Academy of Urban Learning Speaks! Cafe Cultura Community Speaks Project #47 Students in Telling Our Stories Spoken Word Workshop Series
Academy of Urban Learning Speaks! Copyright Š 2017 by Students in Telling Our Stories Spoken Word Class All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author.
To the insightful and resilient students in our Spoken Word workshop series: Keep pushing forward toward your dreams! #CafeCultura #XpressYourself #TellingOurStories
Acknowledgments Thank you to the staff at Academy of Urban Learning for offering us the opportunity to work with your students as they tell their stories of struggle and perseverance. Special thank you to the poets for expressing yourselves in such powerful ways. Remember: “It is our responsibility and choice to express ourselves and lift our voice, together building unity, leaders in our community. This is how we tell our stooorrrryyyy!�
Foreword It was an honor for Café Cultura to begin a positive partnership with AUL. We were able to use our “Telling Our Stories” curriculum to supplement Mr. Reid’s work in the classroom. Students showed their potential as we analyzed poetry and the world around us. They wrote and shared bars that ignited our collective imagination. We know you will appreciate the spoken word reflecting their struggles and dreams. We look forward to staying connected, as they develop into the leaders we need. Enjoy and share their words! For those who do not know about our organization: Café Cultura is an award-winning arts, culture, and youth development organization in Denver that promotes unity and healing among Indigenous peoples through creative expression while empowering youth to find their voice, reclaim oral and written traditions, and become leaders in their communities. Café Cultura has been providing positive, creative, and engaging community spaces for the Denver metropolitan area for more than ten years. After the passing of respected elder and veteran poet Abelardo “Lalo” Delgado, we accepted responsibility to continue using our oral and written traditions to provide opportunities for creative expression often not offered in schools or in the larger community. Café Cultura also drew inspiration from the movement connecting Indigenous people from throughout the Americas. We use creative expression to unify people representing southern Indigenous nations, known by terms such as “Chicana/o” and “Latina/o,” with those Natives of northern nations, referred to as “American Indian” or “Native American.” Café Cultura hosts one of the best open mic venues in the Denver metropolitan area, and the only space focused on family and
youth. We also conduct highly engaging and culturally relevant spoken word/poetry workshops for underserved youth throughout Colorado. CafĂŠ Cultura partners with select organizations and schools to facilitate an intensive workshop series, publish youth poetry, and organize participant showcases. In an effort to develop young leaders within our community, we also coordinate a youth leadership program for Indigenous youth. If you or your organization is interested in collaborating, feel free to contact us. For more information about our open mic events, workshops, youth leadership program, and other programs: www.cafecultura.org info@cafecultura.org 720-460-9203
Table of Contents Not Your Average Type by Jennifer ...................................................1 Wise Man by Karrar...............................................................................3 Ball Is Life by Jalen ................................................................................4 I Am by Desire .......................................................................................5 Take Me to a Place by Dominic ...........................................................6 Can't Knock Me Down by Kassandra ................................................7 Trying by Damian ..................................................................................8 1996 by Quinten .................................................................................. 10 Yo Soy Una Mujer by Martha ........................................................... 12 Where I Am From by Inez ................................................................ 13 I Am by Samantha .............................................................................. 14 Sunny Side by Faith ............................................................................ 15 Graduation by Karrar ......................................................................... 16 Too Big for this Cell by Jennifer....................................................... 17 I Come From by Jalen ........................................................................ 18 Pieces of Me by Desire ....................................................................... 19 My Big Bro by Damian ...................................................................... 20 I Am the Dreams by Kassandra........................................................ 22 One Crazy Ride by Dominic ............................................................. 23 Southpaw by Quinten ......................................................................... 24 A New Life by Jennifer ...................................................................... 25 Race Car by Karrar ............................................................................. 27 On the Court by Jalen ........................................................................ 28
Not Your Average Type by Jennifer I have never been the type of girl to be all up in the mix: all drunk, smoking weed, partying. It has never been my thing. Instead, I strive for a better future to GET MONEY and have everything I will ever need. Maybe one day, I will choose to be a wife, get a diamond ring. Call me stuck up. Call me stupid. It’s not even like that! I am a little high maintenance, hard headed. But it’s not even like that! Loyalty is everything to me. I will never fold. I swear to God, I regret these boys. Their hearts were cold, cheating me time after time with them old player moves. But I will never change. I have remained solid! My heart is pure gold. “Your makeup is nice.” “You dress so well.” “You have nice things.”
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“You are a beautiful girl.� But none of those things will let me ignore the fact my father left me to be a drug fiend. All these boys said they were lucky to have a girl like me. Little did I know they never learned to play chess. They chose a pawn over a queen!
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Wise Man by Karrar I am fearless, a wise man. I come from a city of peace and happiness. But some people think my culture is evil. I remember as a child I would go to school, only to learn about a small percentage of evil people from my country. Most people mistook me for one of them. But I know who I am. I come from a generations of good men, like my great-grandfather, even though I never met him. I know I am just like you. I look in the mirror and see success. I dream about a life with no struggles. I am fearless.
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Ball Is Life by Jalen As I dribble the ball, I feel calm, the sound the most relaxing thing in the world. The art of basketball is beautiful. It takes me back to the days I was hitting layups in my backyard. I feel at home when I am on the court, listening to music. I need to stay on my grind, even when life starts sounding like a bro-bro-broken record. I need to listen and learn. I need to stay focused as I grab this diploma and e-e-e- earn it, no matter what is in my way. I need to wake up every morning and ge-ge-get it! I put on my fitted (hat), grab my basketball and win!
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I Am by Desire I am overlooked. I come from the generation where dreams are shut down even before they take off. I look in the mirror and see a young warrior not yet ready for battle. In my dreams, I imagine defeating my struggles. I am open hearted I cry when my goals shatter with the touch of reality. My love for food feels like fuel, motivating me to push forward. I am a young woman. It is unfair that my gender alone limits my ability. I feel angry when they shoot me down. But they cannot stop me because I am a strong woman!
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Take Me to a Place by Dominic Take me to a place where I can feel comfortable and cool: no probation no BS, and I have already graduated from school. Take me to a place away from all these problems and this stress. I just want to be successful, make my family happy, instead of depressed. Take me to a place where I am able to see the smiles on my parents faces with the great feeling of seeing my family come together to celebrate! Take me to a place where I can be a positive, healthy, and successful young man I want to give my younger peers the right guidance to do the best they can. I refuse to lose and I am in it to win it. Time is money and I am trying to grind every minute. I want a world where loyalty means much more than royalty. Do not get me wrong,
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I love running up a check and balling up like a boss. But I want to be my own boss. I will never be told what to do. I am striving to be remembered as one of the greats, while these young men act like fools. I will succeed. I will always win.
Can't Knock Me Down by Kassandra These voices in my head keep trying to knock me down, but they sure the hell won't. I got the devil trying to tell me that he misses the old me. But the old me is no longer who I am. I overcame my past. It was not easy but I love where I am. I keep standing on my own two feet. All these demons can’t haunt me! I will move forward. I will graduate!
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Trying by Damian Finding a way to some change, I have to get my way to the game. All these people trying to save the day but they all some lames. I can care less. I just stay in my lane. I look up to my bro in the sky, just wish it wasn't in my head, instead in my eyes. I miss him like no other, just wish I could see my guy. It's been four years since you left. I've been trying to stay out of trouble, even theft. Going to have a baby girl and I’m excited, just not ready for her to grow up fighting. I know I'll have the strength for success. I want this money and want to be the best. I know what's coming and I know the feels. I just want to be looking down from the hills and make enough money to pay the bills. Then, after all that success I could take a kneel. After getting all this money, I just look back at the doubters. Y'all are funny.
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I want success for me and my honey Maybe the clouds will break up, a little sunny and nobody can stop me! I keep coming like $$.
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1996 by Quinten 1996: the story of the illest, realest, shit-starting, optimistic in his prime villain. I never been cool but I'm still chillin’ in Texas, country boy living. Sorry if I sound a little off, just the way that I'm feeling while I am spitting on them before I eat them! I get back to Colorado with a Via Camaro full throttle, getting married but only lasting a while. I switched up for a military lifestyle. But I'm starting to topple looking damn bloody, almost died at the hospital. That’s just my luck. Why does it always feel like I’m stuck in a rut? Three bullet holes and a knife cut, but I’m still getting up. I got a new job, a new house, making about a hundred and fifty thou. So the ladies love me because I am the man. You can’t grasp the amount.
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I’m going to take the world for everything it owes me. Get ready to see what I'm all about. When I get out of AUL, you can scream, you can shout, but never doubt! I’m not kidding. Sooner or later, you all will do my bidding!
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Yo Soy Una Mujer by Martha Yo soy una mujer de su dinero. Vengo de mi pueblito adorado, un lugar hermoso, a place where love comes from. I come from a house where tortillas are always warming on the stove. I will always remember my grandma cooking mole para la familia y chiles rellenos en la mesa patiently waiting to be eaten. I come from my family's laughter. It gives me strength. In the mirror, I see a hard working woman doing anything she can to help her family. I sit and wonder how I got so lucky to have a family of mine. I am my family’s love.
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Where I Am From by Inez I am from a home away from home, where you can hear the palm trees in the breeze and feel the beautiful sea. But where I live is a mile high from the sea. I look back at my memories: a big living, loving family. We are so close, we are each other's best friends, drowning in deep conversations like waves. The conversation never dies. My brother’s missteps become my lessons. Even though he made mistakes, I still look up to him. We both share the same dreams. At the end of the day, we both want to go back home, where you can feel the ocean and the breeze hit the money trees. My heart is in California, my home away from home.
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I Am by Samantha I am a beautiful, loving, and caring woman. I come from a safe home, filled with joy and delicious food. I look in the mirror and see a hard working woman. Even when life is full of obstacles, I remain: a young lady following God.
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Sunny Side by Faith I come from the Sunny Side, North Denver, the heart of the city, the home of the Original Chubby’s and Lechuga’s. This bomb grub is my favorite spot to be, where I can link up with my friends and family. But I also made from Peruvian food. I will always remember the first time I connected with these roots, with this culture with this food. Two countries one girl I see Denver changing, but this is still my home: peaceful, happy, hood love.
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Graduation by Karrar Many people doubted me, including myself as a child. Day after day, I thought to myself, “Will I make it?” As I hit high school, I started to slack, started ditching not going to class. I failed but picked up money. Then it hit me. My dream hit me, told me to get back up and start straight at AUL in the United States. Now, I think and smile, can’t believe I doubted myself. Look now, nothing but A’s. I can’t wait for the day to come when I finally graduate!
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Too Big for this Cell by Jennifer A jail is where they kept us, locked away. They took our money our ideas, our faith. But trust me that the demons are here to stay. This system creates images of us only death can erase. They give us drugs to hide the pain because of the love they take away. They say they care and feel our heads with fairytales. I cannot explain this pain I am feeling. Is it easy to tell? But we are way too big for this cell.
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I Come From by Jalen I come from a city a Mile High! Denver Sometimes, I feel 10 miles high as I breath in the thin air. I feel it shift through my body. In my city, breathing makes you feel like you can fly. I come from a loving family. With so many memories, the one that sticks out the most was our trip to Cali. The memories rush through my head like California traffic. I could smell the moist air. I could see the palm trees. In fact, my grandmother reminds me of a tree: our family, her branches. She holds us up, supports us Her strong roots hold us together. She reminds us where we come from.
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Pieces of Me by Desire I am the delicious smothered burrito. With each morsel, I give the feeling of warmth. I am the cloud covered in blankets where worries vanish, allowing me to sink into my warmth. I am the dreams taking flight and leaving reality while time dozes off. I am my abuelita’s STRENGTH, MIGHT, and PRIDE. Even with my heart on my sleeve, my bite hits harder than my bark. I am laughter stuck on repeat, from a generation filled with desperation. I open my eyes telling myself: I will rise.
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My Big Bro by Damian I remember when I use to kick it with my big bro. I was only a youngin’. So I was little bro. One day, it flashed to the future. My brother was in jail. It felt like torture. I always visited every other week. Wish I could have seen him on a streak. This was a big chance. Life took a leap. Years flew by and they released bro. Even being locked up, he still had girls. Following the right path, he cut off all the woes. He had to get his life in place. If he messed up, the cops can always find a trace And then what? That leads to another case and who knows how long he would face. So how he's traveling now is the right pace. Few more years go by, now he has family with kids. He had them fresh from the fit to the kicks. He took care of his family, never wanted to see them struggle. This is why he is
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the way he is: humble. Couple of years go by, mom's birthday, her big day. I don't know what to say: family, friends, food, and drinks. Having a good time, everyone linked. My cousin told my brother to drink. He was the designated driver throughout the night but got into it with his significant other. They left early and forgot about my bro. So he realized and claimed he could drive home. I didn't know he had the keys I just said, “Hold on don't go. Let me go get my pops to take you home.� I come back out to my bro, nowhere in sight. My homie said he saw him drive off, he seemed to be alright. Packing up the party, we got on the highway with cars everywhere for a car accident. I didn't even think about it, so I went home.
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Then my homie broke the news about my bro. Now, he is my main motivator all the way from heaven. He helps me stay humble. I move forward and graduate, doing it for my brother.
I Am the Dreams by Kassandra I am the dreams of my family. I come from a hard working family of immigrants. I look in the mirror and see a strong empowered woman. In my dreams, I imagine my mother and grandmother not having to struggle as before. Me imagino a mi madre feliz. I am the hope my family has for this cruel country. I do not cry. But I fear for my family Yo soy Kassandra, una mujer fuerte.
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One Crazy Ride by Dominic My life has been one hell of a crazy drive. Sometimes the bumps come along the road. Sometimes it is a smooth ride. Situations are here and there, mostly happiness everywhere. Negative follows but I will not let it to overcome me or another. I pray to God to protect my brother 6 feet under. See life is like a boxing match. You win some. You lose some. But you keep swinging! Never scratch, never give up, never give in! Life is like a videogame and I am here to win. My father always taught me to never let my crown fall. I will graduate and become successful, forgetting all those people who prayed for my downfall.
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Southpaw by Quinten Lately, I have been wondering what is wrong with me. I am 5’5, 120 lbs, and I am a punk. I have no street cred, nor hundreds of women laying in my bed. I have straight A’s, so nerd is going off in every direction in bully’s heads. In their eyes, I am as good as dead. But forget that man. I got my butt kicked so much, I think it is time I took a stand. So I started going to the gym, eating fools up like I was pacman. So now what? 235 lbs, 6 foot 1 inch, with a vicious hook. Word spreads fast, so now they are shook. I school kids like I was a book. That was the very last time my pride was ever took. So go ahead, get your family, your cousins, your friends, even your boyfriends. Make my day. isn’t that the law? It will still end the same with SOUTHPAW.
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A New Life by Jennifer 19 years ago, a beautiful 16 year old got a scary yet beautiful scenery right there, laying on a hospital bed. She found out the reason behind all of her physical pain, all of her headaches, all of her nausea, even skipped a couple of days. The reason was right there on that black and white computer screen. She could not believe what her eyes were seeing: a little seed growing in her stomach. She could not believe it. She even questioned if the nurse was being honest. She was scared. She was nervous. What was she going to tell her mama? A million questions in her head, she had no idea what she was going to say. Even worse, the man responsible for her pain just got up and left. She had to do it all alone, but she always let the people know that her daughter was not a mistake. Years passed, she fell in love with a man in Colorado. He promised her the world, told her all these words,
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even met her old folks. Eventually he convinced her to get up and leave to Reno, Nevada. She was proud to start a new life with him, on the shore of the beautiful Lake Tahoe. She was sure of the direction her relationship was about to go. He asked to be with her forever. He would not ever commit treason. He would never let her go. Years passed. She was a dedicated wife. They gave each other all they ever wanted. She even cooked his favorite enchiladas. They even dreamed of going to the Bahamas.
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Race Car by Karrar Life is like driving a race car. You take so much time to keep your whip fresh and clean. You try to build up your car, like you built up yourself to be a successful winner. But sometimes, you are just a beginner. Learning can be frustrating. At times, I want to scream and shout, and let it all out, just like the motor in my car. So, I take a deep breath, take out all the waste. I break away, just like your foot slamming the gas. That is how I will get somewhere in life.
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On the Court by Jalen You see, basketball for me is like an antidote. I could feel it in my chromosomes, hit that step back like MJ in his prime. Call that boy the G.O.A.T. On the court, I feel like myself. All my troubles go away, get them with a crossover so saucy like some SpaghettiOs.