Phenomenal Woman-That's Me:)

Attending High School in Los Angeles was not the most ellaborate experience for me as a young African-American girl. I could care less about school; I was busy trying to protect meself from potential violence. But there was one teacher who to this day dont even know who much she impacted my life. Something remarkable happened in my 9th grade class, I got the chance to read a poem written by Maya Angelou, "Phenomenal Woman." It was mandatory for me to take this class, all I can remember was reading this poem and feeling a lot better about myself. School became my safe haven, I often didn't even want to leave the classroom for the fear of humilation or loniness, I attending school with no siblings, and not friends. It was quit hard and downright difficult. However I maintained, and found an interest in writing and poetry. I began making up poems and spending countless hours convincing myself that one day I would proved to be a Phenomenal Woman. The library was how I would spend my lunch breaks. Researching people before me has left me with a glimpse of hope.  I didn't have any positive influences in that particular time in my life, but for some reason reading that poem put a smile on my weary little face. Now being a mother of two and a wife for five awesome years, I can truly say that I am a "Phenomenal Woman" in Christ Jesus. Dr. Maya Angelou will be gracing the University of California, Riverside, (UCR) on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 with her presence. The reading starts at 8:00 p.m. and will end around 9:30 p.m. I look forward to seeing her and hearing her story and all the influences that has helped her get to where she is today. She truly has impacted history for African-American women. Thank you and God bless. 

PHENOMENAL WOMAN

by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them 
They think I'm telling lies. 
I say, 
It's in the reach of my arms 
The span of my hips, 
The stride of my step, 
The curl of my lips. 
I'm a woman 
Phenomenally. 
Phenomenal woman, 
That's me.

I walk into a room 
Just as cool as you please, 
And to a man, 
The fellows stand or 
Fall down on their knees. 
Then they swarm around me, 
A hive of honey bees. 
I say, 
It's the fire in my eyes 
And the flash of my teeth, 
The swing of my waist, 
And the joy in my feet. 
I'm a woman 
Phenomenally. 
Phenomenal woman, 
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered 
What they see in me. 
They try so much 
But they can't touch 
My inner mystery. 
When I try to show them, 
They say they still can't see. 
I say 
It's in the arch of my back, 
The sun of my smile, 
The ride of my breasts, 
The grace of my style. 
I'm a woman 
Phenomenally. 
Phenomenal woman, 
That's me.

Now you understand 
Just why my head's not bowed. 
I don't shout or jump about 
Or have to talk real loud. 
When you see me passing 
It ought to make you proud. 
I say, 
It's in the click of my heels, 
The bend of my hair, 
The palm of my hand, 
The need of my care, 
'Cause I'm a woman 
Phenomenally. 
Phenomenal woman, 
That's me.

"Through My Eyes"

Here is a story that will go done in history of being a war against the innocence of a six-year-old African-American girl name Ruby Nell Bridges and an angry, heartless group of individuals filtered with segregation, violence, and hate. The cause was in the name of Education for all,  African-Americans, Whites and other minorities. Williams Fratz Elementary School in New Orleans was the school that accepted it’s first black student, young Miss Bridges.  The day she stepped out of the car and up the stairs in into her first grade class would become a great historical event. Outraged by her acceptance, parents pulled their children out of her class leaving Br

idges the chance to be taught more intimately and lovingly by her white teacher Ms. Barbara Henry, who greeted Bridges each day with a hug. Marshall’s escorted Bridges to school for her protection. Her mother instilled in her at a young age the importance of prayer to God for her safety and love for all. 

 

Her powerful story is told in her autobiography entitled "Through My Eyes." Her life long fight for education has impacted many lives. This is nothing short of a sad story but it is empowering. It depicts how a community came together to help the Bridge family overcome racial injustice and to gain civil rights. Her father was fired from his job, and her grandparents were forced to move from their home. How can adults put such a heavy burden on this precious little girl, who didn’t want any of this? She knew very little about the angry people outside of her classroom window, her concern was not to fight for desegregation, and rights for African-American but to spend her time learning. Little did she know, her very existence was enough for Blacks and Whites all over to unity and fight for equal rights. Even the littlest things done to a young child can leave a lasting impression. 

www.amazon.com/Through-My-Eyes-Ruby-Bridges/dp/0590189239

"I now know that experience comes to us for a purpose, and if we follow the guidance of the spirit within us, we will probably find that the purpose is a good one. "-Ruby Bridges

 

Native Princess

So the quest still goes on. It has not taken a different turn but has broadened its scope to look for the truth. Native, Blacks, and other Minority women played a huge role in the new world (USA). In my History class we were discussing from Jamestown to the Reconstruction period, and we stumbled upon a native by the name of "Pocahontas." Her existence is real, but her story can be viewed as mythical. She is nothing like the fantasy Walt Disney illustrates. She was a young girl between the age of 11 and 14 and she got the name Pocahontas for being a little rambunctious, her name means "Wild Child." In the Disney movie they depict of her being a beautiful 20 something year old with gorgeous Pantene Provine hair that blows in the wind. John Smith, who kept a journal jotted just about everything that happened in Jamestown including his friendship with the young native girl. There was no record of them having a loving relationship or any chemistry for that matter.

 

 

She did find companionship with an English settler named John Rolfe. She converted to Christianity and took on the first name Rebecca before marring Rolfe and moving to England. She gave birth to a child by the name of Thomas Rolfe. She later died.

Okay why is she so significant. She was one of the very first native women and she was only known by what Smith wrote and Disney illustrates. There were natives living in this new world, however the British wanted to build something greater. This forced the natives and other minorities to the west and up north. Some may have started out in Jamestown and ended up in what we now call California.

Who are they?

We have learned over the years about history, the past, the war, the tears, the blood, the arrest, the pain, the laughter, the questions. There are a lot of unanswered questions. The questions that are eagerly waiting to be answered. Here is one  Who are some to the first African American Women to settle on the West? We hear of all the heroic tales of the women in the south and on the east-coast did anything good or bad happen on this side of Texas. Any civil rights marches, any boycotts, fights for desegregation and equality for all.  There's a book entitled African American Women Confronts the West, 1600-2000. The studies in this book are quite fascinating. What can we gain from reading this? A sense of appreciation and a lasting affect that we must carry on the legacy. We are not all ignorant yet some believe that blacks on the East take education more importantly. Are we in-tune to our histories past or is it based on who is telling the story. Lets hear from the women who went through the ordeal and see what they have to say about the matter then we will come to love and respect our her-story. 

God bless,