Artworks

Writing and Poetry

Civic Engagement

Artworks

Orange and Purple Geometric by Dinesha Anderson, Student, Harriett Gibbons High School

Red and Blue Mandala by Mary P. Tooley, Age 18, 11th Grade, Harriett Gibbons High School

Multicolor Mandala by Jaquaad R. Hemingway, Age 17, 11th Grade, Harriett Gibbons High School

Kuumba Way Summer Arts Program

Yacob Williams, Program Director

African Sculptures by Andre Sutton, Age 9

African Knives by Aaron Hairston Age 14

African Face by Kya Hudson Age 14

Writing and Poetry

Children of the Ghetto
by Cassondra Roberts

Walking down the urban city street
Seeing the childrens' blood shot eyes
Cuz everyday they cry
Cuz of the cruelty and misery.
They feel inside
their hearts tearing apart,
turning cold,
so nothing matters,
not even the sight of precious gold.
People outside their world
wonder why they do what they do.
But if they seen what they seen,
they would act the same way 2.
Those people walk by never giving
a light to help them.
The only light they get is the one from Heaven.
But for some,
the path is 2 dark,
it blinds them.

Inner City
by Desmond Wyatt

Inner City can mean so many things to people
with so many different types of backgrounds but
the inner city has positive outlooks as well as negatives
There's buildings sky high and dreams just
as well, in the dark alley ways and high peaks of
the city skies
The Radio keeps the heartbeat of the city
pumping and the heart follows its own path
The light is an illumination for the people's thoughts
Papers rattled and some settle of peoples
opinions thought through, and still some to the
naked eye untold but true
Images of our past constantly box us in or keep
us grounded from what was in the beginning and
also the end
In a world of diverse people and diverse minds
think of what the Inner city might mean to you.

Blind
by Cassondra Roberts

Sometimes I wish I was blind,
Blind to limits.
Blind to boundaries.
So I can defeat these chains of slavery.
Sometimes I wish I was blind,
Blind to heartless people,
Blind to hate,
So that I can live in this world,
Happy with everything God create.
Sometimes I wish I was blind,
Blind to the fact I am a woman,
So I barely get respect.
Blind to the only way how is to get down and have sex.
Sometimes I wish I was blind,
Blind to the reason that guys bother to talk 2 girls is to reach their sexual climax.
Blind to the truth.
After he's done, your time with him has passed.
Sometimes I wish I was blind,
Blind to agony.
Blind to defeat.
Blind that in reality,
The only person whose there for me
Is the one standing on my own 2 feet.

Many Causes
by Desmond Wyatt

In Africa and many parts of the world
People are dying of
Many causes, many causes
And AIDS is one of them.
So why do people continuously not use protection?
Because it feels better?
Well wouldn't it feel better to still be living without AIDS,
Using a condom and a clean needle?
Because people are dying of
Many causes, many causes,
And AIDS is one of them.
She's 12 years old and has never had sex or used drugs,
You'd never have thought she could be "+."
So I encourage you to get tested and wrap it up
Because people are dying of
Many causes, many causes
And AIDS is one of them.

Civic Engagement

This aspect of the exhibit focuses on Civic Engagement, including projects that bring positive change or contribute to the well-being of the community, or focus on national, state or local politics. This section also focuses on writing, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry and spoken word.

What I Learned in the Our Lives, Our Laws Youth Program
by Asonti Martin

I have learned how the laws affect me and everyday people. That everyone has rights and how you should protect those rights. How the choices people make can cost them their life and the future.

Meeting the judges and attorneys for the first time I felt uncomfortable, but when they started speaking, I began to see that they are people like me, they were kids once, that they understand, and that the choices they made and are making was to make a difference in our community and society.
I really liked the program and I have told some of my friends about it. It's important for us to know how the laws work and affect us.

It is Important to Know Your Rights
by Davian Johnson

Davian Johnson reading her essay.

My name is Davian Johnson and I am a student of the United Front Youth Organization. I would like to take this time to tell you what I have learned from the program. The most important thing I have learned from United Front is my rights as a citizen.

It is important to know your rights when it comes to the law so you can protect yourself from those who are in the position to enforce the law from abusing your rights. I have role-played many authorities, such as Police Officers, Defense Attorneys, Judges, Prosecutors, and the accused.
It gave me a chance to see the arrest, court and conviction process from everyone's point of view. I enjoyed it when the Judges, and Lawyers allowed us to ask them questions and explained the answers in a way we could understand.

I also learned how to lose tunnel vision and use common sense to think out of the box. I learned how to open my mind and examine all that was presented before me.

The volunteers offered a lot of great advice and I look forward to the next session of the United Front Youth Organization's program. Before I end I would like to thank all the professionals who took thetime out of the schedule to help the youth. Thank you.

Learning About Laws and Rights
by Robert Joseph Simmons

Going through the Our Lives, Our Laws program was fun and taught me a lot about my laws and my rights. I enjoyed doing the mock trials and playing different parts like defense attorney, police officer and the guy in trouble. I had a good time working with the other kids.