I, Too, Am a Professional

To those out there who love teaching poetry and the Harlem Renaissance, here is a modern version of a Langston Hughes poem written by Amina Brown, colleague and friend.

I, too, am a professional

I am the younger sister

They send me to the back to write CSAPs and Pink Slips

When 440 Comes

But I laugh 

And grow strong

Tomorrow,

I'll be in my classroom

When 440 comes

Nobody'll dare

Say to me,

"Go write CSAPs"

then.

Besides,

They'll see how intelligent I am 

And be ashamed

I,too, am a professional

For those who like looking at original poetry as a comparison, here is the Langston Hughes poem.

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More terms to learn:

CSAP: Comprehensive Student Assistance Program. It is a procedure teachers must go through to document the interventions they use on students. Ostensibly to help the students learn; in reality, it's paperwork to fill out in order to justify a failing grade.

Pink Slips: An official document

440: 440 North Broad Street is the location of the School District of Philadelphia offices.