AFRICA | AMERICAN STORIES: IDENTITY AND DREAMS  

Personal History

 
I come from a place where people are prejudiced
and reject those in need.
I come from an interesting religion.
I come from a generation of people who have been
through so much
because of the color of their skin.
I come from a people
who fight for what they believe in.
Within me they have passed on
colorfulness, playfulness and seriousness.
I come from a people
who suffered because of the color of their skin.
So I am proud and not ashamed
and if you ask me again I'll tell you the same.
I come from a people
who were not ashamed of what they believed in
or the color of their skin.
That is why I'm not ashamed.
No. If someone was to ask me
Who are you?
Where do you come from?
I will not be ashamed.
I come from a people who were not ashamed of me
and I promise I'll make them proud
to be a part of my history.
I'm here to remind you
I come from America and Africa too.
 Dalesha G., Hamilton Elementary 
 
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The "AFRICA: One Continent. Many Worlds." web site is a collaborative project between The Field Museum, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the California African American Museum and the Armory Center for the Arts. 

All poetry and prose on this page are copyrighted and may not be reproduced with out written permission from the Armory Center for the Arts.

 Page by Kimberly Townsend