Praise Poems

The praise poem is an African tradition used by the tribe so that young adults begin and continue life knowing who they are and that they belong, they are loved and that they each have special gifts.  Like all of us - we tend to forget if we don't have a touchstone to help us remember.  This is a very powerful touchstone.

The format is

1 - your lineage ...I am..son/daughter of ...who was the son/daughter of...etc

2. physical description  ...I am tall, with long dark hair and full wide hips.  my belly is round..my eyes are bright and ..(you get the picture - people go all over the place with this...)

3. who are you...and you can say whatever it is that makes you you - that is special about your or important to you..

Praise Poem EXAMPLES:

I was born Mary Margaret Sweet to Irl (pronounced Earl) and Iris Sweet,
descended from blue-collar English people who work hard, live a long time,
and look forward to heaven when they're done. We are quiet people, a little
anxious, a little depressed, steady and predictable, salt of the earth, very
intelligent, less "successful."

I am an Appalachian woman, common as the pines on the Blue Ridge. We start
out looking alike and only grow more so with the passing years. Nothing
exotic here, just strong bones, pale skin, brown hair, and a face full of
"character." I often stand still, but inside my head and heart I am
skipping, dancing, singing, crying, hugging and holding up the world.

I make music. I make jokes and funny songs. I make great cookies. I make friends, especially with animals and old folks. I make people feel better, more hopeful, more proud, more capable. I make time, to watch the sun set or to marvel at the harmonic curve of a paper clip. I make a life that my family can't understand, and the making is my personal adventure. I make
marvelous, incredible children. I make memories, a flamboyant hodgepodge of moments that sustain me in the dry times. I make things better, at least most of the time.

I am Anita Santiago.
I am the daughter of Belia,
Grandaughter of Ricarda,
Who was the daughter of Maria,
Daughter of Josefa.
I am olive skinned and hazel eyed - a blend of peoples
From the mediterrean basin and mesoamerican indigenous.
I have greying hair and I think of myself as the Silver Fox.
I am descended from folk who broke with traditions,
Adopted a new language, religion and identities.
I grew up as a minority within a minority community.
And have always been neither Fish nor Fowl.
What was my burden is now my celebration.
And my gift is to see and speak the truth about myself And others.
I have continued the explorations of my forebearers by Sharing expeditions in life with Black Panthers and European royalty, La Jolla surfers and Girls Raised in The South, mystics and schizophrenics, Eastern and Brazilian spirituality. 
I've been nailed on the cross, and have been outside my Body.
I am a mother to a son and two daughters, to animals and To trees.
When I embrace differentness, I become ONE.

Carl’s Praise poem

I am the son of Carl Sr. who is the son of Levi.

I am the only boy out of 5 children.

I am a useful and worthy vessel of brown skin with a thin frame but all structure,

with two large foundations.

Yet at 6’6" and 215 pounds, I’m just a teenage1 eager to learn,

still able to mold, the center of the crowd.

I’m athletic but artistic, open-minded but optimistic, with a heavy desire for success. Friendly sociable, intelligent, and strong willed,

blessed with courageous and God fearing parents,

who always push to keep me in the right direction.

I love to be with my church family as well as my own,

with a strong-will to play basketball and develop literary skill.

There’s much I think I know, but there’s still lots of wisdom to enstow.

I will be successful, I will survive, and I can achieve anything with God on my side.

My name is Clarice and I am the daughter of Betty Ann the daughter of Clarice Parker.

I am fat, black and incredibly awesome!

I reach from here to there and stretch myself as I’m developed.

I’m here to reign in myself. I no longer want to hide (out in the opening),

but I want to be used of God to bring unity of heart to my community.

I want to see my community free from bitterness, self-hatred, and self-destruction.

I want to see the encrusted beauty within, become the beauty and outshining of God’s marvelous concept that we are jewels that make up His crown.

I am the son of Nellie Ann and George,

whose parents were Hubert and Lizzie and Colbert and Christine

Their forebears came from Ireland, England, and Scotland.

I am tall, male and I don’t have much hair, my eyes are hazel and I am reasonably fair.

Early in life I learned that, while life can be good,

most people are short on the stick and they don’t get a fair shake in life.

The result are two-fold: first I want to enjoy life and I do

but there is another part that everybody should enjoy life

and there are ways to make that happen.

So I spend my time pushing the good things, my family, my friend, and some company and trying to fix the things that are broke so we can all have a good time.