Every year students complete a poem entitled, "Where I'm From." Sixth Shaquille Leflore took a deep look at what he saw where he's from and this is what he came up with:
Where I'm From
By:Shaquille Leflore
I'm from the angry sun,from the town stores where everyone know each other.
From dropout rates that seem to rise
From teenage smokers and drinkers.
I'm from teenage pregnancy that turned into a trend from baby daddies and child support.
I'm from hypertension and hot sauce on greens, from catfish farm and catfish plant,
from the candy yams and fried chicken.
I'm from the switches off the tree, the belts off the waist, and the extension cord from
the radio.
I'm from tide scent sheets and night-lights in the dark
I'm from haters, emulators, and prtenders, people who are fake and talk behind your
back.
I'm from street fights and crime that has no purpose.
I'm from blues,gospel, and hip hop, the teacher of the society.
I'm from where teachers are not respected and are unappreciated.
From teachers, some who only wait until the end of the month to start teaching
I'm from family reunions and Uncle Eugene, Aunt Judy and cousin pooh
I'm from the mentality of being used to accept what is given and never thinking for
yourself.
I'm from not reading too much because you'll be called a lame.
From not knowing too much because you're lazy
Where I'm from, sex is not something after marriage, it's a hobby.
I'm from "how was she in bed?" and "he got that good"
From blood samples from the local clinics that are positive but stay in the dark until the
light shines.
I'm from unprepared obituaries and innocent cousin mike who's name on the other side
is 4176902.
I'm from when you fall, you stay down or when you're up, let someone take you down.
From choosing the wrong path or following in the footsteps that doesn't match your
foot.
I'm from never realizing true potential and wishing I could do it over again
But its too late
Where I'm from "unrealized dreams" is a reality.
Shaquille Leflore is a sixth year in the Freedom Project and a senior at Ruleville Central Highschool. This past summer, after teaching in our Rising LEADers progam and our Freedom Summer 2008 progam, he spent two week at Princeton University where he participated in the High School Diplomats program, learning about Japanese culture and bonding with other students from across the country and japan. Shaquille will be applying to college this fall with schools such as the University of Southern Mississippi, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Mississippi State University on his list. Go Shaq!!
