Students read Gwendolyn Brook’s poem about superstar singer and activist, ‘Paul Robeson’ and then wrote about community and fame from their viewpoint.
Paul Robeson
by Gwendolyn Brooks
That time
we all heard it,
cool and clear,
cutting across the hot grit of the day.
The major Voice.
The adult Voice
forgoing Rolling River,
forgoing tearful tale of bale and barge
and other symptoms of an old despond.
Warning, in music-words
devout and large,
that we are each other’s
harvest:
we are each other’s
business:
we are each other’s
magnitude and bond.
From The Essential Gwendolyn Brooks (Library of America, 2005). Copyright © 1970 by Gwendolyn Brooks. Reprinted By Consent of Brooks Permissions.
Lesson Note: ‘Rather than love, or money or fame…give me truth.’ Thoreau
Ms. Romano, 7th Grade
Our Community
by Kareen H.
This is our Community. We fought for it.
We’re Black and fought for our freedom.
Our leader, MLK fought for us to have
school to be in our world not a white
man’s world.
That is our Community.
Community
by Keith C.
We are the neighborhood
We are a group of people
We are like
peanut butter
We are the same race
Some are students in school
who live in the same neighborhood
We are pretty
We are like peanut butter
Ms. Turner, 6th Grade
Community
by Gregory
I’m a friend at school
but we are players on the field
I keep my head held high
we think about the community.
Community
by James L.
I’m a friend here and
I’m a friend there
I help my friend with her
hair like a butterfly keep my head up
high, and I shine
bright
Ms. Romano, 7th Grade
Fame
by Hasan A.
If I were famous, I would be like DJ Khaled
I would hang out with Tupac. I’d make 4 million.
Untitled
by Latera
If I were famous I would stay the same
and go shopping because I wold have a lot
of money, and I will hang out with myself
because I don’t really like people and I
will be famous for being
myself.
Ms. Turner, 6th Grade
My Community
by Jacob W.
My community fights
they don’;t give up
They keep going
They won’t stop
That’s because
we fight together
we rise together
WE WONT
WE WON’T STOP
WE STILL RISE
My Community
by Josiah W.
All about my neighborhood
or with friend and family
I help others in need in my community
Help my community stay clean
Help elderly people with groceries.
