Heywire winner, Aldriech
What can I do?
I sit down at my laptop. A whiff of the coffee next to me is as warm as the sun outside.
Click
Twitter … alive with more issues and opinions trending worldwide. New arguments exploding every minute.
Ding
A local news tweet: "Aboriginal teen punched in face among claims of police mistreatment in Broken Hill"
The coffee turns bitter in my mouth.
What can I do? It's overwhelming.
My mind turns to school today, hearing racial slurs so repulsive I was physically irked, and had to retrace my steps.
I parted my lips to speak, only to shake my head and close my mouth.
What can I do?
I begin to type … "What has been bothering me is the continuous use of slurs that may be offensive to their peers who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Homophobia is also evident in the community despite the fact that Broken Hill holds an annual festival involving drag queens."
Sigh
Am I being too aggressive? I couldn't help but beat a dead horse.
I ruffle my hair, finish my cold coffee, save the tweet to my drafts and click exit.
What can I do?
What is holding me back? Fear?
How is it that in 2021 people still feel unsafe because of the colour of their skin? Are afraid to come out? Are looked down on because of their disability?
As I have begun to think more about speaking up, doors have opened.
Recently I had the opportunity to stand in front of my town, with some fellow classmates, to tell them my dreams of going to school and not hearing racial slurs.
I got a standing ovation!
I know I am not alone in wanting to speak up. I myself have been educated by online posts that have opened my mind.
I open my drafts.
What can I do?
I don't always speak up when I want to, but when I remember I'm not the only one, I find the words and the confidence.
I begin typing again … "I am known to be quiet, but I know my voice needs to be heard. It's so lonely feeling like the only one who sees the problems in how people treat each other. I want to be able to go to school and not hear racial slurs, sexism and homophobia."
We can say something, and maybe, someone's mind will change, more people will speak up.
Source: ABC