Mikki Vaughn, a native of Philadelphia, is a senior on the Notre Dame Women’s Basketball team. Vaughn’s impact and leadership on the court has been felt for the past four seasons, including two national championship berths. Off the court, Vaughn majors in Art Studio with a concentration in photography and psychology.
After graduation, Vaughn aims to become an advocate and fundraise for civil and human rights and provide opportunities for the disenfranchised. As part of our Black History Month celebration, Vaughn has authored three haikus.
Our month is too short
Thieves! You’ve stolen our culture
to mask as your own
Erasing the work
of Colvin, Rustin, and Height.
Rewriting our truths.
Delaying progress
Until we can take no more
Unlearn. Pray. Revolt.
Using a collection of three haikus, I try to express different ways of thinking of a situation. I mean that to be vague on purpose so that it is free for interpretation. This is the logical order of the three haikus; however, I would like to think they can be read in any order and as standalone poems. I encourage readers to read them individually and as a jumbled whole to gain other perspectives.
Did you know that Claudette Colvin was a Black woman that refused to give up her seat before Rosa Parks? Did you know that Martin Luther King Jr adopted his nonviolence strategy from the work of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin? Did you know that Black History month was founded by Carter G. Woodson and started as just one week? (The second week in February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglas to be exact.)
If any of these things surprised you and you want to know more, explore the links below.
The History of Black History Month:
- Overview of Black History Month
- Founder of Black History Month
- Black History Interactive Biographies
Important Figures Inspired by Vaughns Poetry:
Brave Voices – Mikayla Vaughn