Finding Courage

School
Martin Luther King Jr. Academy of Social Justice

Poet in Residence
Joy Young

Date

This week MLK Academy 6th, 7th, and 8th students explored poetry about courage, standing up to something even though it frightens us. Together we read and discussed the poem “Harriet Tubman” by Eloise Greenfield. In her poem Greenfield writes about Harriet Tubman who was not only a conductor on the Underground Railroad but also a former slave that had the courage to escape to freedom. She ran to the woods and she ran through the woods/ With the slave catchers right behind her/ And she kept going till she got to the North/ Where those mean men couldn’t find her. Despite the risk and danger, Harriet Tubman after securing her own freedom made nineteen trips back South to free three hundred slaves.

Inspired by Eloise Greenfield, students wrote their own poems about courageous people from history. Please enjoy these published poems.

School
Martin Luther King Jr. Academy of Social Justice

Poet in Residence
Joy Young

Date

MLK Academy

MLK Stephon

Martin Luther King was a man of peace.
He never wanted violence.
He did peaceful marches and speeches.
Even when his house got bombed, he did
not retaliate. He had courage because
even though some wanted him dead,
he kept standing up for what’s right.

Ruby Bridges London

Ruby Bridges was a young black girl who went
to an all-white school. Which was something
that didn’t happen back then.
She was really brave, a lot of people probably
stared her up and down.
Talking about her just because of her skin
tone. Her only friend was one of the
teachers Mrs. Henry. Other than
Ms. Henry no one else welcomed her.

Select list(s) to subscribe to



CPC will not sell your email. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from The Chicago Poetry Center. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact