Cecelia Gonzalez—Poetry

Grito

Have you ever heard the voice of skin?

My skin has the sound of pride

A kind of pride that could only come from within.

1 part black. 1 part Mexican.

Pride for my heritage

For the ones who plowed the fields in obedience

And for the ones who took the beatings of the whip with a raised chin.

Have you ever heard the voice of a Grito?

It is a battle cry of my ancestors.

Cecilia Gonzalez is a junior at Fox Tech High school. She comes from a musical background, knowing that she wanted to be a singer since the age of five. Cecilia won, the UIL Blue Ribbon, for her contest performance of The Star-Spangled Banner in the 8th grade. She currently sings in her neighborhood church choir. She draws her inspiration from her Hispanic childhood living in southeast San Antonio.