“Mind Your Business” discusses various social justice issues with regard to people involving themselves in things that don’t concern them.
Mind Your Business
Race
white woman (crocodile) tears
Crocodile tears is a phrase that refers to a false display of emotions, specifically sadness or grief. The term is derived from the phenomenon of crocodiles crying whilst consuming prey.
Living in Gratitude While Missing My Native Tongue
It’s easy—almost far too easy to just say where we are from. A country. A place. A word. But where we really come from is from our parents and our culture. A history.
The Watchtower, an Excerpt
Two Japanese American twelve-year-olds in World War II relocation centers, hatch a plan of escape. But something unexpected happens on the day they plan to leave.
Broken Masterpiece
A poetic piece revolving around the misconstrued perceptions of what it truly means to be an African American living in modern day society.
Always There
Bed-Stuy had always been home for Jordan, but what will he do when something seems to be coming with him? Sometimes the real monsters are closer than you think.
I used to hate the rain
Acceptance comes after the storm. It poured and poured.
Take Space, Make Space
While I used to feel fractured when it came to my heritage, poetry has helped me realize that these fractures are, in fact, who I am.
Forgotten Ignorance
History is not just the past, but also the present and the future. However, it is our decisions as a collective that majorly decide how history runs its course. This poem, titled “Forgotten Ignorance,” describes how climate change should be affecting everyone equally, yet people of color are getting more hard-hit because of the racism and socioeconomic inequality in our society. As such, advocating for a clean climate is inherently linked to advocating for racial equality.
Strange Combination
Although this piece is not tied to the theme “Taking Our Place in History,” it does take place in my own history of living in a world where someone of my shade of color grows up Hispanic.
relating to, derived from, or consisting of matter: having real importance or great consequences
In honor of Black History Month, I have written a piece that reflects on everyday reminders of slavery. I draw an unconventional parallel between my life and the experience of an enslaved woman.
Between the World and Me’ & James Baldwin
This piece was inspired by one of my favorite books, Between the World and Me. Everyone should read this book and these writers.
Angry Black Women
I made this presentation because within American society, black women are at the bottom of the totem pole. Whenever we speak up to defend ourselves, we are seen as aggressive, overbearing, and too much to handle. This common approach to our struggles reinforces the denials of our pain and further pushes preconceived notions from those we’ve yet to meet. I don’t want black women to humble themselves in order to not be seen as a stereotype.
Two Worlds
A memoir, a thought, a realization. Finding and defining my own identity.
Fallen Angels
Thank you to the fire inside of me that finally lit and allowed me to speak my truth.