Poem by Joyeuse Muhorakeye, Democracy & Me intern
I am a shadow on the wall of history and the future of further footsteps.
I wonder if racism will ever stop
I hear a lot of screams feeling pain from the heart.
I see a lot of people suffering
I want peace among everyone
I am a shadow on the wall of history and the future of further footsteps.
I pretend trying to see the positives only
I feel like it’s not too late for people to change by loving and respecting each other’s differences. Because we all have something special that we bring into this world.
I touch broken hearts
I worry that this reality might never end
I cry seeing people killing each other because of things like money and land, all were found on earth and will stay on earth.
Therefore I don’t see the point in fighting over it.
I am a shadow on the wall of history and the future of further footsteps.
I understand that it might take thousands of years for all of this to change for people to understand each other better.
I say I believe in changes, the future is unknown; we might be surprised by what our today’s world might turn into.
I dream that we can all change for the better in order to create a better future for ourselves and our future generations.
I try to live by a good example.
I lift people up instead of dragging them down. I am Kind and I’m the best version of myself.
I sometimes wish I can get lost in my dreams so that I won’t have to face this broken and painful reality.
I am a shadow on the wall of history and the future of further footsteps.
Joyeuse was inspired to Inspired to write this poem by the words of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, speaking on Nov. 7, 2020, and by the above image created by Bria Goeller. Here’s the story behind that widely shared image:
https://news.emory.edu/stories/2020/11/er_bria_goeller_harris_bridges/campus.html
And here’s an NPR story from Melissa Block about other young girls and teens who look up to Kamala Harris.
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