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 I
was born in America, but my parents come from Trinidad. I am 17 years
old. My hobbies are drawing and writing. There are six other people in
my family: My mother Betty, my sisters Janelle and Petra, my brother Reynold,
my father James and my little precious cute one year old niece Jandora,
who's also Czerina's (Radio Rookie Producer's) godchild. I joined Radio
Rookies for a reporter's experience. My sister Janelle was a Radio Rookie
and encouraged me to join. So far, I've enjoyed my experience, and for
the girls, I'm single. (Spring 2003)
Interesting Fact: I'm a very good rapper.
Story Description: Me and Junior
Michael, seventeen, is a second generation Trinidadian American who lives
in Brooklyn with his parents, siblings, and niece. Michael has idolized
his older brother, Junior, his entire life and has followed him into everything
-- good and bad, but mostly bad. Junior, who recently got arrested and
spent months in jail, insists that Michael stay in school but doesn't
do much to give Michael a positive example. Michael keeps finding himself
on the same path as Junior. In his story, Michael questions whether he
can, or even wants to, separate enough from his brother and their friends
to change his ways.
Michaels Poems:
Reynold James Lewis
Junior
Reynold James Lewis Jr. Born innocent, drawn into it. Robbery and
crack sales, decisions by the black male. Miserably headed back to
jail. Fast money, flash cash, black dummy backlash. Looking at the
world pass sitting in the back trapped. He’s designed to excel
but he’s confined to his cell. His mind’s in a well. For
awhile it was hell, then a smile came with bail. Now it’s time
to rewind (where he fell). He won’t fail.
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Mom
You’ve always been there telling me you cared but your words
just ran through my ears. It’s you I need to thank for living,
putting food out on thanksgiving, smell of turkey and burning of ham
from working early and returning of cans. Mom strong as Harriet Tubman,
moving milestones for her family’s production.
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Untitled 3
I’ve been through ups, I’ve been through downs. My pencil’s
up, my pen is down. Erase mistakes I’ve been around. Create my
faith on different grounds. Listen, learn study to a certain degree
and pay attention, it’s free. One day they might be mentioning
me on radio or TV. I gotta set my goals and go to the T. That’s
the top if god is willing. Gotta stop the lifestyle I’m living.
There’s a spot on file for Mama’s children. I doubt it’s
outside the building selling crack. Maybe a doctor or a congress man
laying back on a wealthy track but I could really see me making it
from rap. |
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Mentor: Jocelyn Gonzales is currently Producer
of Dish with Ed Levine, WNYC's weekly food program. After college, Jocelyn
learned about radio drama as Associate Producer of Radio Stage at WNYC.
In 1999, she took on the job of Associate Producer of Studio 360, the
national radio magazine produced by PRI and WNYC. She received a 2000
NYS Associated Press Award for Best Feature for her work on 360. Since
1994, Jocelyn has been teaching sound production and coordinating the
WNYU Radio Internship at Tisch School of the Arts. She's completely gratified
by the moments when her young colleagues transcend the technical stuff
and start finding their own voices and stories. (Spring 2003)
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