Who I am

This summer 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students at MLK Academy will be exploring and writing poetry about social issues affecting their communities. For our first poetry lesson we read and discussed “I Am A Black” by Gwendolyn Brooks. In her poem Brooks repeats the phrase “I am” throughout her poem. I am other than a Hyphenation/I am Kojo. In West Afrika Kojo means Unconquerable/I am A Black./And I capitalize my name. In her poem Brooks not only describes who she is, but also who she isn’t. She doesn’t want others to call her out of her name, or tell her who she needs to be. She is proud to be a black woman.

Inspired by Gwendolyn Brooks’ poem, students wrote their own poems describing who they are as individuals and how they want others to see them. Enjoy these new published poems.