Fatma

Isn’t it weird that such horrible things go on in this world, yet some of us are immune to it? A 13 year old, African-American boy named Tyre King was shot by police for having a BB gun, which the police apparently thought was a real gun. When I found out about this, I immediately started crying and thinking, Is humanity not humane? Doesn’t anyone want to try and fix the obviously racist justice system. Shouldn’t someone in power make an effort to fix this problem? Why is no powerful figure changing things, to the point where Black people have to try and do it themselves? When I ask these questions, I’m definitely not overlooking Black Lives Matter activists; I think they’re really brave and are the voice for a lot of Black people who can’t protest. But as a child, I thought that there was right and wrong and that if something was wrong, someone would make it right. As I’ve matured slightly, I’ve realised that, sadly, this isn’t true.

This ongoing injustice is why cultural appropriation really upsets me. For example, Kendall Jenner, and other models who were representing Marc Jacobs, recently wore colorful dreadlocks. Didn’t these white people feel bad taking features from Black people without ever having to face the problems that come along with being a Black person? Kendall Jenner doesn’t know how it feels to be scared to drive with a group of friends, just in case the police pulls them over.

I hope people become more conscious. I know that I have to be, in order to survive in this confusing world. ♦