Garfield Messenger: Volume 101, Issue 7

Open Letter This Black History Month, our focus, more than anything, should be on our greatness, the excellency and brilliance that extends to every member of our community.

In this issue of The Messenger, we feature the beauty of Black students at Garfield, showcasing our culture, individuality, excellence, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. Our goal is to provide a platform that highlights Black voices and joy.

Dear Black students,

Don’t make yourself smaller to fit into their box. When they try to hold you back, push.

When the weight gets too much to hold, look to the community that surrounds us. Look behind you to all of those who paved the way We are born with a long history of pain and for us today. And look forward to the future injustice. It is as much a part of us as the generations who will benefit from our suckinks in our hair and the brown on our skin– cess. yet we are more than just a painful history. We continue to be excellent, despite our We have to keep fighting to get the world we want for ourselves and future generations. struggles because we are a strong people.

This issue is dedicated to you, Black student.

We became entrepreneurs, inventors, lead- We celebrate you. ers, fashion designers, performers, iconic at every opportunity. So here’s something to remind us of our brilliance and words to uplift us on our journey through life:

Sincerely, Kennedy G, Imbie J, Amirah M, Asmaa B, and Lakelle B Contributing Editors - Black Students on The Messenger

“SOUL FOOD IS WARMTH AND COMFORT. IT’S THE FOOD THAT MY FAMILY AND I EAT DURING THANKSGIVING. I CAN’T DESCRIBE IT BESIDES COMPARING IT TO A WARM HUG, AND IT’S ALWAYS CHEERED ME UP AND LEFT ME SATISFIED.” - JADA JOHNSON.

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oul food is a cuisine originating from enslaved African-American culture in the South. Incorporating ideas, tastes and flavors from West African, European, and Native American cultures, soul food has become a distinct and celebrated cuisine.

Beginning in the late 1940’s, “Soul” described African-American music popularized by jazz musicians such as Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. The term “soul food’’ first appeared in the 1960’s, prominently appearing in an essay written by poet and activist Amiri Baraka. The essay was in response to white critics who argued that African-Americans had no culture. In 1962, Sylvia Woods, A.K.A. “The Queen of Soul Food”, opened her first restaurant dedicated to soul food.

Today’s contemporary soul food favorites include mac and cheese, fried chicken, collard greens, and sweet potato pie among other delicacies. Senior Jada Johnson wants to share her love for the food with others, stating “If you haven’t tried soul food, you need to try it. It’s on another level.”

ART EXCELLENCE

Submissions from Garfield’s Black artists.

Photography by Mister Beaver

My Multiracial Hair Journey

By Kiana Gladney

Art by Lou Williams

The Fruits of Humanity

By Brian Watson

Art by Jada Johnson

Art by Ammalynn Greenfelder

When the fruits of humanity fall from the tree, I pray it won’t contaminate the air or the sea.

Ironically, The Blues is scarred with rough streaks of Red Yet the color black was often used to purpose bloodshed.

But instead, Of single-narrative focused oppressive rash present or past, I consider hope hasn’t had it’s last Lady Day. Periodically, Inspired, I think ahead, about when the fruits of humanity will have us all together break bread, like Colors of the canvas where all walks of life tread, like every instrumental, every spoken-word word said -When the fruits of humanity go from bitter to ripe, Go beyond black and white and fight or flight and fear.

These will be the fruits of our current collective labor As we get our bootstraps strapped, creativity and consciousness tailored, See the small, big picture through mediums that lead the way So we can celebrate change beyond each Billie Holiday.

Kinky tangled frizzy mess Unbroken weighed-down big and poofy stress Black dad, Asian mom.

Black barber, Vietnamese salon.

HairdresserHair straightening, heat damage, frizz control.

Hair here, hair there, culturally misunderstood and unaware.

BarbershopBox braids, butterfly locs, protective hairstyles.

Undercut, buzzcut, close shave, The beautiful styles of my culture I admire but my mixed hair texture is all wrong

CREATIVE JUSTICE

The fight against the school to prison pipeline.

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lack students are three times more likely to be suspended or expelled than their white peers. Schools are more likely to have an officer on site if their student body is more than 50% Black. And Black students represent 31% of all school-related arrests. The school to prison pipeline is a pervasive reality for students of color today.

The Creative Justice Initiative is a Seattle-based community program fighting against this injustice.

At the King County Youth Service Center, racial disparities persist despite reductions in youth incarceration over the last decade. In fact, youth of color constituted nearly 75% of juvenile detainees in King County in 2014; Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities are disproportionately impacted by this system. Using an artsbased approach, 4Culture (a cultural funding agency) and a cohort of other community partners developed Creative Justice to help end the racial disproportionality in youth incarceration.

Creative Justice’s mission is to “build

community with youth most impacted by the school-to-prison-(to-deportation) pipeline” and “work together to examine the root causes of incarceration.” It was developed from the No New Youth Jail movement, and hopes to provide an outlet for youth to be affirmed and uplifted and express themselves artistically. Youth may be directed to this program through peer to peer referrals, or by school employees and teachers. Participating youth attend 12 to 16 art sessions each year, where they are taught a variety of art mediums, including songs, sculptures, poetry, screen-printed clothing, herbal medicines, and other art that helps them release their emotions. In addition to art, kids share meals and discuss anti-racism principles and social justice initiatives.

Nyasha Sarju, the Advocacy Director at Creative Justice, began working with the program after attending a Community Action Project that Creative Justice hosted at Langston

Hughes. “The King County criminal legal system continues to criminalize poverty and to cripple people and families who are already in cycles of challenge through things like fines, restitution, incarceration, and unrealistic expectations,” Sarju said. “[The courts] see the issues facing young people who enter but they often do not provide the resources or support to change the material circumstances of the young people’s lives.” The curriculum even involves family members, encouraging participants to complete

hands-on activities with their relatives. Finally, at the end of every session, youth get the opportunity to present their work through community-based events.

Those in the program receive credit for community service and stipends to help pay active court fines through the Restitution Relief Fund. Sarju believes that this monetary compensation, combined with the art mentorship, will propel students to overcome the barriers they face and graduate.

Moving forward, Sarju hopes that this program will continue to expand and provide opportunities for youth currently involved in Creative Justice to step into leadership roles and pave new paths for the organization’s future. “I hope that one day we are no longer talking about youth incarceration because it will no longer be a thing in our region and eventually across the country.”

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Art By Ali Merz

“We ARE th

“As a diaspora I wear my traditional Trigayan clothes and it makes me very happy.” - Nyomi Brahtu

Garfield students talk Black

Trinity Felitz “My favorite Black artist would be Lizzo because she’s so confident in her skin.”

Uriah Givens “Wear the clothes, don’t let the clothes wear you.”

“Hip hop music is the inspiration for our fashion.”

“What fash having con self, not car body else th for you as a body else.”

Aaron Bassett “Music is the way to express my feelings and release all my problems into the mic.

Music to me is a part of mental healing.”

Fitz Be Jamaica Kopi Meyers

he Culture”

“Black culture has been very impactful with hairstyles, jewelry, Jordans and stuff. We did create most of the cultures and the trends, and I think that it kinda unifies us, and gives us a sense of community. You wear [clothes] because you’re tryna make an impact.

You’re tryna make a mark on the world.”

k fashion, music, and media.

“Black culture has been the foundation for most things, especially fashion. [From] hats…to shoes, Black culture has this effect on art and we see it through so much.”

Caleb Ferguson

hion means to me is nfidence in your inner ring about what anyhinks, just you doing it a person, and not any-

eaver-Ford

Tyra Griffin

“Black people slay. All day.”

-Michal Ekalo

Laniyah Corbett Mario Murphy

AFRICATOWN PLAZA A new plaza on 23rd and Union is preserving the culture and history of the Central District.

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fter a year of breaking ground, the Africatown Plaza is reaching its final stages of opening. The plaza is a convergence of culture, business, and housing aimed to support the historic African American community in the Central District. There will be 126 apartment units available to adults and families that make up to 60 percent of area median income.

Funding for Africatown Plaza stems from several sources, King County, the City of Seattle, and Key Bank being the largest contributors.

Africatown Community Land Trust (ACLT) was founded in 2016 by K. Wyking Garrett. After years of work by the Union Street Business Association and Africatown stakeholders, they decided to form a land trust to move forward with preservation efforts. Aside from Africatown Plaza, ACLT has introduced the Liberty Bank Building, featuring affordable housing and Blackowned businesses Earl’s Barber Shop and Communion, as well as The William Grose Center for Cultural Innovation.

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The 16,000 square ft houses an eclectic mix of businesses, many of which are Black-owned. Ms. Helen’s Soul Bistro is a family-run soul food restaurant that has remained a cornerstone of the community since 1970. So Beautiful Salon is a salon and barber shop that caters to all hair textures, owned and operated by Shavonne Bland.

Other businesses in the Plaza include Jerk Shack, The Neighbor Lady, Raised Doughnuts, All the Best Care, and HIIT Lab. Arte Noir is a Black arts and culture gallery, which was featured in the Seattle Times.

Executive Director Jazmyn Scott said,“We fight daily, with love, to maintain a place of integrity, joy, and belonging. We are the dream.” Art Noir has partnered with Africatown to commission eight local Black artists to adorn the plaza with murals, sculptures, and art installations that celebrate the culture and history of the Central District.

(Above) Yegizaw Michael’s wood installation bridges the history of the Central District and the importance of the African Diaspora, pulling from his Eritrean heritage.

(Above) Seattle activist and artist Takiyah Ward’s mural features community trailblazers from Chief Seattle to William Grose.

In a crosscut article, Ward commented on (Left) Influential Black figures local to the her mural, “I hope the people and families CD are represented in Myron Curry’s muof the individuals feel honored by it, and rals facing 23rd street, including Edwin T. I hope folks new to the area get a sense Pratt and DeCharlene Williams. Pratt was of what existed here before their arrival: an active civil rights leader and the execugreatness.” tive director of the Seattle Urban League,

playing a key role in the desegregation of schools, housing discrimination, and police brutality. DeCharlene Williams was the owner of a beauty shop and college, as well as being a cornerstone of the Central district, Williams was the founding president of the Central Area Chamber of Commerce.

Photography by Thawdawaing Helmstetter

A look into the Central District’s iconic Barbershop.

ocated on 23rd and Union, Earl’s cuts and styles is a staple of the Central District. Earl Lancaster, owner of the eponymous shop, has been dishing out quality haircuts since the establishment’s opening in 1992. Despite several moves, it has remained a pillar in the community and one of the premier spots in the city to get a trim.

Every business owner has a unique founding experience and Lancaster characterized his own as nervous and exciting. “I opened the barbershop when I was twenty two years old,” Lancaster said, “I didn’t know much about it at first.

It was trial and error; I had to figure it out.” And figure it out he did. “I’ve met a lot of people, Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and of course Gary Payton,“ Lancaster said, “It’s been a great time to this point.”

For Lancaster, a typical day in the shop is busy from open to close. “Answering phones, ringing clients, cutting hair, paying attention to the customer. Friends walking in, gotta stay focused,” he stated.

Outside of work Lancaster does cuts for those who can’t make it to the shop. “ I’ve been to the Children’s Hospital to cut hair.

I also like going down to 5th Ave. theater and doing cuts in the theater.”

During the summer, you can occasionally find Lancaster at the Garfield community center giving out free

online appointments only, with the cuts out on the sidewalk. Since then the business has moved back indoors, and for the most part, the shop functions normally.

Overall, Earl’s has come out relatively unscathed and Lancaster notes the positives as well, “It made me more business minded as far as online booking.”

fades to the local kids.

As with many businesses, Covid was a difficult time for Earl’s due to the close contact between barber and customer. “We got shut down like everyone else did,” Lancaster said, “I had to reinvent myself.” Once able to re-open over the 2020 summer, the shop moved to

Anot her challenge has been the pandemic’s effect on Earl’s clientele, and the overall gentrification of the Central District. A lot of people moved away from the neighborhood,” and Lancaster estimates that only 30 percent of his clientele are long-time customers, which, “isn’t like

it used to be.” However, Earl’s has managed to adapt to these clients being priced out of the neighborhood by, “being open minded and offering [haircuts] to many different clients.“ As Lancaster put it, “I cut hair: straight hair, curly hair, really curly hair... I can cut for pretty much everybody.”

In the future, Lancaster said he hopes to leave a legacy for his son–who is a Garfield alum. He also wants to work on his exit plan, so he can eventually wind down the business and, “get out of here.”

When that day comes, Lancaster plans to, “get a truck and some overalls.” But until then, Earl’s will provide an experience that’s a cut above.

Graphic by Unity Jirkovsky-Gual

MÉTIER BREWING COMPANY Seattle’s first Black-owned brewery in the heart of the CD.

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estled just off the corner of Cherry Street and 27th are the neon lights of Métier Brewing Company, Seattle’s first Black-owned brewery and one of the few Black-owned brewing companies in the United States. Although the company was first established in Woodinville, their Central District taproom, which opened in June of 2022, serves as their flagship location. It features a number of on-tap award-winning beers, such as the Coconut Porter and a variety of IPAs, as well as non-alcoholic beverages such as their own zero-proof beer alternative, Sparkling Hop Water. MBC partners with Chef Harold Fields, the founder of Umami Kushi, to serve Japanese-style street food at the taproom. Fields worked as a chef in Japan and decided to bring his love for the food back with him to the States. Delicious Okazu Pan — bread stuffed with different savory fillings — and beignets are served to perfectly compliment the drinks.

For MBC co-founder and CEO Rodney Hines, a resident of the Central District for

over 25 years, bringing MBC to the Central District felt like coming home. For him, it’s a huge step in reclaiming the neighborhood after the years of gentrification that have forced Black people and Black businesses out. “With all the change that’s been put on this neighborhood, the reclamation, and the work to continue to bring back and secure the values here, that’s the work of all of us; the newcomers as well as the folks who’ve been calling this place home for years.”

A huge part of MBC’s mission as a company is to build a stronger community, which is why it was so important to invest back into the community when establishing a location in the Central District. They hired Marc Greene, founder of Greene Home Redesign, a Black and veteran-owned busi-

ness, to develop the space, leaving his mark on the atmosphere through the open-air outdoor space and the stylish yet comforting feel of the inside. When Hines put together the team who would be working at the taproom, he intentionally hired people with ties to the neighborhood. Before their grand opening, Hines and his team invited their neighbors to tell them what they wanted to see in the space, and the team will continue to build off of those ideas.

Additionally, the new logo was designed by Conflare, a black woman-owned agency.

The company also partnered with Reuben’s Brews, an-

beautiful thing about it is that you can’t change art by writing. Art is the truth,” Earnest said. “You can write something a million ways and it can have different meanings but our culture, our history has been full of people writing about us and kind of taking us in all different directions.”

Gallery ONYX has published two books in hopes that these artists and their work will be seen and represented.

“The objective is to showcase the artwork of black people and to show that visual artwork is alive and well in the Afro Central community,” Earnest said. Both of the books are available in the Seattle Public Library, featuring 74 local artists and 270 pieces of artwork.

“It keeps me waking up every day to see

these young folks who have never shown their artwork in public before come to us, almost always very nervous, and after interacting with others who are like them, leave with new ideas,” Earnest said.

The main Gallery ONYX location is in the Pacific Place mall downtown, and the second is in a new building on 23rd and Union, in the Art Noie venue. Either of these galleries are well worth checking out and a great way to explore the talents of emerging artists.

GALLERY ONYX

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he ONYX Fine Arts Collective is a family-run, non-profit organization that provides a platform for local African American art, featuring the work of almost 650 artists. Earnest Thomas has been the president of ONYX for the past 18 years. Prior to his work at the gallery, he was an electrical engineering graduate, and worked for Boeing for 39 years before retiring and managing his own African jewelry business. He is known for his use of abstract mixed media, incorporating mediums like metal into his paintings.

The art displayed is highly expressive of black culture. They tell the story of the artists’ backgrounds, and paint stories of the past, present and future. “The

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he Station is a Black and Latinx owned coffee shop and cafe located in Beacon hill that works to cultivate a welcoming space for people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. Michael, a Station employee, had been coming to the space for five years before they started working there. During our interview, they were able to name drop everyone in the shop “Jeff over there is an author of a

children’s book and Oliver over there is a therapist.” It was evident that the regulars find joy and comfort in the community that The Station provides.

Michael explains how Beacon Hill has seen a lot of gentrification over the years, and the station honors its history by cultivating an inclusive space for communities that have been displaced and marginalized. One way the station does this is by renting out the space for events, ranging from spoken

THE STATION

word performances, campaign events, and even birthdays. Featuring art by local Black and Brown artists is another way The Station uplifts the community. Walls are lined with art displays, rotating the selection every few months to keep the gallery fresh, and greenery hangs from the ceiling. Music is also an important aspect of creating a safe space, “The music here is intentionally really loud so people can be who they are,” said Michael. The Station is opening a new

other Seattle-based brewery, to create the Mosaic State Brewers Collective (MSBC), a mentorship program empowering and inspiring people who are underrepresented in the industry to pursue careers in brewing.

MBC came to the Central District with intention, and they continue to uplift other Black businesses and people who are less represented in their industry while bringing joy to the community through mentorship, partnership, and damn good beer.

Art by Ali Merz

Photo by Asmma Bah

shop in Columbia City in late spring, and would love to see the Garfield community there!

BIG MIKE

AMEN, TO THAT!

A look into Michael Montgomery’s life. Connie Fields and her club, Bulldog Faith.

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Black excellence is how we came together to revolutionize the world. Many people can revolutionize the world, but it starts with the one and to me that’s what Black excellence is,” Michael Montgomery, senior athlete on Garfield’s varsity football and wrestling teams, said. “Black excellence isn’t something to be upheld, it’s something that’s in us all.

If you’re Black you’re already excellent. So I feel Black excellence is remembering where you came from, your roots,” he said.

Montgomery started playing football with his older brother when he was just 5-years-old. He followed in his brother’s footsteps and started playing for Garfield’s varsity football team his freshman year. He started playing for his family. “It’s like a tradition… Everybody in my family played football,” he said. But he’s continued to play for himself. “It’s important to me. It’s something I’m passionate about,” he said. He started wrestling his freshman year as a way to connect with friends and his Junior year he placed second at state championships. Though he had many offers for football and wrestling, Michael is now committed to play football at Portland State starting in the fall.

Montgomery plans to play in the NFL after college, but he’s not going to stop there. “Besides professional sports I want to be a neurologist,” he said. Montgomery realizes juggling sports and his potential medical career will be tough, “It’s going to be a lot,” he said laughing. But if there’s one thing Big Mike isn’t afraid to do, it’s dream big.

One of Montgomery’s main goals his senior year is to be a role model for the younger generation of athletes. Specifically, he wants the younger generation to know, “Don’t rely on ability more than your brain. Don’t rely on being fast or strong. You have to critique the small things, you have to focus on technique… that’s how you’ll be great.” Michael believes being a great athlete is like writing a really good paper. You can write down a bunch of words and do fine, but to get that A+ you need to go back and fix all those little errors.

Montgomery doesn’t have much free time, but when he does he enjoys playing chess, swimming and water gazing. “I don’t know if that’s a thing, I just really like watching bodies of water. It’s beautiful.” he said.

Michael has accomplished a lot in his high school career, but he doesn’t like bragging about it, “I haven’t done anything I’m proud of. I only have things I still want to do,” he said.

Garfield can expect big things from their own Big Mike.

Graphics by Havana Hakala

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got the opportunity to sit down with Connie Fields, a senior at Garfield, to discuss her new and established club, Bulldog Faith. She expressed her deep passion for not only having a positive relationship with God but also maintaining a positive relationship with her friends and loved ones. The club is overseen by Fields, accompanied

by Junior Kate Fiso, who she hopes to pass the Bulldog Faith baton to after she graduates. The two bonded over the idea of not only strengthening their relationship with God, but also with themselves.

The idea of starting the club began with a conversation surrounding a specific day in school celebrating Christianity. This developed their mutual ambition of “spreading God’s word to the youth and sharing [their] testimonies”, Fields said. Fields and Fiso strive to make their club discussion oriented and are continuously diligent about making sure everyone who attends club meetings has a space to be heard.

Creating this space wasn’t only to talk about God, but to also create community and a space for students to speak freely.

This club allows students to also be able to relate to each other about different issues and topics. Some students have difficulty talking to adults, so this space makes it possible for those in the meeting to relate to each other. “We don’t know everything so having people ask questions creates community” Fields said when asked about the community within her club. Fields wanted to make it known that her club was not just for Christians but also for students who identify with other religions. Fields also touches on the way the duo sets up the club conversations, “We used to bounce back and forth between PowerPoints but we thought it gave ‘teacher vibes’. We do this circle now where everyone is more included. We freely talk and usually it’s about a topic that Katie and I come up with. We read from the Bible and stories.”

The way that Fields stays connected with God and maintains her positivity is by going to church and reflecting on how she can implement what she’s learned into her life. When asked about extending Bulldog Faith outside of Garfield and into her own community, Fields considered the idea, “I never thought about bringing it outside of the school, but I am planning a project in the south end of Seattle”.

Fields urges members to not only discuss topics with other club members, but to share what they’ve learned in discussions with family and friends. “Take what we say and run with it because you never know how the club could impact your life,” Fields said. Bulldog Faith and members meet in Room 301 on Wednesdays during lunch.

Even though Bulldog Faith is fairly new to Garfield, Connie Fields hopes to make a mark on Garfield and the community as well.

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NYSHAE GRIFFIN

yshae Griffin is Garfield’s sophomore class president, singer, and force of change in the Associated Student Body. Griffin views herself as a peoples’ president, and wants to be approachable and relatable to her peers. While her ambitions for change in the student body are high, Griffin has expressed that she is adamant about accomplishing her goals. The Messenger interviewed her on her experience as a class president and her excellence in the performing arts.

Q: Why did you join ASB? A: I joined ASB because I saw things in Garfield that needed to be changed and I wanted to be part of that change. I loved leadership roles and being a part of what makes a place a place, and I like being a part of what makes Garfield, Garfield.

Q: What do you specifically?

A: The school And the culture, from Covid we lot of school spircared at about the wanted hype students excit-

want to change spirit, honestly. since coming back haven’t really had a it and people haven’t all about school and events and stuff so I to be part of getting around it and making ed to be at school.

Q: How do you feel you are contributing to the student body/ASB? A: I feel like I’m a voice for my class because I’m kind of experiencing a lot of things [that] they are too. Like stress with finals, and all these different things. I’m not on some high standing or whatever, I’m going through exactly what everyone else is going through right now. With trying to get all their work done on time and trying to, you know, not be so overwhelmed.

Aside from schoolwork and leadership, Griffin has involved herself with music and performing.

Q: Singing is another passion of yours, are you planning on pursuing that?

A: I do sing right now, I’ve done gigs before and I sang in different things. I’m in the musical right now. I love singing and I’m in choir. I’ve sung my whole life. I sing at a lot of events, a lot of black events actually.

I’ve sang at the YMCA for a Black event, I’ve sang at the MLK day parade twice, and at a couple other things, those are the most memorable.

Nyshae Griffin’s commitment in both academics and the arts prove her dedication to Garfield and her own pursuits. Her contributions to Garfield are highly valued as well as her successes in leadership. Sophomore president Nyshae Griffin is an inspiration to the Garfield body and no doubt will leave her pawprint on the community.

Art by Havana Hakala and The Noun Project

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BRIAN WATSON

rian Watson is a member of Garfield’s Black Student Union (BSU). He is BSU’s coordinator, which involves planning, community outreach and informing people on what’s happening in BSU. He is also a poet, graphic designer, photographer, and is involved with the Seattle Martin Luther King Organizing Coalition as well as Y-Scholars. Brian hopes to attend UW next year and study mechanical engineering.

Q: What do you enjoy most/find most rewarding about BSU? A: I think what we get to put together and just having it as a place for, you know, in the midst of certain issues that are current and things that are happening in the world, where we come together, and we create a response to it, or, we give voice to those issues together. We find ways to think about what we can do to be effective in uniting people of color in general, and students that are in our community.

Q: What are some things BSU has done that you are most proud of?

A: Last year we did the food drive with the nearest food bank; we all contributed, that was a great effort among us just to give back to the community in that way. We also partnered with DECA to do a presentation focused on methods in which Black communities in history have faced racial and financial oppression and disparities. This year, I was working with the Seattle Martin Luther King Organizing Coalition, and the Black Student Union contributed statements about the topics for youth events in honor of Martin Luther King.

Q: You mentioned that you write poetry, how did you first start?

A: Yeah I’m always growing in my interest in poetry and spoken word- just lyricism in general, I’m really into that. It actually started off when I was younger. My earliest memory of really getting to was in fifth grade, when we had a contest, a poetry contest, and I won. But since then I began to see myself as a creative writer. And even with Japanese poetry, with haikus. Freshman year, we did a project, it was a creative project, we got to choose what creative element of literature we wanted to focus on around the world, and I chose Japanese poetry. That really interests me, and that helped me in the traditional type of poetry that I was used to.

Q: What inspires your poetry?

A: What inspires me the most is personal stories. One of my poems was about playing basketball in middle school. Most of the rest of the ones I’ve done work in reference to black people in history like Billie Holiday, Ma Rainey and they were influenced by what we were learning in class. So as of now that’s what it’s mainly been - significant Black people in history.

Q: What do you think of when you hear “Black Excellence”?

A: Creativity. Beauty. Unity. Community.

Accomplishment. Identity. Worth. Storytelling. History. Resilience. Perseverance.

Innovation. Those are some of the words I think about. It’s celebrating every aspect of Black people, and in the context of American history.

Celebrating the creativity, power, and skills that Black people have brought to the table, and the cultural relevance of what Black people have done up until now, present day.