In her article, staff writer Krystal Mederos provides a brief history of the magazine, highlights the 2008 poetry contest winners, and applauds the efforts of our very dedicated staff.
Or am I just too bright, exceptional, astute, smart, brilliant, perceptive, well informed, resourceful, profound, penetrating, original, keen, imaginative, attentive, reasonable, capable, ingenious, knowledgeable, creative, alert, quick-witted, sharp or just plain old discerning?
Or just call it clever because I just used twenty-three words just to say one thing.
Am I intimidating you because I'm outspoken?
I've learned lessons along the years
And so far my faith has not been broken.
Am I wrong to want to succeed,
Because I want success?
Or should I just follow along with your gossip mess?
I'm sorry that I stepped out of the box rather than to stay in it.
I concern myself with political issues such as the Gena 6
World wide issues such as the Genisi
My nation's issues such as how my president and I don't see eye to eye
Keep things on my mind
Like how I can save mankind
I want to be someone important so I will not sit to the side
Nor the back
But I will be in the front
Willing to pull any stunt
To prove my point
Because there is a point to all of this!
So you tell me the answer to the question I am going to ask,
So am I too refined, well-bred, cultured, mature, grown-up, cultivated, matronly, settled, skilled, rounded, broken in or just plain old shrewd for you?
Because I've got news for you,
When you close the magazine,
Turn off the TV,
Turn on the radio,
And your friends are gone and you're all alone
Open a newspaper
And read what has to be read
And the same issues that are in my head
Will now be in your head!
And then you can ask the question to someone else
Am I?
I want to help create my future so I'm not forever blaming my past…
I want people to have memories of me that will forever last…
I want to be that great poetic story teller…
I don't want to be stuck saying "I can do better".
And then you can ask the question to someone else
Am I?
Having mo better blues on a rainy day
And just because it raining that doesn't mean my sky has to be gray
My sun can still shine
And so can I!
I can drown in a flood and still can't wash away what's in my mind
I've taken plenty of time to perfect my mind
So again the question is…AM I?
College Prep Poetry Contest sponsored by Pearson Publishing, College Prep Department North Campus, MDC and Reflections Magazine
In honor of African-American History Month, my class and I attended Women in Jazz a lively jazz performance and lecture by Diva Joan Cartwright. Born in Queens, New York, Diva JC as she prefers to be called received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a Master's of Communication from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.
During Ms. Cartwright's visit to Miami Dade College, she performed many popular jazz tunes, discussed the history of jazz and blues and outlined the many contributions of performers like Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters and Alberta Hunter just to name a few.
