Poetry by a Child

Introduction

Words can be playful, serious or hurtful. Poetry is an expression of feelings. Explain how African American people were called black and how it was meant in a negative way. Show the class how a group of children took the word and wrote poems with positive situations dealing with black. Read a poem by Brandon N. Johnson.

BLACK


Black ancestors
died for my freedom.

My great uncle Jimmy risked
his life to help
Black people vote.

My great great grandmother voted
for the first time
when she was
80 years old.

Black is boldness.

By Brandon N. Johnson

Adedjouma, Davida. THE PALM OF MY HEART: Poetry by African American Children. New York: Lee & Low, 1996.

Extension

Read the poem again. Help class to make a list of other negative words. Ask children to find words that are opposite of the negative words. Let children work in pairs to write why they feel the words are negative or positive. Ask the children to write a poem using the words and their sentences (negative, positive or both). If time permits read a couple of poems to the class.