Poster Essay Winners And Other Entries
• I
Editor's note: In February, nts re
asked to view a Blac History poster on the
back of the Michigan Citizen during th month
. of February. They re asked to write their
answers to the qu tion; "What does this
poster mean to you?"
1 tPI c
Inn r HI h
hool
When I gazed t that poster, I w my past,
my present d my future ...
My past .. My mothers' mother and her
mother before her were probably touched by
the beautiful people who wanted freedom and
equal rights for everyone. Their fights and
struggles g ve me life. They brought forth the
world I live in now.
My present. .. my tears rolled down my
check hot and hard when I read about the suf­
fering my ancestors went through.
They fought bac then. H I want what they
wanted I have to fight also. The life they
.created is the life I live now. I will live in it
with my head held high.
My future .. .I will continue where my people
left off.
My children will live in a place better than
the place I lived in. Better than the place my
ancestors fought in. Hopefully, one day there
will be no more colors, only humans ...
This is what I saw when I looked back at
my history, through the eyes of a poster.
By Kamllah John.on
Rou P rka kid •• School
Detroit, �lchlg
When I look at this poster I feel we as Black
people still hav 't got all of our respect. Yes
we might be the darker brother but we still
have feelings. When I see policemen jumping
on us for no reason it hurts me because that's
just bigotry, and racism. That's just throwing
away our ancestors dreams which was to over­
come racism, bigotry and slavery.
Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream. For
Blacks and whites to come together as one, as
God sees us.
When I see faces of our ancestors, I am
proud to know there is still faith in this world.
Don't give up so easily, one day we will over­
come this messed up world.
When we go to the promise land that Martin
Luther King Jr. talked about and the land God
promised.
By Jonathan W. H.nry
12th Gr d.
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The poster means a lot to me. It shows how
far we are today then in earlier years. It shows
that any Afro-American who becomes famous
is not notice until they die. It shows nine
heroes which Black and white people should
know more about. Nine Afro-Americans who
became heroes and made the way for young
Afro-Americans.
The bac ground is hard to understand, be­
ca� seeing an Afro-American female getting
beat for just being, a different color. It also
show how white people has changed, now
they beat us with the system: That is how 'I see
the poster. Thank you.
By Naomi L Style.
Roea L Parke Middle School
D troit, Michigan
When I look at this poster I think of slavery,
and the struggle we had. I also think of what
our people went through to get some of the
. things that we have today. Like Harriet Tub­
man, she was a brave woman. No matter what
the risk she determined to free her people.
Another great person was Martin Luther
King Jr. He was a freedom fighter that believe
in non-violence. Dr. King had a dream, a
� dream that one day people of all race would be
equal, that the nation will rise up and live out
the true meaning its creed. He had a dream
that sons of former slaves and sons of former
slave owners would be able to sit down
together at the table of brotherhood.
There are other people that have achieved
many things.
, To name a few: Rosa 1- Parks, Malcom X,
Frederick Douglas, George Washington Car­
ver, Booker T. Washington and many more.
. When I look at this poster for the second
time I see freedom. We owe this freedom to
the people who fought for it.
By Michael Parker
Benton Harbor High School
Benton Harbor, Michigan
Seeing the vision's and hardship these
people were facing, what they went forth to
challenge those laws when other people
wouldn't let them. Asking themselves why
must this happen to me .like this, let's stop this
now before it goes on to far, holding their
heads up high enough to see the other side
some told them it can't happen and they said
yes we can because if America is to become a
great nation this must come true, they all
wanted to know what the meaning of freedom
is and how long must we go before we die to
get it. Some say it looks like we are going
around in circles.
Still trying to maintain the glory of God,
and rid of the roots of Evil.
Love someone, this must come true.
They all dreamed that the world would one
day become a peaceful place to live on.
, .
1 PI c
Inn r
n I 100 t
"Blae
Power."
Bl ck Power I thi of II e
thin that Bl c d to go through for their
equal righ and freedom. The coura th
uccessful BI c people had to h ve un-
believ ble nd will live on forever nd ever.
The type of po er th t th courageo
people had is motiv tion I, motivation I be-,
ca e I think about how these people ctu 11y,
put big dentin the Civil Rights movement.
When I look at thi poster it mo me want
to go and do something positive. I can make
chi nge and carry these peoples UCCQS on
through my generation.
By Ro rt rc.Joeeph Grim.
rtln Luther King High School
o oil, Ichlg
This faces on this poster show a people who
were not afraid to speak up for their belie�. It
means that I am a descendant of the intel­
ligence of W.B.B. Du Bois and Martin Luther
King, Jr., that I have the have the patience
persistent of Dr. George Washington Carver'
and the oratorical power of Fredrick Doug!
It means also that people like Rosa Parks,
Booker Taliaferro Washington, Malcolm X
and others were brave enough to stand for j
tice.
And finally, this poster reminds me of the
debt lowe and that I must continue the strug- ..
gle and honor the mission.
By Charnla Hunt.r
8th Grade • St, Juliana
Detroit, Michigan
..
Looking at Black History all the faces that
adore.
The things they did will last forever more.
Being famous or a legend.or something like
that. .
How they grew up, what they did are timea
in looking back.
Historic moments, the wars that they fought
to win orto lose.
Hoping one day to do the thi�gs that they
choose.
New life explored young to old.
The marks that they left, and the story that
they told.
One time that I �uld be apart of one very
special day.
Looking back at great memories for the
people that are still here today.
By Trlnlry artln -
Rou P rk. Iddle chool
Detroit, Ichlpn
When I look at this poster, I think of what
has been aid and done by those before our ,
time. To name a few: Malcolm X, Martin
Luther King Jr., Grandville T. Woods, Rosa:
Par , George Washington carver and many
more.
Thcy have done something to improve life
for us all. •
Though we still truggle to be the best, th
.
fight is till on. To all of my brothers and
sisten I y "fight on." Get � education DOW:.
and you'll thank yourself in the future. Con­
tinue to ucceed and be the best you can be,