You and Me, Together

FIRST PLACE (4TH & 5TH GRADES) Fernwood Montessori, 4th Grade

COVID-19 is the reason many people are sad. When we walk along the street or in the park, people walk away from each other. We are divided, we are scared of each other. The sad part is that people of color experience this people look at them differently walking away, closing their hearts and minds.

I used to think I couldn’t do anything about this - “It’s just little me,” I thought to myself, “What can I do?” I realized I was wrong because everybody contributes to justice. I’m responsible for little percentage, and you too - and it’s yours to change, take it!

In 1960, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Keep moving, for it may well be that the greatest song has not yet been sung, the greatest book has not yet been written, the highest mountain has not been climbed. I agree, it is “our” challenge, we need to see each other. We need to see “all” students, the poor, the elderly, the homeless and the sick. Make the invisible visible, so we can heal our community. As Gaines said, “Only people who can see the invisible can do the impossible.”

We must start with ourselves. Be kind! Let’s bring art to our sidewalks, write a poem, have conversations, be brave and stand for what is right.

You can’t wait for others to begin. We all have power. I have a special power, I’m a biracial girl. Some people, give a label, I’m so much more than that - I am an artist, a gymnast, an actress, a dancer, and, yes, I’m bilingual. I’m proud of my two cultures.

We need to see “equity” as a verb, we need to do something. As Dr. King said, “We must keep moving. If you can’t fly, then run; if you can’t run, then walk; if you can’t walk, then crawl; but by all means keep moving... to Keep Moving Forward.” This is still true today in our society. Many people need to heal, to move forward. Everyone has power, we are making history as we speak. Take your power to talk about race, equity and justice to build the future and move forward.