“I am From” Poem
Today was the first day of class. I taught Intro to Women’s and Gender Studies from 2:30-5:30 today. The class has OMG SIXTY students. I think if I had known there would be sixty students, I would not have volunteered to take the class. Although I have taught intro to women’s studies with a class this size (via distance learning, no less), I really think the size is too big to get much done. So this will be a challenging semester. Today in class, by way of an ice breaker, we did Beverly Daniel Tatum’s “I am From” poem activity. Tatum, President of Spelman University, wrote the book _Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria_. I learned about this activity when I attended the POD Conference in 2002 with Dr. Saundra McGuire.
Here is my I am From poem:
I am from…
…cars honking in the streets, traffic jams, the smell of city grime, laughter on the front stoop.
I am from…
…vinegar pie, turkey and dressing, chicken and dumplings, steak and potatoes.
I am from…
…”Daddy, read to me.” “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” “Don’t talk back to me!”
I am from…
…My mother and father Grandma Ann and Grandma Lola, my Auntie, my brother, my sister.
[...] just came out of a class where we did the “I am From Poem.” I have written about using this activity in class before. I enjoy this poem because it [...]