Deep Young Author Project Volume 12, Issue 10: Spring 2020 High School

FEATURING WRITERS FROM: JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL GROVES HIGH SCHOOL Deep Center’s mission is to empower Savannah’s young people to thrive as learners, community leaders, and agents of change.

Through creative writing, cultural production, and art, Deep creates platforms for the city’s youth and the village of support around them, including their families and adult allies, to share stories, engage in debates, and make Savannah a more just and equitable place.

Young Author Project Volume 12, Issue 10 SPRING 2020 HIGH SCHOOL

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Young Author Project O u r s t o r i e s m a t te r.

SPRING 2020 HIGH SCHOOL VOLUME 12, ISSUE 10 A collection of creative work by young authors from JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL GROVES HIGH SCHOOL

Spring 2020 | Volume 12

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A Deep Center, Inc. original published May 2020 Volume 12, Issue 10 Created by Savannah’s young authors, Writing Fellows, and Deep staff Learn more at deepcenter.org.

Copyright © 2020 Deep Center, Inc. All rights reserved by the Deep Center and the authors The Deep Center, Inc., is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization Special thanks to our creative partners: Photographers: Heather Shiver and Kiara Griffin Graphic designer: Keenan Alexander Illustrator: Victoria Sandøy and Bleu “ABSTRVCT” Cantillano Production: Deep staff

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“Every story I create, creates me. I write to create myself.”

-Octavia E. Butler (1947–2006) Groundbreaking author of science fiction

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About Deep ix

JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL Akeem Bond Jr. Alijah Ross-Ferguson Amina Chisholm Destiny Jones Haley Castrodad Jayden Carter Jaylin Baker Jennifer Williams Jessica Lynch Kayla Flowers Ma’Layah Wilson

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GROVES HIGH SCHOOL De’Asia Robins Erin Horne Esther Chineme Udochukwu Kiheem Brant Luis Mazariegos Maria Monsalve Reyes Marissa Stowbridge Natalie Johnson Paola Castro Peace Blair Suani Barahona Soumaya M. Saboun

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32 36 38 40 42 44 46 50 52 54 56 58

MÍRANOS What Does It Mean to Be Latinx? 62 Valentine’s Day 66 Issues with the Community and Colorism/Afro-Latinxs 70 Mental Health and Self-Care 72 Latinx Art 76

Writing Fellows 82 Acknowledgments 85 Donors 86 Get Involved 89

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ABOUT DEEP Deep Center fuels the creative fires of Savannah’s young people, helping them connect their learning to their lives and their lives to their communities. By developing as creative writers and community researchers, Deep youth learn how to tell their stories and tell them well. When this happens, they gain confidence in themselves, pride in their neighborhoods, and the power to speak up and take action about issues facing their communities.

Deep raises the voices of diverse youth in our community to ensure Savannah honors their perspectives, stories, and creativity while affording them the opportunity to participate in critical conversations affecting all of Savannah.

Deep offers free, fun, and rigorous creative-writing programs to Chatham County’s public school students (ages 11-18). Our awardwinning programs and trained teaching artists nurture youth literacy, creativity, critical thinking, leadership, and community pride. Deep publishes their work in beautiful bound anthologies, hosts readings where audiences hear and celebrate youth stories, and creates platforms for young people to engage in meaningful conversations about the pressing issues facing Savannah.

To learn more, visit deepcenter.org.

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JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL 3012 SUNSET BLVD, SAVANNAH, GA 31404

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ABOUT OUR WORKSHOP From the first day, this workshop felt like sitting down in an old friend’s living room—the comfortable familiarity of everyone belonging. Every week, we looked forward to gathering around our long table and catching up with everyone. Tucked behind Dr. Q’s classroom, the stage on which we held our workshop became a space of inclusivity, creativity, and kindness. We were constantly surprised by this group’s bravery when tackling tough issues and their maturity when voicing their opinions. They were always eager to write and share their stories, and churned out bold, honest, silly writings week after week. They were incredibly fearless when it came to sharing, and they always encouraged others to do the same. When it came to listening, they were intent and receptive. Our workshop rose to the challenge of polishing these pieces remotely after COVID-19 school closures forced Deep to pause inschool programs. We hope you enjoy the products of their work and see their personalities shine through.

—Emily and Kat GROVES HIGH SCHOOL

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AKEEM BOND JR. Akeem is a junior at Sol C. Johnson High School. Thanks for being part of our workshop, Akeem!

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AKEEM BOND JR.

DRUM TEST Have you ever just gone somewhere, and the sound makes you drive back to memory lane like an old Volkswagen? Well, that’s how I feel going to another high school’s football game.

I enter the stadium and walk up the bleachers, the metal steps like a dead and cold keyboard on a piano. I sit down, and they come on.

Marching cadence.

Hearing the sound waves of the bass drums makes me think of when I play: wearing my blue and white monkey suit with my cape hanging on the right side of my shoulder, my bass strap tightened, waiting for my bass to ache my back.

Boom… boom, boom! Boom, boom!

I can play it right now, my imaginary sticks in my hand, smacking the side of my thigh as if it’s a drum.

Da-da-da, dom… boom… boom, boom-boom!

Oh my God, that was terrible. Those tunnel rails were horrific, like fingernails on a chalkboard to my ears. Makes me remember the time when we got embarrassed by Jenkins our first game. They will bounce back. Rolls aren’t there, but the tuning of their drum brings holiness to my ears.

JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL

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ALIJAH ROSS-FERGUSON Alijah is a graduating senior at Sol C. Johnson High School. Thanks for being in our workshop this semester, Alijah!

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ALIJAH ROSS-FERGUSON

EXERCISE IN CHARACTER SKETCHING I To call this man bizarre-looking would be a severe understatement.

He wore a white top hat with red feathers stuck into it, and a well-kept white suit with a red dress shirt, coupled with a jet-black tie. While his suit itself was out of place and eccentric, it was his form and body that gave him his very uncanny aura. Extremely tall and thin to a near anorexic degree. Bright red hair that matched one of his shining eyes (the other, a bright silver), and skin that totally lacked any color, other than a pale grey hue. The oddity of the man’s movements only furthered the unnatural energy that he radiated. His motions were like that of a child entering an amusement park for the first time, erratic and focused on all the flashing lights and moving people.

EXERCISE IN CHARACTER SKETCHING II Twyla was bored. And it wasn’t your standard “let’s-binge-watch-thatshow-you’ve-watched-a-hundred-times” kind of bored. No, rather, it was the kind of bored where you have nothing to do and five minutes becomes a crawling five hours. She started to play with her lilac purple hair in a desperate attempt to relieve even a miniscule sliver of boredom while lounging in the stuffy mansion of her elder mother. Glancing over at a series of decaying paintings on the wall, her eyes gravitated toward a portrait of her great-grandmother. Twyla was told persistently that she looked nearly identical to her departed ancestor, and to give her family credit, she could see where they were coming from. Same soft lilac hair (albeit far shorter in Twyla’s case), same thin face complemented by the same ears ending in the same sharp point.

JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL

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AMINA CHISHOLM Thanks for being part of our workshop this semester, Amina!

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AMINA CHISHOLM

JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL

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DESTINY JONES Thanks for being a part of our workshop, Destiny!

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DESTINY JONES

JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL

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HALEY CASTRODAD My name is Haley, and I am a senior at Sol C. Johnson High School.

Honestly, I’m not sure why I write. I have been reading since I was really young, and I always thought about writing. I never really got into it because I thought that I wasn’t any good at it. Some of my friends convinced me to share my writing, and I’m actually really proud of myself.

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HALEY CASTRODAD

WHEN DID IT ALL START? “Ha! You wanna know when it all started? I don’t even know where to begin…”

The therapist holds the black pen between her fingers as her hand moves swiftly across the paper into that stupid blue book. What is she writing? Is she actually listening to me? It’s not like she can help me. Her light brown hair tied up on her pretty little head—I just wanna rip it off: 3...2...1...

I’ve always hated therapists, but she is keeping me from the hell that is out there.

She looks up from her book and says, “Just tell me what first comes to mind. Tell me about your family.”

An exhausted sigh escapes from my lips, and I start where my mind takes me.

“It has always just been my mother, Jen, my stepdad, Sam, my little sister, Mary, and me. My mother…what a unique bitch. She never really cared about me, always claimed she wasn’t the loving type. Never said I love you first, didn’t hug us or anything. But oh boy, she loved her husband. Sam was always the one who did things with us. We were always outside as kids, since our mom didn’t want to do anything with us. So, yeah. Sam raised my sister and me. But he wasn’t always the greatest… Maybe if my mom saw—if she saw all the things he did to me. You don’t hit your kids… You don’t touch your kids. But did my mom care? No. She told doctors I was crazy, and a liar. So, I gave up.

I decided my best option was to see the blood leaving my body. Seeing the dark maroon liquid, that whiff of metallic smell, the white flesh of my thighs that is revealed after a slice, helps the stress go away.

“Don’t ask me about coping skills; I’ve tried them all. And I stopped caring. But I guess that doesn’t explain what happened, doesn’t really explain why I am here. A year or two after, I started on meds, but you know they said my mom made too much money, so there went my health insurance. Days went by, then weeks, even months, and it all went downhill. Everything I built for myself came crashing down, because of my loving family. So, I did it… and it wasn’t even that hard.

JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL

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I killed my family. My mother, my stepfather, and my sister, finally dead. And guess what? I don’t feel sad. I don’t feel anything. It’s a filthy world we live in, and I’m helping them. This way, they can’t hurt anyone anymore, and nobody can hurt them.”

“Inmate 01142002, time’s up. Let’s go.” A guard outside calls for me, and I stand up to leave.

“Till next week, the-rapist.” I chuckle as I walk out of the room, my shackles dragging on the floor.

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HALEY CASTRODAD

JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL

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JAYDEN CARTER Jayden is a freshman at Sol C. Johnson High School. Thanks for being part of our workshop, Jayden!

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JAYDEN CARTER

JORDYN Once upon a time, a queen named Jordyn ruled a small island named Dyn. Legend has it that she was the daughter of former beloved King Deuteronomy, founder of Dyn, born in the seventh century B.C. Her mother, Queen Fruita, contracted a fatal disease, and so Jordyn was to be crowned queen.

Jordyn rarely cared for her dying mother; all she cared about was her upcoming induction ceremony.

“Bernadette! Get my dress ready, the ceremony is tomorrow!”

“Ma’am, the dress has been ready since the last 40 times you’ve asked, but your mother is dying, and all you care about is your ceremony…” Bernadette proclaimed.

But Jordyn didn’t care.

Approximately 24 and a half hours later, one thousand out of the one billion people who lived in the kingdom attended the ceremony.

Angry and confused, she marched to the castle and found her mother in a casket.

“Ma’am! Your mother is dead!”

Jordyn grabbed the casket and began crying. The town soon followed suit.

A week later, she heard her mother’s voice utter, “I love you.”

JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL

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JAYLIN BAKER Jaylin is in the ninth grade and attends Sol C. Johnson High School.

Thanks for being in our workshop, Jaylin!

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JAYLIN BAKER

AS I SEE‌ As I see me, I see change.

As I see me, I see destiny.

I see something strange.

I see my own identity.

I see a person destined to break through.

I see a dream coming true.

I see a dream that I drew.

I see something in full view.

JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL

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JENNIFER WILLIAMS Hi, my name is Jennifer. I write poetry. My goal is for people to relate to my poetry and be inspired by it.

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JENNIFER WILLIAMS

HOW SMALL AM I On the top of my head lies all of the lies and regrets of my past and the fears and anxieties of my future.

I wish whatever I did and will do won’t change anything in my life.

Change always reminds me of the ground, which always stays with my footsteps—no matter how fast or slow they are.

How small I am—how small is my life.

What’s the point in fear if all we seem to do is fight?

Fight for life, love, liberty, happiness.

We could close our eyes and never open them again, I think, as my fear and numbness of the unknown seeps deep within.

The cries of loud babies and the cries of freedom.

The screams of the mute and the screams of the abused.

Is my life a joke; are you amused?

The only thing that reminds me I’m inside my body is the pain of breathing.

Every breath I take in, as someone else in the world loses theirs.

The fact that evil is everywhere, and I can’t stop it all.

My imperfection in the mirror, the scars that were beautiful, but I couldn’t see them clearly.

My wrongdoings, my sins that I’ve made and have yet to make again.

I am the outsider, the outlier of this society.

The stems that make the tree.

My existence is a prophecy.

My worst points in life create the best of me.

JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL

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HOPE See… Maybe.

Hear…

Maybe.

Walk…

Maybe.

Dream…

You can do it! Only if you try.

Breathe…

You are currently doing this, so you won’t die.

If you can do all the above, don’t complain, because even though it seems like everything is lost, you will gain.

The weak will rise again. We are bigger than what we seem, so we will get through this quarantine.

You are not alone.

Pick up the phone.

Spread your love from home.

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JENNIFER WILLIAMS

JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL

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JESSICA LYNCH As you can tell, my name is Jessica. I hate my name with a strong passion, so I go by Jess. I am a freshman at Sol. C Johnson High School. I like to draw, write, and sing. All of which I do while playing Minecraft. Enjoy.

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JESSICA LYNCH

ISOLATION Everyone is isolated.

I feel so alone, even though I am not.

Everyone is so close, I’m starting to feel hot.

Nothing left of this world.

It has all stopped.

It can’t be saved, unless you time travel.

I think the device is hidden among this gravel.

People have told me I’m too deep.

But maybe the problem is they’re too steep.

It’s been years since I’ve had good sleep.

That’s because I lose the people I wish to keep.

I never have the chance to say goodbye.

Maybe that’s why I always lie.

Can anything keep them here tonight?

No, no.

It doesn’t matter how hard you fight.

Everyone saying it’s just your demons.

Or maybe the fact that you’re just dreamin’.

You know nothing is too big or too small?

You can and will break this invisible wall.

Just a burden no one can bear.

When you walk by, and everybody stares.

JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL

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KAYLA FLOWERS Hey, I’m Kayla. I’m not the average teenager. I like writing because it’s not just a form of literature—it’s a form of self-expression and my freedom of speech.

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KAYLA FLOWERS

REPENTANCE Looking around, we see blessings in disguises in the sky.

But as I look on social media, hatred pours down the feed that makes my soul hunger, because the feed no longer feeds me.

My needs are not in the media.

My need to this community helps feed the young to believe the right, so why is there a need to go left?

My young brother bleeds for success, but the tones he left said yes, they will make him bleed for their street success, but not sweet: the sour haters can’t see the sky, because they feed for green, but they only see the red that someone else bled.

No! Stop!

Why you killing your blessing?

Young brother ain’t never learned a lesson, so he feel he gotta learn from the streets.

Killing him ‘cause he can’t defeat the other brothers among the streets.

Let it go.

JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL

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MA’LAYAH WILSON Ma’Layah is a freshman at Sol C. Johnson High School. Thanks for being in our workshop, Ma’Layah!

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MA’LAYAH WILSON

FREE Like a bird soaring through the sky with no worries, no one to hold you back, and no one to worry about.

Free, truly one with the world. Not having to worry, no one noticing you, no one talking about you, and no one to blame you for stupid little things.

Not having to worry about anything but what’s going to happen next. Just enjoying life and just like my name (which means free).

I hope to one day be free to live how I truly hope to live.

JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL

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GROVES HIGH SCHOOL 100 WHEATHILL RD, GARDEN CITY, GA 31408

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ABOUT OUR WORKSHOP This year the Groves workshop was small in number, but big in tackling current events throughout their writing. The Groves workshop touched on some very serious issues surrounding immigration, feminism, and race relations, and the writers’ work reflected an interest in diving deeply into issues that mattered to them. We hope you enjoy their reflections and their due diligence to advocacy. —Martina and Anthonella

GROVES HIGH SCHOOL

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DE’ASIA ROBINS De’Asia: a beautiful soul who attends Groves High School. Writing is something she has been doing since the sixth grade, something that helps her escape who she is outside of school. Her writing tells a story: De’Asia’s story.

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DE’ASIA ROBINS

DELORES Children are to be perfect.

“House cleaned by the time I get home,” she says. “Dishes washed!”

“Cat fed!” she yells.

Children can never tell lies.

Children can never leave the house.

“You have no friends; we don’t know anybody over here.”

Children can’t go out with their siblings.

“She can’t come pick you up. She didn’t ask.”

Yet she’s 21, almost 22 by the time this drops, and she’s my sister, Delores.

I’m bored, Delores.

I do have friends, Delores.

I am not just going to sit around the house all day, Delores.

Toxic mothers.

Yet, the kind you can’t tell that they’re toxic, because they don’t believe.

You are the definition of toxic, Delores.

Though you may not believe me sometimes, I do love you, Delores.

I love your smile, your laugh when you play.

I love everything about you, Delores.

I’m not your definition of perfect, but I am your definition of decent.

I am me, and you’ll never understand that, Delores.

You’ll never understand me.

You’ll never understand why I do the things I do.

Why I like to be alone at night and go outside by myself during the day.

No, I don’t think you’ll ever understand.

GROVES HIGH SCHOOL

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THE MODELS FROM MAGAZINES Becoming a model from a magazine, something everyone wants to be.

Every black girl wants to be Beyoncé.

Every Puerto Rican and Mexican wants to be JLo. Every white girl wants to be Chrissy Teigen.

Yet, there are 15- and 16-year-olds who cut themselves in silence.

“The kids at school call me fat, and boys don’t want me.”

No one is here to tell them it’s okay.

It’s okay to be fat.

Fuck boys right now; the right one will come to you. But it’s too late!

Enough cuts are there for a lifetime, yet she covers them with long sleeves.

Should anyone dare to ask what’s written on the wall about her in the girl’s bathroom?

Why isn’t she on any of the boys’ lists of cutest girls?

No one knows why she cries to herself at night, why she’s so antisocial during the day, why she barely eats when she’s starving.

No one asks about her cuts. Should no one know her life?

Should no one know why she exists?

Shall she suffer in peace?

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DE’ASIA ROBINS

GROVES HIGH SCHOOL

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ERIN HORNE Erin is a junior at Groves High School. We’ve loved having her in our workshop this semester!

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ERIN HORNE

SNOW AND RAIN Snow and Rain met about a year ago.

It all started with a flirty but simple smile. Rain seemed calm and collected, and Snow loved that about her. But Snow was a little on the shy side. Snow knew she had something for Rain, but she didn’t have the guts to tell her.

They had one class together, which was band. Every time Snow contacted Rain, she grew to feel butterflies in her stomach. It was Snow’s sophomore year in high school, and she wanted to join band.

The first practice went amazing, and only because Rain was there. Snow and Rain became cool friends.

Eventually Rain found out that Snow had a crush on her…

Let’s fast forward to when things got more interesting. March…

The band went on a trip to Disney over our spring break. While on the trip, Snow and Rain became really close with each other. Since then, they began to know each other like the back of their hand.

Snow and Rain began dating on the 16th of April, 2019. Their relationship was perfect… and still, to this day, Snow and Rain are close.

GROVES HIGH SCHOOL

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ESTHER CHINEME UDOCHUKWU Thanks for being in our Deep workshop this semester, Esther! We’ve loved having you.

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ESTHER CHINEME UDOCHUKWU

POWERFUL The time I felt powerful was during a media festival film project, where we were told to think of something that had happened to us. I began to think of what I could use for the project, but I didn’t have any ideas until my wonderful teacher Mrs. Khan asked me to think of something that happened in my life that was passionate or emotional.

At that time, I remembered what had happened to me when I was younger, when at the age of nine, I was abused by my uncle in the city.

During the time that Mrs. Khan asked me to tell my story, I felt scared, ashamed, and powerless, because I didn’t want anyone to know what had happened to me.

Mrs. Khan pushed me to change my mind, and I thought to myself—if I tell my story to the world, it would make me feel better, because then I would feel relieved about this sad moment. I feel very grateful for my lovely teacher, because she made me feel powerful and made me believe in myself. After the media festival was over, I felt very comfortable and satisfied with the opportunity to have shared my story.

I only hope for everyone to learn from this, that no matter what you’ve gone through in life, believe that you’ll get through this, no matter what.

GROVES HIGH SCHOOL

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KIHEEM BRANT We are so fortunate to have been able to work with Kiheem in our workshop this semester. Kiheem is a great writer!

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KIHEEM BRANT

KNOW THE DIFFERENCE What’s a “friend?”

A title some may take for granted.

Bonds will come and go. I’ll let you know, ‘cause I’ve done glanced it.

Friend will turn to foe—just play your role; don’t second-hand it.

Some afraid to stand alone, so they gang up, and they start flexing.

If you stand for nothin’, you’ll fall for anything.

Respect is earned, but I demand it.

Why keep friends close and enemies closer?

(A quote where some won’t understand it.)

Listen to your folks, ‘cause if you don’t, knowledge will vanish, and stay on point, ‘cause even friends will start to envy.

You gotta draw a line, eyes open wide so you see plenty, and don’t forget ya ears, ‘cause you always gotta listen, ‘cause it’s some things you won’t hear— will be the thing might have you missin’.

So, just keep your circle tight.

Don’t ride for wrong, ‘cause it ain’t right, ‘cause it’ll be ones you least expect.

Testify or take ya life. Facts!!

GROVES HIGH SCHOOL

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LUIS MAZARIEGOS It’s been wonderful having Luis in our workshop this semester. Thanks for letting us write with you, Luis!

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LUIS MAZARIEGOS

THE HUNT One cold afternoon, Jake and his friends went camping in the mountains. Jake, Johnny, Victor, and Paul rested in their tents after a long day of hunting. As night approached, they had dinner, when suddenly, they heard a roar in the distance. Alert, they went outside to find nothing. They crawled back inside the tent. That’s when a bear managed to grab Johnny’s foot. Despite the effort of the other three to save Johnny, it was too late.

Angry and terrified, the men headed out, armed with weapons to hunt down the bear. The bear fled, and the three decided to split ways.

Paul was the first to spot the bear, but this bear turned out to be the mother of the bear that had attacked Johnny. Just as Paul was ready to take the shot, a larger bear grabbed him from behind and dragged him until he could no longer breathe. This was the father bear. Jake and Victor heard his scream, so they headed towards his direction.

When they arrived, they found Paul’s gun on the ground and Johnny’s body lying in the river. Desperate to find the bear, they went together this time and surprisingly found the father bear alongside the mother bear and their three cubs feeding on Paul’s body.

GROVES HIGH SCHOOL

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MARIA MONSALVE REYES Even though we weren’t able to work on revision virtually with Maria, we are still so glad to have had her in our workshop. Thanks for letting us write with you, Maria!

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MARIA MONSALVE REYES

GROVES HIGH SCHOOL

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MARISSA STOWBRIDGE I go to Groves High School. I am an active member of FBLA, and a current drum major with hopes that my writing will take me to places that transportation can’t.

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MARISSA STOWBRIDGE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Happy birthday to the girl who was tired of living, being in a world full of change, but felt she couldn’t make a difference.

Happy birthday to the girl who stayed long enough to see it, to the girl who hid all her tears for this very reason.

The day will come when she will be able to dream without sleeping.

Until then, she’s celebrating her 18th birthday— she doesn’t feel odd anymore, now that she’s even.

She thought she would be lucky on the day she turned 17, which only revealed her unfortunate luck of low self-esteem.

No lucky number seven, only seven more days of: self-doubt, self-hate, self-shame, slim to no self-confidence, self-lies, and self-abuse.

On that Sunday, that glorious Sunday, she awakes anew.

No longer is she a bomb; she self-defused.

Seems to wrap her mind around the fact that her soul is leaving…

Is she leaving it?

Is it evolution?

Is it a new thing that has her constantly moving?

Cruising through this life with all her bruises— added on an extra year, no more excuses.

More “You’re not gonna be anything. You’re useless.”

She’s not clueless!

She’s Ruth to the world.

She’s settled for less than to see that her hard work is paying off.

The day awaits when it’s caps off; then she can take her cap off and get the world off of her shoulders.

So heavy are the boulders that become bolder.

She’s strange, so the heat is making her colder as she tries to push forward to see a new future to walk toward.

Maybe this year will be better than the others.

Maybe she’ll learn to love herself before others.

Eventually, she will walk away from toxic lovers.

Maybe she will learn that it’s okay not to be okay and want to be smothered.

GROVES HIGH SCHOOL

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Maybe she will find herself in a new space, where her energy is appreciated and reciprocated.

No more crying herself to sleep at night; instead, she’s meditating.

She’s no longer stressing over things she cannot control if the ball is not in her court.

The only thing you can do is let the ball roll.

Happy birthday to the girl who was tired of living.

Happy birthday to the girl with a heart that won’t stop giving.

Happy birthday to the girl who lived long enough to see it.

Happy birthday to you, love.

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MARISSA STOWBRIDGE

GROVES HIGH SCHOOL

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NATALIE JOHNSON Even though we weren’t able to work on revision virtually with Natalie, we are still so glad to have had her in our workshop. Thanks for letting us write with you, Natalie!

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NATALIE JOHNSON

GROVES HIGH SCHOOL

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PAOLA CASTRO Even though we weren’t able to work on revision virtually with Paola, we are still so glad to have had her in our workshop. Thanks for letting us write with you, Paola!

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PAOLA CASTRO

GROVES HIGH SCHOOL

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PEACE BLAIR Even though we weren’t able to work on revision virtually with Peace, we are still so glad to have had her in our workshop. Thanks for letting us write with you, Peace!

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PEACE BLAIR

GROVES HIGH SCHOOL

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SUANI BARAHONA Even though we weren’t able to work on revision virtually with Suani, we are still so glad to have had her in our workshop. Thanks for letting us write with you, Suani!

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SUANI BARAHONA

GROVES HIGH SCHOOL

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SOUMAYA M. SABOUN Hi, my name is Soumaya M. Saboun. I’m 17 years old. Birthday: January 1st. This is my junior year. I like writing down all real stories. I have been through some things that are really painful. Read about it, but I always find a way to ignore pain that kills me inside. I want you to know the emotions that I feel when my world is being damaged, and I can’t stop it because it hurts so bad. Still, I never give up so easily; I always try till it’s done.

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SOUMAYA M. SABOUN

MY WORLD IS BROKEN & PRAYING EVERY DAY FOR MY PEOPLE’S SAFETY What is happening in the country that I was born in? It pulls at my heartstrings, and I want to write about the things that are happening.

There are people called the Janjaweed. The Janjaweed are the very bad people in Sudan. They want the whole of Sudan to be full of Janjaweed people, and what’s happening now is that they are burning the homes of people called the Masalit. Masalit people can speak Arabic and Masalit. We can tell the differences between someone who is Arab and Masalitiy from the color of their skin, hair, and their accent. Those are the only ways to tell the difference.

I want to share this tragic story because I’m a Masalitiy, and it really breaks my heart, because I was born in Sudan in the times that something happened, but this story has been passed. It doesn’t have an explanation, because it’s very heartbreaking, and I couldn’t describe it.

My mother ran from that kind of tragedy to save me.

In 2002, at the time the Janjaweed were killing people and burning their homes, my mom was pregnant, and I was in her belly. She ran far away from that place to bring her beautiful daughter into the world. I am here today having no words to describe my mom, but she’s everything I could ever ask for.

The Janjaweed were killing the Masalit, burning their homes. The Masalit people felt like this was their home, but everything was messed up. So many kids lost their parents, because they were killing mostly the parents and teenagers who looked like they could take care of their siblings and leaving only the little ones who were not able to take care of themselves. I hope that everyone who has been killed in that emotional time can rest well, and that whoever lives will live in peace.

Inshallah. Inshallah means “if God wills it.”

All I wish for is for the Janjaweed to live in a place far away from the Masalit people and not to bother them at all, and let them live in peace, and not to worry about anything happening to them, because it all started from these Janjaweed people touching stuff that was not theirs. I wish all this could be changed.

GROVES HIGH SCHOOL

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MÍRANOS 100 WHEATHILL RD, GARDEN CITY, GA 31408

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ABOUT MÍRANOS This semester, Deep Center led Monday workshops at Groves High School to explore political, cultural, and identity issues related to the Latinx community. Facilitated by teaching artist Anthonella Alvarez and supported by assistant teaching artists Krystell “Blaze” SanchezRomero and Bleu “ABSTRVCT” Cantillano, these workshops allowed Groves youth a safe space to create, ask questions, debate, and celebrate.

We are proud to present a very small slice of the magic of Míranos, with introductions by our TA and ATAs. —Anthonella, Krystell, and Bleu

MÍRANOS

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MEETING ONE: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE LATINX? In this meeting, we discussed our names and how they relate to our cultural identity. We then wrote or drew about cultural identity or heritage.

—Krystell

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE LATINX?

MARIA MONSALVE

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KARLA GARCIA MARCELO

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE LATINX?Â

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MEETING TWO: VALENTINE’S DAY In this meeting, we discussed gender roles and how they affect familial relationships. We also discussed how gender roles that are imposed in Latinx culture impact the treatment of LGBTQ+ members of the community. We then created art centered around how we viewed gender roles and ourselves.

—Krystell

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VALENTINE’S DAY

BLEU “ABSTRVCT” CANTILLANO

MÍRANOS

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PEACE BLAIR

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VALENTINE’S DAY

MÍRANOS

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MEETING THREE: ISSUES WITH THE COMMUNITY AND COLORISM/AFRO-LATINXS In this meeting, we discussed colorism and how the Latinx culture can sometimes harbor it. We also discussed privilege and personal prejudices. We then made art that honored our skin tones. —Krystell

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ISSUES WITH THE COMMUNITY AND COLORISM/AFRO-LATINXS

MARIA MONSALVE

MÍRANOS

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MEETING FOUR: MENTAL HEALTH AND SELF-CARE In this meeting, we discussed what mental health and self-care look like in the Latinx community, and how culture affects that aspect of our lives. Then, we created art that reflected our safe spaces and wrote an “Open when…” letter to remind us about taking care of ourselves.

—Anthonella

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MENTAL HEALTH AND SELF-CARE

JOHANNA LUNA

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MARIA MONSALVE

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MENTAL HEALTH AND SELF-CAREÂ

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MEETING FIVE: LATINX ART In this meeting, we talked about contemporary artists in the Latinx community and asked our allies if they could talk about art in their own cultures. We let creativity flow and let everyone do their own piece of art or writing. —Anthonella

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LATINX ART

BLEU “ABSTRVCT” CANTILLANO

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SOUMAYA SABOUN THE GIRL A girl feels like there is something evil following her everywhere she goes. This girl’s name is Elizabeth. She feels alone, and like she isn’t able to hang out with anyone, because there’s this evil that is in her background that always hurts Elizabeth’s friends.

Whenever the evil in her background hurts her friends, she blames herself for it, when it’s not her fault. The reason why she blames herself is that she feels she does not deserve to have friends. She tells herself that she doesn’t deserve to have friends because she doesn’t want anyone to be murdered because of her.

Things happen to her friends only when she’s with them. And her friends’ parents blame her for it. Elizabeth always stays in her room, locked by herself, crying. One day while she is crying in her room, a little girl appears out of the blue and asks Elizabeth, “Why are you crying?”

She says, “There’s evil in my background that kills everyone around me.”

The little girl says, “Don’t cry. I got your back.”

And from that day on, Elizabeth lives happily ever after.

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LATINX ART

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WRITING FELLOWS Deep’s Writing Fellows are local writers—authors, poets, journalists—who help Savannah’s young people write and share their stories with skill, confidence, and courage. The following Fellows mentored the young people in this book through the entire writing process. They are experienced in their craft and eagerly shared their expertise and passion with the young writers in this book.

They planned and led each weekly workshop, provided lots of feedback on everything their young authors wrote, and they helped each young person find a voice. This project would be impossible without our Writing Fellows, and we are grateful for their lasting contribution to our youth and to our community.

JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL Emily Sullivan, WF ‘20 BA, SUNY Binghamton First-time Fellow, published poet Katherine Scheuering, WF ‘19 BA, Armstrong University Published nonfiction writer, dabbler in creative pursuits

GROVES HIGH SCHOOL Martina Yvette, WF ‘19 MA, Elon University Food blogger and teaching artist Anthonella Alvarez, WF ‘18 BFA, Savannah College of Art and Design Teaching artist and cat lady

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MÍRANOS Anthonella Alvarez, WF ‘18 BFA, Savannah College of Art and Design Teaching artist and cat lady Krystell “Blaze” Sanchez-Romero Johnson High School Assistant teaching artist Bleu “ABSTRVCT” Cantillano Woodville Tompkins High School Assistant teaching artist

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS These writing workshops and books would not have been possible without the support of the following teachers, our ed fellows: Meghan Quinlan at Johnson High School and Danielle Alexander at Groves High School.

The publication of these books required the creativity and talent of several local artists and publishing partners, especially: Spot illustrator Victoria Sandøy; cover illustrator Bleu “ABSTRVCT” Cantillano; photographers Heather Shiver and Kiara Griffin; and graphic designer Keenan Alexander.

Special thanks to our partners at the Live Oak Public Libraries, who circulate and archive these books.

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DONORS

Institutional Donors and Partners Analog Public House, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baha’i Faith Community Center, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Book Lady Bookstore, Canady, Hodges, Caines & Richbourg, Carroll Construction, Celebritees, Chatham County Board of Commissioners, Chatham County Juvenile Courts, Chatham Foundation, City of Savannah, Coastal Consulting Management Group, Coffee Fox, Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle, Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation, Crystal Beer Parlor, Dara Security, Delaware Community Center, Don Callahan Real Estate Group, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Ford Foundation, Forsyth Farmers’ Market/Farm Truck 912, Foundery Coffee Pub, Foxy Loxy, Front Porch Multi Agency Resource Center, Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing, Georgia Council for the Arts, Green Truck Neighborhood Pub, The Grey, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Hawkins Project, Healthy Savannah, Highlander Research and Education Center, Hodge Foundation, Hunter Maclean Attorneys, Johanna Anderson Trueblood Foundation, John G. Kennedy Foundation, Leopold’s Ice Cream, Live Oak Public Libraries, Lucky’s Market, Lulu’s Chocolate Bar, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, MDC, Momentum Development Solutions, National Endowment For the Arts, Pennsylvania Avenue Resource Center (PARC), Public Welfare Foundation, Publix Super Markets Charities, Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, Rancho Alegre Cuban Restaurant, Renegade Readers Book Club, Risen Lift Christian Church, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Savannah Chatham County Public School System, Savannah Community Foundation, Savannah Cultural Arts Center, Savannah Philharmonic, S.H.A.D.O.W.S. INC, Sentient Bean, E. Shaver Bookseller, South Arts, St. Thomas Episcopal Church Thrift Store, Sigma Graphics, Step Up Savannah, Sulfur Studios, Surdna Foundation, Susan W. Thompson Charitable Fund, Telfair Museums: Jepson Center for the Arts, Tequila’s Town Mexican Restaurant, Thomas & Hutton, TJS Deemer Dana LLP, Two Tides Brewery, United Way of the Coastal Empire, Wells Fargo Foundation, Wesley Oak United Methodist Church, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Yamacraw Center for the Performing Arts

Patrons (recurring annual commitment) Danielle Alexander, Carol Andrews, Susan Arshack, Marriott Bartholomew, Kate Blair, Jordan Chase, Joanna Dasher, Susan Davenport, Ben Dombroski, Linda Evans, Rebecca Gibb, Elizabeth Killingsworth, Kenny Lee, Meghan McDermott, Joyce McDonald, Sarah Bates Murray, Alison Niebanck, Ashley O’Brien, Christian Peterson, Victoria Quante-Dulaney, Alex Rothmeier, Matthew Usher, Pilar Valdes, Ruth Valentine, Mary Villeponteaux and David Wheeler, Julie Wade, Ann Woolner

Individual Donors Bruce Ackland, Matt and Michelle Allan, Robin and Stephen Allen, Ashby Angell, Jamie Arkins, Brenton Bell, Ira Berman and Helen Borrello, Bob and Kristen Bernstein, Rich Berson and Rachelle Barbour, Christy Black, Tammie Blaha, Andy Blair, Andrew Blankenship, John Blend, April Brooks, Steven Bryan, Luz del Mar Burgos, LeRoy Burke,

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Jeb Bush, Donald Callahan and Mark Conway, Mike Canady, Sam and Robin Carroll, Tony Center, Lisa Clark, William and Doranne Coad, Craig and Marla Cocalis, Margaret Coker, Kerry Crain, Eric Curl, Ann Curry and Enoch Hendry, James Cuthbert, Stephanie DammenMorrell, Genora Dass, Harriett Delong, Adam Solender and Sarah Denmark, Morgan Derst, John and Audrey DiCostanzo, Mary Doll, Patricia Dombroski, Manny Dominguez, Larry and Jan Dorman, Paula Duffy, Dare Dukes, Susan Earl, Sheila Edwards, James Fallon, Jane Feiler, Clara Fishel, Huda Fitaihi, Natalie Foley, Eleanor Foster, Walter Fuentes, Nathan Fuller, Andrew and Natasha Gastley, Charles Gilchrist, Myles Gillespie, Lionel and Doreen Goldfrank, Denise Grabowski, Edward Gresham, NaTonya Hamilton, Rick Hamilton, Jenna Harcher, Kent and Toni Harrington, Patrick and Lorill Haynes, Hadley Henry, Trudicia Herod, Marianne Hines, Rhonda Hoffman, Nichele Hoskins, Chris Houser, Emma Iocovozzi, Celia Irvine, Monisha Johnson, Neil and Beth Johnson, Wayne Johnson, Tyhisha Kemp, Adam Kennedy, Koraan Kenner, Catherine Killingsworth, Scott Killingsworth, Tom Kohler, Jeff and LeeAnn Kole, Paula Kreissler, Dave Lake, Meridth Lamas, Auset Lee, Robert and Diane Levy, Margie Livingston, Patrick Longstreth, Elizabeth Loring, the Lovett Family, Orin Lucas, Nancy Maia, Karen Malofy, Jen Marks MacGregor, Eileen and Bob Matyjasik, Dede Mays, Susan McCartney, Elizabeth McCloat, Allie McCullen, Kellyn McGee, Colin McRae, Sara Merrick, Chris Middleton, Christine Moore, Mary R. Morrison, Tammie Mosley, Janet Murphy, Jean Nelson, Ellen Newman, Jane Newman, Alison Niebanck, Jessica Osborne, Ghia Papy, Susannah and Jason Pedigo, Bridget and William Piekarz, Laura Potts-Wirht, Zach Powers, Ben Price, Matt Prickett and Jane Griffin, Stephen and Jackie Rabinowitz, Rebecca Radovich, Sumitra Rajkumar, Erik Reagan, Melody Rodriguez, Joel Rosenstock, Shadab Saboori, Rose Sadler, Alex Salgueiro, Matthew Schafer, Sarah Schenkman, Edward and Diane Schmults, Dirk Seligman, Paul Selker, Whitney Shephard and Josh Yates, Jack Silveira, Maureen Simpson, Letta Sneed, Philip and Cathy Solomons, Meema Spadola, Kate Strain, Marti and Austin Sullivan, Kim Bockius-Suwyn and Daniel Suwyn, Patricia Suwyn, Arnold and Lorlee Tenenbaum, Zelda and Sheldon Tenenbaum, Dr. and Mrs. Steven Theis, Denise and Bill Thompson, Rhegan White-Clemm and Timothy Clemm, Peter and Pamela Voss, Kelley Waldron, Greg Walker, Meredith Walker, Carl Walton, Brett Ware, Neil and Ashley Warren, Bill and Nina Weil, Jennifer West, John and Kay West, Theresa Wetter, Lisa Wigger, Dwaine and Cynthia Willett, Chelsea and Sarah Williams, Suzanne Williams, Peterson Worrell, Jenna Yarbrough, David and Pam Young

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GET INVOLVED Deep never charges young people or their families for participation in our workshops. Your gift can bring Deep’s award-winning programming to talented young authors in our community. There are several ways to support Deep.

Become a Deep patron Deep patrons make a commitment to longterm support through recurring monthly or annual donations. Such a commitment helps Deep plan for the future and remain resilient in uncertain times.

We suggest you consider becoming a patron at the annual level of $228 (just $19 a month), the amount it costs Deep to support one young person in our Young Author Project for a full year. Visit deepcenter.org/give.

Make a one-time donation Donate online at deepcenter.com/give, or mail a check to: Deep Center P.O. Box 5582 Savannah, GA 31414 Support Deep while you shop Sign up for Amazon Smile and choose Deep Center, Savannah, GA. With each purchase, Amazon will donate directly to Deep.

Become a writing fellow Are you a writer? Learn more about volunteering as a writing fellow and apply at deepcenter.org/join.

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FEATURING WRITERS FROM: JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL GROVES HIGH SCHOOL Deep Center’s mission is to empower Savannah’s young people to thrive as learners, community leaders, and agents of change.

Through creative writing, cultural production, and art, Deep creates platforms for the city’s youth and the village of support around them, including their families and adult allies, to share stories, engage in debates, and make Savannah a more just and equitable place.

Young Author Project Volume 12, Issue 10 SPRING 2020 HIGH SCHOOL