DaMarco Hill

https://us-lti.bbcollab.com/recording/fde12c142feb4d6e9f288bff96a56c2f

The above link is a recording of Marco’s poem shared at the Black Issues Conference, “If these walls could talk”

DaMarco Hill who goes by Marco grew up in Detroit, Michigan. He earned a BA in Psychology from UToledo. He is currently a part-time MSW student in the social work program at UToledo. “When I was in high school, I was good at writing/ELA but did not really enjoy it. I am the type of person that has a hard time writing my thoughts because I always have so many. In my undergraduate studies, I wrote poetry as a hobby. I joined DEEP poetry and did a few events with Slick Talk Poetry as well. I also took many poetry/creative writing courses.” Marco also has experience with being a paraprofessional for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade ELA. “I think creative writing is a healthy and a good way of expression/advocacy/empowerment.” Fearless Writers was an opportunity to “reignite” his “creative/artistic flame along with helping high school students find or strengthen their own.” DaMarco is the 2022 recipient of the graduate College of Health and Human Services DEAN’S AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING DIVERSITY ADVOCACY. We are proud to highlight some of DaMarco’s work here.

Prompt was to write a letter to the older or younger generation 

Bridge the gap. Young and reckless. Free spirited. They just don’t care. Or maybe they do…in their own special way. Our leaders of the future. We need you to see. All the problems that need fixing. I support you. I am proud of you. All words us humans love to hear. Make us understand what there is to know. Remember to be strong. Assert yourself. Put pressure on having a seat at “the table”. Remember to be strong. Don’t forget to play, dream, and selectively follow. There is a lot of work to be done. Do it diligently. Do it with discipline. Do it with dedication.

Freshman Year Stereotype Type Talk 

*Random woman in my dorm room Freshman year at the University of Toledo* Hi, what’s your name? My name is DaMarco, but you can call me Marco. Aw, okay my name is *insert random woman’s name* , where are you from? I am from Detroit, MI. Detroit Detroit? Yes, the Motor City, Motown if you will. I am here on scholarship to study psychology. When she heard Detroit, her first though was to stay away from me. I am not the stereotype. I am allowed to be a scholar, not forced to be ‘a thug’. I beat the odds. All I ask for is a little love and some respect. People reject me, without even knowing me.  

Prompt was the “Old School Fidget” 

Crank it up, wind it up. Shift my mind, be my distraction, be my peace in a time where there is so much going on. Crank it up, wind it up. Shift my mind. Sensory overload. Help me take down this mental load. Everything will be okay. Crank it up, wind it up. Shift my mind. Take me to a time…when I was young. No responsibility. When play was play, not work versus play. All seriousness was dismissed. Crank it up, wind it up. Shift my mind. Alright, now it is time to snap back into reality. My break from stress is over. My cup runneth over. I am grounded. As I stand tall on my own two feet at 5’7”, I am grounded. 

Dedication to ‘Rose from the Concrete’ by Tupac Shakur  

I thought a rose needed soil, sunlight, and water to grow? You can’t choose the hand life deals you. Like the rose, you have to make the best of your concrete circumstances and push through. It learned to walk without having feet; therefore, with feet you can really go far. If you are grounded, focused and willing. All those feet, and no one crushed the rose because of its unique beauty I suppose. But who knows? We breathe the same air. We breathe it with intention. So, what is your mission? If you care, you will blossom. Just like the rose. Soak in the light so you can shine. Drink the water so you can be refreshed. Absorb the nutrients in the soil for a long healthy life.  

Dedication to Beginning by James Wright  

The darkness covers the sky. The moon is the only source of light. Maybe the stars will be team players tonight? The environment is so serene. We acknowledge the person hiding, but we continue with our secret meeting. Let the grand oak tree speak. It has been on this Earth the longest. Please listen to the wisdom. It whispers, so listen closely. The beginning can be scary. Trust the process. Sometimes it is dark before the light shines through.  

Mud Baby Inspired by the short-film Sons of Toledo

Mud baby … cover my skin. Please don’t take my life away. Keep me cool, focus my mind. I hate leaving my brothers behind. Those calls make my heart drop. The sirens whining disrupt my peace of mind. Things will be better with time. Mud baby, let me shine.

Casket fresh, I hate to do this … Mud baby, cover my skin. There is history in this rich soil. Where is the hometown glory? Mud baby … it’s not hard to keep peace, but I feel the pain of all the deceased. Why do we fight each other? You are supposed to be my brother. You know, fight with each other, but still protect and love one another …

Mud baby… cover my skin. Keep me cool. It bothers me to think about all of my brothers lost, resting in the ground. Every day, I wake up to a new one, a clean slate. A chance to make better decisions. A chance to have a life experience different than yesterday. I try because I want to do better and see better. If I save at least one, do not call me a hero. I am success-bound, and I would love to take my brothers with me.

Mud baby, shine through the darkness. Mud baby, mud baby, mud baby. Please keep me focused. Mud baby, mud baby, let me shine.