>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

THIS PROGRAM IS UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY -- >> UNDER COVER BOOKS AND GIFTS IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF VIRGIN ISLANDS PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

THIS INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE LOCATED IN CHRISTIANSTED CARRIES A SLEKD OF BOOKS, GIFTS AND FAIR TRADE PRODUCTS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.UNDERCOVER BOOKS SAINT KROIX.COM.

>> THEIR AIM IS TO EMPOWER WOMEN THROUGH FASHION AND FRIENDSHIP.

FIND OUT MORE AT -- >> AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫ >>> WELCOME TO "THE BOOKCASE."

I´M YOUR HOST, SHAWNA RICHARDS, A SOMETIME WRITER AND A LONGTIME READER.

I INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME AS WE EXPLORE THE BOOKCASE AND CELEBRATE VIRGIN ISLANDS´ AUTHORS AND THEIR TALENT.

EACH WEEK ON "THE BOOKCASE," WE WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL AUTHOR AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR WORK.

A STORYTELLER LIVES IN EACH OF US, AND I´M SO EXCITED TO GIVE OUR HOMEGROWN STORYTELLERS A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR STORY.

THIS WEEK´S SELECTION FROM THE BOOKCASE IS THE COLLECTED WORKS OF CAROL HEN AMAN AND I´M SO EXCITED TO WELCOME HER TO "THE BOOKCASE."

WELCOME AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INVITING ME.

IT´S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.

>> SO OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS YOU AS AN ACTIVIST, A CAREER EDUCATOR, A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND I THINK FOR SOME OF YOU, THIS WILL BE THEIR INTRODUCTION TO YOU AS AN AUTHOR.

TELL US ABOUT CAROL HEN AMAN AS THE AUTHOR.

>> CAROL HEN AMAN AS THE AUTHOR CAN BE AS PROLIFIC AS I CARE TO BE.

I CAN WRITE AT THE DROP OF A HAT.

YOU CAN ASK ME RIGHT NOW TO SPEAK TO YOU ON ANY TOPIC, AND I KNOW I HAVE SOMETHING THAT I CAN PUT IN WORDS TO CONVEY TO YOU MY FEELINGS ON THE SUBJECT.

IT TOOK A LOT OF DISCIPLINE AND A LOT OF PREPARATION.

>> UH-HUH.

>> I SPENT HOURS EVERY NIGHT STUDYING BECAUSE WHEN I SPEAK, I DON´T SPEAK WITH PAPERS.

I HAVE TO ASSIMILATE IT SO I CAN EXPRESS IT, YOU SEE, BECAUSE I´M THE SHOW.

I USED TO TELL MY STUDENTS ALL THE TIME, YOU HAVE TO COME TO CLASS.

OTHERWISE, YOU´RE GOING TO MISS THE SHOW.

>> UH-HUH.

>> WHEN I GET IN A CLASSROOM, IT´S ABSOLUTE MAGIC FOR ME, ABSOLUTE MAGIC.

AND SO IT´S BECAUSE I HAVE A WRITER´S BRAIN, I CAN ORGANIZE THOUGHTS IN MY HEAD VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE I´VE TAUGHT WRITING FOR SO LONG.

IT´S NOW A PART OF MY NATURE.

>> SO IN TEACHING WRITING, I IMAGINE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY OTHER WRITERS.

SO WHO INSPIRES YOU?

>> WELL, I´D HAVE TO SAY I LOVE THE WORK OF JAN ANTONIO JAVEZ, BECAUSE HE WAS LIGHT YEARS AHEAD OF HIMSELF.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT VALID AMORE HILL AND ERICA LEE, ALL THESE THINGS I LEARNED AS DIFFICULTS BECAUSE NONE OF THIS WAS EXPOSED TO ME IN THE CLASSROOM WHEN I WAS A STUDENT.

IT JUST NEVER HAPPENED.

BUT I FILLED EVERY VOID IN MY BEING WITH PEOPLE THAT I ADMIRE.

MY FAVORITE -- YOU CAN ASK ME RIGHT NOW TO TELL YOU FIVE POEMS BY CLAUDE McKAY.

I WOULDN´T EVEN HAVE TO TAKE A BREATH.

>> UH-HUH.

>> I COULD START.

CLAUDE McKAY IS -- OH, MY.

>> SO AS A YOUNG GIRL IN OUR LOCAL SCHOOL, YOU DIDN´T HAVE THAT EXPOSURE.

>> NOT AT ALL.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN -- I DON´T KNOW -- INFORMED OR INFLUENCED IF YOU HAD THAT TYPE OF EXPOSURE TO OUR LOCAL AUTHORS AS A YOUNG GIRL?

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

I THINK THE WHOLE VISION OF MYSELF WOULD HAVE BEEN EMANCIPATED.

I HAD TO BECOME A WOMAN TO SEE MY EMANCIPATION AS A SPIRITUAL BEING, SEE?

AND THAT WAS SAD.

BUT MY FATHER -- MY FATHER´S LIBRARY LOOKED LIKE THIS BOOKSHELF THERE.

MY FATHER READ EVERY DAY FOR FOUR HOURS, EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND SO OF COURSE I SAW HIM DOING IT, AND I USED TO GO ON THE BOOKSHELF FOR THE X-RATED BOOKS HE USED TO HIDE ON THE BACK SHELF AND THOUGHT I WASN´T SEEING.

AND I´D READ ALL OF THEM.

SO I WAS READING D.H. LAWRENCE AND THOSE KINDS OF WRITERS WHEN I WAS A YOUNG GIRL, 9, 10 YEARS OLD.

>> AND IT´S INTERESTING THAT YOU SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE´S SO MANY BOOKS THAT I READ WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

FOR EXAMPLE, I READ, YOU KNOW, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA.

THEN WHEN I REVISITED IT AS AN ADULT, I REALIZED IT WAS ABOUT RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY, AND IT JUST REALLY BLEW MY MIND.

>> YES.

WELL, MY DISCOURSE ABOUT SEX BEGAN WITH LADY CHATTERLY´S LOVER.

>> OKAY.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE ADVANCED FOR A YOUNG GIRL.

>> MY FATHER USED TO HIDE IT IN THE BACK OF THE BOOKSHELF AND IF HE HID IT BACK THERE, THAT WAS THE BOOK I WANTED.

I WAS THAT CHILD.

I GOT A LOT OF INFLUENCE FROM MY DAD.

MY DAD WAS AN ERUDITE SCHOLAR.

WROTE AND SPOKE FIVE LANGUAGES.

I HEARD -- EVERY SEMESTER I HEARD IT.

I NEVER GOT A "B," CAROL.

>> UH-HUH.

SO YOUR ENERGY, YOU KNOW, AND THAT INFLUENCE FROM YOUR FATHER, YOU CARRIED THAT INTO THE CLASSROOM FOR YOUR STUDENTS.

>> YOU HAVE TO BECAUSE DADDY EXPECTED NOTHING BUT "A"s. NOTHING BUT "A"s DADDY WOULD ACCEPT.

>> IN YOUR JOURNEY AS A WRITER, WHEN DID YOU FIRST START SAYING, I, CAROL HENNAMAN, AM A WRITER?

>> IT HAPPENED IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I HAD SOME GREAT TEACHERS IN NIGHT SCHOOL.

BY THE TIME I GOT TO 11th GRADE, A LOT OF MY TEACHERS WOULD TELL ME, YEAH, YOU´RE A WRITER.

YOU´RE A NATURAL.

IT COMES TO YOU WITHOUT EFFORT.

AND IT WAS TRUE.

IT COMES TO ME WITHOUT EFFORT.

NOW, I LOOK BACK SOMETIMES, BUT USUALLY THE ENTIRE DISCOURSE COMES TO ME IN ONE FELL SWOOP.

>> SO WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE AS A WRITER?

>> I RUMINATE ON SUBJECTS.

I LOVE PUBLIC SPEAKING AND I´VE DONE A LOT OF IT.

IF YOU ASK ME TO SPEAK ON A SUBJECT, I RUMINATE IN MY BRAIN FOR HOURS, AND I THINK ABOUT IT.

AND THEN THE UNIVERSE COMES INTO MY EXISTENCE AND DROPS ALL THE HINTS IN ALL THE PLACES I NEED TO GO AND SEE TO GET THE PERSPECTIVE I NEED.

IT´S THE MOST AMAZING THING.

>> SO ARE YOU PAPER AND PEN?

ARE YOU SITTING DOWN AT A LAPTOP?

>> I´M A TECHIE NOW.

>> OKAY.

>> I DON´T KNOW THE LAST TIME I WROTE SOMETHING WITH MY OWN HAND, BUT I COULD -- I JUST FLIP OPEN MY iPAD, AND I START WRITING, AND IT JUST COMES OUT OF ME.

AND THEN I GO BACK AND LOOK.

MAYBE I WANT TO CHANGE A WORD OR WHATEVER, BUT THE GIST OF IT AND WHERE IT COMES FROM, ALL SPIRITUAL.

>> SO FOR THE PERSON WATCHING THIS EPISODE OF "THE BOOKCASE," WHERE COULD THEY FIND YOUR WORKS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT´S INTERESTING.

IF YOU -- I WROTE 150 COLUMNS FOR "THE DAILY NEWS."

IF YOU WANT TO GET A FEEL OF ME IN PROSE, YOU CAN GET IT THERE.

AND THEN I HAD -- I PUBLISHED WITH "THE DAILY NEWS" A BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROJECT.

>> UH-HUH.

>> SO I WAS ABLE TO PUT IN SOME OF MY POETRY AND SOME OF MY ESSAY WRITINGS AND SO ON.

SO I HAVE ALL OF THAT WORK.

BUT I´VE DONE A LOT OF POETRY, BUT I´M STINGY WITH MY WORK.

>> OKAY.

SO ARE YOU THINKING OF WITH ALL OF YOUR COLLECTED WORKS, YOUR PROSE, YOUR ESSAYS, YOUR POETRY, PUTTING THEM INTO ONE VOLUME FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY?

ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT BECOMING PUBLISHED?

>> AT THIS JUNCTURE IN MY LIFE, IT´S PROBABLY MORE LIKELY TO HAVE NOW THAN EVER BEFORE BECAUSE ALL THE TIME I WAS DOING ALL THIS WRITING, I WAS CARRYING THREE AND FOUR JOBS.

I WASN´T THINKING ABOUT PUBLISHING.

PLUS I WAS RAISING CHILDREN AND, YOU KNOW, BEING MARRIED AND BEST PART OF MY LIFE.

>> HOW DID YOU -- WHEN YOU WERE WORKING THREE JOBS AND RAISING YOUR CHILDREN AND BEING MARRIED AND, YOU KNOW, CONTRIBUTING TO YOUR COMMUNITY, HOW DID YOU BALANCE OUT THOSE THINGS WITH BEING A CREATIVE?

>> BECAUSE THE STUDENTS FORCED ME TO BECAUSE AT FIRST WE HAD WHAT WAS CALLED A LANGUAGE ARTS SHOWCASE.

AND I WOULD USE OTHER PEOPLE´S WORK.

AFTER ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO, I SAID ENOUGH OF THIS.

I´M WRITING MY OWN WORK.

>> UH-HUH.

>> AND I WOULD PRODUCE MY PIECES, AND MY STUDENTS WOULD MEMORIZE THEM AND DO THEM IN THE SHOWCASE AND STUFF, AND WE ALWAYS WON.

>> SO DID THAT TAKE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF DISCIPLINE TO JUST KNOW -- DID YOU SAY, I´M GOING TO WRITE FOR TWO HOURS A DAY, OR YOU JUST WAITED FOR THAT TO HIT YOU AND -- >> I CAN WRITE ON NEED.

IF YOU NEED ME WRITE NOW TO WRITE YOU AN ESSAY ON -- LET ME SEE -- MY UNCLE FRANK, BIGGEST LABOR LEADER ON THE EASTERN COAST IN THE U.S. >> UH-HUH.

>> MANY OF OUR STUDENTS HAVEN´T EVEN HEARD HIS NAME, BUT HE WAS A BIG PLAYER.

I CAN PRODUCE THE ESSAY RIGHT NOW, RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF YOU.

>> SO FOR THE STUDENTS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, JUST OUR GENERAL COMMUNITY, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY WERE MORE EXPOSED TO OUR CARIBBEAN AUTHORS?

>> THEY WOULD HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF THE GREATNESS OF OUR PEOPLE.

VIRGIN ISLANDERS HAVE DONE EXCEPTIONAL THINGS.

WHEN I THINK OF EDWARD BLYDEN AND I THINK ABOUT TERRENCE TODDMAN WAS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE ON THE PLANET WHO WAS A CAREER AMBASSADOR.

>> YES.

>> HE WAS MY MOTHER´S CLASSMATE AND FRIEND.

>> MM-HMM.

>> YEAH.

BUT OUR CHILDREN DON´T EVEN KNOW HE EXISTED.

>> SO DO YOU THINK THAT THERE´S ROOM FOR OUR -- ESPECIALLY NOW, THERE´S SUCH A WEALTH OF VIRGIN ISLANDS WRITERS AND SO MANY STORIES AND SO MUCH OF OUR HISTORY THAT IS BEING TOLD, THAT´S BEING PUBLISHED.

AND I THINK THERE´S SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE EXPOSED TO THOSE, YOU KNOW, BROADER WORKS.

BUT FOR YOUR POETRY, I´VE READ SEVERAL OF YOUR PIECES.

AND WHEN I THOUGHT I GOT ONE MEANING, I READ IT AGAIN, AND I GOT ANOTHER.

>> MM-HMM.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR PIECE, "LIBERATION."

>> OKAY.

WELL, YOU SEE, I´M AT THE AGE NOW WHERE MY MOTHER AND FATHER ARE GONE, AND NOW I CAN REALLY SAY WHAT I FEEL.

MY MOTHER WAS MY -- MY YARDSTICK.

>> MM-HMM.

>> BECAUSE SHE WAS SUCH A TREMENDOUS HUMAN BEING.

>> SO IN "LIBERATION," WHEN I READ "LIBERATION," IT GAVE ME, YOU KNOW, A FEEL OF THE POETRY THAT I´VE READ, THAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE VIETNAM ERA.

>> YES.

TIMELY AND RELEVANT TO TODAY.

SO I WANT YOU TO TELL OUR AUDIENCE ABOUT THIS POEM.

>> OKAY.

I´VE COME TO THE REALIZATION THAT OUR AMERICAN INFLUENCE HAS SERVED US WELL IN A LOT OF WAYS.

>> MM-HMM.

>> BUT IN A LOT OF WAYS, IT HAS DAMAGED OUR PSYCHE.

>> MM-HMM.

>> WE KNOW LONGER SEE OURSELVES AS BEING PART OF THE CARIBBEAN.

ALL MY LIFE GROWING UP, PEOPLE USED TO SAY THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THE CARIBBEAN.

AND ALL THE TIME I USED TO GO HOME AND ASK MY MOTHER, I SAID, WHY ARE THEY SEPARATING US OUT LIKE WE´RE NOT CARIBBEAN PEOPLE?

AND SHE´D SAY, BECAUSE WE´RE AMERICANS, WITH SUCH PRIDE AND JOY.

I ACTUALLY HAD A PRINCIPAL TELL ME THAT HE WAS AMERICAN FIRST AND CARIBBEAN SECOND.

>> MM-HMM.

>> I COULDN´T HELP IT.

I WENT -- HE SAID, MISS HENNAMAN, WHY ARE YOU SO UPSET?

I WAS TEACHING AT THE TIME.

I SAID BECAUSE, MY DEAR, YOUR AMERICAN AFFILIATION IS POLITICAL.

>> SO THAT WAS THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THIS POEM?

>> YES.

SO READ SOME FOR OUR AUDIENCE.

>> I DON´T NORMALLY READ MY OWN POETRY, AND I DON´T MEMORIZE ANY OF IT.

OKAY.

"LIBERATION."

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO NO FLAG THAT DENIGRATES MY HUMAN SPIRIT, STIFLES MY SOUL IN HATRED, MURDERS THE CONSCIOUS THOUGHTS IN MY MIND, TRASHES MY HISTORY AND CULTURE, DENIES MY RIGHT TO GOD´S PROMISES, BASTARDIZES MY CHILDREN.

I DESERVE DIGNITY.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO LOVE, JUSTICE, TRUTH, ENLIGHTENMENT, COURAGE, AND HOPE FOR STELLAR SUNRISES OF HUMANITY.

>> I LOVE THAT LINE.

I MEAN I LOVE THE ENTIRE POEM, BUT I LOVE THAT LINE, STELLAR SUNRISES OF HUMANITY, ESPECIALLY IN CHALLENGING TIMES.

>> IN CHALLENGING TIMES.

>> MM-HMM.

>> THE ONLY WAY THE PANDEMIC WAS SEEN PHYSICALLY IS A SPIRITUAL PANDEMIC.

IT´S BECAUSE WE HAVE LOST OUR WAY SPIRITUALLY.

UNTIL WE CAN FIND THE RIGHT COURSE FOR OUR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT, WE WILL NEVER SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF HUMANITY.

AND THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT WOMEN HAVE BEEN SUBJUGATED TO SECOND-CLASS STATUS.

I´M NOT HAVIN´ IT ANYMORE.

LIBERATION.

>> SO YOU´VE BEEN LIBERATED AS A WRITER.

DO YOU FIND THAT´S A COMMON THEME?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE COMMON THEME THROUGHOUT YOUR WRITING?

>> I THINK A LOT OF MY WRITING REFLECTS MY SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND DEVELOPMENT.

I NO LONGER DO THINGS FOR MY FLESH.

>> MM-HMM.

>> EVERYTHING I DO IS FOR MY SPIRIT, AND THAT´S HOW I RELATE TO PEOPLE, FROM MY SPIRIT, BECAUSE THE ANSWER TO THE UNIVERSE IS FOR US TO RECONNECT SPIRITS TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN ALL ASCEND TO OUR GREAT GOD.

ONCE WE CREATE DIVERSITY AND THROW OURSELVES INTO DIFFERENT GROUPS AND WE DON´T SEE THE SPIRIT IN THE HUMAN BEING -- I CAN SEE YOUR SPIRIT RIGHT NOW, SHAWNA, AND I´M TELLING YOU IT SHINES BRIGHT LIKE THE LIGHT IN YOUR EYES.

>> SO IF I WERE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT YOUR WRITINGS FROM TEN YEARS AGO OR EVEN 20 YEARS AGO, WILL I SEE THE EVOLUTION OF CAROL HENNAMAN AS A WRITER?

>> YOU HAVE TO SEE IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU´RE 40 AND YOU SWEAR YOU KNOW EVERYTHING -- >> OR YOU´RE 20.

>> YES.

AT 18, MY ANSWER TO MY MOTHER, EVERYTHING SHE TOLD ME IS "I KNOW."

NOW, WHAT DO YOU KNOW AT 18?

EXPLAIN TO ME.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

>> NOT AS MUCH AS YOU THINK YOU DO.

>> OKAY.

BUT THE TRUTH IS AS MY SPIRIT EVOLVES AND I BECOME TO -- I COME TO NEW TRUTHS IN MY LIFE, I REALIZE THAT THE ANSWERS LIE IN YOUR SPIRIT, NOT IN YOUR FLESH.

>> SO YOU´VE BEEN TELLING YOUR STORY.

>> YES.

>> AS A WRITER.

WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO FEEL THAT THEY MAY HAVE A STORY TO TELL.

>> YES.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THE VERY SHY, YOU KNOW, CREATIVE OUT THERE ABOUT TELLING THEIR OWN STORY?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT I LOVE?

JOURNALING.

I LOVE THAT BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES IS IT GIVES YOU THE PRIVACY TO EXPRESS ANYTHING YOU WANT.

>> MM-HMM.

>> WITHOUT THE AUDIENCE.

SEE, ONCE YOU PUT YOUR WORK OUT, THEN PEOPLE START TO SEE DIMENSIONS OF YOU, AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE CRITICISMS AND THE REACTIONS.

SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH IN THEIR SPIRIT SELVES TO TAKE THE BOMBARDMENT.

BUT, YOU SEE, I´M 67 NOW.

I DON´T CARE.

>> SO YOU THINK FOR THE PERSON OUT THERE WHO IS THINKING THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TO START WITH JOURNALING.

>> START JOURNALING.

START WRITING YOUR UNPROVOKED THOUGHT.

WE DID A DASTARDLY THING TO OUR CHILDREN BECAUSE WE ALWAYS TRY TO GIVE THEM PROMPTS TO WRITE.

>> MM-HMM.

>> YOU SEE?

>> BUT PROMPTS AREN´T A BAD THING.

>> THEY´RE NOT A BAD THING.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO KNOW CHILDREN, YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE SCENT OF HEART, THE SCENT OF EARTH.

THAT´S HOW I TEACH.

I DON´T CARE IF YOU DON´T REMEMBER A THING I TAUGHT YOU, BUT YOU´RE ALWAYS GOING TO REMEMBER THAT I LOVED YOU.

FROM THE DAY I SEE MY STUDENTS, I´M IN LOVE.

>> SO WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE?

>> WHAT INSPIRES ME?

>> WE´VE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HUMANITY, AND WE´VE TALKED ABOUT SPIRITUALITY.

>> YES.

>> DO YOU -- I MEAN THERE´S SO MUCH HAPPENING IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

>> I HAVE TO SAY THE TRUTH.

>> UH-HUH.

>> I STUDY SO MUCH, AND I´VE LEARNED SO MUCH.

ON ANY GIVEN DAY, I HAVE MOTIVATION.

I JUST SEE IT NATURALLY IN EVERYTHING I SAY AND DO.

>> MM-HMM.

>> I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THOUGH, WHAT´S BURNING MY SPIRIT RIGHT NOW IS THE GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE OF WOMEN.

>> UH-HUH.

>> I SEE TOO MANY WOMEN WHOSE DREAMS HAVE GONE UNREALIZED, AND THAT IS WHAT´S KEEPING BACK THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORLD.

>> SO IN YOUR POETRY, DO YOU ELEVATE THE WOMAN?

>> ALL THE TIME.

>> SO YOU HAVE A PIECE HERE CALLED "COLD CARRIERS".

>> YES.

>> THAT MADE ME THINK OF WOMEN FOR SOME REASON.

>> COULD YOU IMAGINE THAT WAS LIKE?

EVERY DAY PUTTING THIS HUGE BASKET OF COAL ON YOUR HEAD.

YOU´RE BLACK FROM HEAD TO TOE LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY.

AND YOU WALK UP AND DOWN THOSE PLANTS TO THE SHIPS.

>> MM-HMM.

>> NOBODY THANKING, NOBODY CARING.

>> BUT IN THIS PIECE, EVEN THOUGH WE SPEAK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE CHALLENGES THEY HAD, YOU ALSO WRITE ABOUT THEIR SPIRITS.

>> YES.

>> SO SHARE THIS WITH OUR AUDIENCE, PLEASE.

>> CERTAINLY.

"COLD CARRIERS" STRADDLED BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH IN A CACOPHONY OF HUMAN DESPAIR CAME THE COAL CARRIERS.

GENUFLECTED FOR THE STRENGTH TO BREATHE BLACK GOLD FROM DUST TO HEAVEN´S GLORIOUS GATE.

SIFTING THROUGH THE DARKNESS FOR THE LIGHT-FILLED MOSS OF CREATION.

THE VICTORIOUS COAL CARRIERS NEVER BENDING, NEVER SOBBING FOR THEIR LOT.

AFTER ALL, THEY WERE COAL CARRIERS AND TO DUST THOU SHALL RETURN.

>> YEAH, AND NEVER BENDING.

>> NEVER BENDING.

UNRELENTING.

BUT, YOU SEE, BLACK WOMEN ARE THE MOTHERS OF CREATION.

>> MM-HMM.

>> SO WE´RE BUILT FOR IT.

EVEN THOUGH WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE HIERARCHY OF HUMANITY, BLACK WOMEN ARE ON THE BOTTOM.

BUT GUESS WHAT?

WE WERE THE FIRST ONES WHO BROUGHT LIFE TO THE WORLD.

AND UNTIL WE ELEVATE AND GENERATE, THE WORLD CAN´T BE SAVED.

>> MM-HMM.

SO WITH YOUR WRITING, YOU ELEVATE WOMEN.

>> YES.

>> HUMANITY.

>> YES.

>> SPIRITUALITY.

HAS THERE EVER BEEN A TOPIC THAT WAS DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO ADDRESS AS A WRITER?

>> HMM.

BECAUSE OF MY DIRECTNESS, A LOT OF TIMES, SOMETIMES I HOLD BACK WHAT I REALLY FEEL BECAUSE DON´T GET ME STARTED AND THE WAY THE CHURCH HAS TREATED WOMEN, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER CHAPTER IN A VERY LONG BOOK.

I HAVEN´T GOTTEN THE COURAGE YET TO WRITE THOSE THINGS BECAUSE I´M WONT TO LOSE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHEN I WRITE IT.

>> BUT YOU´VE TACKLED THE TOPIC OF RACISM AND OPPRESSION.

>> YES.

>> IN YOUR PIECE "FALL DOWN," YOU TALK ABOUT SYSTEMIC RACISM AND HOW IT HAS AFFECTED OUR BLACK PEOPLE.

AND I THOUGHT THAT THIS PIECE WAS SO RELEVANT.

BUT WHEN DID YOU FIRST -- WHEN DID YOU WRITE THIS?

>> A FEW WEEKS AGO.

>> A FEW WEEKS AGO, OKAY.

>> BUT, YOU KNOW, IT´S A FEW WEEKS AGO ON PAPER, BUT IT´S A LIFETIME OF LIVING IT.

>> IT´S YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCE.

>> YES.

>> AND ALL OF THE POETRY -- ALL OF YOUR WRITING REFLECTS YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCE.

>> YES.

>> I THINK IT´S SO IMPORTANT FOR WRITERS.

>> I WAS VERY FORTUNATE IN THE SENSE THAT MY PARENTS SENT ME TO SCHOOL WITH ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND SO I NEVER HAD FEELINGS OF INFERIORITY BECAUSE I COMPETED FROM THE TIME I WAS A CHILD WITH PEOPLE OF ALL COLORS AND AGES AND RACES.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND I ALWAYS WAS ABLE TO PREVAIL, YOU KNOW?

SO I NEVER HAD THAT ANXIETY.

BUT A LOT OF CHILDREN THINK THAT THEIR BLACK SKIN MAKES THEM INFERIOR.

>> AND SO THIS POEM SPEAKS TO ERASING THOSE STRUCTURES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THAT?

>> DO YOU SEE THAT THE TWO OF US ARE SITTING HERE WITH NATURAL HAIR?

I WOULD HAVE NEVER, EVER THOUGHT OF WEARING MY NATURAL HAIR.

I HATED MY NATURAL HAIR.

I USED TO CRY EVERY MORNING IN THE MIRROR, WHY COULDN´T I GET LONG, STRAIGHT HAIR?

THAT´S BECAUSE IT WAS SO INGRAINED IN MY PSYCHE THAT WHAT WAS ELEVATION WAS TO LOOK LIKE SOMEBODY OTHER THAN I LOOKED.

COULD YOU IMAGINE THE DAMAGE?

>> I CERTAINLY CAN, AND THAT´S -- SO TELL US ABOUT "FALL DOWN."

SHARE THIS WITH THE AUDIENCE.

>> OKAY.

"FALL DOWN."

FALL DOWN ALL VESTIGES OF SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES.

FALL DOWN PARTS OF THOSE WHO THINK BECAUSE I AM WOMAN, I AM SUBSERVIENT.

FALL DOWN ALL MONUMENTS TO MAN´S SAVAGE, SPURIOUS SLAVERY OF IDEAS.

FALL DOWN TO ALL IMAGES THAT GLORIFY THE DEITY OF GOD IN BASTARDIZED HUMANITY.

FALL DOWN ALL DIVISIONS OF SOCIETY THAT SEPARATE ME FROM YOU IN JUDGMENT OF EACH OTHER.

FALL DOWN ECONOMIC PATTERNS OF POVERTY, MALNUTRITION, AND UNDEREDUCATING.

FALL DOWN ANGRY MALFUNCTIONING MURDERERS WHO DESTINED FAMILIES TO LIVES OF SEETHING SPASMS OF PAIN.

FALL DOWN BELLICOSE VOICES WHO BELCH NON-TOLERANT HATRED OF PEOPLE BASED ON --.

FALL DOWN POLITICAL TRICKERIES OF AGGRANDIZEMENT, POWER GRABBING AND GREED.

FALL DOWN ALL PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR WHICH CAUSES HUMANITY TO GRIEVE.

>> THIS SHOULD BE RECOMMENDED READING.

>> BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT´S SO INGRAINED IN OUR PSYCHE.

>> MM-HMM.

>> THAT WE ARE SECOND CLASS, THAT WE ACTUALLY PERPETUATE THE SYSTEM OURSELVES.

>> AND BY GREATER EXPOSURE TO OUR AUTHORS, TO OUR CARIBBEAN AUTHORS -- >> YES.

>> -- WE HOPE TO BREAK THAT CYCLE.

SO BEFORE WE WRAP, ARE THERE ANY LAST WORDS THAT YOU HAVE FOR OUR AUDIENCE?

>> YES.

ON THE PYRAMID OF GIZA, IT SAYS, MAN -- AND I PUT THE "WO" IN FRONT BECAUSE I DON´T PUT MYSELF AS MAN.

KNOW THYSELF.

THAT IS THE ANSWER TO YOUR EXISTENCE ON THE PLANET, SELF-DISCOVERY.

>> THOSE ARE EXCELLENT WORDS TO CLOSE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

IT´S BEEN MY PLEASURE TO TALK WITH YOU AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND YOUR POETRY AND YOUR PROSE.

IT HAS BEEN MY PLEASURE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOCAL TALENT, MISS CARE HENNAMAN AND DISCUSS HER COLLECTED WORKS OF POETRY AND PROSE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HER COLLECTED WORKS OR ANY OF THE BOOKS FEATURED ON THIS PROGRAM, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL AUTHORS, AND WE´LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK WHEN WE TAKE ANOTHER BOOK FROM "THE BOOKCASE."

♫♫ >> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.

>> THIS PROGRAM WAS UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY -- >> UNDERCOVER BOOKS AND GIFTS IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF VIRGIN ISLANDS PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

THIS INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE LOCATED IN CHRISTIANSTED CARRIES A SELECTION OF BOOKS, GIFTS, AND FAIR TRADE PRODUCTS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.UNDERCOVERBOOKS ST. CROIX.COM.

>> MY GIRLFRIEND´S CLOSET IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF LOCAL AUTHORS.

FIND OUT MORE AT 340-514-8008 OR ONLINE AT MCGSTX.COM.

>> AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

♫♫