Pat McLean-Smith “For Sonia”

The transcript is a poetic tribute to Dr. Sonia Sanchez, highlighting her influence on the speaker's journey of self-expression and empowerment. The speaker recounts their initial struggle to articulate their thoughts and how encountering Sonia's work ignited a passion for poetry. Through Sonia's words, the speaker finds inspiration, overcomes self-doubt, and embraces their own voice, ultimately realizing the resilience and strength within themselves and their community.

What inspired the speaker to write a poem dedicated to Doctor Sonia Sanchez?

How did the speaker describe their initial feelings about expressing thoughts on their neighborhood?

What metaphor does the speaker use to describe their experience with the book they found?

In what ways did Sonia Sanchez influence the speaker's understanding of their own identity?

What realization does the speaker come to about their spirit and resilience?