The Sun is powerful
When you start thinking that you can’t
The sun appears to show you that you can.
There are days when it rains.
There are days when it pours.
There are days when storms are formed.
Storms that you think you will never survive.
You are thinking of what is stable
You are thinking of what is broken
You are thinking of the days that you spoke up
Against others, against being trapped in a storm.
A storm that you saw coming
You knew it was on its way but you always gave it the benefit of the doubt.
The time when the storm arrived
You were right.. your intuition was right.. your belief was right.
I heard the words, I saw the actions
and still believed the storm would fade away.
Walking around and walking away
Is always the best way to find the peace
To hear the birds sing
To feel the wind
To feel the sunshine- shining on me.
The sun is powerful
When you start thinking that you can’t
The sun appears to show you that you can
When people didn’t believe in you
They didn’t believe in themselves
Life is a magnet
You attract what you want, what you give, what you believe in.
Life is full of biases
People view of you is on them and not you
You start to think that you don't belong
That your flow might be too much.
You walk the walk
You do what you gotta do
But when the system ties you back
When the system only holds certain people accountable
When the system only serves the politics and not those that we should be serving
Then the storm will continue
Continue to take all of our creativity away
Swallow all the passion away
Transform what you thought was right
Now becomes a form of compliance.
The sun is powerful
When you start thinking that you can’t
The sun appears to show you that you can
We will remember those that reached out
Those that gave you a hand
Those that gave you encouragement
Those that inspired you and
Those that you will always remember
Because of their actions and not their words
I learned to observe
To view things from different perspectives
I heard your tone of voice when no one else was listening.
People thought that they won. You can’t win when things are done with disrespect.
When you don’t speak up for others when you need to.
When you are complicit because of your own benefit.
No, I can’t look up to those
That stayed quiet
When injustices were created.
Respect is respect
No matter where you come from
Respect is admired
Respect is loyalty
Respect shows you who you are!
Your words can say something but your actions speak louder than words.
Maybe my creativity has been sealed away
Maybe my passion has been shattered
Maybe my thoughts have changed
Maybe the system only works for certain people when we know that all of us are not created equal.
However, I worked hard to get from point A to point P.
My resume come of diverse experiences.
From acting, from play writing, from waitressing, sub-teaching, case working, teaching and many more multitasking in between.
From sleepless night to earn my B.A and M.Ed degree
From commuting daily from RI to Dorchester.
Then getting my certification while having twin babies.
Diverity is what brings us together.
I come from the South side of Providence, to NYC, to Italy and back to little RI.
I come from Dominican ancestors that worked hard to open the doors for others.
I have that Dominican-American swag.
I could listen to Merengue, Bachata, Salsa, then some hip-hop and some good Tupac.
I come a bilinbgual household.
I come from hoop earrings and my lip gloss popping.
I could be classy and bring out my hood when needed.
I come from telling you what I think in your face in a classy way.
I come from rolling my eyes because what you just said - made no sense.
I come from wearing my heels and walking it like I belong there.
I do belong here, there and where I want to be.
Yes, my guest list is getting smaller and smaller
Because I saw the actions, I heard what you said and I saw the disrespect.
Remember that we will be remembered by HOW we treat others.
By how we help others. By how we open the doors for others.
By respecting others!
However, I am here and I can not stop asking questions.
I can not stop speaking for those who deserve a seat at the table. Speaking for those that have been marginalized. Speaking against the status quo.
And when the storms stop
I will see a light at the end of the tunnel.
wait…..I see the sun
The sun is powerful
When you start thinking that you can’t
The sun appears to show you that YOU CAN. .