"He who does not know can know from learning." NEA ONNIM NO SUA A. OHU Adinkra symbol of "knowledge, life-long education and continued quest for knowledge" Introducing my "fifth literary child," I SEE YOU Poems of Awareness, Empowerment, and Inspiration. This "child" contains poems that will entertain, inspire, empower, provoke, and educate I challenged myself to write poetry that would make others as well as me S-M-I-L-E But, my intent and resolve, were tested by multiple events occurring in 2016. During the summer, America was rocked with news of back-to-back police shootings of two more young African American males. Days later, five Dallas, Texas, police officers were shot and killed. A STORM'S A-COMING A month later, the celebratory spirit of the Olympic games was tarnished by actions of U.S. Olympic swimmers. DOUBLE STANCE Towards the end of the year, the outcome of the Presidential elections provoked massive rallies, unrest, protests, and racially-motivated assaults and killings across America. ON HIGH ALERT While I may be smiling more, my smiles do not always denote happiness; sometimes a smile will be an outward display of relief of having captured and conveyed the essence of my thoughts in a poem. I have come to a realization... I wish to be recognized as an educator, though I could never be in a classroom on a daily basis. I wish to be recognized as an instigator of thought, though I do not wish to debate. I wish to be recognized as a student of history, though I never enjoyed history classes. I wish to be recognized as someone somewhat knowledgeable about current events; that's it... there is no THOUGH Through my poetry, I hope to enlighten those who have not walked the path of being a minority within a minority in America, a country I embrace as my own, but a country that does not always reciprocate my embrace or the embrace of those similar to me, a country divided. LICENSED TO HATE I could claim insight I could claim knowledge I claim neither I claim what I am... A black woman surviving Through poetic expression Of her truths, beliefs Perspectives and thoughts No couldas, No wouldas, No shouldas Just truths, dreams, beliefs, Perspectives, and thoughts INTRODUCING... I SEE YOU POEMS OF AWARENESS, EMPOWERMENT, and INSPIRATION"