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S P R I N G 2 0 2 3@ m o r e h o u s e e n g l i s h 1 8 6 7VOICESIT'S SHOWTIME!Meet the men betweenthese pages!WRITE ON!Creative expressionfrom theseMorehouse menw w w . m m o r e h o u s e . e d u

E n g l i s h D e p a r t m e n tM o r e h o u s e C o l l e g e8 3 0 W e s t v i e w D r i v e , S WA t l a n t a , G A 3 0 3 1 4 IN THE "HOUSE"

CONTENTSOur Voices Creative expressionfrom these"Housemen" 45Ase'Celebrating a term that was . . . 195946They got itwrite!Meet these famousEnglish majors.Word Power!Find the "write"words. Just for laughs"English" humor

Ase'Ase: An African work from theYoruba language, meaning righton! life force, or the power tocreate that which you speak Hi! I am honored to introduce you to afew of the men whom I have had thedistinct pleasure of teaching in myComposition I classroom atMorehouse College. All semester,we have studied the writing process,from brainstorming, to outlining, todrafting, revising, proofreading, andpublishing. For the final project,students were asked to develop awriting portfolio that includes areflective essay on their strengthsand weaknesses as student writersand an example of their “best”creative work. Not surprisingly, theircreative works run the gamut, fromacademic prose, to poetry, fictionand the visual arts. I am especially grateful to mystudents, not only for allowing me toshare their work here, but also forallowing me to share in this part oftheir journey.Enjoy! -Dr. D

OurVoices Creative exspressionfrom these "Housemen"

When entering this course, I considered myself a phenomenal writer. I defined my skillbased on my prowess in creating a story, and the necessary elements in developing anarrative. I thoroughly enjoy and love writing, but I enjoy a good story even more. Whenregistering for this course, my approach was very ego-driven. I had this unwaveringconfidence in myself in what I know concerning literature and art as a whole. However, what Ifailed to realize is how often I would be tested to prove myself as a writer, and if I am reallycapable of the heights I presumed I was able to reach. In the span of the course, I haverealized that I am a storyteller, preferring to write creatively. The image of Dr. King, featured on the cover of this magazine, shows my skill as a digitalartist. When Dr. Dismukes asked me to think of a theme image for our magazine cover, Iimmediately thought of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Morehouse Man, Civil Rights Activist, andone of our country's best orators.Asher Boulware, '25Major: Communications StudiesHometown: Capital Heights, MD

I've learned a lot about my writing style while taking English 101. When it comes towriting about topics that don't interest me, I am quite obstinate, and my language isterrible. On the other hand, referencing solid facts and using a strong hook sentenceat the beginning of an essay are two of my key strengths. Learning these things aboutmyself will help me further develop my writing style. In high school I wrote an argumentative essay on whether or not manufacturersshould be blamed for faulty products. It took me a while to find the angle I wanted totake on this prompt because we were told we could take any. I chose to blame themanufacturer because it was the easiest approach. Looking back now, I regret takingthat approach because there were so many different angles I could have taken. I thinkthis essay really shows my writing style because it shows I stick to the topic andcreatively use the evidence to help me prove my point. Khadyen Charles, '26Major: Engineering & Applied PhysicsHometown: Brooklyn, NY

Should Manufacturers Be Blamed For Faulty Products? by Khadyen Charles What is the job of manufacturers? Are they the reason that our products and food are faulty?Manufacturers are responsible for creating our goods and helping supply it to people who need them. Butsometimes the product that the customer receives is not the way it's supposed to be, or something'sthere that's not supposed to be there. This causes unhappy customers, and nobody likes unhappycustomers. Manufactures should be held responsible for faulty products because they are in the factorycreating the product. They are the ones who monitor the machines that put the pieces together, so theyshould take responsibility for defective goods. Manufactures are the ones in charge of making our products and getting it to us, so they should takesome of the blame for the faulty products. Jeff Craig, of Texas Justice, says, ”Manufacturers areresponsible for making sure their products are safe for consumer use. When a victim is injured because amanufacturer failed to create a safe product or provide adequate warnings, the manufacturer is liable forthe victim’s damages” ("7 Major Product Lawsuits"). This supports my claim because it is agreeing with meand clearly stating that the manufacturer should be held accountable for a defective product since theyare in charge of making sure the product is safe. Attorney Rosenteel Fleishman states that ”Strict liabilityholds the manufacturer of a product automatically liable when their product is the direct result of anindividual’s injuries” (Who is Liable?"). This helps my claim because it is clearly stating that themanufacturer should be held accountable, without question. Middle men can also be the cause of faulty products being sold. A middle man is someone who buysgoods from producers and sells them to the consumers or retailers. Not all middlemen can be trusted, assome have been caught doing things like “duplicating the product and mixing it with the regulated product”(Fleishman). Some of them even have the audacity to “sell expired goods to their customers” (Fleishman).As shown in my evidence some middlemen are very bad at their job and do things that negatively affectthe people who buy their product. So the blame should not always be put on the manufacturers becauseit's not always their fault. Eliminating the middleman also makes business more efficient, and it ensuresthat you are getting what you paid for. Continued on p. 10

Should Manufacturers Be Blamed For Faulty Products?(Continued from p. 9) In conclusion there are such things as middle men that can also be responsible for the defective good.But at the end of the day the manufacturer is in charge of making sure our goods are safe and ready forthe public. So they should take responsibility when the product that they make is defective. Works Cited: Craig, Jeff. "7 Major Product Lawsuits of the Past Decade." Texas Justice. August 5, 2020. https://texasjustice.com/blog/major-product-liability-lawsuits-past-decade/Fleishman, Rosenteel. "Who is Responsible for a Defective Product?" https://www.rflaw.net/who-is-liable-for-a-defective-product/

This semester has been full of ups and downs and highs and lows. I've definitely grown as a writer andhoned in on the strengths I have. My main strength that's grown is my use of sensory details and figurativelanguage. Writing poems was always something I loved to do, but I never really wrote full papers or anythinglike that. This class taught me to take risks in my writing and step out of my comfort zone. I also picked uplittle things like knowing where and when to put semicolons, which we would learn by doing the quizzes at thebeginning. I can and will continuously improve on my weaknesses and my strengths to be a bettercommunicator in my writing. The poem that follows is what I believe to be my best piece of writing. It's where I feel like my strengths areshown and where my creative side really shines. Markeiss Evans, '26Major: Business AdministrationHometown: Mableton, GA

Wordsby Markeiss Evans In her words lie the map to our sad history, in the melody sounds the pain of lives lost, in the pain lies the truth, in the pain there we lie, left to hang back then, still being hung today. Blood on the leaves then, Blood on the streets now. The scent of gunpowder in the air as bullets dissect the body of an innocent boy, the taste of injustice as his killer escapes untouched, his soul leaves his body as God looks down and weeps, a mother is left to face this cold world, another black life joins the angels in the sky. Another strange fruit paying the price for seeds sown by force and watered by hate. "I can't breathe" a man utters, as he looks death in the eye and can only imagine the pain he will leave behind as his neck is strangled by deep rooted hate for a color he did not choose, his six kids flash before his eyes as he begs for air to breathe, but they care not for fruits they do not need, stepped on and trampled as if there is no worthy soul in his vessel, a man takes his last breath as the world watches, injustice committed in plain daylight; unfortunately, he's a few shades too dark for lady liberty to care. Continued on p. 13

Words "I can't breathe!" No, "We" can't breathe! They want to choke us all out,but this time the world wouldn't allow ropes, so they use their hands and aim at us tools that take life and cause pain,all while playing images on the screen that make the world think we deserve it. Blood flows as anger grows;for you see, the seeds you sowed and watered with hate, violence, rape, and slaveryhave now grown into a tree itself. We will have no more . . . no more fruits will be hung from your trees, for now we have a voice and we will be heard, change will come. (Continued from p. 12)

Hanif Goins, '26Major: BiologyHometown: Philadelphia, PA All my life my perception of my writing has been reinforced by teachers and peers, and [their] ideas of[the] proficient or subpar nature of my writing [have] been in contrast with each other ever since highschool” (Goins). In a sense, my writing has reflected my growth in being able to acknowledge my flaws butalso keep my self-esteem. In many ways, the development process of writing and drawing are similar. Both processes requireinformation blotting, organizing ideas, adding general descriptions, then going back in with lots of details.Though they are very similar, they differ in many ways. Unlike writing, I can cover my mistakes by drawingover them or simply erasing them with a pencil. In art, disorganization is not a bad thing, but in writing it isfrowned upon. It shows a lack of intelligence; but in art, confusion is valued because it createsconversation, warrants interpretation, and challenges the mind. My art work, entitled "Black Matter"follows.

Black MatterHanif Goins

Jeremiah Goodman, '26Major: PsychologyHometown: Fresno, CA During this semester, I learned how to pace myself in my writing, breaking down each topic in detail one ata time without rambling. This is an essential skill for me to learn because it will be helpful during the rest ofmy matriculation and career field. In Psychology, we have to do plenty of writing, and a lot of that is on reallycomplex detailed information. I am also really interested in creative writing, and in order to make a good storythat people want to read, you need to be able to give details that will keep people engaged. The piece of writing I chose to use in my portfolio is a speech I did last August. In my speech, I spoke aboutmy experience with racism in the education system and how it specifically impacted me in my school district.I had to give this speech in front of an audience, so I knew the approach I had to take with writing needed tobe different from something I would write on a typical day. With this speech, I wanted to ensure I was writingsomething engaging, informative, and a call to action.

Keynote Addressby Jeremiah Goodman My name is Jeremiah Goodman. I am a sophomore Psychology/Pre-med major at the illustriousMorehouse College. I plan on going into the medical field and working with children who are in need or havereceived organ transplants. As someone who loves working with kids, I can tell you this: Children are notborn to hate. They love without worrying; in fact, they reach for it. The urge to learn more about this worldand its workings excites them, and I look at this as a gift that never goes away. When I first moved to thissmall town, I was a little wide-eyed 5-year-old child who liked technology, video games, music, and playingoutside until the street lights came on. My rose-colored glasses sugar coated the world. I had my first racial encounter when I was 7 years old. One evening, my mom, brother, and I were on ourway home after running errands all day. As we approached our house, we noticed something odd. We sawsomething written on our fence on the side of our house. We pulled into the driveway, and my mother waseager to see what was on the fence. She quickly made her way over to the spray-painted area. She wasshocked by what she found. This word was spray painted in large red letters across our fence. Morespecifically, "I hate Ni**ers" is what was spray painted. I remember my mom being furious and upset; at thetime, I could only understand her being angry about her now-tagged fence. I did not realize that most of heranger and fear came from the tagged content. This was my first encounter with racism; and, unfortunately,it was not the last. Hatred is taught to a human beings. No gene or biological trait shows that people areborn to possess that kind of hate. Moving forward from that day, my mom sat with my brother and me to talk. She lectured us on the realityof being black in this country and how we will encounter people who will not respect or like us merelybecause of our skin color. After that talk, I remember feeling confused because it was tough to fathom theconceivable reality of what my mom explained based on just words alone. But unfortunately, she was right,and it did not take me long to learn. During my time at Parkwood Elementary School, I experienced a lot. There was a large gap of time when Idid not feel like I belonged there. I quickly noticed that the staff and my peers would interact and treat medifferently from the other kids. One morning, my class was outside for P.E. Our teacher announced that wewere allowed to have free play. Everyone rushed to the equipment bag, desperate to get a ball or a frisbeeto toss around with their buddies. Since I chose not to run in and get a piece of equipment, I had nothingand nobody to play with me. I ventured around the blacktop to find a group of kids to play with. Continued on p. 18

Keynote Address (Continued from p. 17) After searching for what felt like hours, I finally found a group of kids with a big red ball. I made my wayover to ask to join their game; the group looked at me with a long gaze accompanied by silence. Afterwaiting for an answer, a boy broke the silence by saying, "No black people allowed." His statement wasfollowed by giggles and intensified staring. My heart sank at that moment. The talk that my mother gaveto me and my brother started to play itself in my head like a film reel. For the remainder of the school day,I could not focus in class; I felt uncomfortable and angry. I wanted to get up from my desk and run home."Did I tell a teacher or another staff member?" No, I did not even bother. I thought all they would do isminimize it to some petty issue that happened outside on the blacktop. And if I stood up for myself, Iwould be seen as trouble. I tell these stories because this was an experience that clung to me. I am not the only person who hasbeen through things like this. I recognize that speaking up and telling my story will encourage others andraise awareness about racism and other forms of discrimination. That is why I do what I do today. Thedread I felt during these moments is something I never want another individual, especially a child, to haveto experience as I did. It should be better for them. How do we make it better for them? A pattern I noticed when it comes to speaking up about racism is that many people will avoid it or brushit under the rug because it is uncomfortable to talk about or they don't know what to say. Those can nolonger be excuses for why you decided to stay quiet. At the same time, a Zoom chat repeatedly lights upwith degrading racist statements, while the only African American in the class clearly shows that he isuncomfortable and hurt. Doing this is contributing to the issue at large. It is time to start educatingourselves. I want to express the importance of you as a staff member being proactive in instances ofdiscrimination and being there for the students. I can tell you from personal experience that my 5th-grade teacher was my light during a time that was so awful. Her ability to empathize and talk to me duringthose moments of hurt made a world's difference. Initially, I planned on transferring schools due to all ofthe issues that were going on at the school. However, on the first day of 5th grade, I met my teacher, Ms.Kitt. I remember going home and telling my mom I wanted to stay at Parkwood because I wanted to stayin Ms. Kitt's class. I felt safe, heard, and excited to be at school because I knew I would have her support. Continued on p. 19

Keynote Address (Continued from p. 18) Every student should feel this way at school. Again, what you say and do matters. Don't just look atyour students as a grade or a number. These are complex individuals who want to be respected andunderstood just as much as you do. Your role and impact in a student's life are more influential than youthink. You can undoubtedly broaden their perspectives and steer them in the right direction. I hope that after today, you choose to be a student champion every day, even on the days when it'shard. Speak up, be bold, and be a champion, a student champion. Thank you.

Q: What do they have in common? Shonda Rhimes Steven Spielberg Kanye WestJohn LegendBradley CooperMatt DamonVin DieselA: They all majored in English! Pretty cool, huh? You could be, too!

Seth Harold, '26Major: Business AdministrationHometown: Alexandria, VA As a writer in English 101, I have developed in many ways, including learning how to write description,illustration, compare and contrast, and definition essays. While writing my definition essay, I learned that thedictionary definition of a word or phrase is not the actual definition. I learned this because while reading “OnBeing Black and Middle Class,” there were a lot of examples that really opened my mind and really put things inperspective. The essay that was most engaging for me was the definition essay because of the text used forthe essay. I feel like this essay demonstrates how I can go into detail, while still staying on topic and how Ihave developed as a writer since high school. My definition essay follows.

What does it mean to be American?by Seth Harold The concept of being American is a complex tapestry woven from diverse threads of culture, history,and identity. Defining what it truly means to be American is a daunting task, as the United States is amelting pot of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds. In this essay, we will explore the multifacetednature of American identity by drawing insights from Shelby Steele's essay "On Being Black and MiddleClass" and the thought-provoking film "Crash." These two sources shed light on the intricacies ofAmerican experiences, focusing on racial tensions, cultural intersections, and the pursuit of aninclusive national identity. From a white man's perspective, being an American is about embracing the values of freedom,democracy, and equality, which are the core principles upon which this country was founded, celebrating the diversity of American culture and recognizing the contributions of people from all walksof life to the fabric of this nation. At the same time, being an American, from a white man's perspective,can also mean acknowledging the privilege and advantages that come with being part of the dominantracial and ethnic group in this country. It means being aware of the history of systemic oppression anddiscrimination against marginalized groups, including people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals,and working towards creating a more just and equitable society. It means recognizing the role thatwhite privilege has played in shaping American history and culture and taking responsibility foraddressing the inequalities that continue to exist today. In the essay "On Being Black and Middle Class," Shelby Steele delves into what it means to be anAmerican and how race plays a role in that identity. Steele argues that being American is not just aboutbeing born in the United States or having citizenship, but rather it is about embracing the values andideals that make up the American identity. These values include freedom, individualism, and equalityunder the law. However, Steele notes that for black Americans, these values have been historicallydenied or withheld, leading to a complicated relationship with their American identity. Steele alsoexplores how being middle class intersects with being black in America. He notes that middle-classstatus can provide economic and social advantages, but it can also create a sense of culturaldislocation and pressure to assimilate into white middle-class norms. This pressure can lead to arejection of blackness and a loss of connection to the African American community. Steele also Continued on p. 23

What does it mean to be American?(Continued from p. 22)emphasizes the importance of America. It is not only about legal citizenship or birthplace, but also aboutembracing American values and navigating the cultural and racial dynamics of American society. Forblack Americans, this identity can be particularly fraught, given the legacy of slavery, segregation, andongoing racial inequality. However, as Steele suggests, embracing American values and striving forequality can lead to a more inclusive and just society for all Americans. The movie Crash portrays an intricate web of characters who come from different walks of life, eachwith their own unique experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives on what it means to be an American.The movie highlights the complexities and challenges of living in a diverse society where people oftenstruggle to understand and empathize with one another. To be an American, according to the movie,means to embrace diversity, to confront one's biases, and to strive for understanding and empathy. Thecharacters in the movie are forced to confront their prejudices and biases; and through theirinteractions with one another, they learn to see the world through a different lens. Being an American isnot about conforming to a specific set of beliefs or values, but rather about embracing the diversity thatmakes America unique. In the end, the movie reminds us that being an American is not just about ourdifferences, but also about our shared humanity and the connections that bind us all together. Based on the perspectives presented in the essay "On Being Black and Middle Class," by ShelbySteele, and the movie Crash, directed by Paul Haggis, it is evident that being an American is acomplicated and multifaceted experience. Both the essay and the movie explore the complex dynamicsof race, class, and identity that shape the American experience. In "On Being Black and Middle Class,"Steele reflects on his own experiences growing up as a black man in America and the challenges hefaced in navigating the complexities of race and class. Similarly, in Crash, the characters are forced toconfront their own biases and prejudices as they navigate the diverse and often divided landscape ofLos Angeles. Despite these challenges, both the essay and the movie also highlight the resilience andadaptability of the American spirit. In "On Being Black and Middle Class," Steele notes that despite thechallenges he faced, he was able to carve out a successful career and build a fulfilling life for himself.Similarly, in Crash, the characters are able to bridge their differences and find common ground, even inthe face of intense conflict and division.Continued on p. 24

What does it mean to be American?(Continued from p. 23) Works Cited:Crash. Directed by Paul Haggis, Lionsgate, 2004.Steele, Shelby. "On Being Black and Middle Class." Commentary; New York, N. Y. Vol. 85, Iss. 1, (Jan 1, 1988): 42.

Jakari Jewell, '26Major: Computer ScienceHometown: Cartersville, GA I’ve had a wonderful time at Morehouse college in my first year. I have learned many new thingsabout life and, overall, about myself. The most important thing I’ve learned throughout my twosemesters must be my strengths and weakness as a writer. It’s become clear that just because Imajor in Computer Science, writing is still very important in my path to success, and I feel I’vebecome pretty good at analyzing text and drawing out what is important. I have included an essay I wrote for my Philosophy class. Given that it was a research essay, itdidn’t require much creativity outside of having to create a solution to the problem depicted inthe article. My use of quotes and analyzing the text to create my own solution is what made myessay stand out to my professor, and it was the main reason he gave me a good grade on it.Pointing back to certain things in the essay and giving them ample explanation as to why thatquote is important made me have confidence in my essay and my ability to analyze text. Myessay follows.

Solving Illegitimacyby Jakari Jewell A social hierarchy has always existed; there have always been people who “have” and people who “havenot.” The people who fall into the “have-nots” category live significantly worse than any other category. Thisis better known as illegitimacy; many politicians and civil activists have tried to combat this problem inAmerica and all over the world, but poverty is still increasing to this day. Charles Murray, who is a Caucasianpolitician, acted and thought of a solution for this problem and ultimately wrote an article called “TheComing White Underclass.” To start his article, Murray breaks down the exact percentages of illegitimacy for blacks, which in 1991was at a high of 68%. Shockingly, this figure is relatively low for the black community as it often exceeds80%. If someone were to say the rate was at 68% in the mid-60s, they would have been seen as crazy. TheBlack community is looked on so lowly that things like physical violence, immediate gratification, andpredatory sex is seen as the norm for the black inner city. Murry disregards the black community and shiftshis focus to the white community. Murray concludes that white women who have a high school diploma or less education are the pioneersin the social pandemic of illegitimacy and make up a whopping 82%. Those who have college degrees makeup only 4% of the white women’s rates, while those who make over $75,000 only make up 1%. On the otherside, those who make $20,000 are to be blamed for 69% of the pandemic. This leads to the start of a studyon white women above and below the poverty line. Research shows that 44% of births below the povertyline were illegitimate, while only 6% were from women that were above the line. This is surprising because atthis time white people still had more opportunities than most other races in America. This brings Murray to the focus of his article. In “The Coming White Underclass,” European-Americanwhites turned out to be the ethnic group with the most people in poverty, which in turn led to moreillegitimate kids, more white women on welfare, more unemployed men, and more arrests for serious crimesthan any other ethnic group. Yet with all this, Murray brings to attention that whites still don’t have an“underclass.” For other ethnic groups, there is “the ghetto,” which is a large concentration of people inpoverty leading to more crime and worse living conditions. However, for whites, it’s more spread out, whichpushes the attention away from the fact that a lot more whites are in poverty than most would think. Continued on p. 27

Solving Illegitimacy (Continued from p. 26) There is a hidden link between major crimes and even petit crimes like theft when looking at the ratescompared to the illegitimacy rates. As the black community rose to 25% illegitimacy, the rate of dropoutsfrom the labor force rose as did Black crime; it was a direct parallel, but it was brought to no one's attention.There were other dynamics, such as the sexual revolution, broad shifts in cultural norms, and structuralchanges in the economy. Murray began to connect the blacks in the 60s to the whites in the 90s and saysthat the whites will begin going through the same social pandemic as the blacks went through. He begins to give his thoughts about illegitimacy being the most important social problem of his currenttime. He wants change and he has a theory on how to fix the rates of illegitimacy. Births and sexual actsbefore marriage have gotten out of hand and he wishes to reestablish the importance of marriage. Murray ispushing his ideas centering on marriage. According to Murray, bringing a child into this world is one of themost important things a human can do; and bringing life into this world when you are emotionally andfinancially ill-prepared to take care of them is wrong. The child deserves more of society’s support and care,whereas the parents are adults and can fend for themselves. Murray’s new system for marriage has its benefits, while it also has its disadvantages; he plans to makethese more apparent and extensive in society. To push more women to get married, he wants to banish allfinancial aid to single mothers -- no food stamps, section eight, or any other form of government assistance.The mothers will have to seek help from their community if they can’t make ends meet without thegovernment. This, in turn, gives three different benefits according to Murray. The first benefit of taking away government help would be producing more mature adults who care morefor their offspring and don’t push them off to the side as if they don’t exist. Typically, the more involved aparent is the better the upbringing is for a child. The second benefit is getting more young women to ask forhelp freely, instead of being scared, teaching them to swallow their pride and go out and seek help. However,those who are still unable to take away their funding would lead to more abortions and more kids beingorphaned. To Murray, having women make the mistake of mis-raising a baby will be good as others will wish tonot make the mistake of getting pregnant when they are unable to care for their kids. The third benefit is thata sort of stigma will start to build around illegitimate birth, making it frowned on in society as it used to be.Even boys will fear getting a girl pregnant if the stigma were set in place. As for women who decide to keeptheir babies without community support or government, Murray has another loophole for this. Continued on p. 28

Solving Illegitimacy (Continued from p. 27) Laws already exist to take away children from unfit mothers legally. Although there are already 360,000kids in foster care, society’s main response, in Murray’s eyes, should be to make adoption easier for marriedcouples who have the resources to raise a child correctly. The following things must also be done: restrictionson interracial adoption should be lifted and the limitations on age should be lifted. The next step would be toreestablish the laws surrounding the legal rights of the child after there are placed in foster care. The kidsshould have no knowledge of their records and biological parents until they are adults. This is Murray’s old-fashioned way of thinking, which he stated somehow worked. Infants in foster care are wanted by a lot ofcapable couples and families. But without the restrictions of new laws, more kids would end up in good homes,not just the “blue-eyed blonds.” As for those who don’t get adopted, Murray says the government should putmore funding into orphanages, and those who look down on orphanages should think of it as a 24/7 preschool;and if they still can’t bring themselves to accept it, they should spend time in a patrol car and see just howkids live with mothers who are welfare dependent. Murray brings his attention now to the benefits of marriage that should be put in place first, and one ofhis better ideas is to lower or make the tax code neutral for married couples. This would be a huge benefitwhile married. Furthermore, boys and girls should grow up knowing that if they want to have children and arelationship then they should plan for marriage. To Murray, these changes will strengthen society andmarriage, making it once again symbolic; however, these changes are unrealistic to this day and age. It will bea slow process but worth it, to him. Murray takes a very straightforward and immediate approach to solving illegitimacy. Still, I must disagreewith most of his views and ultimately disagree with his plan. Although his idea for making marriage beneficialby fixing the tax codes in favor of couples, his views, and ideas about easier adoption make sense andultimately seem good. The steps in taking these actions and his views before getting to these two pointsseem immoral. To take away a mother’s support from the government is just wrong. Not all women in povertywish to have children; some are accidents, and some are forms of sexual deviancy (rape). To have thesemothers violated and then turn around and not give them the support they need is just sickening. While Iagree that some women or men are just not meant to be parents, if you include them with the good-hearted Continued on p. 29

Solving Illegitimacy (Continued from p. 28) single people who just have financial problems, it's just wrong. I disagree with his solutions. Although hemakes good points, he is grouping all women in poverty together when truly there are levels to it. My solution would be the opposite of his as I would have the government give opportunities for moremoney on request. If their reasoning is good, and they truly are just struggling with no support, we should feelobligated to reach out and give back to those in need. Secondly, the laws surrounding divorce and marriageneed to be reworked; if a woman comes into a relationship with nothing, she should leave with nothing. Notonly that but a couple should be married for a certain period before receiving any government benefits. I willtake from his ideas to make adoption easier and less time consuming. This will give good kids the home theydeserve, while also giving parents who are stable the opportunity to adopt the child they always wanted.Lastly, I would raise the tax code for the super-rich and have it given back to the “white trash” and “ghettocities.” There is no reason for men like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos to have billions of dollars they couldn’tspend in three lifetimes. Doing this may be frowned upon, but this is a simple solution not only to whiteillegitimacy but illegitimacy among all races. In conclusion, I disagree with most of Murray’s points but agree with some of his solutions to the ongoingproblem of illegitimacy. We are approaching a new time where poverty presents raises and so does theamount of money needed to live comfortably. It is time to take from the super rich and give back to the poormothers in need, not just those who had accidents or were raped but even to the ones who just aren’t goodparents. This will give them the opportunity to decide on foster care or give a couple a chance to become abetter set of parents to a child who needs care. Humans are not perfect and should get a fair chance ineverything, even something as important as parenting. Works Cited:Murray, Charles. “The Coming White Underclass.” American Enterprise Institute - AEI (1993) https://www.aei.org/articles/the-coming-white-underclass/

Darius Jones, '26Major: Computer ScienceHometown: McDonough, GA During English 101, I’ve written more for myself and for a class than ever. Even though in high school,there was a writing assignment every other day it seemed, in this class, I had to go deeper in terms ofdetail and analysis, which wasn’t something I did well in high school. I acquired these skills through theassignments we had to do, including reading long passages, often about subjects that are directly relatedto us, like the essays by Audre Lorde and Cornel West on the racial effects of being Black. It’s been muchmore personal writing about similar and different experiences instead of “The Canterbury Tales.” Due tothese facts, what I have learned about my strengths and weaknesses is that I’m much more creative thananalytical as a writer. As evidence of my analytical writing skills, I chose an essay entitled, "The Roles of HBCUs and theClimate of our Community,” which I wrote for my Politics and Protest class last semester. I bring a moredirect light to HBCUs and how they tend to affect the black community, because when most people thinkabout HBCUs, they think about the alumnae who come from those schools, because the more famousones go out and change the black community, and society as a whole (e.g., Spike Lee, Stacey Abrams,MLK).

The Role of HBCUs and the Climate of Our Communityby Darius Jones The year is 2022. The social climate of the U.S. is at a crossroads, with one half of people for one thing,while the other half are against it. People all over the county are divided on what to think and what to feel,especially about social issues. Many people choose to stand up for what they believe in, whether that bethrough channels such as political office or protesting for certain issues, such as racial injustice and byextension, police brutality to name one. The issue of racial injustice is mostly attributed to two races ingeneral in this country; and the interactions between those races, being Black and White, are entrapped inour media, everyday life, and consciousness. Therefore, when incidents like this happen, it is often broughtupon black people for a response. Black people from all walks of life are aware of the racism and violent actsbrought upon us, and nothing is done each time. Yet, it is truly on us as individuals, as a community, to standup for our rights. Black people, especially those in higher up positions (i.e. those with cultural and/or economic capital,CEOs, musical artists, actors, tv personalities) are expected to be beacons of the community. Seeing howthey have achieved a level of economic status that previously was not available to African Americans, theyare seen to have more power, and therefore, more responsibility. Contrary to belief, those with said power donot always act within the best interest of their community. It was only six years ago that Colin Kaepernick,former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, took that fateful knee during the playing of the NationalAnthem. The purpose of "taking the knee" was a stark and unprecedented protest against police brutalityand racial injustice, as just months earlier, a Black man, Philando Castile, was shot dead by a police officerduring a traffic stop in front of his girlfriend, not to mention Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, and Michael Brown, allof whom were killed while in police custody, jail, or in confrontations initiated by police. Bland was killed justthe previous year in 2015, while Garner and Brown were killed in 2014, and none of these killings resulted inconvictions. Therefore, Kaepernick felt it necessary to protest during a preseason game during September,to kneel during the National Anthem. Even though he previously attended protests prior to the act,Kaepernick felt as if he had a larger platform on the field, which he did. As expected, this did not go over wellwith some people, including a majority of football fans and people nationwide. Some saw it as disrespectfulto the country, as well as to the military, which Kaepernick later clarified as him protesting against racialinjustice, and that he had respect for the armed forces. Almost effective immediately it seemed, after Continued on p. 32

The Role of HBCUs and the Climate of Our Community(Continued from p. 31) that season, Kaepernick was released from the 49ers. He has not been signed to a team since. Later, in 2019, it was announced that Jay-Z and his entertainment company, Roc Nation would enter into apartnership with the NFL. Despite being extremely lucrative for Mr. Carter and the league, those with asharper eye took it with a grain of salt. Seeing how Kaepernick was essentially without a job, people saw thisas a backstabbing money-grabbing attempt by Jay-Z. It was also seen as contradictory to prior endeavorsthat Jay-Z was involved in, like the documentary series Time: The Kalief Browder Story, for which Jay-Z wasan executive producer. As argued by Jemele Hill, “I don’t think Jay-Z is a sellout, but it does seem like he’sbeing used as cover” (5). His “cover” was one that was attempting to absolve the NFL of guilt for thetreatment of Kaepernick after exercising his 1st Amendment right, one that he shouldn’t have beenpunished for. On the other side of the spectrum are those who are perceived to be of higher status, those who comefrom academic backgrounds like Ivy League’s and HBCUs, of which I and many are a member. Seen as theacademic pinnacles of the black community, we are also expected to carry most of the responsibility ofprotests and injustice. This could translate in how these colleges serve and treat the communities in whichthey are placed. As author Mack H. Jones puts it, “Black colleges have not completely fulfilled theirresponsibilities to the larger black community” (Jones 732). We may speak about the institution and thegreat people that come from it, but are the institutions in the news for igniting the fires of social change? Ifour goal as an HBCU has been to serve the black community, how did the great goal of the institution get sofar from that in recent times, considering the community that surrounds them? The goal of HBCUs and othercolleges is to ensure to students that they carry on behavior that is socially acceptable. Even so, it can besaid that the social impact of black colleges on the black community has diminished. In the age that mostHBCUs were established, black people were coming out of slavery and were largely illiterate. However,they’ve moved away from that direction. To elevate their contributions to the community, they would haveto “radically restructure both curricular and extracurricular activities” (Jones 740). Instead of focusing onkeeping a stable society, classes would, instead, focus on radical social change. Classes would focus onAfrica as a beginning, and the problems of Black people as the main issue. Where does that leave us as everyday people? If we as a people are meant to stand up for ourselves, Continued on p. 33

The Role of HBCUs and the Climate of Our Community(Continued from p. 32) why do many of our political messages get co-opted by companies for commercial campaigns? Even asKaepernick bent on one knee, it turned into a multi-million-dollar ad campaign with Nike, and a shortminiseries on Netflix. Videos of Muhammad Ali being used for commercials, even though he as a person waslooked down upon by the government and the United States for his protests against Jim Crow and hisoutspoken nature. This is not to say that the greater public does not have political opinions that aren’tsocially acceptable, like the idea that black people shouldn’t have their rights violated in broad daylight, thefact that women should have control over their bodies, and the fact that we should have free healthcare.However, there has been no real mobilization for these issues and others. No revolutions, no insurrections(well, no successful ones.), at least not like the protests we see in various European, Middle Eastern, andAsian countries, where people will sometimes overthrow their government. They will depose those inpositions of power and retaliate against those officers who are meant to protect them but do the opposite.The most that most people do is post about it on their Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook feed, like it, repost,and go back to what they were doing before. Thus, they participate in social theater. Even though there arepeople who post and care about those issues and will fight away from the internet against those issues, alot will post it just for the karma, the affirmations, and the validation from others. Others praise them for“speaking up” on the issue -- ‘I’m glad you spoke on this" -- when they didn’t speak at all. Not a word was said.The bad thing is that you and I have engaged in this social theater, and the majority of people have as well. Lastly, there is the issue of the way these issues affect us in real life -- the issue of microaggressions,racial attacks, and “infrapolitics,” those daily confrontations that we may brush off, others take as insulting,which they should. Think of the times that your white friend may have said the n-word, either to refer to youor someone else, regardless of race. Yet, these do not always lead to political protests. Thesemicroaggressions are brushed off as we have dealt with them our entire lives, being Black, being a minority.Yet, some of us have never experienced it; and when we do, it causes a shock -- a reaction if you will.Princeton graduate Lawrence Otis Graham wrote about this phenomenon in his article, "The Rules: MakingSense of Race and Privilege." In the article, he details his upbringing and how his education and career wouldinsulate his children from the racism he and his wife faced during the ‘60s and ‘70s. He then talks about hisson being accosted at a summer program at his boarding school, being called nigger, and how his son Continued on p. 34

The Role of HBCUs and the Climate of Our Community(Continued from p. 33) reacted to it. As he described his son’s feelings about the incident, he said, “Despite his reluctance, Iinsisted that he report the incident to the school. His chief concern was not wanting the white students andadministrators to think of him as being…‘racial’. That was his word” (Graham). Due to his secludedbackground, his son did not know how to react to the accosting; and Graham, as many Black parents do --regardless of status -- gave his son, and children in tandem, certain “rules” that they needed to follow inorder to survive. Despite their elevated status, he and his family would still have to follow rules that thosefrom the inner city would have to follow. Never run in view of a police officer, keep receipts of everything youbuy, never walk in a neighborhood after sundown. If these are being followed by those who are in an elevatedstatus, is that not a call for protest? Is that not a call for change? Works Cited: Hill, Jemele. 2019. Jay-Z Helped the NFL Banish Colin Kaepernick. Washington. D.C. The Atlantic.Jones, Mack H. 1971. The Responsibility of the Black College to the Black Community: Then and Now. Massachusetts. The MIT Press.Graham, Lawrence Otis. 2014. The Rules: Making Sense of Race and Privilege. Princeton. Princeton AlumniWeekly.

Joel Jones, '26Major: KinesiologyHometown: Columbus, GA During my semester in English Composition I, I distinguished myself as an excellent writer as far as myacademic and creative voice. Although I have been writing since I was in elementary school, I havecontinuously grown during my writing experience this semester. My college application essay shows my creative process, the persuasive aspect of my writing, and mystrengths in general. I enjoyed writing essays for college because of the opportunities they give me toexpress myself as a black man in athletics and academics. As a result, I have learned that writing can openmany doors in my professional panel, lead to new experiences, and help establish myself as an excellentspeaker and writer.

Educational Pizzaby Joel Jones My best friend asked, “You wanna go grab a pizza?” “Of course," I responded, "You know I love pizza.” “Great, I’ll meet you at Domino's at 6 o’clock! ''No way, Man," I added. "You know me better than that. You know I like to create my own masterpiece;I'll see you at Your Pie.” I wonder why I love pizza and why I feel creating my own pizza is better than whatwe get at any other regular pizza company. As I pulled into the parking lot, I saw my friend waiting on me,so we headed to the counter. “Oh I've never been here; it's like Subway but for pizza,” he exclaimed. “Well, yeah, I retorted, "but it’s better: more variety, more delicious!” I asked for cheese, their specialpizza sauce, pineapple, olives, banana peppers, pepperoni, red onions, and sweet onions. My friend didn'treally ask for anything except for the regular cheese and pepperoni. His order reminded me of my firstvisit to Your Pie. “Joel, why do you like your pizza with all those ingredients on it?” I told him pizza itsmore like a lifestyle for me; the ingredients reflect my life! I didn't think he got it quite yet. After waitingfor five minutes, our waiter came back to had us our food. Have you ever heard the saying that when life gives you lemons you make lemonade? Life is aboutexperiencing opportunities, just like experiencing new ingredients on a pizza. My pizza also reflects howI transferred schools during my junior year. Some students might hesitate to change schools duringtheir junior year, not only did I transfer from a rural public county school, but I also chose to attend asmall private school. It was one of the best decisions I made. I chose this route because it was a betteropportunity to challenge myself educationally, and to grow with new and different people who wouldenrich my life. At my rural school, most of the students typically ended up working in the rural countywhere they live. The county school’s “pizza” only offered basic educational opportunities, such asgeneral classes and a few advanced placement classes. The extracurricular activities were limited tofive sports. Just like the standard pizza, it offered few opportunities for leadership and imagination.Although both schools are small, the private school’s “pizza” is made up of different ingredients. I havemore opportunities, not only academically but extracurricular, too. My new school offers moreingredients, such as numerous advanced placement classes, servant leadership opportunities, clubs,and sports -- including golf, soccer, tennis, swimming, and equestrian. New friendships also developed. Continued on p. 37

Educational Pizza (Continued from p. 36) As I joined football and tennis, I made new friends who took me to new places to eat. That’s how Idiscovered Your Pie. As I talked with my friend about pizza and my move from standard to creating myown, I think he finally understood how food such as pizza can be a reflection of my life. I do really lovepizza, but I also really love the advantages of my new educational “pizza.”

Michael Steven Jones, '26Major: HistoryHometown: Korea I've discovered a lot about my writing abilities this term. My writing skills have greatly improved as a resultof this training. I've improved my ability to properly explain my ideas and thoughts in writing by learning how toorganize them. I've also learned how to employ various writing strategies that can draw readers in and keepthem interested. I chose to share the essay I wrote about Childish Gambino because I feel that it showcases my strengths incritical analysis and creative writing. I view the essay as a successful piece that effectively communicates aclear message or argument. I have received positive feedback on it from peers. Additionally, I have chosen toinclude the essay because it relates to my interests and passions in music and performing. I wanted toshowcase how my skills can be applied to a topic that I’m enthusiastic about.

Why Awaken My Love! is a Masterpieceby Michael Steven Jones Awaken My Love is a Childish Gambino (a.k.a. Donald Glover) album that was released on December 2nd,2016. The album consists of 11 songs: "Me and Your Mama," "Have Some Love," "Boogieman," "Zombie,""Riott," "Redbone," "California," "Terrified," "Baby Boy," "The Night Me and Your Mama Met," and "Stand Tall."The album was a hit with fans as it reached number 2 on the weekly Top RnB/HipHop Albums (Billboard).The songs on the album also reached great success. “Redbone” was a hit; the song reached number oneon the weekly adult RnB (Billboard), while “Me and Your Mama” was number 4 on weekly RMNZ. The albumis an RnB/hip-hop style, where most songs consist of instruments like drums, flutes, synthesizers,guitars, bass, and vocals/choir. "Awaken My Love" was a hit with ratings, as well Metacritic gave it a77/100, XXL gave it a 4/5, Rolling Stones gave it 3.5 stars out of 5 stars, and AllMusic gave the album 4.5stars out of 5 stars. I believe that this album is a masterpiece because of the meaning behind each song.Every song has a meaning behind it, and the songs explain it to the listener beautifully. Donald Gloverknows how to make a feel-good vibe-groovy song, and it shows in my personal favorites "Zombie,""California," "Me and Your Mama," and "Boogieman." These songs are phenomenal and have a deepmeaning to me. The meaning and the beat behind each song help me ease down and start grooving,whether it be the beat drop of “Me and your Mama” or the catchy verse of “Zombie.” The collection ofsongs really satisfies not only me but many people, old and young. The album starts off with “Me and Your Mama;" the first minute of the song is repetitive as it says “I'min love when we are smoking that Lalala” (Glover). With every measure the percussion is added to therhythm, and the beat gets more complicated. After a minute into this, around the 1:40 mark, the beatdrops and the juiciest part of the song begins. The lyrics seem to be the words of a lovestruck one-sidedlove. The next song “Have Some Love” has a group of people singing the chorus; after that, the chorus is playing in the background as Donald Glover sings the verse. The song is more straightforward and thelyrics talk about love and finding it eventually because it is hard to find. Moving on, “Zombies” starts offwith a hook of a base and beat for eight measures. Throughout the song the singer (Donald Glover) goesinto autotune every now and then; it is inconsistent and random. Behind the main vocals, there is adreadful sound that plays throughout the song in which the lyrics make it sound like there are people outto get you and that they are using you for profit and it is inevitable. It is never stated who this Continued on p. 40

Why Awaken My Love! is a Masterpiece(Continued from p. 39)enigmatic entity is, but the song states that they are after you -- the listener -- like zombies. ”Riot,” whichis the next song, contrasts greatly in mood; it is more upbeat and a lot is going on in the song. Theinstruments are a handful as listers are bombarded with many different sounds at once. The lead vocalsreally bring it together as Donald Glover’s scream is astounding and the backup vocals really help tie themood throughout the song.” Redbone” was a hit and most people remember this song being overplayed onthe radio. Although I do agree with the fact that the song was overplayed, it was still a good song. Thesong starts with the iconic guitar rift for eight measures with a groovy baseline. After the eight measures,Donald Glover comes in with a falsetto voice with the occasional scream. The lyrics talk about how thepartner seems uninterested in the other partner, and that you've go to stay woke and aware of what'sgoing on and not waste your time. “California” the next song starts with the strumming of an electricguitar for six measures which creates a smooth, go-easy feeling. Most of the song is just Donald Glovertalking about the issues of moving to California with a girl. The instruments in this song consist of a guitar,a base, and a keyboard. The next song “Terrified” is a more slow and blues bass type of song which startswith an instrumental for four and a half measures. After the four and a half measure, the lead vocal comesin a falsetto with a bit of an echo behind his vocals. At the beat drop of the song a guitar riff really ties thesong together. The lyrics talk about begging afraid of something, hence the name being terrified. At theend of the song, there is a younger voice with great vibrato saying “you can't run from me." The next song“Baby Boy” starts with a keyboard sound that has no tempo and after a little bit the bass drops and givesit a type of blues swinging beat. This song is also sung in falsetto, blues fashion while the backgroundvocals follow behind sounding giving the effect of a haunting ghost. The lyrics of this song talk about thelove of a son and not wanting him to be taken away. The “Night Me And Your Mama Met” is aninstrumental. Although it has no lyrics, it gives a sense of clarity and calmness after the storm. Accordingto Genius, this song is addressing the night Donald Glover met the mother of a newborn child. Theinstrumentals consist of an acapella background, the plucking of an electric guitar, bass, and keys. Lastbut not least, “Stand Tall” is a slow song that picks up throughout the song. The lyrics explain how hisparents tell Donald to keep going and stand tall, especially when it is about something that he caresabout. It is a delightful song that's bubbly and gives a cloud nine feeling. However, in the middle is where itpicks up; the song still has the same message but is Continued on p. 41

Why Awaken My Love! is a Masterpiece(Continued from p. 40)just at a faster tempo and feels more upbeat than before. It feels like a lot but that is the appeal that thesong is going for. Overall, the album in itself talks about love and different ways to love someone, whether it be a one-sided love, a parental love, or an unfaithful love. All in all, I enjoy this album, comparing my reaction in 2016.Giving it a listen more recently shows that the album is versatile and can still appeal to me the same as itdid in 2016. This album, as a whole, is a masterpiece in itself because it describes different types of loveand it offers a variety of RnB/blues/Hip-Hop.

Hillary Kipkogel, '27Major: BiologyHometown: Nairobi, Kenya, Africa My name is Hillary Kipkogei, and I am a First-Year Composition student. I gained experience in compositionwriting and reading English text. When I introduced myself into writing, I was still poor in grammar, but I havebeen improving gradually. To show my writing strengths, I am sharing a composition that I performed well and scored good marks. Iworked on my vocabulary to develop my composition and creativity. The essay is about Marvin Gaye's "InnerCity Blues" song as it represents America.

American Lyricsby Hillary Kipgogei America is so different traditionally, in terms of its economy, crime, recession, depression,discrimination, underlying despair and sadness. Currently, it is blessed and beautiful. Everyone is proud tobe an American because there is freedom thanks to the goodness of the military that keeps Americansfree. Traditionally, America had a sad tone due to economic downturn and inflation. Therefore, there was nochance to improve financially, which made people upset. Representing a more hopeful America, LeeGreenwood, who expresses his gratitude for what this country has done for its citizens in "God Bless theUSA." He shows the real meaning of home and therefore the tone is enthusiastic. The other song, "InnerCity Blues," reflects the systematic racism and bigotry that baked into America and American society. The song by Lee Greenwood, "God Bless America," reflects a hopeful America, mentioning inspirationalfigures of justice and equality. Lee Greenwood's song suggests there is racial stability and at least thereis no social hardship. "Inner City Blues" shows the economic depression and collapse in inner-cities ofAmerica. There was contrast of the bleak economic situation since they used more money on spaceexploration, unlike the society Greenwood describes as a good place to live. This is one way the twosongs differ. The songs are also different in their intended audience. Gaye's song places him in the role of a soulfulsocial commentator. He influenced the society with songs and toured the racially segregated UnitedStates. He focuses on racial and social injustices he had seen while travelling the country. "God BlessUSA” became the song for the national guard of Tennessee and then the military, because patriotism is inthe heart of America. The songs also portray two different types of America. "Inner City Blues" reflects the suffering,homelessness, unemployment, and ultimately the struggle to survive the powerlessness of urban blacks.This is unlike the life being portrayed through "God Bless the USA," which shows a sense of manifestdestiny and that the US is God’s chosen nation and arm of His will. It implies that Americans are superior toother nations because it is blessed by God. It is a song suited for big patriotic moments. Continued on p. 44

American Lyrics(Continued from p. 43) The songs are also told from two different perspectives. Told from the point of view of a returningVietnam soldier, "Inner City Blues" portrays of disconnected Vets, drug addiction disaster, war,radicalization of activism, and inner city frustration of African Americans, which had harsh emotionaleffects. "God Bless America," though, talks of a blessed country and freedom gained after the traditionalold days. “Inner Blues” has remained a protest anthem for nearly 50 years. It was a great way to end the originalfashion of what was going on. It talks about the money that the US government was giving to NASA duringthe mid-60s. Gaye wanted to change the perception of America. Greenwood's song shows how Americahas improved, received a blessing from God, and became a patriotic country. "Inner City Blues" transcendsrace and unites all those who knew the wrath of economic struggle. The two songs also represent two different time periods of America. Gay's "Inner City Blues" songreflects the looting and anarchy during the mid-50s to early 70s. "God Bless the USA" shows there is nosadness anymore and people live gladly and proudly being in America. The purpose of the two songs also differs. Gaye's "Inner City Blues" song establishes him as aninspirational figure in the fight for justice and equality in America. In the time it was written, there was a lotof depression and no response from the government. The purpose of the "God Bless the USA" is toexpress of gratitude for what the country has done for its citizens and what home really means. In conclusion, "Inner City Blues" shows that being an American was tough since there was racialdiscrimination, poor economic affairs, and a lot of depression, especially to the blacks. In "God Bless the USA," people are proud to be Americans. The immense love and admiration shown in Greenwood's songclearly indicates the goodness of being of an American.

Jayden Mango, '26Major: Pre-CTEMS StudiesHometown: Pelham, GA Before this course, I often struggled with expressing my ideas clearly and concisely. This often ledto confusion and misunderstanding in my writing. Nonetheless, I have developed a style that is easyto follow and understand through trial and error. When describing my experiences in my collegeessay, I used vivid and descriptive language to help the reader see things from my perspective. I chose to share my college essay because it demonstrates my ability to express myself in acomfortable yet understandable way. I wanted to showcase this document because it demonstratesmy ability to write in a genre I am passionate about, memoir. In this assignment, I discussed my lifeexperience and what I went through to get to where I am today. Additionally, it allowed me to exploremy writing style and experiment with different ways of expressing my ideas.

Dreamsby Jayden Mango Dreams: We often think of dreams as a sense of fantasy existing in our imagination, but why, when wecould think of our dreams as what we call reality? A dream is a series of photos, ideas, emotions, andexperiences that happen instinctively while sleeping. On the other hand, dreams are also known forcorrelating with life goals. Sometimes it is hard to look at our dreams in full view; Walt Disney onceexpressed, "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them." We must take a risk tomake a gain. No matter our age or current situation, everyone has dreams, one or multiple. To illustrate, once I closemy eyes to dream, I can picture numerous films that I would dearly like to write or direct one day. Mindsare constantly creating new dreams, but we all have several ideas in our heads that we want to seeourselves achieve. One of my favorite things about seeing a film come together is the ethics and passionbehind the scenes. Seeing everyone collaborating and being filled with such emotions is astonishing tome. We believe in our dreams because we believe in ourselves to turn ideas into reality. Overall, my dream of becoming a filmmaker came about after watching the movie Get Out, written anddirected by Jordan Peele. The allusions and Easter eggs used in this movie and other films he has writtenand produced, such as US, show how far someone can take his thoughts and creativity and elevate them.Peele has greatly inspired me to become a filmmaker by the way he captivates his audiences with hismovies. In life, we do not always have the bravery to follow our dreams. Occasionally, we let the fear of theunknown abolish the fantasy that was once exciting in our imagination. However, pursuing my dream tobecome a film director one day lets me know my unique talents and gifts are being used to changesomething important to me and become an inspiration to someone, just as Peele is for me. Yet, with noexperience in filmmaking except in a high school class, my dream of becoming a filmmaker remainsfastened.

Word Power!Find the "write" words listed below inthis word scramble:D T C O M P O S I T I O N E XR H R B J F O J F Y P G K D FA E V W J O U R N A L E K I MF S Y R Q M S E L K K P W T PT I Y I C H Y U N T G T F T RW S P T X Y E V I D E N C E OO V I E G R A M M A R N B M CR O U T L I N E I D W B C J ED P I N T R O D U C T I O N SS O V M P R O O F R E A D P SE O C O N C L U S I O N L P AM L A F O R M A T Z R N S L LL S E N T E N C E G E S S A YS P J H P A R A G R A P H F HO Z C I T A T I O N D J G V Zintroductionproofread conclusion outline journal wordscompositionparagraph evidence grammar essaywriteMLA formatcitation sentence process thesisdrafteditread®

Doryan Murphy, '26Major: Political ScienceHometown: Columbia, SC As a young African American growing up in Columbia, South Carolina, I embraced my natural creativityand began to express my artistic abilities through multiple medias. Through numerous assignments inschool, I found ease in expressing my ideas and thoughts in descriptive detail and elite storytellingwhen writing. During this term as an English 101 student, I have learned to address my weaknessesinitiating projects as a creative and to lean on my strengths using details and storytelling to add depthin projects. One of the ways I demonstrated these creative abilities outside academia is through painting. I created a piece titled "2 Kings." In this piece I tell the story of two young black men who areboth kings of their respective time periods. To accompany this piece , I wrote the short narrative to tellthe story of two men pictured and explain the details of the painting.

2 Kingsby Dorayn Murphy I named this portrait 2 Kings because no matter which side you look at, there’s a young black man whois a king by nature. When the slaves were stolen from Africa, we lost our kingdoms that we had built forgenerations... and became programmed by our White oppressors. That programming is still apparent in our lives today. Black boys grow up to be thugs instead of kings, they learn the art of war in their streets, andtheir voices are only heard if they sound good on a beat and their flows are nice. On the right is a 21-year-old named David. He’s the oldest of five children with four younger brothers.His father wasn’t in his life, and his mother worked for the church, so he practically grew up balancing thehood and the church in his heart. As a teenager he terrorized his city, wanting to be a menace like he sawon TV. Hatred grew rapidly in his town, and David ended up having to defend himself in fatal situations...leading to the tear drop tattoos he wears. He went to prison for an alleged robbery that he did not commit,but the state-appointed defense attorney had not properly studied his case. Sentenced to 10 years incounty jail, he was released early due to COVID-19 and the fact that there was not enough evidence toconnect him to the crime. This photo of David was taken in the year 2020 at a peaceful protest in LosAngeles wearing a “Black Lives Matter” T-shirt after the murder of George Floyd. On the left is a 30-year-old named David. 8 years before this picture, David had completed a feat thatwas deemed impossible by his people. He faced a Giant... with nothing but a slingshot and stones. Davidslayed this Giant when no one else in the army had the heart to even contest the beast. David was not asoldier. He was a servant to the King of Israel at the time and wanted to do whatever he could for hisnation. David later becomes one of the most controversial people to be ordained by God. David is atroubled person who commits adultery and murder, but once he is tried and repents to God, he still is usedto build a strong kingdom. This picture was taken of David in ceremonial attire after being appointed Kingof Israel. He reigned over Israel for 40 years... his descendants include Jesus of Nazareth and David... thesame David pictured on the right side of this piece.

In my experience, writing is not only a way to demonstrate knowledge of a subject, but to free the burdens ofthe mind. My love of writing deviated far from the academic usage, and adhered more to the creative outlet thatI believe aids me in my life journey. I have most developed as a writer in my attention to detail, and the quality ofthe evidence I have provided. Though my weaknesses have been brought to light this semester, my strengths have shown through withheavenly brilliance. As iterated previously, creative writing has been my specialty since sophomore year of highschool. As the circumstances present, the greatest skills attributed to my works have been in its poeticlanguage, metaphors, and illustrative jargon. A short story I wrote, entitled "The Baby is Crying Again," shows thisskillset.Chibuike Oparaocha, '26Major: Pre-PsychologyHometown: West Haven, CT

The Baby’s Crying Againby Chibuike Oparaocha He got scared of the thunder in the night, and the waves were great barriers of grief that washed him outof his sleep. My wife is already out and tending to him before I’ve had the chance to open my eyes. It wasanother long night on the couch; the wife and I still haven’t broken our unconscious fast from last evening.Reviewing the different holdings of our portfolio company last night, we still haven’t found why Jetson’swas underperforming using the same methods as our other companies. I don’t stress too much aboutthings outside of my control, but I made a promise to these guys that we would deliver them 12.7x theirROI. No matter, we’ll get back to it when we have some food in our stomach, and tea in our noses. The sunis peaking through the blinds, opening all of them up still remains one of the smallest and greatest joys oflife. The sun streams silently into the living room; the shadows of the chair make me smile at the simplicityof the happiness light brings. I take great care in massaging my arms to resurrection, the workout yesterday was nothing to jokeabout. My head still hung a little heavy from the work, but my wife and I discussed the separation betweenwork and life. One can do anything, but one can’t do everything. So we decided that the first hour of themorning, no thinking of work. I grabbed a pen off the wooden coffee table and quickly wrote down anymeandering thoughts in my head. Better to jot it down, lest I forget. Letting myself sit on the couch for a bitlonger, I realized the crying had stopped. Like clockwork, my wife came in opening the windows to let the ocean breeze in. She insists thathumans need fresh air; I can only agree at the sight of her with our child in her arms. Besides, the air keepsme cool when I’m using all my processing power on figuring out what to eat for breakfast. She and I dancebetween pancakes, eggs, and bacon or oatmeal and omelets. We settled on pancakes and omelets withcut up steak inside the omelet. I was proposing to get us a chef so she could have more time to cook, butshe loved cooking too much to quit because of the kid. I gathered the ingredients for her while holding ourbaby in my arms. Every time I take a look out the window of the house, I’m always reminded what got me here, and I can’tstop smiling. The baby notices, and he smiles back. Tears brimming with joy walk down my eyes. Oh, it lookslike the baby’s crying again.

Dylan Terrell, '26Major: Software EngineeringHometown: Memphis, TN Coming into the year, I had always considered myself a strong writer; however, I knew that therewere still things that I needed to work on. I learned that I needed to work on my formatting andcorrecting my typos and grammar mistakes. I have learned to be patient with my writing and take timeto proofread it before submitting it. If I had to pinpoint a particular way that I achieved thisimprovement I would point my finger to the feedback that Dr. Dismukes has given on my essays. I have chosen to include a short story that I wrote, which I believe is my best creative work. I feel thatit demonstrates my passion for attempting to create images and being descriptive in my writing. This isan element of writing that I feel is most important because, when you boil it down, literature is art andart’s greatest contribution is to make its consumer feel something. I feel that I accomplished that verypurpose in the short story that follows.

The Loversby Dylan Terrell A new chapter in my life begins, but the atmosphere is so different now. I'm star struck in a gloriousfantasy, and it's all because of you. You know you're my everything. No longer am I left with nothing but thewilderness surrounding my life. We took the colors from our dream palettes to create this beautiful nuanced wonderland. We made ourown privileges. Nothing could drag us back to where we came from. Love. The magic it gives us is so powerful, so unique. It contrasts the ugliness of the real world with itsvivid colors of emotion. The problems around our delusions hadn't changed, but we've ascended through it together. Chaos is left behind as our identities collided and became one glamorous force of infatuation. We wanderabout forever in our mystic realm, with you as my supernova, shining brighter than the ravishing shapes thatfill our sky. Love ignites the land around us like kerosene, and we dance in the infinite cosmos with nothingbut the greater love we build upon each day and night. It's so euphoric to possess such potent and vigorouslove. The past washes away and is replaced with my desire for you and only you. In this bliss, we can beanything we need. No more running, I'm here to stay indefinitely. Your aura keeps me safe, and that's theonly thing I need to feel alive. Two hearts collided, and made Heaven for a Tortured Mind. It's my escape, and I'll live here forever as longas your ethereal essence remains here with me.

Javon Verdejo, '26Major: Applied PhysicsHometown: Waycross, GA Over the course of the semester, I acquired several writing skills that have been especially helpful inmy writing. For instance, I learned how to use strong, descriptive language to create vivid images in mywriting. I also learned how to write more concisely, making my writing more to-the-point to convey myideas effectively. One of the assignments that engaged me the most is the comparison and contrast essay. Thecompare and contrast essay was fun to work on because I'm very passionate about music, and thisessay allowed me to compare and contrast two songs that represent what it means to be American.

Comparing and Contrasting the Sounds of Americaby Javon Verdejo Music is the ideal medium for examining how American society is always evolving. We can learn a lotabout American culture and what it means to be an American through artists and the music they create.We have a whole and comprehensive history of American culture—how it has evolved through time andbeen applied in various contexts—thanks to music. "Lift Every Voice and Sing" has had a significantimpact on American history for more than a century. “This is America,” by Childish Gambino, containsplenty of allusions to racial issues and gun violence in America. Both of these songs discuss theexperiences of African Americans in the US, but they do it in distinct tones and with different narratives. “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is a song that shines light on the positive and forthcoming of the Americanpeople, specifically African American people. “Lift Every Voice and Sing” demonstrates the advancementof the African American race in the United States of America; this song is often referred to as the blacknational anthem. “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was meant to accommodate Africa Americans into what wasknown as liberty in the United States because the national anthem of the United States didn’taccommodate black liberty within the United States. The NAACP eventually adopted the song, which waswidely used as a rallying cry during the 1950s and 1960s Civil Rights Movement. “It spoke to the historyof the journey of African-Americans and for many Africans in the diaspora who struggled through to get aplace of hope” (Johnson). “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is a song that has shed light on the history ofAfrican Americans and the problems African Americans faced throughout their forthcomingadvancement in the United States. In comparison to “This is America” by Childish Gambino, “Lift EveryVoice and Sing” hopes to shed a light of the positivity of the African American race and not thedifficulties of it. The other song, “This is America” by Childish Gambino, came out in 2018 and sparked a social mediafirestorm and soon rose to the top of YouTube's trending videos. In the music video, there are scenesthat show the rapper shooting at a choir and dancing while chaos breaks out all around him are shown inthe disturbing music video. "This is America," like much of Glover's work, is obscure and filled withunsettling metaphors and images. The song's tone shifts from upbeat psalm readings to lyrics that aremore ominous. Childish Gambino starts the song by saying, “We just wanna party. Party just for you. Wejust want the money. Money just for you” (Glover), which sets a friendly and fun tone. After the masked Continued on p. 57

Comparing and Contrasting the Sounds of America'(Continued from p. 56)man gets shot, the beat picks up and the tone slowly begins to shift: “Yeah, this is America. Guns in myarea. I got the strap. I gotta carry’em” (Glover). These lyrics set the undertone for gun awarenessthroughout the music video. Childish Gambino is constantly dancing in the video and is even joined byschool kids. This is meant to illustrate the violent contradictions that come with being black in America.The film's essential focus is about firearms and violence in America, how we live with them, and how weaccept them both as forms of entertainment and as topics of national discussion. Childish Gambinostrikes a pose that resembles a classic illustration of Jim Crow, who is a racist character created tocharacterize African Americans as stupid and less human than whites. This further pushes the point thatviolence against African Americans is seen as entertainment. In conclusion, these two songs are very contradictory in many ways. Although they both share what itis like to be an African American in the United States, they do it in completely different perspectives. Onesheds light on the violence that is glorified in entertainment industries, while the other holds pride inbeing African American. When “This is America” first dropped, I liked the video because of the chaos thattranspired throughout the video, without understanding the message behind the lyrics. I never put anytrue thought behind the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” but now I have a true understanding of itssignificance in the African American community. Works CitedGlover, Donald and Ludwig Goranson. "This is America." This is America. Kobalt Music Publishing, Ltd., 2018. LyricFind. Web. Johnson, James Weldon and J. Rosamond Johnson. "Lift Every Voice and Sing." YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONgOH_tq7-Q.

Kabari Walker, '26Major: SociologyHometown: Kernersville, NC Overall, English 101 was challenging but also rewarding. The skills I learned in English 101 will beinvaluable as I continue to write in an academic setting. Whether I am writing research papers, essays,or other types of academic writing, I will be able to write more effectively and persuasively by applyingthe techniques I learned in English 101. I have improved my grammar, figurative language use, punctuation placement, and academic writingskills. The class has also instilled in me the value of hard work and self-awareness. I appreciate theeffort Dr. Dismukes put into helping me become a better writer and student, and I'm grateful for theskills I've acquired in her class that will benefit me beyond just academic writing. As an example of mywriting beyond the classroom, I am sharing a poem I wrote about life. It shows my use of figurativelanguage and imagery in writing.

Life Is a Verseby Kabari Walker Life is like a verse. You cannot stop the writer. It’s also a beautiful curse. The writer has the fastest typewriter. You cannot stop a verse, nor take it back. It’s such a fun joyride. You must keep running on the right track. Be strong enough to stand through life’s tide. Keep on running your race. Keep your heart right. Run your race with grace. Because when your race is over you will take flight. Someday you will meet the writer. Never think life is done. And glance upon his typewriter. Because when you think your life is over, it's truly just begun. And someday I too will meet the writer. Because one day my race will be done. And I will glance upon his typewriter. But remember my life has just begun. But life was never a curse, It’s just a beautiful verse.

Just for Laughs!

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