In high school, I was a member of a rites of passage program for African American girls and women called Project Butterfly. Through that program, I learned how by watching certain films and listening to certain songs, I was engaging in hegemony. Growing up, I enjoyed Tyler Perry’s films, but I began to realize how these films were perpetuating degrading stereotypes about Black women. I enjoyed rap music, but I began to realize how this music was promoting violence against Balck women. Through it all, I learned how influential storytelling and creativity are, and that sort of power needs to be done with care. Although some may suggest that creativity should be limitless, one must always be aware of their audience and the meaning behind their message. Through my collaboration with The Creative Process, I hope to understand what drives other creatives to push forward in difficult times and what assures their creativity.
One wish I have for the future is social justice reform. One positive outcome of the pandemic is that it exposed the flaws in the healthcare, justice, education, and economic systems in the United States. The first area that needs change is the justice system because it is built on racism. To move forward towards achieving this goal, federal and local governments must work to remove flawed laws with the help of community organizations and social justice activists.
My recent project includes starting a website analyzing different sorts of media. The first thing that I have chosen to produce is a character analysis of Pop in the film Get on the Bus. The website’s goal is to explore and analyze films, books, television shows, music, and highlight phenomenal Black women in the world. My plans for the future are to be a screenwriter and film director. Being able to both critique others’ work and take from it will help me in building my career.
Pain
by Darreonna Davis
Does pain ever actually go away
Or do we just forget about it for a while?
We tell ourselves that we’re over it,
But all it takes is one triggering
Word
Touch
Smell
Sound
Photo
Video
Memory
For that pain to resurface again.
I wonder,
Does pain ever really go away
Or is it lying in our
Bodies
Hearts
Spirits
Minds
Waiting for its return signal?
How?
by Darreonna Davis
How can you say you’re a follower of Jesus
When you lack compassion and love for people?
How can you love God
And hate others?
Shaming them,
Judging them.
There’s no way.
To be completely inconsiderate
And elitist
And selfish
Is not of God.
You are not of God;
You are a hypocrite.
God,
People are using your name
To justify
Hate,
Evil,
Spite,
Supremacy.
Forgive them,
Father,
They know no better.
Little Black Girl
by Darreonna Davis
Little Black Girl,
Don’t speak when adults are speaking.
Stay out of grown folks’ business.
Only speak when you are spoken to.
Only answer when someone asks you a question
And answer with your mouth,
Not your head.
Little Black Girl,
Respect your elders.
Come when they call,
Listen when they speak,
Do as they say,
No matter the request.
Little Black Girl,
Fix your hair.
Don’t be running around here
Looking a nappy headed,
Pickaninny ass mess.
Little Black Girl,
Take off that short skirt.
Stop showing everybody
Everything you got,
With your fast ass.
Little Black Girl,
You are only expected to do a few things in life:
Listen
Be silent.
Be obedient
Serve all who take from you
With kindness and care.
You are not to think outside of the box
That you have been placed in.
You are not to stand up for yourself.
You are not to be ambitious.
Little Black Girl,
Listen,
Be silent
Be obedient,
Serve all who take from you.
