First Place: Kiitan Adedeji Lafayette High School
ListPoemfortheFutureofourBlack-Selves
I.
Withthesesacredwordspouringfrommyhands; whatdestinyofminehasbeendetermined? Whennewageequalitystillmeetsoldinjustice withthesepeopleatmyfeet,praisingmeforwriting
HowfartothetopwilltheyletmyBlackdestinygo? HowmuchlongerdoesthispowerfulBlackwoman gettodream?WhatglassceilingwillIreach, willmywordsbepowerfulenoughtobreakit?
II.
Myfathertellsmethatlivingain'teasyforBlackwomeninAmerica. HesaysI'vegottoworktwiceashardandbemuchmorethanbetter. WiththisBlacktalent,Blackbody,Blackworking— I'vegottoearnmyplaceinAmerica.
Writingwon'tfeedmouths,federalgovernmentwon'tcometomycalling. Blackcommunitiesdon'thavetheamenitiestoreplacewhitebusinessmen andworkinghardhasn'tbroughtmuchfolksanywhere.
III.
IstilldreamofBlackCEOs,ahavenTuslabuiltofsteelwalls soitneverburnsdown.BlackWallStreetinnoireGreekcolumns, awaytobuildmypeople,myselffromthegroundup.
Second Place: Madelyn Blakey
Lafayette High School
Black Brilliance
Being young, black, and gifted is a truly powerful thing, We radiate the passionate spirit of queens and kings. Empowered by a legacy so profound, Our ancestor’s whispers echo through us, making a resilient sound.
Gifted minds inspire, create, love, explore, and thrive, Chasing dreams like stars as the night comes alive
Melanin-rich hues paint bold stories, Unafraid and seeking equal glories
Through struggles and triumphs, we will always find our way, We are led by our blazing fire, kindled by each achievement every day.
Our minds are the ethereal garden where ideas blossom, Nurturing potential for stardom, And remind us why even the rain was necessary.
Sometimes the crushing pressure to be successful at all costs, Leads us to become lost.
But, in hardships and difficulties, our resilience is gracious, A testament to greatness.
With each step, we shape the world’s track, A seraphic masterpiece in action, young, gifted, and black.
ToBeYoung,GiftedandBlack
Tobehurttimeandtimeagainbutneverturnyourback
Tobestressedbutneverslack
Tobeyourownpersonbutstaywiththepack
ToBeYoung,GiftedandBlack
Tostartamovementwithyournameendingonaplaque
Butneverbetoloudorelseyourseenastoblack
Totakestereotypesasinnocentfeedback
Andbetoldyouroppressionwasjustasetback
Thatyouneverlivedthroughtheslaverysowhyfeelattacked
Don'tmakedemandsbutmakeanimpact
Don'tletyourvoicebetakenbutnevertalkback
ToBeYoung,GiftedandBlack
Young,gifted,andblackisadream
Aformorexcellencethatworkstentimesharderjusttobeseen
Avoicethathasnootheroptionbuttoscream
Yetstillneverhavethemeanstobeanythingbutatheme
Athemethatdefineswhoweareasateam
Athemethatcreatesbarriersandblowsselfesteem
Athemethatinherentlywedon'tevenknowwhatmeans
ToBeYoung,GiftedandBlack right?
Makeordinarysomethingthatwefearnotsomethingthatexcites
Tomakeourblacknesstheonlythingweholdtight
Notourdreamsorourhurdles,justtheoppositeofwhite.
No.
Whatis Young,GiftedandBlack today?
Talentsbyminorityyouthweputondisplay?
Orthebeautyofourstrugglethatmakesitokaytoportray
Third Place: Alicia A.M. Robinson
Bryan Station High School
Toportraythedayswearenolongeryoung
Toknowthatinourfightourlegacieshavejustbegun
Toknowthatgiftedisn'talwaysbreakingtheglassceiling Butwakingupeverydaywithourheartsbeaming
Beamingthatwearehere
Beamingthatlifeisfinallyclear
Clearthatevenwhenwedisappear weneverreallyhavetofear
neverknowingthebeautythatinourheartsstayeddear
Thebeautythatisthegenerationtocome
Thebeautythatisthetalentsthatwillneverbeundone
ThebeautythatisAfricainwhichwecomefrom
ToBeYoung,GiftedandBlack
Tobeyou,aminoritythatinallthestrugglesoftheworld Neverlacks
Theblessingthatis
Us Blacks
