Brown people have diseases?... Really?!

I had just started JK. I was only four years old. I was the only person of colour in my class.

I ate lunch at a big round table, all by myself, and I walked around the playground, alone, every day. My mom witnessed this one day, when she came to bring me pizza.

I remember asking the girls at the sandpit if I could play with them. Their response was always, “No, because brown people have diseases.’’ This was only the beginning...

Daily discrimination continued until October of Grade 2.

At another school board, three very hurtful things happened on my last day. One incident during music class singled me out for the colour of my skin. Later that day, we had gym class, where I was repeatedly called “Black Chicken’’ by multiple students. After class, standing in line, I was told, “Your skin colour is so ugly. You could be my slave.”

By this point we knew that I needed to find a new school!

Transition is never easy. My brother and I know that, for a fact.

We transferred to another school board, where there was lots of diversity. But, the racism and bullying continued. It was all I knew. I was still excluded and I dreaded going to school. I cried myself to sleep every night.

After all I had been through, I needed a fresh start.

Recently, I started at a new school, where I feel loved, included and safe! I have finally learned to love myself!

Remember, we are all equal whether you are red, yellow, black or white!