“500 Words” is a project launched in 2011 to encourage children to explore their creativity and the power of storytelling, in just 500 words.
To mark its 10th anniversary, they launched a special, extra edition of the competition: “500 Words: Black Lives Matter” as the movement spread across the globe.
The result is a published book containing 100 stories, poems and essays written by children aged 5 to 13. These young writers showed a remarkable understanding of the movement and the issues of systemic racism. It is often the case, that the best place to seek wisdom and clarity on difficult issues is in the minds of young children.
Houston
I see
by Sally Sheridan (Category 10 to 13 years old)
I watch and I wait. I wait for the people of the world to act. I wait for them to fight back against racism across the world. My words may still inspire people, but I wish I was there with them. I wish I was next to them and fighting with them. They are in this fight together. I see how society has changed. I see that people do not admit or accept their racist ways, and they do not challenge society anymore.
The racism is not as apparent, but it is still there. They may not have to sit separately on buses, or go to different schools, but it is still there. It lingers in the air like a grey fog, waiting to discriminate and dehumanise. I see the subtle comments, the assumptions, the silence when they walk in the room.
I see it all.
After so many years, you would think that they would be past treating people differently because of who they are. You would think that they would see people for who they are on the inside, instead of judging them before they even talk to them. After so many deaths at the hands of those who are meant to protect them, you would think that the people in power would be actively doing something about it. But they aren't. They have left it up to them to fight and they will not stop until they have won. They will not stop until they have equality.
I see it all.
I see the place their world has become. Some say they live in The Land of The Free. How wrong they could be. They do not live in The Land of the Free, they live in the land of the powerful controlling the oppressed. They live in a world where justice is served to the few, not the many. They live in a world where your identity, the colour of your skin, can be the difference between life and death. I am Martin Luther King Jr and I am watching. I am Martin Luther King Jr and I am waiting. I am Martin Luther King Junior and I see.
November, 20th
Black Consciousness Day (Brazil)
and
World's Children Day
Comments