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Freedom Is Life
Short poems created by young people inspired by the issues surrounding slavery and Olaudah Equiano's life.
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Transcript:

A poem by Roi Kwabena:
An opening,
As I pondered the fragility,
Oh how challenged we are,
As we pursue on this journey in Stourbridge,
I discovered,
Remembered,
Re-visioned,
Re-addressed,
My goals.

A poem by a female paricipant, 10:
I was a slave for a while,
Everybody was unhappy,
The sky was filled with darkness,
Many of us had to be force fed,
My life was a living nightmare,
We were chained if we dared to escape,
The pain and thought of living longer,
Sent me to my knees.

A poem by Nick, 16:
Sad that it happened to her,
So loving and kind,
Freedom to eat and drink what she wishes,
That?s what I wish for her,
Be able to go out without people staring at her,
This is what life can do.

A poem by Matthew, 12:
If only everyone was free,
You don?t need money to be free,
Money does not make you rich at heart,
We all need our own freedom to keep our identity.

A poem by Laura, 14 performed by Mikey, 12:
Red is a rose,
Watching over you,
Everywhere you go,
That rose will be will you,
Looking after you through good and bad,
My little angel don?t feel sad.

A poem by a female paricipant, 13:
Red is a rose watching over you,
Everywhere you go that rose will be with you,
And with that rose is all my love,
It will be with you all the time through good and bad,
Just remember it was me who gave you that rose.

A poem by Cheri, 10 performed by Claire:
Mother Nature changed our lives forever more,
With the nature and beauty of love,
With grass and flowers that grow high,
Bushes and trees grow to the sky,
And that?s Mother Nature in everyday we live.

Comments (6)add comment

jhenning said:

Very nice combination of poetry and video.
11 December, 2008

Tom said:

To have had,when I was a boy, what is available to our youth today, would have given our city (Birmingham)a plethora of genius to be envied by the world in it's entirety. I am proud, and can hold my head high to know that my city 'Brum'and it's developing culture are going to lead the way to all the world on how to 'watch, look and listen'
04 May, 2009

Lyn said:

It is refreshing to see kids aware of their history and they are so articulate.
Well done to you students and to Roi Kwabena
15 September, 2009

Freya Grant said:

It was very good but have rhyming aswell! It makes are city spectacular!
16 January, 2010

Annmarie said:

I love Roi's work and his contribution to society and the world. I amnow in contact with his also talented sister in London. He has done so much work with kids.

RIP Roi
05 March, 2010

Andrew Birmingham said:

Roi did not get the recognition he deserves. Now I am trying to contact his sister who I hear lives in England....love to talk to her to know more about him

Andrew
05 March, 2010

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