Keep Moving Forward

SECOND PLACE (6TH GRADE) Ideal School, 6th Grade

When I was a little girl of the age of seven, I met one of my best friends on an equal rights march and we are both of different races: she is white and I am Black and Ethiopian. One of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dreams was for people of different races to work together and to keep moving forward against racism and working for equity, like Black Lives Matter.

Black Lives Matter is an example of keeping moving forward with Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy. For example, we are protesting for Black Lives Matter to get equity, working against racism, working for equality and justice for the Black community, and making sure people of all communities are safe. We still have much work to do for and with the Black community, working against racism, and educational and job equity in this country. We just need to keep moving forward in developing solutions to these issues. We still have so much to fight for!

When I think of the quote, keep moving forward, I think of how all of our leaders in history have come so far from segregation to what we are working for now! Keep moving forward to me means to keep going, to never give up, and to keep trying whether it’s easy or hard. According to research Milwaukee is the most segregated community and I will keep moving forward to change that! I am a 12 year old resident of this city. I want my Milwaukee to be more diverse. I want my Milwaukee to be safer. I want my Milwaukee to be engaging for its youth. That’s me. I am the youth. I am coming, Milwaukee, and I am going to keep moving you forward.

If I’m going to keep moving forward I’m going to need to find hope in some places as well. I find my hope in my baby brother who is three and I would love to make sure that he can have the best life possible. If we don’t all do our part in the Black Lives Matter movement we’re not going to be able to go anywhere! I met up with my best friend this June at a Pride march and I am looking forward to having her by my side as we work to keep Milwaukee moving forward.