We Are Watts

We are from Watts

A city where there is violence and a mixture of race When people see the hood, all they see is gangsters

People come and go

They judge us for poverty

They be too blind

They be too terrified

Watts is not just a city where there is crime and gunshots It’s more than what the human eye can see

It’s more than what we can believe

This city has cultura, and trabajadores

They say, don’t judge a book by its cover

And we say, don’t judge Watts for its faults

When we think of Watts, let’s think of beauty and community We are a new generation, full of smart individuals Watts has integrity, potential and opportunity

Let’s be proud of where we’re from

Let’s humble ourselves

And let’s say Watts is for everybody

Watch the students read their poem at latimes.com/letters