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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Broken Promises
Slavery was seen for its worse. It was seen as an evil. Some believe it was necessary. And many believe it was harsh and cruel. Anyways the process was going to be over real soon. And it became increasing aware to Congress, the influence of slavery. For many Congress members were opposed as well as many who were for slavery. The country was straight divided. And everyone knew it. It was like a cloud of darkness that overshadow the nation. And the world knew about our slavery as well as we did for it was published. And the media covered it. And some of the freedmen proved that slavery was unnecessary. As they advanced and worked, they proved that slavery was not needed. As they build families and lived peacefully under the laws. And this was unnoticed at first until the Dred Scott case. It brought out that slavery was definitely an evil. As Dred worked much of his life as a slave and he finally was freed upon the death of his master. Dred builted a family and he worked as any other man would to support his family. And he was known as a hard working man. He was active in his community. And he was a good neighbor. There were many who vouched for Dred because of his good nature. And his presence that brought fellowship and friendship. And Dred was happy and enjoying his freedom. And he did not mind working night and day to feed his family. He was happy that he was freed. And he was happy to be able to make a living in this country without being stripped of his rights. Dred also became educated. He started learning to read and write. And he took classes at the church. At the church he was noted for his giving. His family was very active in the church. And he would work with the church even when he was almost worn from working for his boss. And Dred did things that he did under slavery with his master except he was respected and getting paid and not being mistreated or beaten. And he enjoyed his freedom even attending at the bar and enjoying the freedom of leisure. His wife would let Dred go with his friends because he would work so hard. And Dred's life was like this for many years almost many decades without slavery. Then he heard from his minister that they were looking for him. And he was confident saying I have the papers that my master's wife allowed me to purchase my freedom. I will not go back to slavery. And the minister tried to convinced him that he has to fight according to the laws because he does not know if the country would stand behind a freedman. And Dred first wanted to tell the court himself. And he did not want his family involved yet. And he told the minister to take care of his family while he faced court. And Dred eventually turned himself in. And he appeared in court and stated the evidence however the judge acted suscipously. And so Dred faced the court accusations and in the end of the court day, he decided for a lawyer. And as the court case proceeded on for many days, the court was in a truce and in a deadheat. The master's wife family were determined to bring him back as a slave. And finally Dred Scott reappeared at the testimony stand and saying determined, you promise me freedom. Your mother promised that I will never go back to slavery. I have builted an entire new life. I have lived under law without breaking any law. I have been a good member of society. I have done well with my freedom. I am a good man. A God fearing church man and you are doing this to me. This is injustice. And it is wrong for me to put back in chains and be a slave again. You people represent nothing but broken promises. You are broken promises to me. And broken promises to my people. No matter what I will hold this belief and truth. And the court went into an uproar. And the court proceeded further to the Supreme Court. And the Supreme Court struck down his win and sentenced him to return to his master's wife family. Eventually Dred Scott Case overshadow the presidential race and American history as a major shamble of history.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous10 months ago in History
The Intriguing Thomas Jefferson
Here I go on another adventure. It is time to explore certain political characters. And as the race heats up I just have to note the gain that Thomas Jefferson is getting. I want to know what is his secrets. I want to know what is his strategy. I am reporter Matthew Carrey. I have been with the Washington Times for many years. And if I could complete this interview and ask the questions that have never been asked before. Then I could become partner. So here I am all the way from Longs, Connecticut traveling to Virginia. All of my life I have been in Connecticut, maybe because I was born there maybe because of the weather maybe because of the people. I don't know but travel usually is for the rich. And my boss is paying for all my accommodations. I don't know whether I want to get on his inventive side. Or maybe on his political side. Or maybe on his home side. Jefferson is a moving character. And he is live action with his thoughts and realism. He was the founding father who penned down the Declaration of Independence. He was a successful lawyer and teacher. He worked his way up from poverty. Or so I heard, I really want to find out the real Jefferson. Virginia is a charming state. It is very flourishing and about. The charm the southern charm is influencing. Even with its known stance on slavery, Virginia is deeply rooted in American history. Afterall it is George Washington's home state but this is about Jefferson. It is a hassle to get through all the beauty of Virginia, the wide open land, the beautiful big trees and the homely welcome. I could see why Jefferson came from here. They say Jefferson is not as strict as he seems. And they say that he has a lot of curiosity. I just want to follow him for a day and see what it is like to be him. Days and days of traveling and yet no sight of his mansion. Then at the bar, I asked on horse back and everyone knows him. And they look to him like he is still governor. He was governor. I thought Jefferson would be at the bar since he is reverenced so much. I guess I thought Jefferson like to drank among his peers. But he seem to be close off and kinda intuitive in his ways. I asked for stories about Jefferson. And some were off and awkward. Some were romanizers and some were the scientist who kept on inventing. And eventually I turned in to the inn, and in the middle of the night I heard Jefferson stopped by the inn asking for a reporter. And so I eventually interrupted in my bed clothing. And that's when Jefferson changed attitude and told me to get ready and bring my things. And that I would be a guest at his mansion. So I quickly and steadily got ready. Jefferson did not let anyone ride his horses somehow this time he preferred to ride with me. And he told me tales of his Virginia. He told the history of Virginia with a great memory and recollections. He was fascinating and intriguing. And in good health, even his daughter could not slow him down. I never would forget the way he carried his cane and umbrella as if it was a sword. And he would never stop with his grasp and ahs moments. He would dive into brainstorming and inventions. I remember going into his office and he was coming up with a vast array of things. He said if DaVinci could not stop neither could he. And he would share history of each of his statues. And he would talk on and on about his inventions what inspired him and how the process came about. And he would grace his knowledge of history even world history. Until I interrupted Jefferson and gracefully I did. And he nabbed with a slight smile and apt attitude. Jefferson was so much and I had to get back before my boss worried and stop the accommodations. So Jefferson invited me for one last tea time and shared that he was just like me adventurous and witty and smart before becoming the Statesmen he is today
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous10 months ago in History
The Bennetleys- a Family in Power
It was 100 years since my family the Bennetleys were in power. They were a lovable family. They were very opinionated and strong willed. They loved America. And they would fight like heck to keep it independent. The Bennetleys were their last names since the Mayflower. And they were rooted in traditions. Patriotic holidays were sacred like Sundays. The flag would be out proud big and about. We had big family gatherings. And we would talk a lot a lot and I mean a lot about politics. I remember one time Big Mama had to break up a fight between my uncles because they were so opinionated. They were heated about their opinion. And they would fight like heck to say what they wanted to say when they wanted to say. And I remember her threatening to cancel a favorite holiday. And she would bring in my aunts to calm each uncle down. And she would even pop open a bottle to make them happy. And Big Papa would joke and he had that laughed that could make a crowd roar. He could laugh so loud that he could make anyone smile. And he always liked wearing those bow ties. And he said that Lincoln gave one of his bow ties to our family patriarch in time for his wedding. I remember those stories like they were from the Bible. That's because my family would quiz me on what they said after they said it. And they would make me repeat the story if they wanted to know if I learned my lesson. And I was not the only one, not the only Bennetleys. I had a ton of cousins. I mean a field of cousins. We were a big family. And we loved being a family. I believe that was what politics were all about. Being a family and fighting together until Uncle Roger became a Democrat. And he was proud of his nomination, most of the family did not pay much attention. And he kept going on and on about his candidacy. And the children, my cousins and I asked a ton of questions. Uncle Roger was eagered and prepared and he kept answering like a contest. And the family got tired of Uncle Roger. Big Mama and Big Papa came in for the rescue. And that they stood up against all forty of our family members. And said that he can try something new and different. God knows it is about time we have some new blood in our family. Let's support him and see where he is going. And everybody agree even some agree to disagree. And Uncle Roger promised to not let them down. He was very serious and he spoke of the many times that Big Papa wanted to be a Democrat but was too ashamed and offended by his mother and father. And the family agree to support him. And I remember that Uncle Roger got in, he became Vice President of the United States. And he recruited many family members as advisor. So now the Big Republican family was Big Democrat. And the family was excited and overwhelmed by the urgency of the party. And they begin to serve in many areas to help Uncle Roger lead. But then a major crisis happened, a Big Recession. And Uncle Roger covered for the President. And Big Mama and Big Papa had a talk with Uncle Roger. And Uncle Roger would not move, he became obstinate. And the whole family begin to divided and turn on Uncle Roger. And Uncle Roger stood with the President. And that's when my Dad Bulk said that he is running for President as a Republican. He was about six feet, lean and determined. And so the family stood by him, he told Ruthy. That's me. There are times you cannot stand by friends, you got to stick up for what is right and move forward in this life. And the whole family followed Dad Bulk. And they were gaining on Uncle Roger. Uncle Roger sweated out the primaries where he barely got passed the challenger. And Dad gained more and more prominence. He was beginning to be the nominee and the candidate. And he back down to be the Vice President because he wanted to fix what Uncle Roger did wrong. And he wanted to teach him a lesson. And the whole family was there for the debate, most supporting Dad Bulk and some supporting Uncle Roger. The questions got sharper and sharper. Until finally Uncle Roger broke and apologized. Dad was off guard. And he accepted the apology. And he shook his hand and they quitted the debate both saying it is up to the country. That's when politics became family again. And the country chose Dad's ticket. But Dad allowed Uncle Roger to fix what he did wrong and heal the country. Uncle Roger had to do what the President could not do. And he had to apologized to the working families, the middle class, and the country. Big Papa and Big Mama were proud of him and he became apart of the family again. And other uncles and aunts became apart of government as Democrats, Independents, Progressives, and Republicans. That's why the Bennetleys stood the test of time because it's a name you can trust and a name that worth taking a chance on.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous11 months ago in History
The Billboard
I never thought what I learned in class could be so real. I never thought what Mr. Hannigan taught would ever be real. You see I thought school was just making your mark. I thought school was about getting a head start. Yup I John Henry never thought there was actual power in schooling. I would try to do the best because that's what my parents taught me. That's what I was trained to do since I was young. It was like my thing. It was my forestay.. I never knew the power of education. And yeah I was doing it for the women. I wanted to attract the smartest and best. Besides the most beautiful to me. Education was personal. So I excelled even with setbacks. And this was my life. This was my purpose especially in education. And I learned to be independent. I learned to take care of myself. I learned to be a man. And graduating was humbling and great. I love gracing the stage and being among my peers showing my academic achievement. I never thought much about health until Covid. I remember the Student Vice President saying that I caught the eyes of many with my outstanding academics in health. But that was all I know. I never knew that I would rise to ranks in health. I never really knew my impact. It was like more than what I expected. And I love to dream big. I love to think outside the box. I love to brainstorm. My entire education taught me that. And it inspired me to excel everyday in class. I would try to be the best without being a teacher's pet. I would rather be a favorite student who worked hard using his mind and nothing else. Again Covid brought out something in me that I never thought. It brought our all my training and education. It made me think hard and a lot about my background. It inspired to join the task force. I had to tell the Governor what I learned. Especially since I excelled at health administration and liberal arts. I knew the methods they just suddenly came back to me. All of sudden, speaking to other governors in the association and having an influence on the direction of the health crisis. And even after it was resolved I still felt obligated to do more. Like I said Covid would be like the flu shot. So I was determined to fight for vaccines. To fight that we should keep them . To fight that we should make them known. After all vaccines do a lot for community is what I learned from genetics. Vaccines can make or break a society. So I kept up the fight even after Covid, I told my followers get both flu shot and vaccine. I did one in each arm. Because I believe in vaccines, I believe in science. In fact that was my specialty, I was noted as a Esteemed Scientist by the Union of Concerned Scientists. So I did it over and over again, shown it is okay to get a vaccine. And one day it happened. I became a unspoken hero for vaccines. I was recognized with this billboard in my hometown. And many say it looked like me, and I have the picture to prove it. I am glad at the change that is at hand. I did it for the people. I did it for my teachers and professors. I did it for my family. For everyone who believe in science. For everyone who loves living. And I hope that future generations would see that. And embraced that and become apart of the ideology of helping their community thrive and survive with science.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous11 months ago in Confessions
Who's Fairer
I always loved this show. I would watched. Binged watched it. And it's great because it says love is still alive and well. It shows us all what it means to be loved. And being a single mother, a single parent it really gets to me. I can't help but wonder. Sometimes I get excited and call my friends. Delores has been my friend since the beginning. I think we grew up together in college. She knows everything about me. Sometimes she called me Sis instead of Greta. And we hang out a lot. We learned a lot on our travels. And we even watched shows together. She really is my best friend. And lately we have been having so much fun especially with this show. Because we share our own doubts and feelings. We even get heated arguments. And that's when Yuen another friend has to end the fight, she really was a great co-worker. She would love spending extra time making sure everything came out ok. And she really is good at crisis intervention. And that's what she does for Delores and me. And Sammy keeps it spicy, she knows the latest and she knows a lot of culture things. She really is an excellent guide to modern things. Yup those are my smart friends that I have known for awhile. And we usually met up at each other's house. I remember one time how Delores kept her house messy while Yuen kept cleaning. And Delores got so mad that she kick Yuen out. And she said she doesn't know how to live on the edge. She doesn't know how to relax or chillax. It's like she is too perfect, a perfectionist. So then we spent the day over Yuen, And she was uptight until she had a little drink. We spiked it because we wanted her to act natural. She was just too robotic or something. But I did not know she was funny as she was and now she drink a little to loosen up. And then Sammy had too many technical things at her house. I did not know how to use the toilet. The sink was complicated too. She had like the latest gadgets and nobody knew how to use it. So we all said we were getting tired to leave her modern place. And this went on for sometime until the girls gang up on me and ask to go over my house to see the show. And I tried to make up many excuses like you wouldn't want to hang around my teenager. And my house is messy. And my cooking is a little off. But majority rules and so we spent time over my place. And I warned Julia. Julia was my only daughter. She was smart and likable. She was funny and witty. She was a dream daughter but she had her flaws. Lately she doesn't want to get old and she is having a hard time maturing. We had many talks outside the show. But Julia is in the teenage years where most kids rebel the law and want to do something else. So when my friends came over at first I made sure Julia was out at the movies or skating or dating. And finally Julia came home early and she found out that we were watching the Bachelor while eating buttery popcorn and drinking. And Julia was shocked. And she could not believe us. But Julia made a deal with me as I told her about the show and I thought she was on my side but she wasn't. She said she wanted to watch the show with me and my friends and her and her friends. And I told her finally she can but no drinking. Eventually she made the deal that the Bachelor will marry the younger woman over the older woman. And she said because she has a lot more going for her. And she is more beautiful and dreamy. And the Bachelor remind her of guys at her school. And I listen and told her don't be so sure. Older galls can be just as beautiful and wise and smart. You are an exception but not everyone else. And the day came for the finale of the Bachelor, it was shocking because the Bachelor was not only rich but also a prince. And they reminded the viewers of everything and it took hours. And we watched and nobody wanted to use the bathroom. We started to dose off until finally he chose after hours and it was the older. My friends and I were too tired to boast, we were so tired and had to work. And they left with a I told you so. Julia was disappointed but she told her friends maybe there are guys out there who love smart and witty women. Like Mom said you never know
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primousabout a year ago in Fiction
Still Got It
I never thought it would come to this. I never thought that my life would be so complicated. After two divorces, my first husband was a pick. He would come late and he was just into himself. He would always want to party and drink. And he would say the wrong thing at the wrong time. He was just awful. I did love him. Sometimes he was fun. And sometimes he was loving but one incident, one moment of nuttiness. I tried to endure for it for awhile. I would try to be the sound one. I would try to be the calm one. But enough is enough. When can I be me. When I can be free. When I can be alive for a moment. And thank God we did not have kids. I wanted kids but he kept putting them off. Saying he is not ready. Saying that he needs the right job. Saying he doesn't understand fatherhood. Saying that he never had a father. And I felt sad for him. I really did. I thought this broken man would never be fixed. Until I caught him with his secretary at four in the afternoon. And the bastard gave her a baby. That's when I moved out and separated. John was not gonna get the best of me. John was not gonna break me. John was not gonna have me for lunch. Lillian Maxine was no longer gonna take it. I was fed up with this loser of a man who lied to me everyday of my life. And those moments of love were all imaginary. And I put off from that rocky divorce where John was trying to swindle me out of everything. That summarize my late 20's. Then into my early 30's I went partying after that somewhat short marriage. I was ready to live again. I never knew life could be great in the 30s. I had many friends and we would go on trips and everyone knew my name. My job was going well that I did not need John's alimony. And I was partying like a teenager. And I did not want to get tied down again. I sold my oaths. I was completely married to me and life was wonderful. But then you know after almost a decade of being married to myself, midlife crisis. I got back my feelings of being alone. I got back those old feelings of wanting somebody. And Keith was different. John was from one planet but Keith was from a different planet. He was a few years younger. He was built unlike John. He was adorable and he wanted babies. He was matured for his age. And he swept me off my feet. We started a secret relationship and then my friends found out. Especially when I kept spending time with him. Keith was wonderful and loving. And so I risked it in my mid 40s married again. And things were going right. We were in love. And I got pregnant. The pregnancy went well but Keith started to be shaky on having a girl. And I named her Belu Lilian. I had this fantasy that we could make it. I wanted us to make it because I never been more happier. I never been more grateful for life. So I stood for our daughter Belu and I stood for the memories. And this went on for sometime. My marriage with Keith definitely outlast John by far but was I happy. And our daughter Belu started to grow. Keith kept spending less and less time. And I began to struggle as a single parent in a two parent home. And finally in my late 50s enough was enough, I divorced Keith. But to my surprise Keith was happy and paid child support. Keith and I love affair was broken and I was living in a mirage. After that I sworn off men for the rest of my life it will be my daughter Belu Lilian. I decided on my own and by myself. And Belu was growing and changing. She never missed her father and she never asked about him. She was not a bad teenager, curious but not bad. Smart but not devious. She was like me. And as she was getting ready for college. I started to feel alone. She was my world and all. So I reunited with friends and spent time with them and watching Belu. And Belu asked if she could bring a friend when she come up. I moved away so my friends could not hear. And I just slowly agreed and was happy she came. So I spent my time and clean the house. I prepared the meal. And Belu came with a Professor. I must admit he was handsome and he kissed my hand and open the door. And I pretended to not notice. And Belu introduced me to him. her professor who went by the name Hubert. Now Hubert was interesting, polite and midage. He knew a lot and I learned a lot from him. He even offered to help me in the kitchen. Hubert kept wanting to do things for me and one day we bump into eachother and kiss. And Belu caught us. Hubert embarrassingly left and apologized. Belu pretended to be shock and she said Mom you still got it. Dad didn't take it from you. John didn't take it from you. Mom you still got it.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primousabout a year ago in Fiction
