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 (289/0)
Mahalia and Me
I told my grandma when I was four years that I wanted to be a singer. I asked her to teach me. She said No Mattina I can't teach you. You have to learn from school and church. So I did my school work since age 5 and never looked back. I sung in every choir I could possibly sing in. I was performing since age 8. Singing inspired me to do well in school. It even inspired me to make A's. As I got older I asked my grandma about my parents especially about Mom. I wanted to know what happen to her and her dreams. Grandma explained that it runs in the family where parents leave before their children. My father left before we knew him she said. My mother was a good woman, pretty and can sing. She would worked hard cleaning houses and working every job she could to provide. She also had a dream to sing. And then Grandma showed her only copy of this beautiful Gospel Singer. Your mother loved Mahalia Jackson and she would sing everyone of her songs by heart. Take this Mattina, this is my gift to you from your mother. I kissed and hugged my grandmother. She said I know you have been working hard in school and doing well. I wanted to inspire you to fulfill the dreams of your mother. She wanted to sing gospel. In fact she was a lead choir singer and Preacher's Singer. A lead choir singer means that they wanted her to do solos a lot in church. And a preacher's singer means she would sing so beautiful that the preacher would do a sermon based on her singing. Mattina I want you to go to school don't go the church way yet. Because your mother did and they loved her dearly. I say a little too much that they called her Little Mahalia. Then some time after when they found her singing other songs and wanting a career in gospel, they kick her out of the church. And that's what torn your mother down, she was so hurt that she could not keep her soundness. Your grandpa and I tried to encourage her. We tried to stop her from giving up on her dreams and preserving for you but she was angry. And pretty soon her health begin to deteriorate over her grudges. I say this to you now because you are becoming a young woman and you should know.
By Matthew Primous5 months ago in Writers
The Uneven Sisters
I always got to work. I always got to clean. Belinda doesn't have to do anything. And she always getting into trouble. But that is my duty as the housekeeper. My family could barely afford to live. My family grew up poor. They couldn't afford much food and they could not afford much clothes. Momma said that we nearly starve just to make it. This is what encourage me to work for the Lenfords. The Lenfords are good folks that never done anything wrong. They care about their workers. They care about the people that protect their home and keep it safe. My name is Flower. Momma gave me a simple name to remind her of what father would do for her on Valentine's Day. Dad would give flowers to Momma. Mr. Lenfords always gave me an extra tip whenever I would work for them. The reason Momma passed her job down to me so the family can live within their means. I loved working because I would just make sure Belinda was taken care of. She was young and wild and free. I would read to her and make sure she was well taken of.
By Matthew Primous5 months ago in Writers
Dave and DC
I don't like being pushed into something. I don't like being told what to do. But Pops gonna kill me if I don't help Dave. Dave is my younger brother from another mother. He's fine at one time then the next he is getting into trouble. Pops would say DC that's how you were when you were growing up. You were hard. You were tough. Can't you show Dave some compassion. Yeah that's my name don't wear it out DC. My father named me after the place he met my mother. He was feeling the cool vibes of DC and chilling with his Hip Hop friends. He was planning to become a rapper until he met that fine woman, Mom. She was Hip Hopping and wild. And Pops knew it. She gave him something he could feel and that's how I was born. To make a long story short, Mom left him. Pops kept drinking and hanging out with wild women. Grandpa helped Pops to get back on with his life. And Grandpa help raised me. He was loving and kind. And occasionally funny because he would show me that he still got it. At Grandpa's funeral Pops promised me that if I live with him and do what's right that he would do exactly what Grandpa did for him. Pops even pinky swear because I was little back then.
By Matthew Primous5 months ago in Writers
Tataski's Final Testimony
In the Western United States, Asian families were doing well back in the last century. Before equal rights and before Civil Rights, there were Asian families that were making more than White Americans. They would come from working on the trains in 19th Century to making profitable businesses. Some of them were becoming millionaires. And Tataski was one of them, he was from generations of hard-working Americans. He was a proud Asian American. He loved his country and his relatives fought for the country since the Civil War. His family became rich off of their many businesses and franchises in the city and across the West. But there was one thing Tataski wanted was equality. He wanted his children and his family to receive the same privileges as White people. And his family agreed to his pursuit in order to protect their wealth. They wanted to have the same freedoms as White people. So their family hired a lawyer and sued in Court.
By Matthew Primous5 months ago in Writers
Orlleo & Penelope
Well before the Civil War freed all enslaved people. There were people buying their freedom. There were slaves who master let them go. There were freedmen who paid the widow of their master to become free. I was one of them Orlleo. All my youth I gave to the system. All my strength and all my life, I was mostly enslaved. My parents came from Africa. And I was purchased at conception. Master attained about three hundred slaves. And I am one of the youngest when I was born. It happened after I raised a family. After I worked most of my life. That master died and his widow fell unto hard times. She could not afford all the slaves that she had and so it was lawful to give them their freedom. My plan was to first get my freedom then to free the rest of my family. So I told the miss that I would make a deal for my freedom. I would work for three more months and I will be freed from her. And she agreed and made a contract and she gave me my freedom papers dated on the time I could leave. So I was happy working for my freedom. I did more work than I ever because I knew freedom was coming. And I kept up. The widow came to remind me Orlleo you worked hard enough. I decided to let you and the rest of your family go. I took all the papers and shook her hand strongly. And that night we left.
By Matthew Primous5 months ago in Writers
My People Chose Me
Why was I chosen? I never knew why I was chosen. Chosen to carry the burdens of my people. Chosen to speak on behalf of my people. I love my people with everything that is within me. I feel their pain. I feel their burden. But can one man carry this burden alone? I hurt when I hear them called out of their name. I hurt when I hear them degraded. I hurt when I hear them crying. My soul ache and my mind wanders. I love watching father and my uncles make maple syrup. I love seeing the bees dance around the just tap sap. It makes me smile from the inside to the outside. And I realized how much nature is like us. Then I love seeing the maze grow taller than me over six feet and the trees that bring so much comfort. Everything has a purpose and everything has life. Everything is for a reason. And everything has a point of existence. I must have a purpose and I must have a existence.
By Matthew Primous6 months ago in Writers
The Princess of Her People
They think they own us. They think we are property. They think we are nobodies. I come to tell my people. We are free. We are something. We are able. We are mighty. For I am your princess, Yoli. As Yoli exclaimed at a classroom protest. She was the daughter of chiefs and princesses of Africa. She was tired of the oppression. She was fed up with the lies and maltreatment. She was hurt over the inhumanity. She would fight back tears as guns were pointed at her fellow classmates. She would fight back tears as she saw the struggle was real. Her home, her school, her job, and her country were at war with her people. And this was just the beginning, she would see more and more atrocities. Yet she refused to back down. She refused to give in. She refused to be afraid. She was a Queen in waiting and a verified Princess of her People.
By Matthew Primous6 months ago in Writers
The Wisest Emperor
There was no one wiser. There was no one clever. There was no one who understood like Qing. Qing was keen. He was well learned. He mastered at age 15 what most master in their graduate studies. Qing was the son of an emperor. And he was getting ready to become emperor. He was watched most of his life under the care of the Imperial Guards. He saw the ups and downs of reigning yet he still was fascinated with the power and the privilege and the prestige. He really wanted to reign and he really wanted the honor. He would spend his time in the room behind the throne room just to listen to the emperor, his father pass judgement. It was his favorite thing.
By Matthew Primous6 months ago in Writers
Reputation & Dignity
I wanted to find out about my ancestry. I wanted to see the noble men and women that made me. So I will know where I came from. So I will know where I am going. I will know my purpose. However my family did warn me that you might find bad history and you might regret what you find. I still waited all my life to do a test. I had to afford the fee for the test and take it properly because I don't want to pay that fee again. And there are lots of people taking the test, celebrities and notable people. I want to see how far they can retrieve of my ancestry. Here I go and mail it.
By Matthew Primous6 months ago in Writers
War's over and Love's here
The 1917 war was well over. And soldiers were returning from duty. I had a love from yonder met him when I was just shy of 16. He was both handsome and strong. He made me feel like a woman. I loved his charm and sweet kisses. He swept me off of my feet. It was good back then but now I am out of my parents' home. I am completely on my own. No man to help guide me through the day or write sweet love letters. I stopped getting love letters from Mickey way back, a few months or weeks ago. I asked the postal man and he keeps saying the same thing that I did not receive anything. I called his family and no one responds. I couldn't reach his old friends because they all served with him. Yup alone in this big city. Something you learned from growing up poor, you learned guts. You learned grits. You learned how to tough it out. I recognized life is no apple pie. But life should be simpler. Life should be complete. Life should be whole. After all this is the country of freedom. This is the country of grace. This is the country of hope. Mickey would say that he loved me. Mickey would say that he missed me. Mickey would say that I am all that he dream of. He better not have gone off with some other woman. Some other who would care for him like me. Someone who would love him like me.
By Matthew Primous6 months ago in Writers
The Buffalo Loves
It was right after the Civil War ended, we were commissioned to the West. I never been to the West being the son of a slave. I had never been exploring the country. I never had the money or the freedom. But I needed the job, I needed the challenge. Too many things happened in this country. Too many injustices and now it is time for my people to see the world. For my people to become something that they never were able to become. I did not agree with the cause but I wanted the adventure. My dear father died during the slavery years and my mother I did not know much. I had nothing left down South. I did not want to reminded of the pain and the terrible past. I was fully ready for an adventure. And I did not want to look back as a person, as a citizen and as a freeman. My eyes were set on the West. And I had a captain who understood my hopes and dreams. I had a captain James who understand my bout with life. A captain who would risked anything for us to get the justice we so desire.
By Matthew Primous6 months ago in Writers
Back in Burroburg
It was way after slavery. It was somewhat peaceful. Momma said People were prospering like never before. People were doing things, inventing stuff that could change a million lives. I always looked to Momma because she was the smartest woman I've known. She would treat me like a treasure. I guess because I was her only child from the man who loved her so much. Momma said she believed father died from the war. All she knew was one day that she got a letter from the military when she was pregnant with me. The officers said their condolences and bow their head handing the letter and Papa's last check from the military. I grew up in Burroburg. Burroburg is my home as long as I can remember. It is a cross between a city and the country. My family was all I knew when I was growing up. As my cousins went away, and created their lives. I was hopelessly in love with Burroburg. I would go on walks with Momma throughout the nighttime. We would talk about growing up. Momma would reassure me that she loves me and I would tell Momma that I love her. As time went by other people were moving into Burroburg and as a long time resident of Burroburg I wanted to know. The community was thriving and upcoming. We have many businesses. We were building many houses. Every year most of the men would fix the roads. Then it was that year starting to become a woman and wanting new friends. I prayed to God that I would met someone who would inspire me to do something great. And a few days I met Haddie, she was lively and she was bursting with new energy. I don't think I ever seen someone in town who had as much energy as Haddie. "Pollie when are you gonna stop reading and start playing," said Haddie. I tried to tell her Momma wants me to do something great and be something better than her and Papa. I even offered to read the story to her. She listen and wanted to know where I got the book from. I told her it is from school. She walked me to school and I walked her school. Her school times were different and the weather did not help much. After some time, Haddie wanted to see my school so I asked Momma. Momma looked distressed she said " I don't know child. People aren't that open. And your relationship with Haddie is conditional Pollie. You can hang around her as long as you get your schooling okay." I signaled Yes obediently to Momma. Haddie was dying to meet my school and so I invited her to a community gathering. Most people ignored Haddie. Some said Hi and wave. I was embarrassed because they did not act that way when I was around them. They were lively and homely and welcoming. So after several hours, I told and motion for Haddie that it is time to leave. Haddie was still having fun and I was shocked by people's reaction. Haddie and I walked home. I said "You know Haddie they were putting on a show. They were doing that because you were White." Haddie ignored and kept smiling. And Pollie said, "Haddie, its your friend Pollie. And I had to tell you the truth. Momma said if I don't continue doing what's right and my schooling. Then we can't play together anymore." Haddie said "I know my mother and father said the same thing." "Hey we are of age you're 16 and I am 18. We haven't had our first kiss," said Haddie. Pollie uncomfortably said "Momma told me to wait till marriage." "Well maybe tonight is the night. See that young fella throwing rocks at the tree. He's cute," said Haddie. Haddie leave Pollie and begin to approach the young man. Haddie said "Ever kissed a woman like me fella." And the young man signal no. Haddie suggestively kiss and hug the young man. And Pollie in emotions begged Haddie to hurry up and she dragged her slightly . And Haddie signaled it wasn't over between her and the young man. Haddie said "Why did you do that?" Pollie explained "Haddie you just moved here. But people are racists. You kissing that young Black man could get him lynched. Are you crazy? If Momma hears about this then you can forget our friendship." "Well you think I am White. I'm Jewish Pollie. They act funny with me too. I'm tired of the looks. I'm tired of the acts. Why are people so racists?" said Haddie. And Pollie unable to explain walk away and they both go home crying. Haddie haven't heard from Pollie in a while, both are thinking about their friendship and the joys and ups and the downs. After several weeks of being apart, Pollie send Haddie a simple letter. And they met by the pond "I'm sorry Pollie. It will never happen again. it is not your fault or mines." said Haddie. "I am frustrated too. You are not my foe. You are not my enemy. You are my sister, my Jewish sister. And I will not never treat you like a token," said Pollie. And the two hugged and promised to secretly fight for eachother and look out for each other no matter what.
By Matthew Primous6 months ago in Writers