Where I'm From

Over the course of the year, we have been working with two themes to guide the writing and photography projects: "Where I'm From" and "Self Portraits." For the "Where I'm From" project, I drew upon Linda Christensen's (2000) exploration of teaching for social justice with high school students documented in her book, Reading, Writing, and Rising Up. The young women in Sistahs first read George Ella Lyon's Where I'm From poem and then read "Where I'm From" poems written by Christensen's students. Then they created their own poems and took photographs under this same theme. The photography component of these projects draws strongly from the work of photographer and educator Wendy Ewald who has engaged children and women worldwide for over 25 years in photographing and writing about their communities, dreams, and lives.7

Where I'm From Page: 1, 2, 3, 4


Where I'm From

From 68th Avenue when
the presence of my uncle was
there
From Clearview St. that I lived
on for 5 years
From the playful Staffod St.,
I learned to jump rope there.
From run down Kip St. where
the squads of roaches I feared.
From the corner of Belfield
Ave. where the drug dealers squared.
Now from the quiet, peaceful
Matthews St., I'm happy to be here.

From my closet where the
box of love letters are stored.
From the pictures of my father
where my tears start to pour.
From the love of my ex that allowed me to see more.

By Yasmein James (listen)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The picture itself tells a thousand words
Told and untold
The stories of my African ancestors of long, long ago
The rich culture of African and African American heritage mingling…forming the energy that flows through me in me and around me every day.

By Julia Harden (listen)

Julia's reflection
Madonna's reflection



 

Chil' look deep into my eyes
Let me guide you the right way
When all else fails you can always count on me
Don't worry about what they say or do
Follow your own path and depend on you.
Looking at you through my eyes have always been the best
I know that you will make me proud because you're not like the rest
You set your own goals and follow what you must
You play when it's the time, and work at your best
Okay now go off into the world and show them what you got
Be who you are and the rest will come

By Lauren Vaughn (listen)

Lauren's reflection

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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