"Hey Black Child" Poem Recited By Pe’Tehn Raighn-Kem (2015) And By Kaleb Porter (2021)

Windy City LIVE, Feb.  25, 2015

This little DYNAMO is a must see, and she's from right here in Chicago! Meet 3-year-old Pe’Tehn Raighn-Kem from Bronzeville! Take a look of her performing “Hey, Black Child” on Windy City Live! -snip-
Three year old Pe’Tehn Raighn-Kem incorrectly attributed this poem to African American poet, novelist, children's writer, and playwriight Countee Cullen (May 30, 1903 – January 9, 1946). Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countee_Cullen for information about Countee Cullen.

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Edited by Azizi Powell
 
This pancocojams post showcases wo YouTube videos of the poem "Hey Black Child" and provides the words to that poem. Information about Useni Eugene Perkins, the author of that poem is also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, inspirational, purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Useni Eugene Perkins for his cultural legacy. Thanks also to Pe’Tehn Raighn-Kem and to Kaleb Porter for their recitation of this poem. Thanks to the publishers of these videos and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/10/useni-eugene-perkins-hey-black-child.html for a 2015 pancocojams post on this poem. That post presents information about Useni Eugene Perkins and also contains several visitor comments. 

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
A number of websites, YouTube videos, and comments on YouTube discussion threads mistakenly indicate that Countee Cullen is the author of the inspirational poem "Hey Black Child". Other websites, YouTube videos, and discussion thread comments attribute that poem to Maya Angelou.  In the now viral* 2015 video of a three year old African American girl (Pe’Tehn Raighn-Kem) reciting "Hey Black Girl", Countee Cullen was named as the author of that poem.   

 The actual author of "Hey Black Child" is Useni Eugene Perkins.

*There are several YouTube videos of reciting "Hey Black Child". As of Feb. 8, 2022 at 9:40 PM ET, the first YouTube video clip that was published of that television recitation by Pe’Tehn Raighn-Kem (on Chicago, Illinois' Windy City LIVE daytime talk show) Feb. 25, 2015 has 10,969,422 views. 

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: Black History Moment: Hey Black Child



fbcsomerset, Feb. 21, 2022

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INFORMATION ABOUT USENI EUGENE PERKINS

From http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/useni-eugene-perkins-39

"Useni Eugene Perkins is a distinguished poet, playwright and youth worker. Born in Chicago on September 13, 1932, he was the son of Marion Perkins, a sculptor, and Eva Perkins. Being exposed to the arts at a young age through his father would prove to be a major influence on his later years...

In [1966], Perkins became the executive director of the Better Boys Foundation of Chicago, a social agency involved in community, social, educational and cultural development. Raised in the housing projects of Chicago, and having established a career as a sociologist dealing with troubled youth, he authored the 1976 book Home Is A Dirty Street: The Social Oppression of Black Children.

Upon leaving his post with the Better Boys Foundation in 1982, Perkins became an executive consultant in Chicago with INESU Consultants, where he stayed for two years. He was still very active in writing, penning several sociological books on African American youth, as well as publishing books of poetry and authoring various plays that were produced in theaters in Chicago."... 

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WORDS TO "HEY BLACK CHILD"
(Useni Eugene Perkins)

Hey Black Child,
Do you know who you are?
Who you really are?
Do you know you can be
What you want to be?
If you try to be
what you can be.

Hey Black Child,
Do you know where you’re going?
Where you’re really going?
Do you know you can learn
What you want to learn?
If you try to learn
What you can learn?

Hey Black Child,
Do you know you are strong?
I mean really strong?
Do you know you can do
What you want to do?
If you try to do
What you can do?

Hey Black Child,
Be what you can be
Learn what you must learn
Do what you can do
And tomorrow your nation will be
what you want it to be

Source: https://specialedandme.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/hey-black-child-by-eugene-useni-perkins/

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Visitor comments are welcome.

The REAL Author of The Poem "Hey Black Child" : Useni Eugene Perkins

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision: Feb. 8, 2022 

This pancocojams post showcases the poem "Hey Black Child" and provides information about its author. A YouTube video of three year old Pe’Tehn Raighn-Kem reciting that poem is also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, inspirational, purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Useni Eugene Perkins for his cultural legacy. Thanks also to Pe’Tehn Raighn-Kem who is featured in the video embedded in this post, thanks to the publisher of that video, and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/02/hey-black-child-poem-recited-by-petehn.html for a 2022 pancocojams post entitled "Hey Black Child" Poem Recited By Pe’Tehn Raighn-Kem (2015) And By Kaleb Porter (2021)"

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
A number of websites, YouTube videos, and comments on YouTube discussion threads mistakenly indicate that Countee Cullen is the author of the inspirational poem "Hey Black Child". Other websites, YouTube videos, and discussion thread comments attribute that poem to Maya Angelou.  In the now viral* 2015 video of a three year old African American girl (Pe’Tehn Raighn-Kem) reciting "Hey Black Girl", Countee Cullen was named as the author of that poem.   

 The actual author of "Hey Black Child" is Useni Eugene Perkins.

*There are several YouTube videos of reciting "Hey Black Child". As of Feb. 8, 2022 at 9:40 PM ET, the first YouTube video clip that was published of that television recitation by Pe’Tehn Raighn-Kem (on Chicago, Illinois' Windy City LIVE daytime talk show) Feb. 25, 2015 has 10,969,422 views. 

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: 3-year-old blows away audience with poem for Black History Month!



Windy City LIVE, Feb. 25, 2015

This little DYNAMO is a must see, and she's from right here in Chicago! Meet 3-year-old Pe’Tehn Raighn-Kem from Bronzeville! Take a look of her performing “Hey, Black Child” on Windy City Live!

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INFORMATION ABOUT USENI EUGENE PERKINS

A number of websites, YouTube videos, and comments on YouTube discussion threads indicate that Countee Cullen is the author of the inspirational poem "Hey Black Child". Other websites, YouTube videos, and discussion thread comments attribute that poem to Maya Angelou. However, after reading several online articles and comments I believe that the real author of "Hey Black Child" is Useni Eugene Perkins.

From http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/useni-eugene-perkins-39
"Useni Eugene Perkins is a distinguished poet, playwright and youth worker. Born in Chicago on September 13, 1932, he was the son of Marion Perkins, a sculptor, and Eva Perkins. Being exposed to the arts at a young age through his father would prove to be a major influence on his later years...

In [1966], Perkins became the executive director of the Better Boys Foundation of Chicago, a social agency involved in community, social, educational and cultural development. Raised in the housing projects of Chicago, and having established a career as a sociologist dealing with troubled youth, he authored the 1976 book Home Is A Dirty Street: The Social Oppression of Black Children.

Upon leaving his post with the Better Boys Foundation in 1982, Perkins became an executive consultant in Chicago with INESU Consultants, where he stayed for two years. He was still very active in writing, penning several sociological books on African American youth, as well as publishing books of poetry and authoring various plays that were produced in theaters in Chicago."...

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MORE INFORMATION AND COMMENTS ABOUT "HEY BLACK CHILD"
From http://arinmaya.bandcamp.com/track/hey-black-child
"About "Hey Black Child
Hey Black Child was originally a song that was adapted into a poem, written by Chicago-based and -born writer Useni Eugene Perkins (NOT Countee Cullen) for his play "The Black Fairy." It was performed at the Lamont Zeno Theater at the Better Boys Foundation on Chicago's South Side for over 5,000 children and adults in Chicago, and then in Detroit, from 1974 to 1975. So anniversary wishes are in order! And much gratitude to Useni Eugene Perkins for his inspiring work.

Somewhere in me, I knew the author of the poem had Chicago ties (Chi-town stand up!), so I'm glad to have been corrected, so as to continue the thread of honoring Chicago poets in these shadow days of National Poetry Month. ...and who knows? Maybe one day I'll be part of a re-staging of "The Black Fairy" :) "
-snip-
This website includes a sound file of this poem: Music by Blackdaylight. Vocal arrangement and voice(s) by ArinMaya."

A number of commenters wrote that they recall having posters of the poem "Hey Black Child". Other commenters wrote that they had recited the poem "Hey Black Child" in Black history month oratorical contests.

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WORDS TO "HEY BLACK CHILD"
(Useni Eugene Perkins)

Hey Black Child,
Do you know who you are?
Who you really are?
Do you know you can be
What you want to be?
If you try to be
what you can be.

Hey Black Child,
Do you know where you’re going?
Where you’re really going?
Do you know you can learn
What you want to learn?
If you try to learn
What you can learn?

Hey Black Child,
Do you know you are strong?
I mean really strong?
Do you know you can do
What you want to do?
If you try to do
What you can do?

Hey Black Child,
Be what you can be
Learn what you must learn
Do what you can do
And tomorrow your nation will be
what you want it to be

Source: https://specialedandme.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/hey-black-child-by-eugene-useni-perkins/

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Visitor comments are welcome.

A Little Black Girl's Response To Being Called Ugly

Edited by Azizi Powell

Update: December 29, 2019- Unfortunately, the video that prompted this post is no longer available. However, this post includes a video summary and comments which I believe make it still worthwhile.

This pancocojams post showcases a video that was posted on facebook in which a four year old Black girl shares what her response was to a boy in her kindergarden class calling her ugly.

This post also provides information and comments about a seven year Black girl whose parents were told that they had to change her hairstyle in order for her to remain in that private school because dreadlocks (and afros) were prohibited. It's interesting to note that that private school is affiliated with a historically Black university, and almost all of its administration, staff, and students are Black.

The content of this post is presented for cultural and sociological reasons.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Cici and her mother, and Tiana and her parents for sharing their stories with the world. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

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Sonya Love Siahj
Abaco Central High
January 20 [2015], reposted from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/06/girl-responds-to-boy-who-called-her-ugly-video_n_6816840.html

"Man listen, I weak. I asked my daughter how was school today and this is the story i got

Post by Sonya Love Siahj.

"What happened in school today?" her mom, Sonya, asks in the video. "A little boy said I looked ... ugly," Cici responded.

"And what did you say?" Cici's mom asked.

"I said, 'I didn't come here to make a fashion statement. I came here to learn -- not look pretty,'" Cici replied, adding, "The little boy said I looked 'bad,' and I said, 'Did you look in a mirror lately? Bye bye, see you later, you're making me mad.'"
-snip-
Explanation for the sentence "I was weak" = I was amused. (I laughed so hard that it made me feel weak.)
-snip-
In spite of that response, hopefully Cici's mother recognizes the seriousness of this incident. Cici is quick on her feet with come backs to put downs, and she is also quite pretty. My guess is that her mother and other people compliment her on both of these attributes.

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COMMENTS FROM THE WEBSITE WHERE THIS VIDEO WAS FOUND
Here are selected comments from the website whose link is given above:
(All of the comments are from March 6, 2015)
Lynn Marie
"Cute and smart! She's going far! I love that she is so confident, at such a young age. I hope she makes good use of her quick mind all throughout her life.

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Christine McCord , Indianapolis, Indiana
"I think she's cute as a button. But I can also say, she knows just how to hand a bully, they really can't stand up to a strong response."

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Rhonda Lewis ·
"I am so proud of her, she is being taught well. BTW she is beautiful"

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Elizabeth Reday, California State University, Los Angeles
"Don't worry CiCi...obviously that boy has a crush on you! You are too cute:)"

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Reply
Jessica Anthony, Tinley Park, Illinois
"No. We need to stop telling little girls that boys hurting them means they like them. You wonder why women in abusive relationships often stay? It's because of this. They've been taught from a young age that boys hurting you, whether physically or verbally, means he actually loves you. It is a LIE."

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Lauren Joiner, The University of Arizona
"Not gonna lie, she is pretty adorable. Even though she had an amazing reaction to that little boy, the way she paused before she could even say the word ugly makes me think that it did affect her."

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Reply
Ebony Williams, Tallahassee, Florida
"Lauren Joiner...I saw the same thing. It did sting a little, but she bounced back and stood up for herself."

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EDITOR'S QUESTION AND COMMENTS: WAS THIS LITTLE GIRL TOLD SHE WAS UGLY BECAUSE HER HAIR WAS IN DREADS?
From the video found above, Cici's hair looks like it is in dreads (dreadlocks, locks). I wonder if the boy called Cici ugly because she has that natural style. Very few girls or boys in my city (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) have dreads. Often their parents have dreads or some other natural hair style (meaning, they don't use any chemicals or hot comb treatments to straighten their naturally tightly curly hair.)

From early ages children are taught through mass media that certain hairstyles are pretty and "normal". I believe that television, movies, videos, and books show a wider range of hairstyles then was the case when I was a child in the 1950s. For instance, a number of commercials and other mass media include Black females with "curly"/ "frizzy" hair. However, there are very few examples of adults or children with dreads on television and other mass media.
cadults with dreads are rarely seen in the mass media. I believe that results in children with dreads being teased because they are "different".

Children are often cruel towards someone who they consider to be different. Therefore, those children need even more positive reinforcement and "what to do if" coaching so that they can be at least somewhat prepared for likely putdowns and more.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/02/zendayas-dreadlocks-india-aries-i-am.html for a related pancocojams post about actress, singer Zendaya's reaction to taunting remarks about the dreadlock hairstyle that she wore to the 2015 Academy Awards ceremony.

Also, click http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/05/tiana-parker-dreads_n_3873868.html for the article "Tiana Parker, 7, Switches Schools After Being Forbidden From Wearing Dreads"
The administrators of a small private school in the state of Oklahoma informed the parents of a seven year old girl with dreads that her hairstyle was prohibited by school policy because "that hairstyle did not look “presentable,”and "distracting". That same school policy indicated that "afros","dreadlocks", and "mohawks" were prohibited because they were "fads". That girl's parents tried to get the school to change that policy, but eventually enrolled their daughter in another school where how she wears her hair isn't an issue.

Here are several comments from that article's discussion thread. (All comments are from September 5-6, 2013)
Tiana_Cameron
"Since when were dreads or afros a fad? They're a part of our heritage, our culture - our hair grows out into a natural afro, how is hair texture a fad? So basically she should chemically perm her hair and possibly cause damage to her scalp in order to "look appropriate"? This is disgusting."

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bazinga
"I proudly served my country in the Air Force working in mental health, with my dreadlocks. It was the first question I asked the recruiter. I value myself too much to be a part of an organization that is more concerned with what I have ON my head, than what I have IN my head. It is shameful for this school to teach children that what they look like naturally is somehow wrong or a bad decision. Damaging yourself with extremely harmful chemicals to look euro-centric, when you are not, is not an intelligent decision. This school could learn a thing or two from this child and her parents."

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mercedeseclass
"When was the last time you saw a person of success with dreads? ..please..stop the nonsense..no tatoos..dreads..etc...

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Reply
proudlyliberal23
"The managing partner at the law firm down the street. the mayor of mt vernon. ny. A law professor at harvard."

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Alice R.
"Banning protective styles for African-textured hair is equivalent to banning a French braid or chin bob in straight-haired -- excuse me, I meant white, because that's really what we're talking about -- people. I understand that there are a lot of people who just don't "get" how to take care of African hair. I had to have a biracial cousin and learn to do cornrows before it occurred to me that there was a major difference. But this is banning two of the most common and easiest to maintain hairstyles for black people. What, gonna demand you put a weave on a child of SEVEN so it looks pleasing to you? This reminds me of that school that had banned cornrows and "afro puffs," two other easy-to-maintain and protective hairstyles for African hair."

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GetPaid_Everyday
"Something is missing from this story. Their policy is a little TOO targeted and I'm surprised considering the sponsor of the school is Langston University, a predominantly and historically black college. So a child from an Indian Sikh household can have hair as long as they want, white girls can apparently let their hair grow as long as they want, but a child from Jamaica from a Rastafarian household can't have the religious freedom to wear dreads!!??"
-snip-
Langston University is in Oklahoma.

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Dottie T. (underground72)
"I agree.. I'm thinking black ran and operated. Maybe there thinking is dread is too connected to the street life instead of the clean black man image.."

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Maurice B. (MoeB)
"LOL!!!

So let me get this straight...dreadlocks, which are a NATURAL hairstyle for blacks (and others, but blacks primarily), and is a GREAT way to grow our hair, is deemed terrible, but hair weaves are okay????

Natural hair = BAD.
Fake hair = GOOD?

Essentially what they're saying is, black hair is terrible, and thus the only 'presentable' hair must either BE from white people (weaves), or must LOOK like white hair (straightened, processed, etc.).

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Des S. (Des_Shawn)
"I find this to be extremely sad. This is a baby..they shamed a baby. I commend her parents for pulling her out of the school, it clearly wasn't interested in truly educating children. When you spend more time worrying about what's on a child's head than what you can put in it, there is an issue. Black, white or indifferent, this was wrong."

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