Notes from Xalapa
I am the Black woman,
Science and engineering scholar.
I am the vision that you never knew existed.
I am the “out-of-the-box” scholar who loves and hugs and doesn’t keep her distance.
I show the future to your sons and daughters,
And am the friend that you never knew you had,
Until you met me.
I am the voice that you never knew you needed to hear,
Until you listened.
Whether I speak your language or not,
My eyes and smile convey that I see you,
And value you,
And you tell me that you carry that with you,
And so I am happy to have made your acquaintance.
I learn from you,
You learn from me,
And together,
We are better.
So now that you know me,
Come. Take my hand.
Join me in the struggle to lift others up,
To cast light into dark places,
And to hold truth as dear.
My “I” turns to “we,”
And now, my friends,
We work …
Together.
And we advance.
“Adelante” my dear friends,
“Adelante.”