'Black Lives Matter' Writing competition - Year 6
Well done to all of those who entered the 'Black Lives Matter' Writing competition a few weeks ago. These are the entries we received from Years 5 and 6 students, who really thought about the subject and wrote some very thought provoking pieces.
Here are some examples from Year 6.
Halle 6Pine
This story is about a young boy named Toby. The boy was 12 years old and lived with his younger 8 year old sister, Danielle and his 83 year old grandad who is a retired footballer. One day Toby was at school ready to try out for the school football team. It had been a dream of his since he was little, to become a professional player just like his grandad had been. He and some other boys in his year were in the changing rooms getting ready for the session. He saw some boys in the corner of the changing room whispering and laughing. Toby had a look at himself in the mirror and just ignored them. He had an uneasy feeling that they were laughing at him. The coach took the boys out to the playground and gave them all a ball. The boys [who were laughing], Jack, Ben and John, were the same age as Toby.
Toby had been called racist names by some children before, but he just ignored them and listened to his sister and his grandad. They told him that he was perfect in his own way and not to listen to the bullies. Coach Sam gave the boys all a ball. Toby noticed that his ball was extremely flat, he was doing some kick ups, ignoring how flat the ball was, when something hard and bouncy hit him in the back of his head. Jack had kicked a football purposely at him. Everyone began to laugh, even the coach, Sam also knew that the boy had done it purposely and still laughed. Toby felt humiliated so he sprinted off the pitch, with tears in his eyes, and ran back to the changing rooms.
He heard a light knock on the door and a soft voice said, ‘Can I come in?’ Toby didn't bother to reply; he was too busy crying to say anything. The person on this other side of the door began to say something. Her soft calming voice said ‘’ I know what it's like. Racism is horrible, no young children should have to experience it, I went through it when I was little and its awful however you have to ignore the bullies and do what you do best and for you Toby, that is football.’’ Toby stood up and exited the changing room after the teacher had left.
He ran out onto the pitch and grabbed his flat ball and took a shot at goal. It landed in the top corner. Everyone was extremely impressed, he also used some of the skills his grandad had taught him on the bullies. They were not happy. They said some racist words to him again and one of the boys punched him. Toby said, ‘’Racism is horrible. I did not choose to be born with this skin colour, however I am proud of who I am and I will not tolerate racism anymore. Black lives matter and always will!’’
C Y6
This is a story about a girl named Mikayla. She is an African-American who lives in America with her mum and her two younger sisters Halia and Halle. She is nineteen years old and she lives in a world that is full of racism and that is not ok.
She has experienced racism many times before and she doesn't feel that it is ok to be bullied because of her skin. She can’t control what colour her skin is. She can’t choose that. She’s naturally born with that colour skin.
One day she was walking home from school. She already had a hard day at school. Suddenly, she heard two girls and she let out a sigh of frustration. Why now? She thought. They sniggered and mumbled under their breaths to each other. As quick as a flash, they both grabbed her arms and pulled her into an alleyway. Her mother told her to never go there but she couldn’t help being pulled into the pitch black alley way…
Feeling hopeless, she tried and tried to run and scream but she just didn’t have the courage or energy to scream.
”Now,” said Sally and Susan(the bullies). “Where should we start then?”
“Ooh what about the fight??” squealed Susan.
Suddenly, they started kicking and punching her with their big black boots and it hurt - not the kicking and punching - yes, that did hurt but what hurt more was that they would bully her because of her skin tone. She can’t control that, she thought. After a while, they left her in the alleyway bleeding and crying, feeling so despondent and worthless, and alone. She soon got up and wiped the blood off her face with her cardigan sleeve. She told herself “Mikayla. You are strong, so strong, just remember that you just have to remember you can do this!” She got up and strode home, confidence in her walk. She went down her road to her flat as she had to look after Halia and Halle. She walked up to her door, with paint peeling and wood chipping, and opened the door.
“Where have you been!!???” Her mum screamed “I’ve been worried sick! And is that blood. Oh Mikayla what happened!” she cried.
Her mum has also experienced racism and she did not feel good. She felt bad that her daughter experienced it.
“So are you going to practice for the debate tomorrow?” questioned Mum, but Mikayla couldn’t answer as she was still thinking about the things the girls said to her.
The next day, Mikayla woke up and she was so tired because she didn’t sleep - she kept tossing and turning, she couldn’t get the girls words out of her head.
When it was Mikaylas turn to debate, she was on the opposing team. She stood up and said…
“Bullying people because of their skin is not ok and I currently have experienced racism and I felt useless and no-one should experience it again. It is very upsetting and it's not ok. OUR LIVES MATTER!’
