Day 8:
What's My Name?
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
I wonder how many of her teachers had difficulty pronouncing her first name. Now teachers, throughout the country, will be teaching about this history making justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson. Let's make it our business to say her whole name...correctly, beginning with Justice Ke_tan_ji.
So many of our children are being called out of their name. I work hard at not only making it my business to say my pre-service educators' names correctly, but sharing with them the importance of having the same goal with the student scholars they will teach. We often connect how much we are valued to how we are addressed by..."Did they say our name?" and was it pronounced correctly? There is a history of people of African descent being called "out their name." Called boy, girl, aunty, uncle, and any number of ugly words. When our children are named, creatively or in recognition of a cultural heritage, even those of us of the same culture find ourselves not taking the time to say their names respectfully. I know this seems a minor issue for such a major event, but I believe this is a the time to pay homage to each of us. Let's honor each other by saying our names with the highest regard! Every time we say Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's name, remember the child who is in somebody's classroom, or who crosses your path, who needs to be recognized. Let's think of each of these young people as one day being in position to have the whole country, if not the world, say their name. Please enjoy the poem I decided to submit for today.
I'm the Man
By Dr. Lindamichellebaron
I don't have to live large to know I'm in charge. I know where I stand.
I have a purpose and a plan. So I say, "Hey, I'm the man."
I don't mean I like women, or I have to act rough. I like to get pretty, and strut my stuff. But I know where I stand. If I fall I stand where I land. So I say, "Hey, I'm the man."
I have not gone insane.
Woman is my true name. But, I won't give up my self-control, Or place my dignity on hold.
I will take a stand and get what I demand. There is no "I can't," just "I can." So I say, "Hey, I'm the man."
I'm definitely a she,
But I see beyond the gender of me.
I'm not on your case. I don't want to take your place.
But I've made a decision to elevate my position.
I have the power...
This is my hour.
I've taken control...
So, don't assign me to a role.
I'm not playing a game,
So don't call me out of my name.
It's about me and the Higher Authority.
We walk hand in hand.
So I say, "Hey, I'm the man."
But, it's not just about me. It's about we. We have the power. To take control Of our mind, body, and soul.
This is our hour
Together we stand
Yeah!
With a purpose and a plan. And we be the man. We be the man,
We be the man,
Yeah!
Yeah!!!
"I'm the Man" is one of my favorite poems from my book,"For The Love Of Life." For more of my poems, please get your own copy of my book "For The Love of Life" on my website at:
https://www.mylindamichellebaron.com/.../FOR_THE_LOVE_OF...
Hope you enjoyed Day 8. Would you like me to light a spark at your school, college, house-of-worship, conference or organization? If your answer is yes, please click on this link to book me: https://www.mylindamichellebaron.com/book-dr...
Love and realness,
#Lindamichellebaron
www.mylindamichellebaron.com