Thanks again to Eean "Enfinite" Tyson and you for making Poetry Tuesday such a success within its first week. Continue to spread the word and send in your poems to enick.bostick@gmail.com. Read all of the rules in my earlier post titled The Community Begins Now.
Here at Escaping the Box your insights are important as we strive to pry our minds from the grips of conformity and explore our limitless potential. Our community question for the week is; What Is Your Box? What designed boxes in your life keep you from thinking creatively and exploring your limitless potential?
The floor is open. This post is all yours.
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I think my box is myself. I am the only thing that can hold me back. It's up to me to make things happen, but doubt and hesitation are my worst enemy. It's very important that I have an unwavering confidence and a belief in myself and trust in my lord and savior. If I don't believe who will. I don't think you should allow things that you are unable to control, to box you in, such as your environment, ignorance, or stereotypes. You have to have the belief to overcome and push on no matter what, and have the faith in GOD. I do, and I will overcome because I trust in the most high....
ReplyDeleteThanks for your insight Eean. We wish you the best on all of your endeavors
ReplyDeleteHmmmm a loaded question indeed. In my life there a bajillion boxes (or at least it can feel that way sometimes....). School, work, my education, even my sex and ethnicity create all kinds of molds and boxes that I am supposed to fit into. I guess I can briefly talk about each of my boxes, why not, right?
ReplyDeleteIn the case of school, it's a box because, frankly what educational institution isn't a box of some sort? By being a student, I am automatically subscribing to a certain code of conduct and regulations. I have to live up to certain expectations, and while I am 'free' to express myself, I'm still expected to do so within certain boundaries.
My job is also tied into that. I'm a residential director for the only women's hall on campus, (which I love, btw) but as part of my job, I am expected to advocate for and promote the ideals of my department. Although I agree, by and large, with the ideals and principles of my department, this is still something I would have to do if I didn't agree with them. That is a perfect example of the boxes that I personally encounter in my life.
I think that also being a woman -- and Af-Am at that -- places me and many others in an incredibly interesting set of boxes. It's no secret that in society at large, the most privileged citizen is a heterosexual, white, able-bodied, Christian male. Thankfully, that is beginning to change to a certain degree, and I believe wholeheartedly that it has a lot to do with such a young, active and vocal generation. Whether or not we (like to) admit it, we are all guilty of placing people in boxes upon meeting them. It's human nature to do so, and it makes sense, really to size up the person you're meeting. I joke a lot that I must be an anomaly for some people: I'm 23 with no children, finishing my M.A. in Spanish and have never really participated in the same high-risk behaviors as many of my peers. Just looking at the numbers is an incredibly scary and powerful experience. Black women across the board have higher rates of teen pregnancy and HIV/AIDS; in 2002, 40% reported having been coerced in sexual activity by the time they were 18 and a study of sexual assault survivors found that only 17% of Af-Am reported to the police. Not only are these boxes terrifying in every way, they are hard to find a way out of -- all one needs to do is look around them. In the past year, I personally know of 6 young women who have gotten pregnant (one miscarried, one is still pregnant). I think I may still be missing one or two women...
The sad irony is that growing up, I was harassed and heckled because I wasn't engaging in the same activities that have put a lot of people I know where they are now.
Thanks Krystina. You are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteMr.Tyson,
ReplyDeleteWOW! That is a very moving poem! I read it the other day and it still inspires me today! Good luck Mr.Tyson in your work, you are very talented young man. -Cassie
Thanks for the comment Cassie. Stay tuned for more poetry and inspirational writing.
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