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What happens to a dream dejfered? Does it dry up ike a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore - And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over - like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy had. Or does it explode? " - Langs ton Hughes
According to the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), this is the federal definition of gifted students originally reported in the 1972 Marland Report to Congress:
"Students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities.
Note: States and districts are not required to use the federal definition, although many states base their definitions on the federal definition."2
In 1970, at the height of the Black Power movement, singer-songwriter Nina Simone released a song that would not only become a top 10 R&B hit, but also would join the ranks as a Civil Rights anthem. In partnership with lyricist Weldon Irvine, Simone wrote this song in memory of her friend Lorraine Hansberry, author of A Raisin in the Sun, and titled the song "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" after Hansberry 's unfinished play of the same name. The song preceded the 1972 federal definition of gifted students, but the lyrics inspired people to include African Americans in the discourse about students who are gifted and talented.
"To be young, gifted and black,
Oh what a lovely precious dream
To be young,...