I Too Am America - Set Your Words Free

In today's post, my first post, I want to reflect on last weekend's preparation to start writing on my own personal Project while I was sitting at a cafe in Alameda, California. I started by reading the first chapter of, I Too Am America, by Shawn Dove and Nick Chiles.

I have been holding onto this book as my next book to start reading and finally, I made time on a Saturday to read and start doing some writing of my own. My plan was to read for 1 hour and then write on my own for 1 hour. but those plans were quickly halted as I got to this poem that was written in 1988 by Shawn Dove. As I read this poem I was struck that Shawn was on the other coast looking for other brothers who would share their stories, and at the same time, I was looking for someone to share my story with.

But that stirring in my heart did not let me write. I began to think. Deep Thinking. Engineering brain thinking. Analytical thinking. all about the writing process, and after all that thinking, I was in a state of Analysis Paralysis. which is why a week later I am just now finishing this post. Even though I had committed to the Garbage Post Challenge ( I learned about this from a friend as a strategy to begin to break free from the need to post A+ posts each time. (Simone Grace Seol: Joyful Marketing) I was ready to take this day to jump-start my writing process. I was excited and motivated, and yet as my fingers began to hit the keyboard, I found so many other things to do besides write. hahaha ????♂? ?? ????♂?

FOR CONTEXT in 1988, I was in the 8th grade. Around a time when I was being bullied by a kid who just got out of the juvenile hall. whose reputation had preceded him and whose presence drew fear among most middle schoolers; especially those without fathers, big brothers, or a crew that they knew had their back. Middle School was a difficult season for me, but I am sure that the seeds of fear, sadness, pain, self-doubt and curiosity are the starters that have brought me to a career in education and to the deep work we do with students, parents, teachers, and schools today.

#ItooAmAmerica