Tayari's Blog: We Speak Your Name: a message from Pearl

Comment #1, by Lettie Raab

Dear Tayari: I can't tell you how proud I am of you!! Today I took the ACCESS 05 faculty to the Challenge Works course!! It's still great..this is the tenth class!! I am getting old..well maybe not old, just more mature. God bless you. Mrs R

Comment #2, by Ruth Benjamin

I anxiously await the publication of the poem. I've heard so much about it. I am a librarian but had not been introduced to Pearl Cleage. (shame) However, I am now ordering her works. Do you know if Oprah is going to televise the big party? I've read everything available (in the press) about it but would just enjoy seeing all the glitz and glamour.

Comment #3, by Raneza

I also contacted Ms Cleage and I have read all of the publications about Oprah's party. Thanks for the notification about the August issue.

Comment #4, by Chastity Graham

I was amaze to see the most beautiful and empowering women at Oprah's celebration. When I read that this poem was so powerful I said, "this will be the poem that my female youths 13-16 participating in the GEMS (Girls Empowered to Move Successfully) mentoring program will recite". Each year we recoginze women who have made a difference in our lives.

Thank you so much for allowing me to be even more creative with our female youth.

Comment #5, by Valorie A. Greggs

Looking forward to reading the August issue to catch a excerpt of this poem....waiting
for the publication.

Comment #6, by Sherrie

To whom would like to hear it,

I am a 25 year old young lady currently attending college in Orlando, Florida. When I heard pieces of the poem read on Entertainment Tonight I cried as I am right now. For many will never know how true and heart felt the poem is, but it will live in my heart forever. It is truly a lesson within a lesson and I thank Mrs. Cleage for writing such an inspiring poem honoring our Mothers of Mothers, etc. God Bless.

Comment #7, by Ethel Pooler

What an empowering poem! I am so delighted to read it and feel that many will use the poem presently and in ages to come - youths expressing gratitude to those who have paved the way. Congratulations!

Comment #8, by marzie fayne

I am a legend. Maybe not a rich or famous legend, but a legend in my own world, rather it be rich or poor.

If only all our young'uns knew and understood the true meaning of the poem "We Speak Your Names". A poem that speaks for all African-American women who lived before us, and none rich or famous. But those strong blackwomen who carried the troubles of this world on their shoulder. Those legends who were sold into slavery, taken from their children and that legend who tried to encourage the black man by showing him respect, something he didn't get anywhere but at home.

Comment #9, by Neusa Monjane

I am a very proud, young African - Mozambican woman with an appreciation for all that is true and devine, like the strong Black women through out the world that carried us in their womb, and made us proud of who we are today. I can not expressed the joy and glory I felt after reading a passage from Mrs Cleage's poem. Tears watered my eyes and I yearned for more, for in her words are the purest description of how I feel for the generation of women before me.

I can not wait for the publication, for it will give me an opportunity to look into my mothers eyes as I read the poem to her,and thank her for the breath and strengh she carries, and for having single handedly raised me to being the strong and proud Black woman that I am today.

Comment #10, by Kim Johnson

Just the excerpt from Oprah's magazine moved me to tears. Please let me know when it has released.

Comment #11, by B J Gray

Hello Pearl, I heard your poem on the Oprah show and I am so proud of you, wonderful words and inspiring, thank you, I can't wait to have it, to read to my grandaughter 12years old.