I'm Joyce Marie Brown.  When I think about who I am the first thing that comes to my mind is I have three children.  In fact since my children were born when someone new asked who I was after I said my name I said I have three children.   Strange huh? Now my babies are grown....... and

I have eight grandchildren and one on the way.....

Let's see I am a professional passionate activist for women and an avid advocate for children. Although I was born in New York City in Harlem Hospital I don't really have a place that I would consider to call home.  My family seems to be a little like gypsies.  I went high school in the St Croix the largest of the three islands of the Virgin Islands that is a US territory located in the Atlantic Ocean about forty miles from Puerto Rico. 

I am a Black woman and this is very important for me.  Important because it is an honor and a privilage to be a Black woman.  Well in our society or the world that I was born into being Black is not necessarily an honor nor is it safe to be Black. I however have always been looking at the bigger picture and the purpose God has given me this life for.  

I WONDER ON WHAT WORLD, WILL I BE ALLOWED TO STAY?

By Joyce Marie Brown

 The world I was born into was definitely not safe for me

So my parents,  the wonderful souls they are created a small paradise that was safe

you see

Then I went to school and my world started unraveling before my eyes

In the outside world I was not encouraged to reach for the skies

So I created this world where I could co-exist

A safe place for me, a place where I could be Miss

On top of the world you know

A place where my parents envisioned I ‘d grow…

A place where children are judged by what they know…

Not by the texture of their hair

Cause sometimes you get tired of those  blank stares…

Yes creating worlds is big job I dare say

When you’re new at it and a teenager touché….

I’m sure you understand if you don’t mix the right ingredients

Your world can come crashing down

The world I created where I ran the town….

As a young woman my world sometimes fell down…

 One thing about creating worlds though

As long as you live

You need a world to be on

Where you can give

Your All…..

As the years go by… now I have three kids

So I created another world,

Full of I shoulds

A world full of love

A world full of fear

A world full of disappointments

A world full of tears

And this world I was born in is still not safe for me

And quite frankly I haven’t perfected this world-making recipe

I keep trying because my children are all grown you know

And yes I am creating another world, where hopefully I will continue to grow

But the world I was born in is still not safe for me

No matter how many times  I change the way I see

I will continue trying to create a world where I can just be…

March 2001©