From the Anthology
Black Women Coping in Clevelandby Dominique Kizer
Born and raised in the Ghetto!
It prepared me for this cold world, and all of it’s battles
That’s why my skin is so tough
Most say I’m a little too rough, and that my attitude seem stuck up
I had to learn how to roll with the punches
If I get knocked down, I had to get right back up
Growing up in the hood there wasn’t any luck
If you made it out the hood, that meant you put in a lot of work
I done seen it all, and heard it all
Blood splatter on the walls
Lil Ray Ray selling dope right across the hall
No food sometimes, and no lights
Then yall wonder why I was so angry, and always wanted to fight
Breaking all of the rules and getting kicked out of school
Barely making it, so If I wanted it, I would take it
Joined a gang, I thought I was building bonds
When I got locked up no one helped, or even try to pay my bond
Now, here I am in jail all alone, doing 20 years for some else’s crime
Author Bio
Dominique Kizer was born and raised in East Cleveland, Ohio. She is currently a 6th grade English teacher. Dominique is passionate about self Love and empowerment. Outside of being a teacher she enjoys traveling and focusing on her brand. She owns (Fro’s Get Chose) an online retail store. This brand focuses on African American women embracing their natural hair and loving themselves. On Juneteenth she released her first children’s book called Kinky Hair Don’t care. She has always enjoyed writing growing up, especially poetry. Now she’s finally doing what she loves and sharing it with the world.
