-
Started to begin the process of reading/ loving books
-
Events that made an impact on my life
-
Began reading independently
-
Won an award at school for excellence in Reading
-
Read "Charlotte's Web" in literary circle, in class. Fell in love with books, for the first time.
-
Won the Principal's Award: Highest Reading score in my entire class
-
Ms. Parker introduced me to Maya Angelou (I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings) and she instantly became my favorite poet
-
Ms. Parks-Lee sponsored an assembly on the Harlem Renaissance. I was introduced to my new favorite poet Langston Hughes. I began to write poetry.
-
Read Richard Wright's "Native Son." Decided to try my hand at writing the great American novel.
-
English Composition I, in Dr. Blumenthal's class. Furthered my education in African-American lit, with plays like "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" by August Wilson and prose like "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison. Both of which I wrote expository papers on.
-
I dropped this class 4 times before passing it. It was a stumbling block to graduating and becoming a teacher. All I remember is the affect Ellison's "Invisible Man" had on my psyche as a black man in America. Life shaping.