through hurdles They’re not pretenders He can do what she can Can’t you see In no delay we keep on slaying Make way for the awaken We will spread throughout the nation Lee Sabre was a sophomore at Talented Unlimited High School in NYC at the time of this recording.

Student Work From a SpeakTogether virtual workshop, Talent Unlimited High School, Spring 2020 This poem was composed during a six-week session conducted by author and spoken word artist Sheri Booker, who worked with a class of 10th-grade students to develop their voices. This workshop took place during a global pandemic, a national lockdown, and uprisings across the country to end police brutality and structural racism. Read more about the works in this collection, which are artifacts of this period and a true testament to the vision, creativity, and resilience of these students. Listen to a recording of the following poem above.  Final Poem by Kayla Barbee In madness she lived, please don’t rest It was painfully quiet In the tall grass, my heart drops in my chest Dad should never know, as he would riot I wish she had stayed But hearts torn to pieces Where long lonely strands laid Her summer love ceases The summer weeks will pass She is then let go Long lonely strands flew gently From where she used to be Kayla Barbee was a sophomore at Talented Unlimited High School in NYC at the time of this recording.

Student Work From a SpeakTogether virtual workshop, Talent Unlimited High School, Spring 2020 This poem was composed during a six-week session conducted by author and spoken word artist Sheri Booker, who worked with a class of 10th-grade students to develop their voices. This workshop took place during a global pandemic, a national lockdown, and uprisings across the country to end police brutality and structural racism. Read more about the works in this collection, which are artifacts of this period and a true testament to the vision, creativity, and resilience of these students. Listen to a recording of the following poem above.  Final Poem by Janeejah Anderson Never trust social media It only gives you false hopes About what you body should be And not all that it is already worth Never trust social media It will only tear you down And you should know you wear a crown Never trust social media Because you are beautiful inside and out. Janeejah Anderson was a sophomore at Talented Unlimited High School in NYC at the time of this recording.

Student Work From a SpeakTogether virtual workshop, Talent Unlimited High School, Spring 2020 This poem was composed during a six-week session conducted by author and spoken word artist Sheri Booker, who worked with a class of 10th-grade students to develop their voices. This workshop took place during a global pandemic, a national lockdown, and uprisings across the country to end police brutality and structural racism. Read more about the works in this collection, which are artifacts of this period and a true testament to the vision, creativity, and resilience of these students. Listen to a recording of the following poem above.  Final Poem by Hailey Anagnostopoulos There is one race: The human race Racism is taught And needs to be fought Equality is needed People being mistreated The color of skin Discriminations is a sin Know what’s right And put up a fight. Hailey Anagnostopoulos was a sophomore at Talented Unlimited High School in NYC at the time of this recording.

Student Work From a SpeakTogether virtual workshop, Talent Unlimited High School, Spring 2020 This poem was composed during a six-week session conducted by author and spoken word artist Sheri Booker, who worked with a class of 10th-grade students to develop their voices. This workshop took place during a global pandemic, a national lockdown, and uprisings across the country to end police brutality and structural racism. Read more about the works in this collection, which are artifacts of this period and a true testament to the vision, creativity, and resilience of these students. Listen to a recording of the following poem above.  Final Poem by Grace Nelson Here we are, standing so still Right on the edge of nothingness I can’t help but view an unfamiliar sill As I mull over my mess By the ocean, I feel at peace Like nothing can hurt anymore So maybe I can make it cease If I take that dive and soar Grace Nelson was a sophomore at Talented Unlimited High School in NYC at the time of this recording.

Student Work From a SpeakTogether virtual workshop, Talent Unlimited High School, Spring 2020 This poem was composed during a six-week session conducted by author and spoken word artist Sheri Booker, who worked with a class of 10th-grade students to develop their voices. This workshop took place during a global pandemic, a national lockdown, and uprisings across the country to end police brutality and structural racism. Read more about the works in this collection, which are artifacts of this period and a true testament to the vision, creativity, and resilience of these students. Listen to a recording of the following poem above.  Diverse by Everlyn Sislema Millions of people Beautiful bright cultures all around It is enjoyable To experience many backgrounds Customs for boys and girls The different fun celebrations Quinceñeras with twirls Bar mitzvahs with decorations The good diverse desserts When people tend to eat a ton Girls with beautiful skirts Fashion like a rainbow illusion Our creative cultures Make us unique yet unified Like sisters and brothers It’s the way we identify Evelyn Sislema was a sophomore at Talented Unlimited High School in NYC at the time of this recording.