How To Stay Alive

HOW TO STAY Writings from Bronx Academy of Letters

Creative Writing Intensive Workshops

About This Book How To Stay Alive: This chapbook was created by students in the Bronx Academy of Letters' Creative Writing Intensive Workshops in response to recent world events. On the heels of the acquittal of the police officers who killed Michael Brown and Eric Garner, we knew that something had to be said, and we wanted to give students a chance to craft their own response within wide boundaries. In other words, we wanted to listen to the voices of our young people as they spilled from heart to page. What you will find between these pages, assembled with urgency over a two week period, are responses to the question, “how to stay alive,” poems inspired by Audre Lorde's "Power," poems in direct response to the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, as well as pieces based on Sojourner Truth’s "Ain’t I A Woman" speech. What we found was that our students had a hunger to write and share on these topics. We’ve also included one of the lesson plans that sparked this book to offer other educators another entry point and resource. To our students: keep your definitions of self as big as they appear in this book. Expand. You are complex and wonderful and deep and real. To our readers: Dive in and be moved. May we all feel the blessing of being alive. Ms. Caits Meissner & Ms. Elana Bell Bronx Academy of Letters Writers In Residence Cover Photo courtesy of Mr. Fernanda Restrepo Book design by Ms. Caits Meissner All poems in this chapbook are printed by permission of the author(s). © 2014 Bronx Academy of Letters 339 Morris Avenue, Bronx, NY 10451

1 | How To Stay Alive

How To Stay Alive Table of Contents

1. The Lesson Plan: How To Stay Alive, Ms. Caits, pg. 3 2. (How to Stay Alive), Janée Soto, pg. 5 3. dogs. Janée Soto, pg. 6 4. How to Stay Alive, Yarelys Encarnacion, pg. 8 5. Justice, Nashalie Robledo, pg. 10 6. I Demand…, Christian Lee Rivera, pg. 11 7. Ain’t I A Student With Talent, Christian Lee Rivera, pg. 13 8. poetic montage for black lives because they matter,

Fernando Restrepo, pg. 14 9. A Day to Remember, Yulidal HernandezKin, pg. 16 10. How to Survive, Yulidal HernandezKin, pg. 17 11. I Demand, Salimata Cherif, pg. 19 12. Survival, Shania Russell, pg. 20 13. Alone, Alice Antwi, pg. 24 14. I Am Trapped, Kenderly Soto, pg. 25 15. Guide to staying alive, happily, Kenderly Soto, pg. 26 16. Non-Existing Peace, Tiana Lee, pg. 27 17. How to Live, Tiana Lee, pg. 29 18. How To Guide: Staying Alive, Dashawn Howard, pg. 30 19. I Demand, Vanessa Rosado, pg. 32 20. Ain’t I?, Olivia Glover, pg. 33 21. This is why we have war, Cheyenne Dacurz Ameen, pg. 34 22. How to Survive, Briana Singletary, pg. 35 23. Manifesto, Ashley Guzman, pg. 36 24. My Dreams, Joselyn Herrera, pg. 37 25. When they say I am alive, Joselyn Herrera, pg. 38 26. The Sad Awakening, Megan Rincon, pg. 39 27. Slavery 2014, Alice Antwi, pg. 41


The Lesson: How To Stay Alive

Written by Caits Meissner for Bronx Academy of Letters

Step One: Write the ingredients to staying alive here. Think within and beyond day to day survival. Here are a few areas you might want to consider:

School: Spirituality: Race, Class, Gender & Identity: Family: Health & Wellness: Being A Teen: Art & Expression: In relationship to current events:

Step Two: What are the great, burning, unanswerable questions you have about life? (For example: why do hurt people hurt people? Why do good people do bad things? Where is God in a time of war? Are there aliens on other planets?) Write them here.

Step Three: Pick one of the following prompts to write based on: 1. How To Guide: Write a how-to guide to staying alive. Step by step, share with your audience what they must do. Think of it as a recipe, what ingredients


The Lesson: How To Stay Alive

Written by Caits Meissner for Bronx Academy of Letters

Step One: Write the ingredients to staying alive here. Think within and beyond day to day survival. Here are a few areas you might want to consider:

School: Spirituality: Race, Class, Gender & Identity: Family: Health & Wellness: Being A Teen: Art & Expression: In relationship to current events:

Step Two: What are the great, burning, unanswerable questions you have about life? (For example: why do hurt people hurt people? Why do good people do bad things? Where is God in a time of war? Are there aliens on other planets?) Write them here.

Step Three: Pick one of the following prompts to write based on: 1. How To Guide: Write a how-to guide to staying alive. Step by step, share with your audience what they must do. Think of it as a recipe, what ingredients


need to be added? What need to be subtracted? Incorporate your ingredients and big questions, but also feel free to write beyond them. Lines to begin with: First you must… then.... Example: "First you must start with the roots, the simple song of cereal's crunch under teeth and the fruit's sweet bite. Then you must look in the mirror and see who you really are - the pain and the passion, the love and regret." 2. Manifesto: Write a manifesto, a declaration of human aliveness! Write your demands, what you believe in and want to see in the world. Incorporate your ingredients and big questions, but also feel free to write beyond them. Line to begin with: I demand... Example: "I demand that the police see us as people, with hearts soft as sponges and teeth hard as rocks." 3. Personal Statement: Write a personal statement. What makes you alive? How do you want others to measure your life? Incorporate your ingredients and big questions, but also feel free to write beyond them. Line to begin with: When they say I'm alive, what I want them to mean is... Example: "When they say I'm alive, what I want them to mean is I ached until I touched the moon, then swallowed it's light to glow brighter."


(How to Stay Alive) Janée Soto You don't. As the teacher mouthed the words, how do you survive? I completely and utterly went blank without any hesitation I thought angrily “nobody knows" Certainly a poem can not tell me how to survive because a piece of paper can not prevent a friend grandmother, or mother, from dying It can not save them from the punch of cancer ripping through them like a bullet from discrimination implanted on their skin or tongue from a homeless shelter a refugee camp from violence or rape A piece of everyone has been stolen so you how can you sit here and ask me how do you survive? because you don’t Just know that everyone feels broken sometimes Still, you must Live Travel Adventure Bless And don’t be sorry Not for a goddamn thing


(How to Stay Alive) Janée Soto You don't. As the teacher mouthed the words, how do you survive? I completely and utterly went blank without any hesitation I thought angrily “nobody knows" Certainly a poem can not tell me how to survive because a piece of paper can not prevent a friend grandmother, or mother, from dying It can not save them from the punch of cancer ripping through them like a bullet from discrimination implanted on their skin or tongue from a homeless shelter a refugee camp from violence or rape A piece of everyone has been stolen so you how can you sit here and ask me how do you survive? because you don’t Just know that everyone feels broken sometimes Still, you must Live Travel Adventure Bless And don’t be sorry Not for a goddamn thing


dogs

Janée Soto

protection

care and justice

if seen as a threat--

gun violence

abuse

aggression

barks are heard from miles away

direct stares

head up

“frozen” stance

growling

loyalty only to its owner

for safety

if seen as a threat

barks heard from miles away

part of the American dream

a proud symbol

but what if the something is not a threat

the dog’s barks are still heard

I can’t breathe he said

I can’t breathe

I can’t breathe

the dog saw him as a “threat"

for its protection

a defenseless man

they say this needs to be discussed


but it’s difficult to talk when

you

can’t

breathe


but it’s difficult to talk when

you

can’t

breathe


How to Stay Alive

Yarelys Encarnacion If you want to stay alive, first you must be a lonely wolf. No packs. No enemies. Learn how to be independent. Good things happen to people who work hard alone and set their minds on something. After your mother gave you wings, you must collect the tools she gave you. In your first week of school, (could be any grade), make no friends because you have to get used to your new environment and settle in. Distraction is unnecessary. Make friends about a week in. If you're a child, make friends on the first few days. If you're a teen or an adult, make friends about a week in. Don't talk back to your teachers and follow directions. Do your homework everyday no matter how hard it is. If you see you got free time, do your homework during school that way you're on top of your game and won't have to do it at home. Ask when you need help and give help when someone is looking for it. In order to survive in school, you must be healthy. In the morning, everyday, eat a whole grain cereal with a side of fruit and orange juice. For dinner, eat a balance meal of meat, greens and grain. Exercise daily. For children, play outside with your friends. For a teen or an adult, hit the gym three times of week. Drink at least three cups of water everyday. Hide the ice cream and the cookies and the jellybeans. Visit the doctor almost every month and take their advice. Brush your teeth after meal and if your at school, bring an extra toothbrush in your bag. When you're healthy, you must be healthy in your brain and in your heart. Have hope and faith and stay true to what you believe in. Believe in God? Keep believing no matter what anybody says. Believe in ghosts? Keep believing. Be nice to everyone because the motto is "Treat others the way you want to be treated." Love and take care of your family because they are the ones that raised you to what you are today. Stay


away from negative people because then they might influence you and that's not how your mother raised you. In addition to being healthy both physically and mentally, you must be proud of where you came from. Avoid racism because that is a nasty subject. Explore your nationality and share it to the world. Try new lifestyles and different cultures. Don't make fun of other people because that just defines who YOU ARE. And that's not how your mother raised you. But be confident in your own skin. Express yourself and ignore people. If they talk behind your back, let them. They're behind you for a reason. This is how you stay alive.


Justice Nashalie Robledo Today I am angry. My whole body is burning up. I need to break out of my shell, and say something. I am angry, really angry. The world is a punching bag, and I am ready to explode. I should probably say less but the world is full of negativity. Why? Why are people so unfair? Why do people get treated badly because of their skin color? A black man. Hardworking, with a daughter, and a wife. Killed for no reason in a choke hold, all because his skin color seemed “threatening.” A teenager who just wanted juice and some candy killed on his way home from the store, shot. Just cause his skin color made him look like a criminal. Skin color doesn't make you dangerous. Negative past experiences do. We need change! We need justice now!


I Demand… Christian Lee Rivera

I demand that people see us as human beings and not as targets to rob our phones. I demand that teenagers treat their lives with respect because the alcohol and the smoking is not going to solve it. I demand that when I am walking on the sidewalk, I would not want to see homeless people sleeping on garbage cans, and that I will know I have to provide for those who are in need. I demand that human beings should make their own laws, because if we were free enough, the government would not have to savor our every penny. I demand that the clock should not have to tick every minute, in order to wait for a request on whether I should do my homework or not. If I do not do it, there will not be any happy endings. I demand that I would never go back on my word when I say, “Yes mother,” because mother knows what is best for her children. I demand that if I were to win the lottery, I would have saved my money for college and to help those in need.

I demand that the police will not see people as criminals because most do. It will not take more than three times to convince a police officer that we did not commit the crime.


”Wait, don’t shoot, I am innocent,” some people will say, but the shot was already fired. However, we are the criminals people say because we were trying to save our lives.

I demand that people who live in this world will be true to every one else. Saying the truth is what can get you out of problems and tragedies.


Ain’t I A Student With Talent Christian Lee Rivera

After Sojourner Truth Well, hello there fellow classmates! I am a student at Bronx Academy of Letters. I know each student deserves equal rights and deserve their freedom. Know this, some people do not think you can express yourself and be treated the way you want to be treated. ”Who told you to be the boss of other people?” You are wrong. “Ain’t I a student with talent?” I can sing and nobody tells me how do it. I have been discouraged by being told I am not good enough and that I would not be able to achieve success. I used the pain I have suffered and turned it into strength to build confidence. Having confidence is the key to having success. I can write, draw, and sing as best as I can and no one ever judges me. Everyone is special in their own way. I do not discourage people. Look at my work as a student. I try my best to reach my goals and I keep improving. Look at my work as a student, not by the way I dress or deal with things. Looks are always deceiving and those people over there think it is okay to take away people’s pride. I can sing with all my heart. People would smile, cheer, and will even make me smile. The birds chirp everyday, and they do not get tired because they work hard enough. They help bring the season of spring. If you put your minds to the things your heart wants you to do you will achieve success. That is all I have to say because I am a student with talent.


poetic montage for black lives because they matter Gathered by Fernando Restrepo hands up, don't shoot hands up, don't shoot another black man has been killed and all you want to discuss is the loot ...ers, are you kidding me? like fannie lou, "i am sick and tired of being sick and tired" what more do we have to do to be truly free of this sickening misery... of murder me or murder my neighbor and you walk free while we are just left to organize - don't mourn - and march in solidarity? (again) hands up, don't shoot hands up, don't shoot don't shoot, it's just a wallet don't shoot, it's just a wallet i swear to thee, i feel like i am suffering from ptsd, with incidents, that cause flashbacks, of marching over, and over, and over again, against police brutality... is it just me? or are you with me?


I can hear my neighbor cryin’ ‘I can’t breathe’ Now I’m in the struggle and I can’t leave. Callin’ out the violence of the racist police. We ain’t gonna stop, till people are free. We ain’t gonna stop, till people are free.


I can hear my neighbor cryin’ ‘I can’t breathe’ Now I’m in the struggle and I can’t leave. Callin’ out the violence of the racist police. We ain’t gonna stop, till people are free. We ain’t gonna stop, till people are free.


A Day to Remember Yulidal HernandezKin I can’t breathe His last words Tackled to the floor And the cops didn't care Violence will always come back and haunt us It definitely haunted me Seeing the man take out a gun And the target was me The cold black metal pointing at me I'm pretty sure that cold metal had killed thousands with just one shot So this is it I'm the one Never thought I’d see the day... I was just walking home drinking an Arizona and eating Skittles This is my last breath My footprint marked right here I saw nothing but darkness Then, I saw the future I saw thousands of people marching, screaming, protesting the violence that's been pointing at Black and Latino My death and the others would be something to talk One day there’s gonna be a revolution because of what cops are doing And when that day comes people won't stop till they get justice


How to Survive Yulidal HernandezKin Well I don't know I'm just a teenager with problems like everyone else Okay maybe not But I still have Insecurity Trust issues Struggling with my grades And more... just name it But to survive You just need to be wise To think before you do anything As teenagers we do things that can later on be regrettable. But hey, as teenagers we live for the moment Trust is a different story It’s hard to tell people what's been going on in our lives It’s a process The only way you can trust somebody is by breaking down the walls you’ve built and trying not to push everyone away Believe me I've pushed people away so many times I just ended up being hurt Now I have friends who’ve been by my side for years now because I broke down the walls created from my thoughts But like I said, it’s a process, so take your time But girls lets talk about T.O.M T.O.M is our lovely friend that comes every month And T.O.M can be a pain in the ass But we can't do nothing about it


How to Survive Yulidal HernandezKin Well I don't know I'm just a teenager with problems like everyone else Okay maybe not But I still have Insecurity Trust issues Struggling with my grades And more... just name it But to survive You just need to be wise To think before you do anything As teenagers we do things that can later on be regrettable. But hey, as teenagers we live for the moment Trust is a different story It’s hard to tell people what's been going on in our lives It’s a process The only way you can trust somebody is by breaking down the walls you’ve built and trying not to push everyone away Believe me I've pushed people away so many times I just ended up being hurt Now I have friends who’ve been by my side for years now because I broke down the walls created from my thoughts But like I said, it’s a process, so take your time But girls lets talk about T.O.M T.O.M is our lovely friend that comes every month And T.O.M can be a pain in the ass But we can't do nothing about it


We may be emotional, bipolar, dramatic, and annoying but that's what happens when T.O.M comes along And boys, please don't get us angry because when were angry we curse you out just like that. Our grades is a struggle We try and put them up But we’re never satisfied We push and push till we end up in the 80s or the 90s. We want to be successful at the end of the day and we also want to go to college so try to put your grades up because the more you pay attention the more you understand what you’re doing and the more you understand about life. Just saying And I have to be on my way home but the last topic I'm going to talk about is insecurity We are all insecure about something Maybe it’s our nose, eyes, bodies, face, or all of the above There’s a quote that says: "we have our flaws but that's okay because our flaws made us who we are today" We are all beautiful And our flaws are the beautiful thing about us So never say that you’re ugly because you’re not You’re a beautiful masterpiece Never forget that


I Demand Salimata Cherif I demand that every human being living on this place called earth, take it a little easy. Not to be so much in a rush. Walk a little slower. Take a deeper breath. Loosen up a little more. Start looking at the more positive things in life. Instead of the negatives. Allowing things to naturally flow, not inputting so much force. In life we've all got our chances. Some of us are destined to become a little more successful than others. But some of us not so much. But what thing is for sure, is that we are all are human. We are no better than one another.


Survival Shania Russell Have you ever seen a movie or a TV show where someone is dealing with something - a parent for example, dealing with a baby and they look at them and go “why couldn’t this thing come with a handbook”. Everyone has had that moment at least once, if not a bunch of times, about their problems or just life in general. Because sadly, life doesn’t come with a handbook or a guide to show us the ropes. And it sucks, because we all know we could use it. Kids, teenagers, adults - we could all use something to keep us from stumbling around and second guessing ourselves so often. Frankly, the only resource we do have is each other - and we haven’t quite figured out how to use that yet. Hopefully this will be a start. Life becomes harder to navigate through everyday - I can’t speak for adults, and I can’t speak for kids anymore, but for us, as teenagers, there are more and more complications. Because of that, there is so much we need to be able to fend for ourselves in the world. Funnily enough, when the question is asked, when that question is asked, the answer given is always so ridiculously straightforward. Water. Oxygen. Food. The practical things, they’ll tell you. But there’s so much more. So much that I couldn’t possibly name them all, but I can at least take


a crack at a few; a few of the things we need to make it through life unscathed. Confidence. And I know - roll your eyes now. But don’t lie to yourself - don’t pretend it’s not a necessity. Without confidence we’d have no class clowns to take a chance to lighten the mood and wake everyone up. We’d have no assemblies and no performances to rave about afterwards. Further than that - we’d have no art. We’d have nothing, really. Because no one would believe in themselves enough to actually do anything. And now you’re thinking, but it’s not that important for us - we’re just teenagers going through school. But how would we get through a day without it? Somebody needs to be confident enough to raise their hand and give the teacher an answer (because god knows that if nobody does it, we’ll all sit there for the whole period while the teacher complains about the lack of enthusiasm or whatever). And plenty of people need to be confident enough just to walk through the halls with their head high.

Focus. Don’t get annoyed yet. I don’t mean focus as in you need to be able to stare at this ridiculously long math equation and think about nothing else so that you can solve it immediately in your head because who cares about that focus - that’s what we have calculators for. I mean, a focus.You need to have a focus - for you; no one else but you. Something that you want so badly that you’ll fight for it. Something you want so badly that you’ll actually put some effort into figuring out that ridiculously long math equation without a calculator, just because you know it’ll get you closer to that thing


you’re focused on. And you’ve gotta care about it. There has to be passion or heart or soul or whichever you find the most important. But you need to have something. Something to make all the crap worth it.

And you’ve gotta have fight. (Don’t punch anybody yet.) Don’t have actually fights, just have some fight in you. Energy if you want to put it that way. Whatever you call the thing that will keep you working towards your focus, your goal. The fire in you that makes you argue with people when they’re just wrong. The energy that pushes you to stand up for yourself - to not accept something when you don’t like it. It’s right up there with the focus, so you’ve really got to hang on to it. You’ll also need an outlet. Very important in the life of a teenager. Whether it’s drawing, journaling, poetry, cooking or making sock puppets -whatever works for you. You need an outlet for when things suck. For when you’re filled with emotions you can’t even begin to process or don’t want to touch. They’ve got to get out somehow. So, in simpler terms, get a hobby. I offer this next ingredient almost reluctantly - and if you’re anything like me, you’ll understand why. But as teenagers, I suppose we also need

people. Friends, family, that homeless guy who makes pretty good conversation - this one’s pretty open too. But you’ll need people, no matter how much it bugs you to admit it, (and it seriously bugs me). Every once in a while you’ll see how much the isolation sucks.


Just one note on that one - do make sure they’re the right people. And because we both know what I mean, I’ll leave that there before I start sounding anymore like an adult. And the list goes on. There are so many things we need to survive - to make it out of this unharmed. All of these help, there’s no doubt about that. There’s just a small problem… It’s impossible to have them all. Nobody ever does. You can go ahead, look back on the list and say that you have all of those - but there’s so much more. Maybe you have so much confidence that you lack humility. It wasn’t mentioned, but that is an important one. Maybe you lack trust, or self acceptance or faith. There’s always something. Because nobody ever makes it out unscathed. Nobody ever has all of the ingredients. But it’s like a cake. I can have all the ingredients but sugar. I’ll still make a cake. Fine, it’ll be a bit bitter - but still a cake. So no, we can’t get out of this battle without at least a few scratches, but that doesn’t mean we can’t survive.


Alone Alice Antwi Alone we stand In a cold, dark, sharp place Alone we are in our innocent hearts Standing alone, fighting alone Alone in the mind Thinking too much, trying hard enough Enough, became enough, when a brown skin was done with living But yet alone we stand again Another Brown skin stopped being a living skin Alone we stood Again Can’t nobody live alone, but Alone is how it’s meant, alone Alone in a room where there’s law, little more than laws Against brown skin Alone in a place so cold, heart froze mind runs Alone is what we were, What we are But alone has taken away so many!


I Am Trapped Kenderly Soto We are born and raised to follow our dreams But we can't really live the way we desire We just build on to a county we have to call ours Nothing is free, even happiness has a cost: pain and hard, cold work All that I have inside of me is gone Empty I remain Everything left here is just the pain, The fury Because we come into this violent world Where no one can see past color And death is not big deal as long as the trigger of the black gun was pulled by a white And the black bullet inserted into another black I am trapped We are born into a world we must call ours But with a violence even "they" can't own up to


I Am Trapped Kenderly Soto We are born and raised to follow our dreams But we can't really live the way we desire We just build on to a county we have to call ours Nothing is free, even happiness has a cost: pain and hard, cold work All that I have inside of me is gone Empty I remain Everything left here is just the pain, The fury Because we come into this violent world Where no one can see past color And death is not big deal as long as the trigger of the black gun was pulled by a white And the black bullet inserted into another black I am trapped We are born into a world we must call ours But with a violence even "they" can't own up to


Guide to staying alive, happily Kenderly Soto Don't wish for rain where there is drought Just climb up to the clouds And squeeze them Forcing the water to run out Treat yourself like a priceless gem Take care of your fragile self


Non-Existing Peace Tiana Lee

I am trapped in a cycle of blood and bullet prints scattered on

pavements The screams and cries of loved ones lost due to police

“misunderstandings” Fears of being killed off false conviction, branded in a life of terror I see the harassment: gun pointed at the head of an unarmed black

man begging for his life

A new death cycle forms on the streets of a new city each day Walking past old stores, busted out windows and brand labels

ripped off Still smelling the stench of burning wood

Riots and brutal attacks take the place of the peace that was dismantled

Why are the wrong ones victimized and tormented, while our laws only protect themselves

What right do they have to cause grief and pain, we are supposed to be protected, not scared

Lies have been spoken, there is no safe haven, there is only the death pool

of blood and tears Freedom to live has been taken away

Entrapment has taken its place There is so no place to run or hide, once you round that corner

1...2..3 even 100s of them The number piles up each day, when one of theirs die, the number increases

When we lose one, they go into into hiding, never being seen again…


I can tell you what C. O. P. really stands for: (In) Carceration Over Protection


I can tell you what C. O. P. really stands for: (In) Carceration Over Protection


How to Live Tiana Lee First you must start with the daily cycle of waking up, stretching, hearing that popping sound of your back when it relaxes. Then you must guide your way to the bathroom. Cleanse your face of yesterday. Embrace the sun rise of today, letting the warmth of its rays hit your skin, warming to an appropriate temperature. Feel loved, that you are welcomed to see another day. With the world we have, some don’t get the chance. Make every day feel like the last for you never know when it will come to an end. If you have kids, make them feel wanted, make them feel loved, cherish every moment that is given to you. If you have jobs make them count, ‘cause you can lose them in a heart beat. If you are in school, don’t waste your time stressing friends and relationships, get that education, do better than your parents have done. Graduate with the diploma your mother wishes she had. Not everyone gets these opportunities. Never sucker yourself out of what needs to be gained. Have the courage to live. Most don’t. Gain your energy through power and sheer strength. Never let tears stain the life that you’ve built, for you will not be living just dying a little inside each day. All I want is for this life to be reversed into the beauty of the sky blue air.


How to Live Tiana Lee First you must start with the daily cycle of waking up, stretching, hearing that popping sound of your back when it relaxes. Then you must guide your way to the bathroom. Cleanse your face of yesterday. Embrace the sun rise of today, letting the warmth of its rays hit your skin, warming to an appropriate temperature. Feel loved, that you are welcomed to see another day. With the world we have, some don’t get the chance. Make every day feel like the last for you never know when it will come to an end. If you have kids, make them feel wanted, make them feel loved, cherish every moment that is given to you. If you have jobs make them count, ‘cause you can lose them in a heart beat. If you are in school, don’t waste your time stressing friends and relationships, get that education, do better than your parents have done. Graduate with the diploma your mother wishes she had. Not everyone gets these opportunities. Never sucker yourself out of what needs to be gained. Have the courage to live. Most don’t. Gain your energy through power and sheer strength. Never let tears stain the life that you’ve built, for you will not be living just dying a little inside each day. All I want is for this life to be reversed into the beauty of the sky blue air.


How To Guide: Staying Alive Dashawn Howard First you must look into the mirror and see who you are, and what you want to be. Then see the world for what it truly is, for the good the bad and ask yourself what you want to do to change it. Any cooperation is good. After that look at the people, study them, how do theyf this now you are officially in the real world and it’s time to learn and survive, it’s time to stay alive. It’s gonna be difficult but you’re gonna get some help. Aline yourself with the people that fit you best, because one thing that can throw you off track is hanging with the wrong crowed. Here are some basic tips for staying alive. First keep your body up and running, always be active and treat your body with the most absolute respect, because only the ones who give up will destroy their body. Eat healthy to always restart your body to that high pace once again. Next do not put these toxic chemicals in your body, in other words, don’t smoke because it’s a trap, once you start you can’t stop. This is how you stay alive; this is how you make the world a better place. Next you’re gonna come across your biggest challenge, high school, where you’re gonna find love, sadness and anger, and more emotions. This is the time were things get complicated. This is when people go from good to bad, and bad to good, from telling the truth and from lying. This is where everything can go bad if you let it. Be strong enough to overcome the people, the talk, the rumors, and the disrespect, you have to be mentally strong. These are the ones who couldn’t stay alive, but you are not them you are


better than them, even if they say otherwise. See them for a lie, then you will survive. People in the world come in many shapes and sizes, with many minds. Some minds are good, others are bad. See things in your way, in a good way, this is how you survive and make the world a better place. High school is training stages of surviving the real world. There are bad people out there and they are very smart so remember it. No matter what this will be here to guide you when you are do to pick you back up and tell you, you can make it we believe in you.


better than them, even if they say otherwise. See them for a lie, then you will survive. People in the world come in many shapes and sizes, with many minds. Some minds are good, others are bad. See things in your way, in a good way, this is how you survive and make the world a better place. High school is training stages of surviving the real world. There are bad people out there and they are very smart so remember it. No matter what this will be here to guide you when you are do to pick you back up and tell you, you can make it we believe in you.


I Demand Vanessa Rosado I demand human rights, altering recognition of the absence of equality. Bringing forth enormous strength towards oblivion to those who are deemed as untouchable. Pursuing integrity and effort with power driven creating several sparks, eventually going on a rampage of sheer willpower. Expressions of dignity and understanding revolving around the distant fact. Drawing in closer, that we should not be asking for this but coming to realize this should have already been given. I demand human rights, altering recognition of the absence of equality. Bringing forth enormous strength towards oblivion to those who are deemed as untouchable. Pursuing integrity and effort with power driven creating several sparks, eventually going on a rampage of sheer willpower. Expressions of dignity and understanding revolving around the distant fact. Drawing in closer, that we should not be asking for this but coming to realize

this should have already been given.


Ain’t I? Olivia Glover After Sojourner Truth I am sick and tired of people coming up to me speaking Spanish. At least once a week, some person talks to me based on my skin color. Lots of people say that if you have caramel skin, that means that you’re a Latino. Well, last time I checked, my mum was African American and my dad was from Yemen! And I’m a Latino? Look, I don’t even speak Spanish, and I don’t know the names of traditional Latino (Dominican, Puerto Rican, etc.) foods! And I’m a Latino? Many people came up to me assuming I was a Latino, and when I expressed my true nature, none but The Great Pizza heard me! And I’m Latino? And then some people say I should learn Spanish! Well, guess what, I don’t have to, and I don’t go to Spanish speaking countries and tell them to speak English. Then, there are those idiots who say that Latinos (and African Americans) commit more crimes. Well, that is a load of bull. As a matter of fact, where do a lot of the guns come from? If you don’t know, here is your answer: European Americans. Yes, from European Americans. I wish everybody could just understand that I feel awkward when some old lady comes up speaking Spanish. I want to say that I don’t understand her, but I don’t want to alienate her, and the only other option is to ignore her. Please don’t make assumptions based on skin color. Thank you for listening to me.


This is why we have war Cheyenne Dacurz Ameen This is why we can't trust each other. The reason why the kids of today come out swinging. Because we were trained to be afraid, ashamed, and against our community, against ourselves. We as people, as God’s creation are afraid of the destruction we’ve caused ourselves. but it takes one blessed soul to say stop. And it takes teamwork to make a dream work so this is me saying stop-- All I need is the team.


How to Survive Briana Singletary To survive there must be a bucket list. You must wake up each day with a purpose. Whether it’s for your future or just to make it through the day. Don’t hit the snooze button when it rings or leave the house unswept when it rains. You must learn to appreciate life and chase after the bigger things. Things like education, making money, and helping others. Education needs to be take advantage of. Remember the Constitution-- You are entitled to freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Happiness is not something you keep to yourself; it’s something you have to share. To survive you have to learn to love and forgive. Always wake up with the happiest state of mind--even if your day won’t be going so well. Life is too short. Never wear your heart on your sleeve. Your sleeve could never secure it. To survive you must not only live but you must be alive.


Manifesto Ashley Guzman

I am human

I demand to live in peace

I’m tired of hearing gun shots when I walk down the streets

I demand to be seen as human

not a color

I demand that the government doesn't strip me from my rights

with the power we gave to them

I am human

not a color

I’m not black, white

or other

I demand respect, I don't desire neglect

I am human

not a color

I'm not black, white

or other


My Dreams Joselyn Herrera When I was dreaming a shocking image went inside my head, filling it up with Eric Garner's choking sound and dying right in front of my dreams. The police who choked Eric to death needs to pay for what he has done; the policeman in my dreams went to jail for about 10 years or more. We need to stand up for ourselves and say something to the president, as I was saying in my dreams Queremos justicia, necesitamos justicia. All of my dreams got crushed by this terrible violence. Algo tiene que cambiar en este mundo I said, almost rising to the sky awakened. Este mundo puede ser mejor si el presidente nos escuchara, y que entienda como es este mundo con violencia van a ver en lo que estan haciendo mal. We want justice, we need justice, stop killing, and murdering-- it's destroying our lives, families with children. Paren de matar estan lastimando nuestras vidas y muchos de ellos estan sufriendo nuestras vidas tienen que ser mejor. We need to make a better dream and a better future. We just need a better life around us without violence ruining our lives and hopes and dreams and the most important is the future.


My Dreams Joselyn Herrera When I was dreaming a shocking image went inside my head, filling it up with Eric Garner's choking sound and dying right in front of my dreams. The police who choked Eric to death needs to pay for what he has done; the policeman in my dreams went to jail for about 10 years or more. We need to stand up for ourselves and say something to the president, as I was saying in my dreams Queremos justicia, necesitamos justicia. All of my dreams got crushed by this terrible violence. Algo tiene que cambiar en este mundo I said, almost rising to the sky awakened. Este mundo puede ser mejor si el presidente nos escuchara, y que entienda como es este mundo con violencia van a ver en lo que estan haciendo mal. We want justice, we need justice, stop killing, and murdering-- it's destroying our lives, families with children. Paren de matar estan lastimando nuestras vidas y muchos de ellos estan sufriendo nuestras vidas tienen que ser mejor. We need to make a better dream and a better future. We just need a better life around us without violence ruining our lives and hopes and dreams and the most important is the future.


When they say I am alive Joselyn Herrera When they say I am alive, what I want them to mean is that to reach the moon and touch the stars, you must follow yourself and be bright as the sun. When they say I am alive I want them to know I am free like the wind and proud as I continue with life. When they say I am alive, what I want them to mean is to look at the stars and imagine lifting yourself up and never giving up on anything that comes your way in life.


The Sad Awakening Megan Rincon The harsh sound of the alarm dancing from one ear to another It takes a while but your feet hit the cold hard floor and you dread every deadly step you take to the bathroom, know that now, this is where it starts It takes everything in you to say “not today” but you can’t be a coward no matter how much you want to give in After slipping on your clothes that you just want to claw off, you look in the mirror and brush your hair back, your eyes are tired, you’re hurting and you can see the stress seeping through your open pores That smile you had long ago got washed away by the pain and darkness taking over, creating a small nest right under your eyes to show your battle wounds Entering hell is the worst part The halls are a stomach churning color and all you’re thinking is “I can’t wait for this to be over” Throughout the day all you ever get asked is “Are you okay?” No, I‘m not okay--my legs are shaking more than an unsteady boat My palms, they are sweaty, each drop that hits the floor is a countdown to when my heart feels like it’s going to give in and


The Sad Awakening Megan Rincon The harsh sound of the alarm dancing from one ear to another It takes a while but your feet hit the cold hard floor and you dread every deadly step you take to the bathroom, know that now, this is where it starts It takes everything in you to say “not today” but you can’t be a coward no matter how much you want to give in After slipping on your clothes that you just want to claw off, you look in the mirror and brush your hair back, your eyes are tired, you’re hurting and you can see the stress seeping through your open pores That smile you had long ago got washed away by the pain and darkness taking over, creating a small nest right under your eyes to show your battle wounds Entering hell is the worst part The halls are a stomach churning color and all you’re thinking is “I can’t wait for this to be over” Throughout the day all you ever get asked is “Are you okay?” No, I‘m not okay--my legs are shaking more than an unsteady boat My palms, they are sweaty, each drop that hits the floor is a countdown to when my heart feels like it’s going to give in and


surrender, waving a white flag any moment now but I can’t let it show To survive this, you have to take a deep breath and just pretend that everything little thing that matters, doesn’t anymore


Slavery 2014 Alice Antwi I can’t breathe I can’t breathe Hands up, don’t shoot Hands up, don’t shoot Was it the shade in the hoodie Or just the hoodie Hands up, don’t shoot I can’t breathe It’s just a hoodie Hands up, don’t shoot My shade don't matter My life does Gun up Life gone Hands up, don’t shoot I can’t breathe Stop It’s just a hoodie Gun down Voice up Don’t shoot


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How To Stay Alive