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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | NOV. 20-NOV. 26, 2020 33
SKYLA CHIM
The year 2020 has been the year that I
heard the most incidents about racism.
Racists are on the loose and what they
do is wrong. Everyone should be treated
equally and people should understand
that being different is not a problem.
On May 25th, 2020 George Floyd was
brutally murdered. A police offi cer
(Derek Chauvin) arrested him and put his
knee on George Floyds neck for 8 minutes
and 46 seconds because George
Floyd used a counterfeit $20 bill. In
kindergarten,weren't we taught to “keep
our hands to ourselves?” This was a horrendous
move for Derek Chauvin to take.
I agree that George Floyd should not have
used a counterfeit $20 bill but the last
moments of his life and the way he died
was unnecessary and ridiculous. No one
should have to experience what George
Floyd experienced. Since so many people
died due to the color of their skin, a
movement was started called the “Black
Lives Matter” movement. This movement
was created so they could fi ght
against police brutality and bring more
awareness to the topic of everyone being
treated equally. I believe that people
protesting and voicing their opinion is
the right thing to do. The action that is
not the right thing to do is protesting and
getting so fed up that you destroy other
people's property. The consciousness of
being treated equally should be kept all
throughout the future and hopefully in
the future,no more stories about police
brutality will be told.
ZOE CHUANG
Every year, my family and I go skiing
during the month of February. We would
always go to the same hotel and eat at
the same restaurant. I am always so jubilant
when it comes to skiing, since it is
something I don’t do everyday. COVID-19
had just begun to gain recognition in
the world when I went skiing this time
around. My family and I were aware of
the pandemic that had just arrived. However,
it was still safe to travel at that time,
so we departed to another state to start
our vacation. The majority of the people
living in that state were of the white race.
I didn’t think much of this before, but this
time, I caught on. Ever since COVID-19
was becoming known as the “Chinese
virus,” it seemed that everyone started
to feel hatred towards Asians. That day
had been exhausting due to the long
car rides, so we stopped at our favorite
restaurant for dinner. On that day, my
family and I had experienced racism in a
complicated way. It was indirect racism
like I have never seen before. We were
the only Asian family that had come to
the restaurant that night. People made
unfriendly faces, and our waiter even sat
us down at the other side of the restaurant.
No Asian should ever have to ask
themselves, “Why are we the only Asians
here?” There is never a good or rational
reason for anyone to be racially profi led.
These forms of racism have to come to
an end.
VIOLETTA KING
“You” and racism
I gotta question
More like a suggestion
Please don’t answer with aggression
But like, is this kind of obsession
Your affection with systemic oppression
Our lives valued as a fraction
Being killed over a confession
But apparently we still haven’t learned
our lesson
You being offended when I swat your
hand away from my hair
Asking if it’s a sew in or if I actually sat
hours in a chair
The audacity with the neglect of human
decency
That spews out of your mouth and
through your body is crazy to me
But you still don’t understand the concept
of appropriation or racism or even
your unwanted Criticism
JOSHUA MERCADO
My fi rst experience with racism was in
4th grade when my teacher assumed
that because I am Hispanic, I could not
speak English. This incident happened
at the second parent teacher conference
with my mom, my aunt, and my teacher.
My mom and my aunt went into the
classroom as I waited outside.. About 20
minutes later, my mom came out of the
room with a furious look on her face and
told me to go inside.
As soon as I went inside, my teacher
asked me if I was struggling in any of
my classes. I told her I am not struggling
but my teacher disagreed. She assumed
because
I did not talk very much, I did not know
any English. My teacher then told my
mom that there was a language barrier.
English has always been my fi rst and only
language and my family does not speak
Spanish. My teacher, insisted, however
that I should be evaluated because she
felt that there was a language barrier.
A couple weeks later my mother decided
to transfer me because the teacher insisted
that English was not my fi rst subject.
The teacher never considered the
fact that I may have been a shy student
who felt nervous to participate in class.
She instead judged me according to my
appearance. Up to this day, I wonder
if my teacher would have judged a shy
white kid as she judged me.
LUKE ECKSTEIN
Hello, My name is Luke Eckstein, I am
19 years old and I go to Kingsborough
community college. Personally, I've witnessed
many acts of racism among my
friends of color. Especially when I was
in highschool, a lot of kids would make
jokes that they thought were harmless
but clearly had racist intent. Most notably
was the use of the N-word, this word was
thrown about by kids of all ethnicities
whether with ill intent or not. Either way
I do believe racism is an issue in schools
even if the people being racist don't realise
what they are doing is wrong, they
need to be educated as to not do and say
these things.
MEKHI HEWLING
“Invisible Man” Video Submission
how racism has or continues to aff ect their lives.
We heard amazing stories and thank all of our submissions as you indeed are the future.
The winners will each receive a $500 check.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!
SKYLA CHIMS
JHS 74, Oakland Gardens, Queens
ZOE CHUANG
JHS 190, Forest Hills, Queens
VIOLETTA KING
Central Park East High, New York City
JOSHUA MERCADO
La Salle Academy, New York City
LUKE ECKSTEIN
Kingsborough Community College, Brooklyn
MEKHI HEWLING
Curtis High School, Staten Island
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