Me (A Living Document)
As you may have gathered from the top of every page, my name is Markel Thomas. I am a student, younger and older brother, I love exploring, both the world and creativity. I grew up in Chatham, Chicago (on the south side for my non-chicagoans) where my armor for the world was carefully crafted.
My reality, like so many of my brothers and sisters in this country, is shaped largely by forces of oppression and neglect that we perpetually fight. From being harassed by the police about a stolen green bag when in fact my bag was purple, to lying on the floor at the sound of gunshots outside my window, I've been doused in the shadowy cocktail of low-income urban areas and equally affected by the struggle to express life in these settings. I hope to circumnavigate the difficulty and rigidity of explaining these ills in plain english through my poetry.
My reality is also composed of many factors that separate me from most of my peers. While at 16 and 17 I still found excitement in going downtown Chicago to the West Loop or Grant Park, I also found that same excitement in traveling to Turkey and China. Speaking Chinese to natives seemed to put me worlds away from my city. Yet, as I continue finding homes around the world, I am never far from Chicago. A matching tattoo between my mom, sister, and I ensure I am never alone. Similarly, I will paint my deepest joys through the life excerpts read here.
Merging my identity into a coherent idea has been challenging and enjoyable for me. But, I still have no idea what is going on. Oh well.
Do not be too shy to comment. Think of it as a collective. Your feedback allows me to keep producing the work you came here to enjoy. So, enjoy.
My reality, like so many of my brothers and sisters in this country, is shaped largely by forces of oppression and neglect that we perpetually fight. From being harassed by the police about a stolen green bag when in fact my bag was purple, to lying on the floor at the sound of gunshots outside my window, I've been doused in the shadowy cocktail of low-income urban areas and equally affected by the struggle to express life in these settings. I hope to circumnavigate the difficulty and rigidity of explaining these ills in plain english through my poetry.
My reality is also composed of many factors that separate me from most of my peers. While at 16 and 17 I still found excitement in going downtown Chicago to the West Loop or Grant Park, I also found that same excitement in traveling to Turkey and China. Speaking Chinese to natives seemed to put me worlds away from my city. Yet, as I continue finding homes around the world, I am never far from Chicago. A matching tattoo between my mom, sister, and I ensure I am never alone. Similarly, I will paint my deepest joys through the life excerpts read here.
Merging my identity into a coherent idea has been challenging and enjoyable for me. But, I still have no idea what is going on. Oh well.
Do not be too shy to comment. Think of it as a collective. Your feedback allows me to keep producing the work you came here to enjoy. So, enjoy.