Assata Shakur was born on July 14, 1947 her real name is Joanne Deborah Byron, after she was born her parent divorced. She was living with her mother, aunt and her grandparents in Wilmington North Carolina. As a child she spent time working with her grandparents in a restaurant they own by the beach. Her grandparents instilled in her the love for written word, and she spent a great deal reading to satisfy her imagination. Her family tried to infuse in her a sense of dignity, “you are as good as anyone else”, also not to let anyone said that they’re better than her. Shakur never like her real name Joanne she felt that she was not an African American and she should go back to Africa, because of this she thought of a name that will mean something and that’s how she became Assata Shakur.…
Cynthia has been motivating and inspiring people to strive to reach their full potential all the while not fully believing she could do it for herself. She started her career in corporate America and spent the first 20 years in accounting. She then entered full time ministry in 1993 and received her license to preach the gospel in 1997.…
On May 12, 2017 I interviewed Lisa Newman about what it means to be an American to her. Mrs. Newman grew up in a multi-cultural home learning many traditions from both of her parents, since both of her parents are immigrants to the U.S. I also discovered that she has a Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology, a Master’s degree in Biological Science, and a teaching credential in Biology. Graduated from Pitzer College and a married woman, her love in science flourish throughout her teaching career, she’s also an amazing baker. While interviewing her, she was exposed to a large variety of cultural foods as well, which she still loves today. By obtaining ethnic backgrounds, her diverse upbring aid her more on becoming more understanding and accepting of people from all different backgrounds and walks of life. She also attends Anaheim High School as an Anatomy teacher and loves to teach her class about how the body functions.…
I moved from Detroit, MI to Ypsilanti, MI, for a better living. It was December 29, 2008. I had just given birth to my daughter. My daughter was born at 9:45p.m, weighing 5lbs and 3ounces. I named my daughter Saphira Parthenia Franks. Saphira died at 36 weeks, due to still born. The doctor told me” Sometimes this happens without a reason and you will be able to have more children”. I already had my mind made up, that I would wait until I turn thirty to have another baby. I was heartbroken and disgusted with myself. I was already going insane from the deaths of my father in November 2006 and my grandma in July 2008. Therefore, I was not able to cope with their three deaths at once.…
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” my friends, guidance counselor, parents, college applications, ask. When I was six I wanted to be Hannah Montana. When I was 12, nothing had changed but I reasoned I could have a second job too – just in case. I’m 17 now and I’ve been exposed to a deluge of astounding things: timeless authors, transformational historical events, jaw-dropping scientific discoveries, emotionally riveting political and social revolutions and at the fringes of it all - sometimes in the center - I’ve imbibed the powerful influence of the female voice in a world historically dominated by men.…
"Before death I hope to obtain life." This quote reminds me of my Michigan Hero Danielle Nash. Danielle was my cousin who was diagnosed with stage four Melanoma and Brain Cancer at age 26. Before cancer, she opened her own Day Care/ Preschool in Whitehall called Bright Futures, she was only 21. She also started the first Middle School Competitive Cheerleading Team in Reeths Puffer and was also the head coach of the Varsity Reeths Puffer Competitive Cheerleading team. She lived in the Whitehall area her whole life, and had a husband named Jake and two kids, Brady who is now four and Addisyn who is two. Danielle did so much for her community, and impacted my life and so many others, and even though she isn't with us anymore she is still my Michigan…
With sweat drenching their bodies and taking deep gulps for air, five young men sling their arms over each other’s shoulders and take their final bow. The crowd’s cheers erupt into shrieks and tears; for they have just witnessed the boy band One Direction perform live in concert. My screams too, can be heard throughout my house as I watch this video on YouTube vowing to myself that one day I will see One Direction in concert. I make this promise to myself, as my screams then morph into tears of joy and longing as the members of One Direction exit the stage.…
“I got this! I got this! Just calm down and take position. You have prepared yourself for this race all morning.” “Just take your position and breathe.” “Why is my heart pounding like this?” “Inhale and exhale.” This is normal for UWA freshman Sarah McMillion on race day. She constantly overthinks and worries about her performance. Her nerves even cause her to wake up early to prepare.…
One time when I challenged my own beliefs, I questioned my own skills. It was one of the most crushing and confusing moments of my life. I was indecisive, hesitant, and most certainly doubtful. I couldn’t even imagine myself, an inexperienced sophomore, working in a career major that I’ve never even thought of doing in the first place.…
Here i am sitting in the kitchen cutting me up some potatoes for dinner my daughters in the back room, She says “MOM!! COME!! HERE!!”. So i'm listening and it says “ A black african american woman has been arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white person on a Montgomery city Bus” As i'm sitting there thinking it pops up in my head that she works with me, I work at an Montgomery ward as a semingtris. We use to call her Miss Rosa. On the radio they said that they took her to jail. I would have bailed miss Rosa out if I had the money but I didn't miss Rosa was a Beautiful african american woman and she was very nice. A day after her arrest i heard on the radio that a Black man named Edgar Nixon had bailed Miss Rosa out of jail a…
A few days after I went home with Phoebe, I ended up getting sick and my parents sent me to a hospital. I was trapped in that hospital for about a month with nothing to really do. You know what was funny though? The days practically flew by, right out of the window. Before I knew it, half a month had passed. I was slowly getting back my strength and everything else as well. I made sure I asked the nurse, who was taking care of me, to bring me malted milk. She was very kind to me, and chatty in a nice, friendly sort of way. It was a nice break from the typical phony people. Speaking of phonies, you should've seen my therapist. He came to me during this one session, started asking me questions in a very posh voice. You know, like he's really…
Two years ago, on a cold Saturday morning, I prepared for my first ever track tryout. I took a shower, put on my clothes, and got into the car. On my way to practice, I felt strong physically, but I also had an undefined, jittery feeling about how the day was going to go.…
Her eyes glistened with a repulsive gleam of a smile on her face. I walked slowly hearing the whispering of my socks against the floor. It was that time again, piano lesson. Mrs. Zhang looked at me and smirked eerily. I sighed and took my place on the on the bench, close enough to smell my teacher. I put my shaking hands on the keys and began.…
When I got to St. Vincent’s hospital I thought I was in labor but the doctor said my water wasn’t broken yet. So I had to walk up and down the hallway for the baby to come down. Then finally the doctor pulled my water. And oh my god I was in so much pain. The nurse said” Keep pushing, the baby is almost out.” With a final push I had my baby. She was the most beautiful little baby with dark hair and big light brown eyes. I called Diana.…
I always keep this poem and picture in my wallet. I take it everywhere with me because it means quite a lot to me in two very different ways. One of those ways is because it holds sentimental value. When I was younger I learned to read very late in life and I was always so embarrassed of that. My father knew that I was struggling and bought me the book, Where the Sidewalk Ends. It is a book full of poems and little pictures written by Shel Silverstein. I remember opening the book to ta random page, and it was the page with this poem. I then remember my dad asking me to read it to him. I was so uncomfortable, even thought I was just going to be reading to my dad. He gave me some words of encouragement, and even thought I was not able to read…