the letter to my school about racism
hi miss, hope all is well.
Racism has gone too far in school and the last few days being back has pushed me to the limit. I've had the deal with racism since year 7 but now I have finally been pushed enough to say something on the topic.
Being the minority I am exposed to criticism every day be that in the form of being dodged in the streets or racial slurs being used around me by my peers. I can only speak for myself on the matter but I believe that it is happening to the majority of the minority in my year but I would say take that with a grain of salt because I can't say that I have seen it all myself although I have witnessed a lot of it.
Firstly on the bus that I get, I hear racist language being used every day, be that in the form of racial slurs or being dismissive of the fact that there are people that will be offended by the words they use. I've heard words such as "nigger", "paki", "curry muncher" and many, many more. I mean no offence by mean typing these words but the school needs to know fully what I hear every day. For example, the word "nigger" is being used to describe people of colour in the media and peers and has been used to describe me in the past. It is being said in sentences like it is an everyday word to them. I find the word EXTREMELY offensive for many reasons. It makes me feel very uncomfortable and unsafe around the people that I get on the bus with. I shouldn't feel uncomfortable on my way to school. No one should. And I feel that every day and have felt this way for years. When I do hear the word I ask why it has been said and its always an excuse but they can never face the facts that if you use a racial slur in a derogatory way you are a racist. I have said to people in the past that they are racists and they always treat it like I'm attacking them when the correct response would be to better themselves and see that they have made a mistake but they treat it as an insult. These are a handful of the phrases that I have heard:
"I hope a bomber on a plane comes and wipes them all out"
"I hope they get blown up"
"no, I don't want to get bombed"
"he looks like he's hiding a bomb in there"
"you're not really black though are you, you can't get offended"
"look at your hands(palms) you're white stop crying about it"
"you don't act black so you're not black"
Something has to be done about this as it is increasing more and more every day. I do blame myself partly for not saying something sooner but I thought that it was normal and all boys acted like that. This is not normal. The black lives matter movement has gone straight over their heads and they have not changed their ways at all. On social media, I have been reposting resources, signing partitions and doing my part to finally become equal in the world and not being seen as a different person to my white peers. The movement has been described as "funny" and people treat it like its a joke. There is nothing funny about this situation.
If you do choose to address this situation please do not treat it like I am complaining about it. Treat it like you recognise the inequality in the world and educate these people. Don't say there has been a complaint and that they have to change. Enforce a change. Make stronger punishment on this matter. Put shame on these people not just a negative point on class charts, it's not enough. A change needs to happen to protect the minorities in the school. I've expressed how I feel but I'm only one person. Imagine how the rest of your students feel. Imagine all of the children that have passed through and not said anything on the matter.
