Ellington

Judy McBride: "Greetings fellow Ghetto Science Team psychologists and mental-health counselors. Welcome to my brief presentation, 'What Happens to a Dream Deferred: Overcoming Bitterness in the Ghetto.' Before I start, I want the audience to know that I'm sharing my honest opinion. If I offend anyone, please forgive me. My intention is not to be condescending or elitist.

"From my perspective, the people who are most likely to be bitter are the poor. In the '60s, civil-rights and human-rights activists challenged the government to empower disenfranchised individuals through voting, education, employment, community development, etc. And just when poor citizens advanced in this American society, the government abruptly ended everything that they fought for.

"And why do some people demand that disenfranchised people pull themselves up by their shoestrings when they don't have any shoestrings to pull? Leaders who instill hope and progress into the minds of the people are ridiculed and/or eliminated, while opportunists make promises they forget. Therefore, the people on the bottom become angry, apathetic and bitter, and they cling to nothing that takes them nowhere. I think you understand where I'm coming from.

"That's why Langston Hughes wrote the poem 'A Dream Deferred'—because he was in touch with the working class and disenfranchised in the pursuit of happiness. With that said, my sister Nurse Tootie McBride is up next. She will perform her motivational beat-box and rap routine to the song 'Wake Up Everybody.' "

"Break it down for the people, sis!"