"He who does not know can know from learning." NEA ONNIM NO SUA A. OHU Adinkra symbol of "knowledge, life-long education and continued quest for knowledge" Introducing my "fifth literary child," I SEE YOU! Poems of Awareness, Empowerment, and Inspiration. This "child" contains poems that will entertain, inspire, empower, provoke, and educate! I challenged myself to write poetry that would make others as well as me S-M-I-L-E! But, my intent and resolve, were tested by multiple events occurring in 2016. During the summer, America was rocked with news of back-to-back police shootings of two more young African American males. Days later, five Dallas, Texas, police officers were shot and killed. A STORM'S A-COMING! A month later, the celebratory spirit of the Olympic games was tarnished by actions of U.S. Olympic swimmers. DOUBLE STANCE Towards the end of the year, the outcome of the Presidential elections provoked massive rallies, unrest, protests, and racially-motivated assaults and killings across America. ON HIGH ALERT! While I may be smiling more, my smiles do not always denote happiness; sometimes a smile will be an outward display of relief of having captured and conveyed the essence of my thoughts in a poem. I have come to a realization... -I wish to be recognized as an educator, though I could never be in a classroom on a daily basis. -I wish to be recognized as an instigator of thought, though I do not wish to debate. -I wish to be recognized as a student of history, though I never enjoyed history classes. -I wish to be recognized as someone somewhat knowledgeable about current events; that's it... there is no THOUGH! Through my poetry, I hope to enlighten those who have not walked the path of being a minority within a minority in America, a country I embrace as my own, but a country that does not always reciprocate my embrace or the embrace of those similar to me, a country divided. LICENSED TO HATE! I could claim insight I could claim knowledge I claim neither I claim what I am... A black woman surviving Through poetic expression Of her truths, beliefs Perspectives and thoughts No couldas, No wouldas, No shouldas Just truths, dreams, beliefs, Perspectives, and thoughts! INTRODUCING... I SEE YOU! POEMS OF AWARENESS, EMPOWERMENT, and INSPIRATION
About the Author: "We shall not be denied our prominence; we shall not be denied our contributions; we shall not be denied our respect; and, we shall not be denied our equality. We are citizens of the first-class." Y.B. Taylor Y.B. Taylor was born in Richmond, Virginia, a former seat of the Confederacy, the same year as the landmark decision of Brown v. Board of Education (1954). Current events, history, and life experiences of being born and raised in a segregated community, as well as her introduction to integration through education and employment are the inspirations for her poetry. Y.B. Taylor was one of six "Negro" students to integrate Albert H. Hill Junior High in 1966 and Huguenot High School's first African American varsity cheerleader and homecoming queen. A direct result of her being homecoming queen was her inclusion in the Miss Chesterfield Beauty Pageant, becoming one of the two firsts black contestants in the history of the pageant. She has experienced being the proverbial "only fly in the ointment" in corporate settings and has had her ethnicity questioned for no other reason than the position she held or the manner in which she carried herself and spoke. Y.B. Taylor resides in Henrico, Virginia, with her husband. They are extremely proud parents of two married and accomplished daughters. There are no bloodline grandchildren at the time of this publication, however, there is a "grand" in Chester, Virginia; a grand-dog in Brooklyn, New York; and, two grand-cats in Glen Burnie, Maryland.