Jahid Wilson Jr., 17

Jahid Wilson Jr. is a writer living in Irmo, South Carolina. Naturally blunt and unwilling to sugarcoat his opinions, Wilson has no qualms about dipping into his more vulgar repertoire to depict an experience for his readers to see what he sees, feel what he feels, and know what he knows. His writing has been described by his peers as Shakespearean, in the sense that it's prolific: he is driven to constantly create. Wilson says that his writing is akin to painting and uses eloquent language to paint the most vivid and crisp images for his readers. His writing often focuses on exploring the perspectives of others, allowing Wilson to indulge in pretending to be a different person with philosophies and viewpoints that differ from his own.

Wilson is deeply passionate about redirecting the American educational system to create schools that facilitate actual learning experiences for American youth, a departure from the current system that, Wilson says, is ineffectual and downright incompetent. He says that one of the biggest issues in our world today, especially in America, is the impregnable close-mindedness. Wilson notes that a vast majority of American individuals grow up in an environment where they are spoon-fed the same ideologies their entire life and never exposed to opinions outside of their world. Wilson says this limited perspective breeds an apathetic attitude towards change. He is careful to highlight the difference between advocating for “tolerance” versus “acceptance,” saying that "tolerance" connotes the reluctant allowance rather than the open-armed acceptance of differences.

Wilson is currently pursuing the completion of his first novel and becoming a young author. He has been published as part of the DEEP Block by Block, a community leadership and creative writing program for youth authors.

Antony’s Lambasted Encomium

by Jahid A. Wilson, Jr.

Let it be known that I stand here before you—

the restless masses so eagerly waiting my every word—

as a proxy for a universal constant: the truth.

Coveting land from its rightful owners,

brutalizing those who worship nature deities,

sequestering them to compartments,

a far cry from their previous spacious dwelling areas.

But we are the greatest country on Earth.

Home to hordes of hypocritical bigots and

ignoramuses who fought with every ounce of sweat,

blood, and tears for emancipation of oppressors

only to brandish that same whip of despotism

against those who simply wished for equality.

Allowing tolerance and not acceptance for religion,

you may pray to your god,

as long as his name is J-E-S-U-S.

You may wear clothing common of your faith,

as long as it isn’t a turban or you will be detained

by Homeland Security under “cause for suspicion.”

This isn't a threat; it is coercion dressed up in lingerie,

blatantly exposing itself an inch from the truth.

If you don’t submit, then we will gladly burn down

your mosques and synagogues with Glasgow smiles

carved onto faces.

But do not forget: we are the greatest country on Earth

and we have earned that title.

We are better than Middle Eastern countries,

because here in the land of the free women have rights,

they aren’t property.

There’s only a tiny catch: Dress in a manner that’s too revealing

and be branded a distracting slut, but if you cover yourself up,

you’re a stick in the mud who doesn’t know how to have fun.

Another tiny catch: Don’t dare try to make a name for yourself,

there’s always a man to do the job with more efficiency,

so get back in the kitchen and prepare a meal for your husband,

and be ready to please him and pop out his offspring at his leisure.

Remember your place in the greatest country on earth,

you lifebringer, carrier of children, but never anything more.

Besides being the greatest country on Earth,

we are also the most forgiving!

Manhandling passengers on flights—that’s ok to do!

Letting our officers murder any and everyone,

we’d never publicly mourn the death of a nigger—they’re just monkeys anyway.

Allowing the abominable queers who contradict our man-written Bible to breathe

is only a snippet of the tenderness we have in store for those who

dare to step outside of the hypocrisy woven in the fabric of our founding.

Prioritizing test scores to pay for a teacher’s salary,

labeling 1/10,000 geniuses as ADHD hyperactive gremlins,

preparing each generation to work that 9–5 schedule,

teaching curriculums forgotten by week two of summer vacation.

Who cares if our youth know how to budget their money,

pay taxes, or understand socio-economics, geopolitics, or climate change?

Here in the greatest country on earth you need none of that

as long as the periodic table is memorized and you know

that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.

Remember: we are the greatest country on Earth,

and no one would disagree.

Where no one cares about the state of society,

more concerned about whether another

Democrat or Republican gets into office,

blinded by the notion, “I’ll vote for whoever my party picks

so that I can say ‘we’ won.”

We elect incompetent “pussy grabbers” as commander-in-chief