Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous
Bio
Known as a Significant Voice in Modern Literature, a Poet of the Year, 2020 Black Author Matters Winner, 2025 Black Authors Matter Children Book Awards Nominee for his books, and International Impact Awards' Author of the Year Nominee
Stories (434)
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The Dread of Saint Martin
As the eyes of a soldier from Saint Martin, I saw this slave girl who I liked. She was pretty with beautiful dark brown eyes. She had a curvy shape. I thought she was too young but I heard it deep in her voice, her maturity. Her parents were way back in Africa when the slave traders came to their village. She remembered her father giving his life for her mother and her. Her mother resisted being alone with her because she needed protection. Her father had to force her mother to leave and hideaway. Her father was able to stop an approaching trader and the fight went on for a while. Her mother was able to flee to the mountains. And all she knew was a gunshot and a scream that could be heard a mile away. Her mother was alone with her for days and she hoped that the slave traders were gone. She began searching for food and water. She found a nearby village that had not yet been ravaged. They gave us both shelter and food. We stood there by the shores for months and months. Everything seems normal and fine. And we forgot about the slave traders and then out of nowhere the village was under siege. My mother was tired of running and force me to leave. She gave me enough supplies but the village was surrounded and I could not escape. They made me and my mother and the men and the women of the village stripped to nothing while they examined us with guns. The same day that they caught us was the same day that they chained us from head to toe. And within a week, they had us travel together through the forest to the shore. Some old women begun to chant, I did not know all the words but from the time I spent there. Their language was not too different than our own from the village where I was born. We chanted the same words day and night and it grew louder until the slave traders forced us to silence. Every time we stop walking in chains in our day's journey, the slave traders would set up camps keeping us highly guarded against wild beasts. My father told me once that only the people of the land understand the fierce and viciousness of the beasts. We heard some slave traders and even though we did not understand their language. Some of them sound very frightened of the African nights, I was hoping that we would be freed. Their dogs were always watchers and they had a bunch of them sleeping outside. They would howl every night if they see something. Sometimes the beasts would approach the dogs, the dogs provided enough distraction for the slaveholders to kill the beasts. The slave traders began teaching the young how to speak their language so they could communicate with the rest of the people. They would have the young to interpret what the head slave trader was saying. They warned anyone of us that if we try to escape we would be caught and bound further. They stated that we would be in chains until we are sold and have new masters. And that this is the last time, we would see this land and be free. Then the other slave traders celebrated being at the shore, they asked the young women to dance with them and they gave them a little more food. They then would take them away just a little further being them back after a while. I never approached because I was so young and not a woman yet. Our women would come back crying and confused. They would only tell their close relatives. My mother approach by a slave trader who wanted her. However, the head slave trader made her a slave under his cook and the approaching slave trader could not touch her. Onboard, some of the men slaves were bound to help the ship sail, they had to pull the ship to the waters with guns aimed at their heads. The slave traders would alternate with weapons. Many became diseased with the lack of hygiene and water. Bodies of children and older people were unchained and dump into the ocean. This happened over the months that it took for the voyage to Saint Martin. Some of the children I had known and they were good to me. Some of the older people were welcoming and friendly but their lives were cut short by the crowd and diseases that the slave traders brought. Most of the time, slaves ate little food, scabies of food, and the rest of a meal that the slave traders did not want. And most of the time, they ate the same food every day. The men slaves were almost exhausted in the trip to Saint Martin, so the slave traders celebrated they would free some of the women slaves and give them a little wine in their ship rooms then they would bring in a men slave after they were done with them. We heard the women screaming and yelling and harsh speaking their native language but it did not matter the actions happened as if certain. The pregnant slave women were forced to clean and cook on the ship. As the ship moved closer to the shore, it cracked everybody had to get off quickly otherwise they would be engulfed by the rising tide. My mother refused to exit and she was lost in the ship as with other slaves who could not escape. I cried like a baby because I was alone. And the head slave trader was angry about the ship and that he lost hundreds of slaves even so thousands to Saint Martin. Nevertheless, he made us all stand on the block preparing us to be sold. He said, "For all slaves remaining on this island, they would be forced to work until they are sold and accounted for." I've been working on this wall with the others for most of my time here. It has no purpose but to divide. My life has been used to satisfy the wants and needs of a slave driver. My people's blood and lives have been shed for this wall. If you come to rescue me then I will give you my all. For I have nothing, no family, no friends, only the little life I have left. And the soldier made her his slave to save her from the dread of Saint Martin.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous5 years ago in Fiction
When Harry Met Sally
Harry was working 9 to 5 in his office as usual. He could not figure out why his life was an upheaval. All he knew was work and he did not know how to get out of this world. With his eyes heavy on the computer and doing nothing but the usual every day. He was the only one in the workplace who did not take regular breaks. Work was his life and life was work. And one day he was invited by some young guys at work to go out, they wanted to personally get to know their boss. At first, he refused but after a sad birthday, he took the offer in the City of Lights, Paris, France. Harry wanted to see the places first and whatever, whoever caught his eyes that is where he and the guys would go at. So they looked and looked on the weekend. The young guys cheered and jeered at the young women gently but Harry was not buying it. Until in the sunset he saw this braying beauty walk from the beach into an upcoming bar, she shines in the sun. And Harry told all the other guys that's his and he would pay for all their drinks if they help get that girl.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous5 years ago in Fiction
The Sportsman
Ci was a regular student in high school. He didn't have any brothers or sisters, he was an only child raised by his father. Ci's father had different ambitions for him. He did not like him into sports that much because he thought sports was a waste of time. He wanted Ci to become a doctor or a scientist but Ci's grades weren't up to par. He kept barely passing on his exams and his father thought that he spent too much time in sports. Ci's favorite sport was basketball, wrestling, and football. Ci's father was franked by the coaches of these sports, they begged his father to let him play. The high school coaches went behind the back of Ci's father and made Ci try out their sport in gym class. And when they saw that he was good at all of them, they made him play with the varsity team unofficially.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous5 years ago in Fiction
Toni's Papa Noel Letter
Today class, its that time of year. That time to be joyous, that time to be happy and loving our friends, neighbors and family. Before you leave for this weekend I want you to write a letter to Papa Noel. Let him know what you would like for Christmas. Heart counts and being honest, thankful and caring counts too. Let him know what you are feeling about life and your hopes and dreams. All letters will be going to Papa Noel. Class Dismissed.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous5 years ago in Fiction
Artagus the Oracle
In the times of the Ancient, there was a severe famine. The famine cut through the land like an iron sword. Even the rich in the land, their wealth was quickly drying up. They consulted the king and complained about their situation. The King heard so much that he refused to allow anyone before his presence. He thought it would passed if he continued to ignore it but the famine ate away much of the vegetation. And soon the soldiers begin to argue with their commanders. The commanders complained to the king and the king was much distressed. He felt an overthrow of power might be at hand with his nation. His fathers before him warned of riotous people and uncommon disasters hoping he would wise up to the ocassion before he took the throne. As sole ruler of the land, the King sought numerous requests to the Oracle to tell him a time when the famine will cease. The Oracle predicted that only war can end the famine and that at the hand of a warrior will there be peace in the land. The king tried to plead with the Oracle that he did not want to go to war. His people have not warred since decades and he did not have a plan for battle. The Oracle refused to relent his predictions, so the king made the Oracle stated their prediction in front of the commanders and the wealthy of the land.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous5 years ago in Fiction
The Royal Designer
There was this well to do couple in the height of the Middle Ages. They were nobles of the sort both individuals came from their own lineage of nobility. They were liked by the King and Queen who invited them to every party in a seat of honor. Baroness Rena and Baron Norm were their names and they were a middle age couple without any children. They would spend a great deal of time dressing and making a complete outfit different than their other party outfits. They would lavish themselves in all the great fabric of the times all the way from Italy and China so partygoers would be fascinated with their outfit and to be the life of the party.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous5 years ago in Fiction
Sisters' Iliad
Sisters you are strong. You are vibrant. You are young in spirit and flesh. You are all the colors of a rainbow. You are all over this world. You are in the light as well as in the darkness. And yes you are equal to men. Your minds are great and small. Your hands are strong and meaningful. You are a bright shining human beings. You are the torch. You opened the eyes of men and you embraced the complexities of life. You are to be admired and respected. You can grow in grace and be so ever true. You can lead us when the way is foggy. You can build us up when there is a leader or none strong enough to take the part. You can be the chief of the tribe. You can be the Queen of Kings. There is a secret power within you that is meant to guide us all. I believe in you sister is what your family says and what your friends says. I trust you is what the world will say because you are a steady souls that leads us on a steady path. I will follow you is what those who entrusted you with their life will say and proudly defend.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous5 years ago in Fiction
Dockinville vs. Mocklin
In a hillside country, not far from the city lived a young family of four. Johnny and Maria were a match made for as they had little Sarah and her older brother Tom. Johnny and Maria were young parents and they liked the country. They could not afford shoes and their family wore sandals. The grass was gentle with little weeds. The flowers lasted almost till the end of fall and there was plenty of food to eat. The family made everything they wanted to eat and drink. This is the work and chores of their habitation. The weather in Dockinville, where the family lived, was fair with slightly heated summers and mild winters. Dockinville was a quiet place in the middle of the fields with huge trees and many species of flowers. It was what some might say was a retreat compared to other places.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous5 years ago in Fiction
They Know How They Treated Me
It was back in the gloomy times, where war was far from cry. A man is only worth what he can carry and a woman is only worth her lineage. It seemed like a time of great distress and struggle. One man sought to be above another man and to keep that position. It was a very much strange time. It was a time of needed reflection because hope was faded. Love was cold and life was fate. Every soul knows that one situation can cause a major disfunction. Everybody was anxious and most people wanted to keep a truce. War was despised. Oppression everywhere and oppression heartfelt. Most people had indifferent because they thought society needed the things that they had. I for one did not understand the high life. I did not understand what freedom was. I just knew that if it was being like master and doing what I please I yearned that.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous5 years ago in Fiction
