Matthew Primous
Bio
I am a Black Scholar, International Scholar, & Google Scholar, & 3-Time Eber & Wein Best Poet., Nominee for Poet of the Year, 2020 Black Author Matters Winner, 2 time Akademia Excellence Essayists,& 2022 Honorary Muckrack Journalist.
Stories (291/0)
Memories of Marian Anderson
The first memory I would like to talk about is of Marian Anderson. My first-grade teacher wanted to encourage me to do well in school along with the other students. And so she promised me that Marian Anderson would teach me to sing at age 6, if I scored the highest grades. I scored straight A's in elementary, and all I remember is having to dress up in a child's tuxedo to meet Marian Anderson. She came to meet me before we went on camera, she wore one of her famous dresses. She called me by my full name and took my hand from the teacher. She introduced me as her prize student and she talks to the news. In awe of her beauty and talent, I was impressed with seeing her. I remember her coming down to my level and closing her eyes. I touched her cheeks on her face. She acted as if I was wrong then she laughed. And as we performed together she told me to sing every note that she sings. And I didn't think I could do it but I did. She said now you know everything I know. The news questioned and debated about whether I was her child that they called me Marian's Boy, she said she hoped that I become like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, or Aretha Franklin. Then she grabs me in her arms and ran to the closest classroom. She explained that she was not my mother, however, she could be related because we look alike and she asked the teacher to make sure I was raised as she was raise me. Before that, she asked me if she should sing one more time in Washington D.C. and I told her she should. She asked me to watch and I said I would. I remember getting home from school and my mother watching it on the news. I tried to run but she caught me and told me that she saw everything. She did not punish me but she told my father and grandparents. I remember my father talking with his parents about my meeting with Marian Anderson. I was the only one in my grandparents' house with my father and we were watching the concert. I remember staying up for most of the concert, where they said that she made a million dollars performing. My grandparents were shocked and said that she should do something special for me because I told her to do the concert. Then after some time, I was asked by my oldest sister to perform a church song with my other sisters. I was nervous and scared because it was my first time performing as the lead. I remember going there that Sunday morning and I saw this older woman that looks like Marian Anderson. She watched me closely and carefully as she was in the front of the church's audience. So I sang the song without any problem and I received full house applause. Marian Anderson asked the pastor to meet me after church because she wanted to say her final goodbyes. She came through the door and hug me tight. And she said you are my prize. I wanted to have a child-like you but I couldn't but God gave me a second chance through you. I wanted you to sing like me everywhere. I know you are gonna be great just keep singing. I told her that I miss her and I watched all the concert. She said you liked when I sing America the Beautiful. The pastor asked if she could tell me the singers she would have been like. She replied Shirley Caesar and Aretha Franklin if she was alive today. And she told me that she didn't have long but that she wanted me to laugh. And I remember when I became older looking up Marian Anderson's pictures reminding me of the last time I saw her with white hair down her back and making a funny face that had me rolling laughing.
By Matthew Primous3 years ago in Confessions
The Death of Lincoln
There were many undertakings in this investigation of Lincoln's death, I found many peculiarities. Lincoln had bodyguards all around that night. And Lincoln was worried about his wife and his safety, he inquired about a good soldier to protect him, however the soldier decline due to pressure from Lincoln's divided cabinet. Lincoln explained his cabinet like Ancient Greece's times. He saw each cabinet member acting as one of the gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece. And he suspected that conspiracies were going on under his watch. Lincoln had invited his killer to the White House on numerous occasions. Some say his killer was thinking about becoming the president, although Lincoln's killer was known also to be a womanizer and a crossdresser. Lincoln's killer had popularity and notoriety among Americans, but he seemed obsessed with money and power. And he knew that the president was limited by money and power, so he would not give his heart to politics. Lincoln felt his successor should not be under the control of his predecessor. They should agree and meet only on certain occasions. They should never be seen fighting each other and they should never be seen in dispute. Lincoln had many successors besides Johnson, namely because he was very popular with wins from the war. He knew that the South had still rebels who were going to restart the war however he believed Americans were tired of fighting and ready to move on. He talked many times of his death with his wife and she reassured him that his name will live on. Lincoln's killer was an amazing actor and conspirator because he was able to hide and mascarade his plot. He was not alone, he recruited his gang of actors and actresses. He even knew every part of the play that was to be performed. Even though he played a waiting game with the soldier at the door till he had to use the restroom and reload his gun. He was determined to climb to Lincoln's box and execute the president. When Lincoln's killer found outside that the door leading to Lincoln was locked, some believed he had more than one gun, he took a gun to open the door when the crowd was aroused from the performance so no one could hear then he quietly came to the president and took his little cannon gun specially made for the assassination and shot the president in the ear after wrestling with the soldier in Lincoln's box. Some believed Lincoln built that box specially for him since he was friends with the Ford Theater owner. His killer knew that he could jump on stage probably practiced the jump many times. Lincoln's killer was a much younger man than Lincoln and in his stage life has played many roles that require him to do much acting. Before that, Lincoln gave a speech about the play, some believed Lincoln wanted to ease tension about the war. He wanted to heal the wounds of the nation. He felt that everyone should enjoy themselves now that the war is over. The play American Cousin talked about a citizen who is distraught about his past and finds out that he has relatives that he does not know about. It was a comedy about England and America and it brought out stereotypes that each country had about each other and their people. Lincoln invited celebrities such as Emily Dickinson and her boyfriend. Lincoln felt that entertainment is key to binding the wound and showing our differences. Lincoln's wife advocated for presenting harsh issues through enjoyment that people learned a lesson besides entertainment. Lincoln wanted to show them how to get past the war and celebrated the victory. Lincoln's killer fled quickly because it was late but Grant was not too far from them. Lincoln had Grant wait for the killer and Grant wanted to be at the play but Lincoln named him a successor. Lincoln's killer had a broken leg that his co-conspirators helped him escape in a wagon. Lincoln's killer words on the stage were deceptive because he wanted to instill fear about the rise of the South, he did not know that the South was tired and embattled, which is why Lee turned the victory over to Lincoln and promoted his presidency. Lincoln's killer went to a farmhouse after being caught in pursuit. And when Grant ordered its burning after reading him his charges, then the killer surrenders. Now the trial is inevitable in convicting Lincoln's killer. Lincoln's killer has been executed with a first shot to the ankles, a second shot to the knees, and a third shot to the shoulder ending with a final shot to the head. Lincoln's killer body is believed to be placed underneath a jail. Before his death, Lincoln after his shot was somewhat unconscious, he was still alive but the pain kept him from seeing and communicating. In Lincoln's last words, he talked to his wife about seeing his angel, which he usually referred to as his mother, and then he died. Lincoln designated that his casket is carried on a train around the country to signify that the division has ended and we all must mourn our losses from the war and keep the union moving forward in its pursuit of existence.
By Matthew Primous3 years ago in The Swamp
King's Philosophy
We both see greatness in its massive derision and in its will to refuse to be diminutive. Struggles lead to victory if the focus maintains on the goal of the mission. The purpose-driven attitude to refuse to back down and give in to the inevitable fate and set your hopes on higher standards. Dr.King showed resilience in his fight for justice. Even with the horror of dying alone and isolated, he fought with precision. When he set his mind to the task at hand, he did not let up until the results were delivered. See when someone lets up, it signals weakness and an unstable mind, Dr.King knew his mind and he trusted his will to go forward. When hurdles are in your way, you must strive over them. You have to use conscience, will, and endurance. He used conscience when he thought of ways around the incidents. Those countless hours of debating and reinventing the will of the people led to greatness. When you considered your way, you plan carefully and think thoroughly. You master out the plan and prepare your mind and heart for the intense fight. Even if it means jail, if what you fight for is right then prison can't keep you from attaining your goals. Conscience calls for dedication to serve and respect to earn from completion. The conscientious person does not what they want to do but they do what they are earnest and fervent about doing. And the will, the mind is what sets people apart from other living beings. Human beings can imagine and think of solutions. Their minds are limitless. And when they are back by a will that they care deeply about they become unstoppable. The strongest will is built by love, nature by hope, and strength by faith. Love is the first emotion and it is driven by common ground and unity. We are supposed to get it from our families and friends to stabilize our lives and nurture us. When we feel love, it casts doubt to fear. Dr. King used imagery and a peaceful demeanor to show that he and his followers were about the love of humanity. And that fear and death are what they faced for showing that they wanted the promised benefit of love of country. When you understand love, you can be reflected on hope. When fear is driven out the way, dreams come back again. Life comes back again. Vision becomes apparent again. You have to inspire others to walk with you and beside you. You have to break through the barrier of ignorance with mutual respect. Hopes lead to faith. Hope takes you to the front door and doesn't lead you to the backdoor. Hope re-trains the mind to believe and feel again. It leads to the gift of life and emboldens love. Love becomes the action that leads to hope. And faith, faith is the verb that means something in action. Faith completes hope and love. While love encourages, hope gives the reason, and faith fulfills and completes the purpose. Fear is defeated in this process. This process is the power that every man and every woman have to win the battle over their mind, life, and soul. Endurance is repeating the process until something breaks. This includes the resistance, the fighting, and the stumbling block. Even if you stumble along the way, endurance means to keep getting back up and trying to finish the race. A runner is only going to get better and faster if they practice harder and harder. Dr.King knew that as he practiced track and field in his college days. Walking representing one of the first major rites of every human being in that it significances strength. Endurance is getting up and walking in hope, love, and faith. Fighting every battle prepared, focused, and strong. And the longer we hold up, the longer we can overcome. Overcoming is an action and a verb meant to inspire us to go forward. We can go forward even with trauma and abuse. We can go forward even with hatred and illusions. We can go forward even alone as long as we remember the why we have overcome and how we have overcome. Memory is so powerful too. It discerns the winner from the loser.
By Matthew Primous3 years ago in Humans
How Violence Begins
There is an epidemic that starts and appears hidden. It is the trauma that makes a troubled child into a criminal. This has remained unknown and yet to be discovered. I believe the epidemic of a troubled child starts from the womb. All the violence that the mother goes through as the baby is inside of her. The child may feel and hear while inside the mother’s womb. They begin to learn violence at an early age and reciprocate that violence as a young child. The parents have to recognize the violence and seek counseling from pediatricians and psychologists. It has to be constructive advice that will curb the child’s learning stance because learning is the key to breaking their road of violence. Corporate punishment is swift but it has to be repetitive and a lesson must be learned with the punishment. A parent must keep their child busy in doing something good. They must give them something inspiring to do and watch. Children at a young age want to learn about themselves and the world. They are afraid of many things besides death. And they do things because they don’t know right from wrong or wrong from right. Another issue is their body changing quickly, children can’t keep up with their body changes and sometimes they don’t know what changes but they feel different. Parents have to explain to them what changes and why they are changing. Change can cause aggression. Having a new brother or sister? Missing an old toy? Being treated differently? These are some of the changes that affect a child’s growth. Parents have to keep re-introducing their children to change and show them that it is okay and natural. They must show them that the world is full of changes and what to accept because not every change is good. It has been studied that boys' milestone change is when their balls dropped no later than age 6. Most boys become aggressive and devious. They begin a life of crime and start taking whatever they want. They begin wandering and ignoring and even fighting their parents. They begin attacking their siblings. It is like their body and mind are in outrage because they are growing up and changing. Some boys don’t go this extreme until puberty starts and some are in the middle of puberty. The way to stop this is to spend time with the child and try to understand their world. You must have meaningful fireside chats about their behavior and you must coordinate your response with a direct punishment. Even if you have to begin showing the punishment for bad behavior and set timeframes of when the child ought to be back home, no parenting is perfect. It’s a give-and-take relationship if the parent is giving more and receiving less respect then give less for less. Eventually, the child is going to ask for more and then you can make them earn their place in the world. Girls start puberty early around age 9 and that is when they may become devious and divisive. Girls require the freedom of owning things while boys require the freedom of doing things. And this may vary with genes and parenting, you must show them that you can be fearless and strong. And let them know who rules the house because when parents give up authority, their child gladly takes the place and will rule the household. Parents must never give up that much authority, a strong hand does not have to be stern all the time. It can be swift with judgment and concentrating on responsibility and accountability. It has been recommended that teaching boys about strength and introducing them to exercising and sports can dramatically change their perspective and strengthen their manhood. For example, they can start from watching television and listening on the radio to playing with siblings and friends to actively playing in school sports. It has been recommended that teaching girls about beauty and introducing them to role models can dramatically change their perspectives and womanhood. For example, that represents the woman you want them to become and have them imitate the smart part of them. Then the vice versa training, where boys get introduced to beauty and girls get to introduced to strength, girls and boys need to know that they will become women and men having mates and changing the world together. Hopefully, this helps end the epidemic in society. As we continually materialize. We must not forget every place at the table of society. We must forge a new generation of changers, world changers from the beginning. And they don’t all have to be geniuses, they just have to be themselves and make a difference in the lives of their society.
By Matthew Primous3 years ago in Families