The colors, sights, and sounds of Carnival have long been a favorite of Samantha’s. West Indians take over Brooklyn for the Labor Day weekend and make their presence known.
Narrative
My Fingers Grip the Handles To My Bag
A spoken word piece concerning Asian hate crimes and the feeling of being the next victim.
Harlem: The Black Flowering
A visual representation of the Harlem Renaissance or the New Negro Movement. The growth of black music, art, and community through the many vessels of hands that watered it.
The Last Dance
This piece is a short story about my character, Princess Amantdeiylaia. It’s her 15th birthday, and an old friend pays her a visit. But is his presence welcomed?
2004
Here’s a peek into the ever-evolving story of my life, encapsulated in a short but mighty list.
Two Kids
Pulled from pensive thoughts about pasts and existence, we found ourselves letting go through “Two Kids.”
A Cup of Tea
This piece is dedicated to my grandma.
Story Finds
By buying the church, he bought the graveyard and used his children and grandchildren to become the librarians of the dead.
Pt. 2: Am I Really Indian?
This short essay describes my ongoing journey in navigating my identity.
NYC Mayor’s Office Cover Letter
How to Mourn for Something That Was Never Yours
This recipe/poem explores my longing to establish a connection to my familial ancestry through my grandmother’s delicious cookie recipe. I reveal what I know, what I don’t, and the murky truth in between.
Silver Lining
Babysitting the silly trio was never a chore. Rather, their careless, gleeful babbles were a timely source of solace.
Poetry of the Night
A reading of two poems accompanied by videos, photos, and Flow.
Bruised Skies
A combination of photos taken this spring, as I prepared to graduate high school, along with poems attempting to capture a range of emotions I’ve struggled to articulate.
Slang culture: an immigrant teen’s arch nemesis
Can slang culture even impact an immigrant teen at all?