Every child deserves to live and grow in a world free of discrimination. Unfortunately, the history of the world has seen too many crimes of hate and discrimination. But this doesn’t have to be the reality we live with.
A group of young people from the Nord Anglia Education group wrote these poems as part of a challenge with students around the world to reimagine a better world for every child.
Check out the five finalists and scroll down to learn how you can also contribute to end racism and discrimination.
POEMS OF YOUTH
The clock strikes midnight
The clouds floating in the darkness
Walking down the streets, Nobody in sight
Invisible, to the humans and their rights
Is it you or is it them?
Maybe equality might not exist after all
When other people could run
And all you could do is crawl
Is it you or is it them?
Everyone deserves respect
Oh, how it is so easy to say
Sometimes too easy, it becomes worthless
Is it you or is it them?
If we could choose who we were going to be
Everyone might be a millionaire, living a dream
Same skin color, same culture, same race
Of what could be described as “Perfect”
But isn’t it good to be different?
Is It you or is it them?
If you face it yourself
It might make you think
Is it their fault?
Your answer is no
But every time.
You chose to stare, judge and look away, disgusted
Like they are no longer human
just because of their race
It promotes discrimination,
Everybody is filled with indignation,
Because governments must provide protection,
But instead, they are a deception.
Action must be taken,
To remove this situation,
That is an abomination to all people,
So, everyone must speak up,
And attempt to clean the mess up.
Justice must be made for all,
Stereotyping is a stall,
To stop racism once and for all,
Which must me be done to stop the pain,
And to prevent us from going insane.
Everyone shall come together,
And unite in chipper,
We are all different,
And skin color doesn’t matter,
If everyone was the same,
Then the world would be bland.
Stop all the hatred,
The contrast must be embraced,
For this world to become a better place.
From the deceitful foundations of our nation,
Infringe our sacred rights in justice,
Can we find hope through the darkness?
Black blood is not cheap,
Oh, how sorrowful mothers weep,
Black blood is excessively shed,
While the innocent fill prison beds.
When will it end?
While strolling down the street,
Or envisioning the future in your sleep,
While playing with your toys,
Bullets in casings of alloy,
The sirens, when all goes quiet.
Where is our protection?
All the shades of earth or sand,
Must unite hand in hand,
While the uniformed take our young,
Our fists will not be hung.
The savage successors of our land,
Have engraved corrupted plans,
Our future will not be black with darkness,
Only but with light.
The online war in which animosity of identity is kept but the true intentions thoughts are revealed.
Why are people not truthful in the real world where the cruel rule?
The bending of words which hide its true intentions collide from one to another.
Why is it that people try to convey thy true intentions through lies which make people cry?
This never ending war of hatred, this spiteful age of lies behind the faces of the kind.
Why and how are bystanders able to accept these racist insulters instead of filling up with rage and
becoming a ranter?
Words of hatred with darkness behind its history flying out of peoples mouths like it is the same as any
other word.
Why is it that these single words can make us cry until our eyes have dried out, yet people still use it like any other word?
The war of the diverse skin colors fighting for equal rights and no stereotypes.
Why is it that everyone cannot accept the fact that we are equal?
Why is it that today, or rather everyday, do we stay like this, as if it were yesterday?
I too have wondered if I come from
a burnt people. A people who have always
been ablaze. I have hated my own hands.
I have been prince to a kingdom of folk
and dishonored them. I have worn a white mask.
I have cut my hair to look less like me. I too
have sought to be anything other than the ashes
of another man’s sin. I have tried to earn my existence
in a nation that would not claim me. I have scorched
the ones who care most. I have searched the countryside
to find something I always had. And yes,
I have been unworthy of my mother’s love.
I have known the right thing to do and done
otherwise. I too have been an exile and a product
of my tribe. Yes, I am still running.
I too am afraid of being a good man. I too
have been beaten by water. Nearly drowned. Emerged.
And still, I would burn a forest down
just to feel the warmth against my skin.
YOUR TURN
Are you a young poet, too? Remember you can share your content with us! Check out this page to learn how to submit your poems and make sure you read our quality and engagement agreements first.
It is important that the stories and experiences of people who face racism and discrimination are told. At the same time, we understand this can be very difficult and painful. If it feels safe and empowering, tell your story and share your experiences.
If you decide to tell somebody else's story, we recommend you use your content to amplify the voices of people who experience discrimination and racism directly, rather than speaking for people.
If you are telling the story of someone who comes from a very different background to you based on their race or ethnicity avoid using words or phrases that are stereotypical or insensitive, think about how you are portraying the person – are you presenting them as a full human being with a range of interests and experiences?
Make sure you do your research beforehand and think about the images you use – do they treat someone with dignity and respect, or do they perpetuate stereotypes? Would you like to be portrayed in this way?
Learn more about the ways in which you can help stop racism and discrimination in this guide.
LEARN MORE
The work is far from finished and we all have a role to play against discrimination. Check out some of the amazing projects about discrimination developed by the participants of our Youth Mediathon.
The tree of acceptance: reimagining a world without discrimination
Every child deserves to live in a world free of discrimination. Unfortunately, the history of the world has seen too many crimes of hate and racism. Check out the multimedia project that Fitnat Waked, Isaac Mududa, Maria Alexandrova, Fatima Zulfiqar and Muskaan Khanduri developed under the mentorship of Ivaylo Spasov and Khanyi Mpumlwana.
Reimagining a world without discrimination
Why does racial discrimination exist? What does it mean to be an ally? How can we all contribute to a more inclusive world?
Check out the multimedia project that Samuel Amos, Sophia Chew, Andreea Coscai, Hannah Imordi, Jasmine Liu and Holly Raidl developed under the mentorship of Katarzyna Pawelczyk.
Re Dress: a world without discrimination
Every child deserves to live and grow in a world free of discrimination. Check out this video to reimagine a more inclusive world, created by Andy Sermonia, Calita Hin, Khim Magtibay, Maysoon Hussein, Sherlynn Yuwono and Subhanjali Saraswati, with the support of their mentors Suzanne Moody, Courage Nyamhunga and Francis Raphael Solajes.
Desde Cero: stories of inclusion in Latin America (in Spanish)
This group developed a multimedia portal to reimagine a world where all the people in Latin America, including Afro-Latino and Indigenous communities, can live without discrimination.
Check out this project developed by Tomás Arreche, Stephania Centeno, Milagros Costabel, Julieta Martínez, Blanca Yolanda Quiñónez Chicas y Leomar Ruiz, with the support of Florencia Guastavino and Manuel Moreno González.
