Carlos Dicerson

 Precious memories mean alot. I have a lot of things that were given to me by others, and I hold on to them because although the person might not always be around, I know that the memories will last forever. I have a lot of things that bring back memories, but there’s one thing that mean the most to me. The one thing that is very special to me is a quilt that I got from my great grandmother. The quilt was full of different colors and patterns that she liked. It is very special to me because she made the quilt a few weeks before she passed away. It reminds me of her and every moment we spent together. When I see the quilt I get sad, but I also smile because I know that by me holding on to it, a part of her is still with me today. She will forever be in my heart and her quilt will forever be in my hands. I plan to always take good care of the quilt, because I know that if she was here, she would do the same

Daddy and Me By:Iesha Thomas

My Daddy was the best fathers I know.He instilled so much wisdom in me thats just unbearable.He always taught me to learn from my mistakes.To thank God and always think before I act.He always said Laughter is the best medicine.I love him so much.He was the first man to ever love he always stated those words and they never left my side.He died 8 months ago.My dad was a bad man but I loved despite what the world thought he was.I knew he loved me,and he always did.He did some bad things but I forgive him,because I dont want to live in bitterness and hate.But I forgive him and now he can R.I.P.

My Greatest Accomplishment by Venee' L. Scott

My Greatest Accomplishment
While I was serving my country in the US ARMY, my greatest accomplishment was born Braylon Christopher Scott on March 4, 2008 at 6:11 p.m. I said in my spirit, " I am ready to give up on having children or even getting married." I was still working, doing physical training (i.e. running, push-ups, sit-ups, rifle ranges and hiking w/ 40lbs on my back), but after awhile I started feeling sluggish and worn down for no reason. So I went to the clinic and got a urine test. It took me a couple of days to actually take the test, but when I told myself to stop being scared and just take the test. I took the test back to the clinic at 10:00 a.m. on a Friday, and at 2:00 p.m. the same day our company doctor, called me in the office and said SPC. Scott are you still taking any medication. Or have you been in the office recently to see me, I said no sir. Then he said well I am going to need for to discontinue taking any medication, he said "congratulations because you are pregnant", and being pregnant was the furtherest thing from my mind because I didnt think I could have kids. I had a miscarriage in 1994 and abortions prior so I thought I could never get pregnant again. I made up my mind and I prayed God that I guess my dream of getting married and having children was a done deal. and then a week later after I prayed that prayer God surprised me and now four years later I have a beautiful, intelligent little boy. I wouldnt change a thing.
by Venee' L. Scott

My Brother Jessica Chavarria

Ever since I was little I wanted to have a little brother. I remember when my parents told me that they were having a baby, I got really excited and hoped it were a boy. Eventually my parents told me I was going to have a little sister.I remember being really mad, because I wanted to be the only girl in the family. I eventually got useto the idea of having a sister; I really didn't have a choice. As each day went on I started to get more and more excited. Many years passed and once again my mother told me that she was having another baby. Both my sister and I wanted to have a younger brother. When my parents finally found out the sex of the baby, they told us we were going to have a baby brother. I was soo happy, I've been wanting a brother for the longest time. I finally got the baby brother that I always wanted.

My WORLD... By Brittany Yates

WHAT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME IS MY DAUGHTER. I WAS BLESSED WITH HER JANUARY 14, 2009.SHE CAME INTO THE WORLD. IT ALL START AT 8:00 A.M WHEN MY WATER BROKE AT HOME AT 8:34 I GOT MY FIRST CONTRACTION AND THATS WHEN I WENT INTO LABOR I WAS ALL ALONG, AND DROVE MYSELF TO THE HOSPITAL. AS I WAS DRIVING IT WAS A SNOW STORM I WAS ON THE EXPREEWAY AS A CONTRACTION CAME OVER ME MY WHEELS RAN OVER A SHEET OF ICE AND I WAS UNDER A SEMI- TRUCK WITHIN MINUTES. I WAS'NT HARMED FROM THE ACCIDENT BUT THE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS MESSED UP. IT WAS STILL DRIVABLE AND I STILL WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE HOSPITAL. BY THIS TIME THE CONTRACTIONS WERE GETTING STRONGER. ONCE I MADE IT TO THE HOSPITAL I STARTED GOING THROUGH THE STEPS OF LABOR. I WAS IN LABOR FOR 10 HOURS AND THATS WHEN I FINALLY GAVE BIRTH TO MY DAUGHTER AT 6:34P.M I WAS LOOKING AT THE PRETTEST GIRL IN THE WORLD. I NAMED HER ZI'YA NEVAEH MAPPS WHICH MEANS MY LIGHT IN HEAVEN. AT THAT MOMENT I REALIZED HOW PRECIOUS LIFE IS WHEN I LOOKED INTO HER EYES, AND EVERYDAY SHE REMINDS ME OF THAT AND IM PROUD IM HER MOM.

The Cotton Experience By; Walter L. Williams Jr.

On a hot October day while driving on a road to Memphis Tennessee to visit my father for his birthday, the year was 2011; during my drive I came across a field of cotton where something in me compelled me to stop, I walk from my car slowly but with determination, my destination was the cotton field. While walking through the cotton field, I bent over to pull the cotton from the stalk, the sun laid heavy on my head and the sweat rolled down my face almost instantly, I felt the raw unprocessed cotton in my hands, the cotton pricked my hands and my mind took me to a place unfamiliar to my natural life; this soon became very familiar to me in the stories told to me by my grandfather. Memories of a life not lead by me, but told to me by my ancestors, of a life traveled by my relatives who actually lived in the past where things were just terrible for black people. People who had the strength and courage to endure a life not fit for man, but a life that granted me the life that I have now. Had it not been for the struggles in the cotton fields of my past African American people, where would I have been, it’s not one man that makes me, but many men and women that traveled that hard road without reassurance or knowledge of where this road will take them or when this hatred will end, that said; maybe it will be better for the people that will follow me later in this life. It’s not just the cotton that was picked, it was also the struggle that my people went through in the fields just too survive, which lead me to the road I’m on today …and I’m grateful to my ancestors…and to all those people known and unknown that fought for me and other African American people to have a better future and life. In the cotton fields, myself, on that particular day, gave me a since of the truth in the stories told to me by my relatives about how bad things were for our people back in those times. I believe that I was lead to this field as a reminder of the past by something higher than me to help me realize that the things I have now are things that I’m not only grateful for, but reminding me of how blessed that I am for not having to go through those times and for the things that I now have access to. Even though my struggle is not as bad as my past ancestors, I can still see by the things that I’ve went through in my past, and how much times has not changed, I know I’m still looked at as a second hand citizen. This cotton that I brought to class is something I keep nearby as a constant reminder of the struggles in my life today and the struggles of black people as a whole. My life has not been easy by no means, it has been full of all types of racial setbacks, from white people beating me with no police help when this is being done to me by a white man, to firing me from their employment for no reason other than the fact that I am a black man who continues to fight for what I believe in. I’m a strong believer in God and what religion really means and stands for, as I deal with the struggles in my life today handed to me feels like I am truly a child of God. The cotton is the artifact that I use as a reminder of my history and all the things I’m going through even today. My history is wrapped around love and happiness, and the belief that things will be better for me in the future, either here on earth or in heaven where I believe is my final destination.

Moorish Prophet by Douglas R. Amersonbey

Prophet Noble Drew Ali is the founder of the Moorish Holy Temple of Science. He was born Timothy Drew in 1913 A.D. and grew up with his aunt who was a gypsy; He went to school in the far east and canada were he obtained the right from the sheik to show the proper rights and teaching of his people (The Moors). Timothy Drew was awarded the sir name of ALI from the tribe of ALI and then was blessed with the task of uplifting Falling Humanity with the appointment from the King. Timothy Drew who was anoited and was given the title of Prophet became Prophet Noble Drew Ali. Prophet Noble Drew Ali, Organized the movement of The Moorish Holy Temple of Science and it later became Moorish Science Temple of America. t