Meet 2020 Poet-Athlete Laureate: Samiah Márquez Edwards

Samiah Márquez Edwards. 2020 America SCORES Bay Area Poet-Athlete Laureate.

Fourth-grader Samiah Márquez Edwards from Learning Without Limits Elementary School in Oakland is one of America SCORES Bay Area’s four 2020 poet-athlete laureates. These exceptional poets were the 2020 winners of their regional poetry slams. They serve as ambassadors, inspiring and empowering other kids to shine and express their own voices through poetry.

Samiah presented her poem “I am Somebody” at the America SCORES Bay Area Oakland Poetry Slam. See her perform on stage here.

“I am Somebody” by Samiah Márquez Edwards

I may be clumsy when I fall

But I am pretty when I smile

I may be a different race

White. Black. Brown.

White as wide walls

Black for all of my beautiful black women

Now! Let me hear a cheer for all of my beautiful black women

Brown for me! I am a power girl

Like lightning when it goes BOOM!

When it strikes in a zigzag

I feel powerful when I sing to my nephew

When I sang to him in my sister’s stomach

He got to know me!

I felt inspired to sing to him because of Beyoncé I am proud of me for me

I am somebody who is God’s child

I am valuable of others time

I am somebody