Written by L. M. Land, with photos by L. M. Land
“Proclamation: In recognition of National Poetry Month and the integrative, education platform, Black Dandelion: Convergent Voice™ founded and facilitated by Flint Poet Laureate Semaj Brown to lift literacy, art, science and to build self-esteem and Community through public presentation, and as a technology to deter violence, in an effort to evolve the world in which we seek to create, whereas, Mayor Sheldon Neeley and City Council President, Dr. Ladel Lewis declare by proclamation:
BLACK DANDELION: CONVERGENT VOICE™ LITERACY WEEK:
Monday, April 7, 2025 through Saturday, April 12, 2025.
A Celebration of Literacy, Art, and Unimagined Ecosystems!”
Featured photo: Girls in the New Standard Academy worked together as a “Creative Media Team”. They range from grades 10-12. Pictured are (in random order) Ciarra Johnson, Kiarra Johnson, Shazar Harris, Zaniyah Harris and Saniyah Wallace.
When Semaj Brown became Flint’s Poet Laureate, she became committed to promoting literacy for the children of Flint. And just like a dandelion, Brown’s ideas blossomed into a multi-generational, multi-media educational platform for literacy, which is now being used from Flint, Michigan to West Togo in Africa, for elementary school students through to students pursuing graduate studies.
Inspired by the reaction of children around the world to her poem “Black Dandelion”, Brown developed Black Dandelion: Convergent Voice (BDCV), featuring Poetry as a Second Language: The Semajian Method.™ The method uses poetry to expand and amplify literacy and critical thinking. The program combines poetry with other experiences such as art, science, history, public speaking and more for a well-rounded and deeper experience of literacy and of self.
Lack of literacy is a school-to-prison pipeline in America, explained Brown. “We did not birth our children to go to prison.”
BDCV sponsors Flint Literacy Week, beginning on April 7, 2025 at a 10 a.m., with a press conference, and ending on April 18. The main categories are:
Professional presentations, lectures and workshops
Student presentations: poetry, prose and art
Gather and grow groups discuss Black Dandelion
City-wide poetry, literacy games and fun activities
Adult sessions allow you to have the Black Dandelion experience and attend workshops to learn about disciplines such as working with neuro-divergent learners, the science of literacy for older learners and more!
All City of Flint Literacy Week programs are free, but some require registration. A link with details is below.
The Courier got a sneak peek of the great work Flint children created at the Black History Month Art Contest for Flint Children on February 7 at the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library.
The Black History Month Art Contest was organized by 1st Ward City Councilman Leon El-Alamin, 2nd Ward City Councilwoman Dr. Ladel Lewis and 7th Ward City Councilwoman Candice Mushatt. Pastor Sean D. Payne of Galilean Baptist Church opened the event with prayer.
The council members also supplied awards and gift cards to the students and stood with the children in their ward for photos.
Children in the BDCV program were participants in the contest, and they will also be at the FIA on February 11, where their art will be on display.
There will also be some student presentations on April 8 at the University of Michigan-Flint.
The BDCV students studied the Black Dandelion poem and wrote about their personal responses.
Then, working in partnership with Matthew Osmon, director of Education at the Flint Institute of Arts (FIA), the students went to the FIA to illustrate their interpretation.
The next step was to write an essay about their interpretations, now having a deeper understanding of how to communicate their initial reactions to Black Dandelion. Students then read their work to their fellow students.
At the award event, the students read their poems or essays to parents and teachers while their art work was projected on a screen. One group made a video, other students made three-dimensional work, drawings or paintings.
The award-winning essays and video were diverse, some of which were on lynchings, the restriction on women and their bodies, hair having memory, a bee story, why are Black people called ‘”colored” when white people actually change colors more and “We will forever be here, we cannot be erased.”
Schools represented in the contest were: Brownell Stem Flint, The New Standard Academy, Madison Academy High School, Greater Heights Academy, Hamady Middle and High School and Eagles Nest Academy. Many of the teachers came to applaud their students at the Black History Month Art Contest as well.
The BDCV program also utilizes the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library, the MW Gallery, and the University of Michigan-Flint.
The BCCV program is education as it should be, meaningful to the student of any age. By including a broad range of disciplines, children have a better ability to express themselves and have more options for their lives as adults.
Words have power. Knowing how to use those words can enhance or change your life. Come to the City of Flint Literacy Week to experience the power of words!
A video made by Mr. Richard Thompson, principal of Greater Heights Academy, shares the experience of his students in the BDCV program with Flint Poet Laureate Semaj Brown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=WfGkRUgeQxE
For Literacy Week info, scroll down on the home page to the purple, blue green and red boxes on the webpage https://www.bdcvliteracyweek.com/
You can also look at the calendar format at: https://www.bdcvliteracyweek.com/calendar-of-events
Link to the poem Black Dandelion: https://poets.org/poem/black-dandelion
Link to video of Semaj Brown reading her poem Black Dandelion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nhh-aX75FQ
