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Short-Listed Nominees

Emma Southee, VJ Ancona, Jennifer Welker, Cindy Lambert

Monique A. Williams, Winner of The Bryant McGill Literary Award

"For her unique literary style, which conveys an effective and important social commentary, and for her dedication to raising awareness for neglected, yet vital issues."
~ Bryant McGill

Biographical Information

Momowilly knew forever that writing was her calling. As a child, she kept journals regularly, cutting her soul with a pen and bleeding her feelings onto paper. Her offbeat sense of humor and outrageous intelligence made her a hit with classmates and nemesis of most teachers. She knew she was different when she was assigned a book report in the first grade and she chose her favorite, Judy Blumes Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, while everyone had picked Harold and the Purple Crayon. A textbook Gifted child, school bored her so she challenged herself in private reading constantly and paying close attention to pop culture, melding the worlds of the hip and nerdy. Growing up with Archie and the gang, she appreciated the blue humor of the Worlds Dirtiest Jokes and the wholesome charm of The Baby-sitters Club. She became friends with Omar Tyrees Flyy Girl Tracy, and wept with E. Lynn Harris Raymond. She heard when McCall hollered and saw a Brave New World with Huxley.

With her uncanny abilities to relate to and understand human behavior, momowilly became everyones confidante and advisor, squelching her own fears and disappointments. These tales have molded momowilly into the author she is today. Drawing inspiration from people rather than situations, she creates worlds where we can effectively enter the minds of strangers. In the end, we realize they arent strangers after all. They are our family, our friends, our co-workers, our neighbors, ourselves. momowilly allows us to gain a better understanding of human nature by putting the truth in our faces. Taking off the blindfold is the first step.

"Its tha real" by Monique A. Williams

AIDS and BABIES
AIDS and BABIES
Theres nothing out there but
AIDS and BABIES
Maybe thats what we should tell em
The kids wanna shake their laffy-taffy
They wanna fall in love with a stripper
They getting slizzle on that goose
Theyre dying to
Theyre just dying
Thinking how cool it is to get it
How grown theyll be when bedded
Because they see it all on the TV
The idiot box shows them reality?
But they dont see the real
What?
AIDS and BABIES!
AIDS and BABIES?
Because thats really the end of the show
Just cut to the chase and let em know
We all listened to every tune
Promising us the stars and the moon
We wanted to bump and grind
Our parents got busy with Prince and the Time
They were our soundtrack growing up
Teaching us that was the way to grow up
Getting someone to slide inside
Or being the slider inside
For what?
AIDS and BABIES?
AIDS and BABIES?
Maybe BABIES with AIDS?
BABIES with AIDS?
You probably cant even hear me
Thinking you really aint tryin to hear me
You know about that sh*t
And it aint got nothing to do with you
He pull out, she got kids so she clean
And youll just continue to do it
And end up with
AIDS and BABIES
AIDS and BABIES
You took a chick out last night, huh?
Whatd you do?
Oh, went to the movies, went to grab a bite to eat,
Thats it?
No, I put it down and gave it to her so sweet!
Really?
So you got AIDS and BABIES?
No, shes safe
As safe as knives with toddlers?
Or did you think she told you the truth?
I met this fine a** nigga on the job last night
Thats it?
No, he takin me shopping from the job I did last night
Really?
So you got AIDS and BABIES?
No, we was safe
As safe as playing in traffic?
Youd trust your life in the hands of another?
Someone you dont know, a brand new lover?
Sounds great
Like getting
AIDS and BABIES
AIDS and BABIES
I mean, who wants to have all this sex
So you can be on Maury coming up next
Its your 5th show trying to find that daddy
You dont remember dude name who drive that caddy
Cant pay your light bill, phone bill, rent
Bought new hair, thats where your check went
Kids are in the dark, crying, starving
But you sitting around waiting for Marvin
Trying to get him to come through
Maybe hang around a bit
Fling him the ooka bit
So he can gi you some loot
And youll end up with more
AIDS and BABIES
AIDS and BABIES
Sounds like a song thatll never be
Because no one wants to hear the real
They turn a deaf ear, it's truly a pity
Ignorant people say
Ignorance is bliss
Unless you start a situation with a kiss
For you to entrap yourself in a web
Of lies and deceit
Because all they really wanna do is
Give you
AIDS and BABIES
AIDS and BABIES
AIDS and BABIES
Dont make it your story