This week at Social Justice High School, we looked at Aziza “Z” Barnes’ poem “Aunt Jemima.” We both listened and read the poem and talked about how you can show various viewpoints or voices through the layout on a page. Z uses many cultural references, modern and more historic, to emphasize their point in the poem and shared what that can bring into a poem.
Mr. Robles’ Classroom
Vanessa P.
Alice runs from her personal life and
jumps into her personal wonderland
I feel her judgement slip from the mirror
that slants in front reflecting an image
that disturbingly looks just like me
yet we are not the same
She looks disappointed, asking me
“What are you doing,” I feel my body
slowly crack because I know what she
means
Her tone tells me before she could
Embarrassment floods my face wishing
I could just fly away from her, run from
the truth, jump into my personal
wonderland
No matter the loop holes I try to find
She seems to find me, keeping me in
her space.
