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 Ella Pemberton This is not a trend. Racism needs to end. If I’m your friend, you will fight till the end. We should all come together. We’ll fight forever To make Black Lives Matter. Ella Pemberton 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 Branavan Rivera For the history of mankind there have only been two genders until recently. People have now been expanding their identities with new cultural possibilities. There are infinite choices for it is what makes us human. Our broken society’s social constructs are forcing biological religion to be disproven. Now people will do so much to protect their identity, And their right to identify even though not validated scientifically. Look me in the eye, I am the giraffe that rides the winds of wrath across the blackened sky. A lot of people disagree with this because […]

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 April Kuntse I kind of like both of them It is better cold Summer is too hot I just want to swim It is a very weird thing I go to grab my phone Just had to beanbag I love to eat food Beautiful and wise. April Kuntse 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.  Gazelle by Genesis Alcantara Click click, she walks through the forest Look majestic creatures The summer wind breezes by her Walking with her features She wants more, she wants to be heard She’s as blind as a bat But only her vision is blurred She wants to be macho Yet another Lion sees her She’s graceful and lovely He reached his arm on her and walks He whispered “you’ll love me” As she shoves him away from her “Why should I?” she questioned “You’ll do as I say I’m the man” “Not when the sky is blue” “Don’t be […]