Black History Poem Project

The Creative Writing department has been commissioned to participate in the SOTA Black History month performance. The music department (Mr. Gabriel) is looking for UPLIFTING, POSITIVE, and G-Rated original poems celebrating Black History. You might write about an important historical character/person, or overcoming obstacles successfully in a difficult world, or about the importance of hope and freedom and achieving your dreams. Before you write anything, spend some time today reading some examples of the form.

BEFORE WRITING: Please read this essay first: Jazz as Communication (essay by Langston Hughes). The poems selected will be accompanied by jazz music. You may also spend a moment to read about some Black heroes and role models here.

Here are a few examples of poems. Please read them and consider the style. You may model your own poem on one of these, or use these as a template/idea generator:

• Homage to My Hips
• I am a Cowboy in the Boat of Ra
• Still I Rise 
• Name Calling 
• The Gospel of Barbeque
• Kin
• Mother to Son
• American Income
• Won't you Celebrate with Me?

WRITING A POEM: Start with an idea. What do you want to communicate as a human truth? Write down your message in your journal. If you could say something important to people who need to hear something important about succeeding in life or dealing with daily problems or social issues, what would it be? Write down as many messages as you can think of. You will be able to pick from these after you brainstorm a little.

Choose one message and consider WHO might speak this message, what the persona of your poem might SAY, and to whom is the persona speaking to? (likely our Black History month celebration audience).

The tone of your work should be positive. We are interested in your positive message. We get enough negative messages from our peers, the media, society, and our families. You may find more help and inspiration here.

You may write more than one draft. All drafts should be turned in to my inbox for participation credit.