Senior
Writing Portfolio Fall 2005 / Amberly Carter
Millikin University |
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Amberly Carter
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Amberly R. Carter
Writer/Editor/Activist
Born: May 23, 1985 in East Chicago, IN
Place of Current Residence: Chicago Heights, IL
Undergraduate College: Millikin University Class of 2006
Poetic Statement—I am a thought provoker. I am striving to leave a finger print of legacy on everything that I touch, everywhere that I go. The struggle is hard, but the purpose is greater, and so I will keep striving all the more earnestly to reach the goal. I am often quoted for saying, "My purpose in life is to erase as much ignorance about my people as possible... and so I write."
List of Professional Productions:
MANAGING EDITOR of the ENGLISH DEPT. NEWSLETTER
Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois (2005 - Present)
EDITOR of The DRUM
Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois (2004 - Present)
Opinions and Views Editor/GUEST WRITER for The Decaturian
Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois (2003 - Present)
* Founder of Diverse Magazine, a minority magazine (1999 - Present)
SCREENPLAYS:
My Brother's Keeper (2005)
Daisia-vue (Soon Coming Winter 2005)
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Poetics
Millikin has given me much to think about both inside and out of the classroom. Much of what I've gleaned has come from my peers. Through peer evaluations or even group projects I have learned so much about people and style. For a while I have been trying to find my writing style. I am honing it every time I write a poem, script, article, or research paper.
Before I got to Millikin, I only knew how to write in the formulas. I would have my stories and articles outlined in my head. I knew exactly how to write a lead and never stirred away from the written equations. I never even knew I was into creative writing until I took Creative Writing with Carmella Braniger. None of my poetry was every really good, but I enjoyed writing me as someone else. I found it therapeutic to write other people's lives the way I saw them and to write in the voice of people who are seldom heard and understood. It wasn't long after that when learned how much I loved screen play writing in Advanced Creative Writing. We read Director/Actor, Spike Lee's notes to the film "Do the Right Thing". Inspired by his tactics and great detail before even writing the script, I found it easier to write my own. "My Brother's Keeper" is a script I wrote to be an inspirational piece for Black males by showing a dramatic relationship between three generations of men. This script was created to be a positive vehicle for African American Males and to let African American Women know that they should not give up on them. The dialogue in this movie talks a lot to young men and boys that are growing up in urban communities that are run down and have nothing. I wanted to give the average Black kid (and the underprivileged) something to look forward to... success.
"Intelligence is the torch of wisdom". This quote is the public motto of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Since I was a junior in high school, I have wanted to become a member of this organization. Final last semester I was accepted through the membership intake process. These women have been molding me since my Freshman year in college. Through the Black Student Union, many of its graduated members taught me how to run a business organization and although DST is dedicated to service, Delta is definitely a business. I became a leader through organizations such as BSU, Homecoming Committee, and DST. They taught me how to create and carry out extensive programs. They made me feel as though I was making a difference not only on Millikin's campus, but in the community through Homework Hangout by tutoring and community service at various shelters and clubs. Millikin's slogan for Greek life is "Go Greek: Be a Leader", but the truth is the leader is already in the person, the organizations just magnify it ten times more.
I have finally found ways to incorporate my writing and all of the skills I have learned through campus activities, in a way that will help to promote diversity. In all of my writing, I make sure that it plays an active role in my purpose for life. My purpose in life is to erase as much ignorance about my people as possible and so I write... This has been my quote at the ends of much of my work. Because of my dedication to creating a much more culturally conscious society in White corporate America, I have promised to dedicate my life to writing for change and/or inspiration for all people oppressed because of -isms. Because of my morals and ethics taught to me by the organizations and the knowledge I got from the classroom I am now the editor of three papers, the Projector (the English Department Newsletter), the Drum (the only minority press on campus), and The Decaturian(the university newspaper).
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Introduction to "Leader of the Pack"
Segregation has become a form of classification and description, a process that has become acceptable and useful for certain circumstances. Are we hypocrites to not protest every form of segregation, even if it is convenient for us?
Have you ever walked into a bookstore or a library and seen the "African American" section that usually consists of less than one fourth of the entire store? Within this section is most, if not every book in the whole building that is about Black people or written by a Black person. I must admit that the "colored section" can be quite convenient for me when I'm looking for a relative topic within this "subject". Does that make me a hypocrite?
Why must America classify everything by race? I have to ask myself, is book shelf segregation and ethnic classification a racial situation? If so, then should I be doing something about it, so that my children's children don't have to ask themselves the same questions I am asking today? Will my questions prevent my grandchildren from being America's token Negroes of the 21 st century?
Are titles based on ethnicity, America's way of pointing out which people are the token people of color in their country? We [people of color] get placed in our "colored section". I am considered an African American writer, even though I don't write solely about Black people. Because of this, I will never be seen as just a writer or even a writer who writes about race and equality. White writers aren't seen as just White writers, but rather, it is understood that if their color is not stated they are color-less. This country will never be truly diverse until the people in the "colored section" are mixed with the people in the "European section", be it on the shelves or in social stratification. Please help tear down the walls that divide this country and stand up for what is just.
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Leader of the Pack
by
Amberly R. Carter
As a group of people we must be careful who we allow to be our leaders. Many times we don't speak up when we have false representatives and this leads to destruction of nations and even genocide. For example, many people debate about Malcolm X's tactics. He died young. Maybe if he had been able to live a little while longer, his views would have changed. Maybe he would have joined Martin Luther King, Jr. and taught his followers to fight injustice with non-violent protests. Either way, these were two powerful leaders that voiced their beliefs and dreams for social justice, they just went about it differently. Today, Martin Luther King, Jr. is the most talked about Black man in African American History classes. Very seldom is Malcolm's name mentioned and he may have impacted Black America just as much as King (but it's all about tact).
I wouldn't want my African American culture to be misrepresented. I feel just as passionate about Hip Hop culture. Hip Hop is a culture and a generation of people. It's more than just music, it's a movement. I wouldn't want Hip Hop to be driven away because of poor leadership. On September 2, 2005, Kanye West made a loaded statement that was broadcasted on live television, "George Bush doesn't care about Black people". Kanye West is a young African American emcee and producer. Does he really have any authority to make claims on political issues? Don't get me wrong politics are a part of the Hip Hop culture, but why did Mr. West's statement shake the nation? Kanye is the voice of the Hip Hop generation, whether we want him to be or not. So, not only are we allowing these artists to dictate what we wear and what we listen to, but also what we think. We allowed him to speak for us because no one else stood up. I'm speaking up now because I'm trying to save a nation.
We've got to prepare ourselves for this battle. Put on the full armor against those who work to tear down our independent, conscious ideas. Bring forth leaders and activists that use tact. Music artist Lauryn Hill explains it like this in her song, Forgive Them Father, "Beware the false motives of others/Be careful of those who pretend to be brothers/And you never suppose it's those who are closest to you, to you/They say all the right things to gain their position/Then use your kindness as their ammunition/To shoot you down in the name of ambition, they do." So with that, I'm looking out for the people, for the nation, for our survival.
My purpose in life is to erase as much ignorance about my people as possible... and so I write.
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©2005
Randy Brooks—all rights return to the authors upon publication.
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