The hardship, suffering and abuse
You have faced go far beyond
Any story of recorded history,
Especially the women
Who are the descendants
Of those captured
And brought to a foreign land,
Forced to work as slaves. 
Descendants of the slave trade,
What you have endured
Has not defeated you.
You maintain
Dignity, love and respect
For your men and children.
You have always been
The power base of the family unit.
Without the love you provide,
We could not exist.
Slavery should have moved us
To the point of extinction,
Yet you are the most powerful
And beautiful women on earth.
Regardless of the evil
Forced upon you,
You manage to always
Show love and respect
For your men and children,
To uplift us
Even when you were
Trodden upon.
You will always have
My greatest admiration,
Love and respect.
Let it be known to men,
If they are not aware,
That we are nothing
Without our Black women.
You are, without a doubt,
The greatest creation
God has ever made,
For your wisdom and ability
have no limit.
I thank God
For the power and belief
He has always placed in you.
The Black woman is the mother
Of all civilization,
The architect of our future.
Exceptionally You
By Neal C. Morrison, Jr.
VA Medical Center—Hampton, VA
Are you ordinary or extraordinary?
Do you stand with the crowd
Or do you stand
Out of the crowd?
Do you give in
To peer pressure
Or do you go your own way?
Are you a follower
Or are you a leader?
Do you follow
What others tell you
Or do you follow
Your own mind?
Do you totally
Submit to others
Or do you deny yourself
For others?
Do you need
To be accepted by everyone?
Do you feel validated
By others’ approval?
Do you feel worthless
When others think badly of you?

You are one of a kind
You are unique
You are special
You are exceptional.
Don’t deny yourself;
Don’t allow the world
To deny you.
Don’t allow anyone
Or anything
To hold you back
From being exceptional.
Following the crowd
Will get you nowhere.
If your peers
Are going nowhere
So will you.
Do you have
The need for others
To think good of you
Before you
Think good of yourself?
This may never happen.
Being liked by everyone
Gets you nowhere.
Be whom you were meant
To be.
Follow your heart
Follow your mind
Create your own path.
You will discover
The person God has meant
You to be.