Tamara: My best friend, my other half, my idol.

To My Lady in Red:

Tamara, few people have had such a profound influence on my life as you have. I'm trying not to echo your sentiments too closely, but you know how similarly our minds have always worked.

You know, I find it strange that I feel I know you better now than I did all those years ago back when we both were in Georgia. Maybe it's because neither off us really knew ourselves back then, but that is why I'm so glad I've always had you. I always admired you then, and much more so now. We led a group of misfits and rebels through some of the toughest times young people endure: high school. But, I always found myself being led, one way or another, by your example. You always seemed to have it together, in the midst of all the chaos and angst.

My soul sistah. No lies when I say this, because you've known me better that anyone ever has, know me better than anyone does, and probably ever will. We ugly ducklings have to look out for one another. I can always find comfort in my Tam. Strange and creepy as it may sound, the sound of your voice on the other side of our shitty AT&T cellphones is one of my favorite things (next to the now rare glimpse of your mug i get ;-) ). When I discover new things about myself and need someone to help me come to terms with it all, I have you. If I get too backed up emotionally and spiritually, you are there to help give me a release, a non-judgmental ear. AND, let us not forget the many-a-times when we run into those people who prove and validate our own age-old saying: "People are STUPID!" I have no earthly idea who, or where I would be without you. Maybe I wouldn't be at all. I can imagine no me without you.

Madam, you are a truly beautiful person, inside and out. I know I may have grown, but it's only thanks to you. You and your example got me to whee I am. You may not see it in yourself, but you are always growing---always brighter, stronger, more loving of others, and more beautiful everyday. Never let anyone or anything make you doubt yourself. As I've watched you grow, and been blessed enough to grow with you, I've seen you go through and overcome thing that I knew I never could. As great of a person as you may think I am, it is only with your friendship and love that I have been able to do so. This young man is just a rough model of the young woman I see you becoming.

I LOOOOOOOOVE YOU!

-To my bff, mi amiga a la fin del mundo, my Tamara Shook.

P.S.
I'm writing this at like 2AM, so please forgive any misspellings or half thoughts. This is just the time when I'm most creative.

My name is Dereck Donzell Williams and I am not a soda, OR A COOKIE!

Does it really take that much effort to get past your ignorance?

Hear me: A young man, southern,, intellectual, multiracial, and cultured, who knows how to enunciate.

Look at my: High School GPA- 3.71, somewhat strong
attitude- Good all around. I like to make people happy, and help others when I can.
passion for the world- Deep, profound even. I seem like someone ` who'll make a big difference one day.

Now, look at my skin and ALL that seems to be ignored by the world.

Why is it that everything we are measured by our appearance, sex, ethnicity, etc.?

Even though I'm a not piece of silver wear or a tool in a tool box, I can handle having a place in society. BUT, what I cannot and will not handle is being categorized and labeled. It might be just fine if I were being compared to either Denzell or LL Cool J, but now I have to be a crip or a blood, or a thug or a punk, and exception or a lost soul. Man, being black used to be fun.... (LIES).

Identifying by color is good when you are dressing yourself, picking your new pet, making a bouquet of flowers, or picking someone from a crowd, but that's it. If I get called an "oreo" one more time I SWEAR I'm going to jail. What, so because I wear my pants on my waist, shorts that don't touch my ankles, shirts that aren't big enough for 3 of me, shoes that cost less than $100, glasses on my face and my intellect with pride, and I'm kind and gentlemen like I have got to be either: retarded, gay, or 'black on the outside and white on the inside'?! ....please! And further more, if I did choose to dress like the stereotypical black male, then i'm pretty sure you and the rest of the world would still have an issue with it.


I'm no a criminal. I shouldn't have to work twice as hard to barely scrape by in life.
I'm no thief. Yet, i still seem to have the power to sound car alarms in any parking lot, induce a purse snatching wave across a crowded room, And catch stares from every which direction.

I'm no murderer. However, I seem to fit the profile.

I'm no mugger. But, I'm always grouped with those 'likely suspects.'

I am not a profile....

My name is Dereck Donzell Williams and I am not a soda. The color of my packaging doesn't identify my contents. I Am NOT a Cookie! Oreoes are things that you twist, lick, and dump in milk! Therefore, I now declare that I am lactose intolerant, hopefully this will help stop the ignorance at a certain point.


*This has been a senseless rant by D.WiLLi who may not have made much sense, but feels a heck of a lot better now.
Thank you and good night.

P.S.
If  I were a cookie, I would be a delicious Snicker-doodle....yum. That's all.