Hello, I may be late on what has been happening all over the world, but that doesn't mean I can't speak about it. I know I haven't been active on this website and I'm deeply sorry. The stress of online school and my last year of middle school (next school year) has got to me. Other than that, I wanted to use this platform to speak my feelings and opinions about racism.
Racism. A word that scars many. The many that have to be scared just because of their skin colour. I have been pushed around, judged and hurt by other people's words and feelings towards me. But no one has made fun of my skin colour, why? Simply because I didn't have this specific skin colour. I am Varshini Thulasiranjan, a thirteen-year-old brown girl and if I'm being honest, I don't have any clue on how it feels to be bullied, harassed, hated, targeted, judged, pushed around or even killed just because I'm not black. For almost a century now, racism has been a worldwide issue that still hasn't been solved which is a shame that it has gone for this long. I've read and educated myself on the many black politicians and activists that weren't afraid of what's coming to them because they knew, their voice was still being heard. Activists like Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela have been thrown into jail but they knew their voice was being heard to the thousands, millions that knew. Long story short, their voice was being spread around the world and I think it's utterly disgusting that people still think it's right to treat black people differently. Now I have one question. How different are black people compared to us? We may have different beliefs, cultures and identities but they are human, just like everyone else on this earth. There shouldn't be a barrier between black-skinned people and everyone else.
George Floyd, an African American man who was simultaneously murdered in Minnesota just because of the colour of his skin. It wasn't a normal murder case, he was strangled to death, with his last words being, "I can't breathe." No one deserves a death of being choked to the ground. You don't deserve it, I don't deserve it, no one deserves. Absolutely no one. This needs to stop, racism must stop here. We all, internationally, need to step up and unite and revive the voice that was once silent for many years. We all have a voice inside of us that is full of belief and determination and I'm telling you, never be ashamed to let that voice be heard. Never be ashamed of what you believe in. And never be ashamed of who you are. Instead, feel proud of who you are and what you believe in and be determined to release that voice inside of you. With that, this month (June) happens to be Pride Month and this just goes to show how many people are hated and judged because of who they are their identity. Just know, when you're showing hatred towards someone who has a different sexual preference or skin colour, you are shattering one's identity. The small parts of who we are and ought to be are in our identity and shattering it, it will make them feel the world doesn't accept them for who they are. Their voice is suddenly gone just because of that and you might be wondering, how do I make my voice heard? You see, I'm just like you, a simple teenager who goes to school to learn and yet, I have let my voice join the many other voices that want to end racism. Hopefully, at the end of all of this, there will be a difference in the world. I wish to see everyone holding hand in hand and that love, happiness, peace and harmony is restored in the world.
Remember to donate, support, educate yourself and spread love towards one another during this abhorrent time. Always keep in your mind to spread love to everyone you see and interact with, even if they're not the nicest to you. You never know what they go through in their personal life.
I love you guys and I hope you are safe. I will be posting more writing pieces in the summer.
(PS. Happy Very Belated Birthday to Safa, Abizana and Abhilasha, you three deserve the world :))
-Varshini
