The Poet Laureate of Soul
The Poet Laureate of Soul celebrates 50 years of music
Words have always come easy for William "Smokey" Robinson. As a singer, songwriter, and producer, his career has spanned some five decades with a catalog of 4,000 tunes and 36 top-ten songs.
"When I sit down to write a song, I'm trying to write a song where if I wrote it 50 years before then it would have meant something and it's going to mean something today and 50 years from now it's going to mean something," said Robinson, who also brought Diana Ross and the Supremes to the label.
Robinson has a voice like butter, but don't let the smooth taste fool you. He always has something profound to sing and say. Recently the award winning performer made it no secret that he wasn't pleased with the film "Dreamgirls". He publicly expressed his disapproval of the film's inaccurate portrayal of Gordy, his best friend of 50 years.
"Motown is my heritage. It's my life. If I didn't speak out, I would be letting them step on my life," Robinson said. "The young people who don't really know the real story will look at this as being what really went on at Motown...I don't want that picture to be painted to young people about Motown and Berry Gordy. People should be proud of Berry Gordy. He bridged some gaps, broke down some racial barriers, some ethnic barriers, some intercontinental barriers, and all that with music. All over the world Motown music is loved and respected."
For Jesse Owens
For Jesse Owens
By:Lamont. B. Steptoe
Like some dark comet
You streaked across the sky of the
worldLeaving nations to wonder
For generations.
Magic
African shamanBolting from the blocks
Faster than a slave
From a hound dog
Running North to freedom.
Run so fast that
Der FurherWas in fervor
And Jack booted nazis
Couldn't believe their eyes!
Blew Deutschland's mind
Years before the allies pounded
Berlin to rubble.
Didn't they know
That your
ancestors used to chase
gazelleFor fun?
They say you died but naw
You just movin' so fast
They can't see you no mo'
Do dat
Jesse !
Answers To MySpace Survey
1. Do you have a MySpace, if so how long have you been a member?
Answer-Yes I have a MySpace, I have been a member since the begining of October.
2. Do you feel the need to get on MySpace everyday, if so why?
Answer-No I do not feel the need to get on MySpace everyday, because its never nothing new on MySpace.
3. How many friends do you have on MySpace?
Answer- I have about 154 friends on MySpace.
4. Do you know most of your friends on MySpace personally?
Answer-Yes I know just about all of my friends on MySpace.
5. How do your parents feel about having a MySpace?
Answer-My mother is fine with the fact that I have a MySpace as long as I don't post any personal information about myself and the people that I encounter with.
6. When did you first hear about MySpace?
Answer-I first heard about MySpace in the 8th grade through a close friend of mine.
7. Do you feel that MySpace has had an impact on your academics, in what way?
Answer-I dont think MySpace has had an impact on my academics, because I get on MySpace in my free time.
8. Do you fell that MySpace is dangerous, why or why not?
Answer-I don't feel MySpace is dangerous, because I am not harmed in any way anybody that I talk to on MySpace is either a friend of mine or a family member that I haven't spoken to in a long time.
9. What advice would you give someone who is a first timer on MySpace?
Answer-I would tell them to just be safe and don't give out any personal information.
10. If there were no MySpace how would you react?
Answer-I would be fine, probably spend more time with my family and friends.
Answers To Kiri Davis Test
1. Who is Kiri Davis?
Answer-Kiri Davis is a 17 year old filmmaker.
2. What is the title of Kiri Davis's film?
Answer-A girl like me.
3. What was the inspiration of Kiri's film?
Answer-By the "Famous Doll Test" that was originally conducted by Dr. Kenneth Clark in the 1930's.
4. What was the purpose of the "Famous Doll Test"?
Answer-To convince the Supreme Court to strike down segreation in the Brown vs. Board of Education.
5. How many children were asked to take the Famous Doll Test?
Answer-21.
6. How manychildren picked the white doll?
Answer-15.
7. How do you feel about viewing the segment about Kiri Davis and the test?
Answer-(My answer) I feel that the situation is sad to see young black children pick a race other than their own.
8. If you were one of the children that had to take the test what doll would you pick, and why?
Answer-(My answer) I would pick the black doll, because when I was younger that was all I had to play with because the black doll looks closer to me than the white doll.
9. Would you be interested in doing a doll test or something similar to this?
Answer-(My answer) Yes I would be interested in doing a test similar to this.
10. How old was Kiri Davis when she made her film?
Answer-16.
