Born and raised in Chicago, IL. My very first address was,970 N Cambridge, Cabrini Green was where my dreams began. It was during those intricate times I caught a glimpse of what it meant to be apart of a community, to be surrounded by people who genuinely loved me. It was then that my eyes would be opened to see an amazing culture so rich and full of infinite opportunities to grow and soar despite the disparities. It was then that my biography was being written and now the story is being released I entitled it My Cultural Biography. My Cultural Biography is poetry. I represent an expression that is unique. No one thing can contain or explain the dimensions of my very existence. I'm infinite in structure it makes my counterparts wonder how I survived? How I managed to stay alive in the midst of chaos, traumatic loss deemed a member of a part of a population that's labeled a lost generation of people. If you don't believe me turn your T.V. to your local news and you will see images that reflect blemishes, scars, hurt, pain a society that is inhumane. Anytime you can take a life and justify your actions as right. I'm sorry. No wait pardon me, for speaking what I see as if you don't have eyes like me. The poetic piece was designed for me to give an account of my cultural biography. This is not a picasso yet I know I've painted a picture, tattooed an image, captured your hearts, your minds and tapped into your souls. See we all got stories that are untold. My cultural biography is poetry. It describes you, it describes me. Poetry for me is like the air you breathe, it's my everything. See I am culture. What do you see when you look at me? You see the obvious things. I am a human being. I am a phenomenal woman of color. Defined by your eyes. What do you see? Am I black, brown or caramel? Can you tell? I've just shared with all of you an excerpt from this book Bandages of Bondage, Lord unravel me! I've invited you to take a look deeper into me as I share victories through testimonies. I'm going to remain in a state of transparency. Because I believe in telling the truth and my nakedness will expose me yet set someone else free. A price worth paying for a savior that saved me. You will understand why I write and the transformation it has bestowed upon my life. It is the method in which I fight, supply healing and give life to someone in the same or similar situations providing them an escape. It is a constant reminder to them that it is never too late to be redeemed, delivered, and restored. This is an open invitation, my gosh it is my declaration of independence, life and liberty. No longer bound I'm free. Join me! Culture for me is whatever I choose it to be. It's not this neat little puzzle piece. You can't fit me into your depiction of whom or what I am to be. You don't hold my destiny or the keys to determine which path I'll reach while traveling the road of recovery. My cultural biography is poetry.