Wow! If I didn’t know who those two were, there would be NO WAY you could tell me they were NOT mother and daughter! 🙂
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Gabby: All Around Gold
at fourteen she left known love
for another love of flying, pole-walking
and dancing on white floors.
not just a leap from virginia beach to des moines
it was climate change and evolution,
tidal waves, volcanoes and prayers
to embrace an extended family of
iowans and a coach from china.
this took heart, soul, silent music and strength
as she conquered a sport
not taught on the playgrounds & gyms of
natural headed black people: she exploded a dagger
into the doubts of experienced coordinators and
self-hating negroes who questioned her
“confidence and focus” and the naturalness of her hair.
she, in rejecting self-hatred, self-doubt & can’t do-ness
flew as a champion into the world’s living rooms
confirming talent, smiles & hair that
captured a first, gold, a sport & our hearts.
For Gabby Douglas and her all-around win in the
Olympic gymnastics competition of 2012.
8/02/12
Founder and Publisher of Third World Press, Former University Distinguished Professor and Founding Director of the MFA Program in Creative Writing at Chicago State University and Ida B. Wells-Barnett University Professor Emeritus at DePaul University.
