This is a poem about a new start to a new life, that typifies the individual after completing his education.
When a man starts out with nothing,
When a man starts out with his hands
Empty, but clean,
When a man starts to build a world,
He starts first with himself
And the faith that is in his heart-
The strength there,
The will there to build.
A long time ago, but not too long ago, a man said:
ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL--
ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR
WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS--
AMONG THESE LIFE, LIBERTY
AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.His name was Jefferson. There were slaves then,
But in their hearts the slaves believed him, too,
And silently too for granted
That what he said was also meant for them.
It was a long time ago,
A long time ago,
A Deprived people heading toward freedom
Made up a song:
Keep Your Hand On The Plow! Hold On!The plow plowed a new furrow
Across the field of history.
Into that furrow the freedom seed was dropped.
From that seed a tree grew, is growing, will ever grow.
That tree is for everybody,
For all America, for all the world.
May its branches spread and shelter grow
Until all races and all peoples know its shade.
KEEP YOUR HAND ON THE PLOW! HOLD ON!
The Immigrant Experience
It can be said that Black Harlem was one of New York's most famous examples of the immigrant experience -- in this case, immigrants in their own country. Beginning around 1915, transplanted Southerners -- grandchildren of slaves -- moved north in droves in search of a viable society, trading rural lives for the gritty urban environment of Harlem. Although the North proved to be a disappointment in terms of racial equality, there was a transforming energy that came from living in a teeming African-American community. Harlem Renaissance writer-editor Alain Locke captured the atmosphere in 1925:
"Harlem has attracted the African, the West Indian, the Negro American; has brought together the Negro of the North and the Negro of the South; the man from the city and the man from the town and village; the peasant, the student, the business man, the professional man, artist, poet, musician, adventurer and worker, preacher and criminal, exploiter and social outcast. Each group has come with its own separate motives and for its own special ends, but their greatest experience has been the finding of one another."
Urban Prep High School graduating senior Cameron Barnes, right, breaks out into tears as his crying sister Teisha kisses him during graduation ceremonies in Chicago. Throughout the ceremony both fought back tears remembering their mother who died last year of liver disease. When it came time for his mother's funeral, the members of his "pride" stood with him. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep High School graduating senior Marcus Bass celebrates with classmate Cameron Barnes after receiving his diploma Saturday, June 12, 2010 in Chicago. It has been a rocky four years for Bass, with struggles in biology and an attitude adjustment. "At first, I thought everybody was out to get me," Marcus says , "I wasn't used to taking orders from anyone. I was used to just doing my own thing." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep High School seniors, with college acceptance sporting their stripped ties, stand in their "prides: or homeroom lines, during the daily opening assembly called "community" in Chicago. Every student has at least one mentor, maybe a coach or a teacher among a predominantly young faculty. About 60 percent of teachers at the Englewood campus are black men. That gives the boys, many who've grown up without a father, a confidante and role model. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Evan Lewis, Urban Prep High School vice president of institutional advancement stands before the school's creed in a hallway of the school in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Corey Stewart, right, a 24-year-old history teacher works with students during class in Chicago. Stewart's emphasis is on inspiration. So a discussion about Aristotle and Plato, for instance, might lead to comparisons to rap legends Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. "You can bring up the most archaic ideas in class and you can connect it to real life, and they will love it," he says. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Vernita Lockett, mother of Urban Prep High School senior Marlon Marshall applauds her son as he receives his diploma as a member of the first graduating class of 107 male students in Chicago. "I'm very attached to Marlon," she says, I had him when I was 15 and they told me my boy was going to be a statistic. They told me he was going to be another gangbanger. Well, we're here to prove them wrong." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep High School senior Marlon Marshall, left, has his tears of joy wiped away by his mother Vernita Lockett, after his graduation as a member of the first class of 107 male students in Chicago. Before Urban Prep Marshall was nonchalant about everything, school included. He did just enough to get by. His mother pushed him to go to college. Sometimes she'd yell at him and his brothers for their bad grades. Once she was so upset when she saw their report cards, she just sobbed. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep High School senior Marlon Marshall waits for his mom to arrive for commencement ceremonies in Chicago. Marlon had heard a pitch five years ago about a new charter school on the South Side. He'd already been rejected by other high schools. This academy was choosing kids by lottery so his mediocre grades wouldn't disqualify him. Why not give it a shot? (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep High School senior Marlon Marshall stands in the hallway for a portrait with classmates in Chicago. Marlon had heard a pitch about a new charter school on the South Side. He'd already been rejected by other high schools. This academy was choosing kids by lottery so his mediocre grades wouldn't disqualify him. Why not give it a shot? (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep High School senior Marlon Marshall talks to underclassmen about his last four years and his future in a class where he has helped as a student teacher in Chicago. Before Urban Prep Marshall was nonchalant about everything, school included. He did just enough to get by. His mother pushed him to go to college. Sometimes she'd yell at him and his brothers for their bad grades. Once she was so upset when she saw their report cards, she just sobbed. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep High School senior Krishaun Branch participates in a English class in Chicago. Branch became the class president but it was not always am ideal experience, When he discovered what he'd signed up for, he wanted out even before school began.No girls? School until 4:30 p.m.? A jacket and tie? You've got to be kidding. But his mother urged him to hang in. So did an aunt who threatened to stop buying him clothes and giving him spending money. ¶ So he stayed, and raised hell. ¶ He fought, he cursed the teachers, he got suspended. He wanted to get kicked out. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep assistant principal Richard Glass, left, stands face to face with Marlon marshall as Marshall's father, Marlon Sr., stands in the background after the high school's first commencement ceremony in Chicago. With Marlon's mother moving to Michigan and his father, who was never really in his life, living in Mississippi, Glass took Marshall in for his senior year. Nine months under the same roof, Marlon calls Glass "godfather" or "Pops." Glass calls Marlon "a great young man," (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep High School senior Marlon Marshall, left, pats classmate Krishaun Branch on the shoulder as they pass each other after commencement for the first graduating class of 107 male students in Chicago. Before Urban Prep both Marshall and Branch faced a life with limited possibilities in one of Chicago's toughest neighborhoods. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep assistant principal Richard Glass, seated, a Don Cheadle look alike, is applauded by his peers as he is honored during the high school's first commencement ceremony for taking in student Marlon Marshall, so he could finish his senior year in Chicago. Marshall's mother announced she was moving to Michigan. She was sick of the guns and killings in her neighborhood. Giving her permission, Marshall was taken in by Glass and after nine months under the same roof, Marlon calls Glass "godfather" or "Pops." Glass calls Marlon "a great young man," (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep High School senior Cameron Barnes stands with classmates for a portrait in Chicago. When Barnes' mother died last year of liver disease, he returned to school the next day, finding solace there. "It was like being with family," he says. "It's like a brotherhood." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep High School graduating seniors Marcus Bass, left, smiles at classmate Cameron Barnes as Barnes reflects on the absence of his mother who died last year during graduation ceremonies in Chicago. when Cameron Barnes' mother died last year of liver disease, he returned to school the next day, finding solace there. "It was like being with family," he says. "It's like a brotherhood." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep High School student Jeremiah Stovall reads in Mr. Stewart's class in Chicago. The school has a rigorous set of academic standards including a double dose of English and mandatory 20 minutes of reading daily, assessments every six weeks and Saturday classes with summer school for those who need it. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Joffrey Bywater, a 29-year-old history teacher works with Jarrell Hobbs during class in Chicago. "Sometimes they need someone to advocate for them," says Bywater, "Sometimes they just need someone to listen to them. " (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep High School senior Krishaun Branch stands in the hallway for a portrait with classmates in Chicago. At 13, Branch saw the streets had more appeal. He could smoke reefer and go to class when he wanted. That's what he'd been doing while his mother was at work. He felt safe hanging out; having relatives in gangs was his armor. Four years ago the first class of students saw someting special in the new school. A sanctutry from the gangs, a fresh slate after a dimsal start in life, and yes, a chance to work on laptopts. The laptop thing was what brought Krishaun Branch to the school. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep High School founder Tim King, right, embraces a senior at the all male high school during a morning assembly time called "Community". in Chicago. "I wanted to create a school that was going to put black boys in a different place," he says, "and in my mind, that different place needed to be college." Now King has seen the graduation of his first class of 107 young men, 100 percent bound for college. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Marlon Marshal Sr., hugs his son Marlon after his son's graduation ceremonies in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep High School senior Krishaun Branch participates in a classroom where the walls are lined with positive black male role models like Muhammad Ali, background, in Chicago. At 13, Branch saw the streets had more appeal. He could smoke reefer and go to class when he wanted. That's what he'd been doing while his mother was at work. He felt safe hanging out; having relatives in gangs was his armor. Four years ago the first class of students saw something special in the new school. A sanctuary from the gangs, a fresh slate after a dimsal start in life, and yes, a chance to work on laptops. The laptop thing was what brought Krishaun Branch to the school. He would become the class president. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep High School student Phillip Boswell reads in the hallway below the final phrase in the school's creed, We Believe, in Chicago. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
Urban Prep High School students walk past a wall of 107 college acceptance letters, 100 percent of the senior class in Chicago. While having a 100 percent college admission rate is an undeniable achievement, founder Tim King sees it as step one. "It's just a milestone. It's not an endgame," he says. "This is not the fulfillment of our mission. That comes when we are able to see our students succeed in college and that may not be apparent for four or five years when these guys graduate." AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) #
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