Hey there, have you ever experienced someone passing away and you think that they are not around anymore, but then you realize that they continue to live on? Victoria Santa Cruz is an icon of Afro-Peruvian culture. Her goal was to awaken Black consciousness through poetry and dancing. She was proud of her identity and she noticed that Black people were treated unfairly because of their skin color. She continues to live on through her poetry.
I first learned about Victoria Santa Cruz through my mom. My mom really likes Victoria Santa Cruz because my mom really appreciates that Victoria thinks that every person is special regardless of skin color. When my mom first heard Victoria’s poem titled, “They Yelled at Me Black,” she felt like she had a knot in her throat and her skin tingled. She cried. The poem talks about how Victoria suffered when she was a girl. Victoria was teased because she was Black. But she did not quit. She moved forward.At my mom’s baby shower, my mom really wanted me to say her favorite poem from Victoria Santa Cruz, titled “They Yelled at Me Black”. I recited the poem and my mom felt very happy. She said that I have a great heart. Victoria Cruz is also now in my heart too. She taught me that people should respect all identity and skin color no matter the skin color.
An Amazing Poet
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Genesis U., age 9
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