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OFTEN IGNORED/NEVER SILENT

Youth Voices from South L.A.
Original Poetry and Theater of Hope
Saturday, August 20, 2005

Poems

The poems below were taken from Our Voice, Our World of Love Language, developed during the course of a summer workshop. The poems were written by 12- and 13-year-old youth from South Los Angeles.

Peace
by Julian

Unity in that community, peace in tha streets
Kinda hard when people is dying 2 eat
When you fightin 4 scraps there will be a lot of confusion,
A lot of wrong doin and a lot of life losen.
Maybe if we knew each others history
Blacks vs. brown hatred would never be a mistery
Maybe ignorance and attitude is the problems
This poem might not fix but I hope it will help to solve em
Peace, peace? The image is no hatred in the world
It would be easy if there was a lot more nuts than squarls.
But then there's greediness and tha jealouse type
If there was pure peace would the world be alright?

The Future
By Lady Flow

No thugs
No drugs
No crips
No bloods
Our only focuse is tha man above
More schools than jail
No brothers locked up behind cells
No drug dealin
No body stealin
George Bush is no longer president
Everybody live up in a clean resident
No death, no murder, or hate
No rapist hiding in different states
No fights
No drug dealin @night
No body living in tha streets
No body has beef
students learning in a educated class
It's hard I can't even remember tha past
I see myself as a spectacular female rapper
Munchin on chicken and red snapper
Confidential high self a steam
I woke up it was all a dream

Me Against the World
by Tania

Government against me
they bomb us 4 no reason.
They make blacks seem inferior
Teachers they don't let you be free
if you get good grades
Parents/Family
they're against boys and fun
Violence
when people die for stupid reasons
Laws they are different towards black people
Gangs they kill fight and don't care 4 children

I am the World
My hair my style the way I am
I am the world that's me
My loving family my friends you see
I am the world that's me
My hair is not supermodel style
Thick and Nappy but it's beautiful
Cause I am the world
My style is my own no one else
Its cute and comfy retro 2
My family cares they love me so
They will never let me go

Cause I am the world
My friends are the best
How much can I stress
Cause I am the world

Letter 2 Mr. President
by Julian

Dear Mr. President
how it goin on in the white house
But let me tell you how its goin on in my house.
Cold water with the roof collapsing
I turn on my T.V.
and there's terrorist attackin
Should I be scared I don't think so
I have seen what you haven't liven in the ghetto
How does it feel with maids and cooks
Not think about crooks
while reading your books.
Have you ever been drivin at night in the stars
And the police pulled you over and out of your car
I see crips I see bloods I see thugz
I have even seen my best friend selliun drugs
What do you see except money and whites
Have you seen a person get shot or beat up in a fight
Maybe one day you can see what I see
So I can help you and you can help me
When will you end the war when you do write back
So our friends and family can get out of Iraq
I have 2 go now but I'll write you back everyday
From everybody living in South L.A.

Dear Kid, Im sorry 4 whats going on down there,
But honestly I don't really care
Them crips and Bloods I refuse to stop it
Cuz everytime they go to jail
money reaches my pocket.
About the war Im making a lot of money
Unlike Iraqis I never fell hungry
Well Its good 2 see a minority using there brain
But I have 2 go the golf course is calling my name.

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