FIRST

Marie

They’re coming.

I can see them,

Their gang.

Marie, the leader

Stomps forward,

A sneer on her face.

Then behind her come

The others,

Her five followers.

As soon as I catch sight of them

* turn

And run.

I feel my long thick plait

Thudding against my back.

It hurts.

I feel my beautiful sari

Flutter to the ground

In the mud.

My mother will not be pleased.

I feel my heart

Beat in my skinny chest.

I run in time with my heartbeat.

It will keep me going.

It will keep me running.

Running away from them.

The bullies.

I can’t help being black.

Being Indian.

And I’ve told them that,

But they don’t care.

They don’t care about anyone.

Just themselves.

At school,

Everyone keeps away from Marie.

Even the teachers

Back off

As she parades down the corridors,

Her head held high.

But at school,

Everyone keeps away from me too.

And now

As I run

I suddenly

Think

And

Stop

And

Turn.

Turn to face Marie.

I say

“Leave me alone!”

She looks shocked.

I place my sandalled feet

Far apart,

Firm,

And

As I look at Marie,

She doesn’t look big at all.

She looks

Small.

And I feel great,

I feel ever so tall.

I see Marie’s five followers

Look about

Frantically,

Waiting for

Instruction.

“Let’s go,” Marie grunts.

And

To my surprise

They all turn

And

Go.

I walk back to pick up my dirty sari, flinging it over my shoulder.

And I start to trudge home

As if nothing has happened.

As if nothing has changed.

But something has changed.

I feel

Happy.

by Chantal de Prez, P7, St Peter’s Primary, Edinburgh

SECOND

The Blue Girl

I see the other kids stare at her,

I don’t blame them - I do too.

You see, she’s very different from everyone else

Because, well, she’s blue.

Colour does not make any difference

To who we are inside.

The Blue Girl knows this too, I’m sure,

For she does not hide.

She’s brave and she’s proud of who she is

And doesn’t seem to care what others think.

When they first bullied her and made fun of her,

She’d just stand there, smile and blink ...

Blink away her tears at their ignorance

Of the fact that colour does not matter.

Everyone’s practically the same inside;

Under the surface, we are all so similar.

For no-one is so different, after all, we’re all human,

Everyone thinks, and feels, and lives ...

If Racism has been banished from The Blue Girl’s World,

Why do we allow it to exist?

by Pooja Mehta, S3, Eastwood High, East Renfrewshire

THIRD

Racism

I am drowning

In a sea of judgement

Swallowing me up at first glance

Not seeing anything more

Than what’s on the outside

Ignoring what’s inside

If you took the time

You would see

That inside

I am similar to you

And maybe

Just maybe

I am a person too

Maybe I have feelings

And maybe

You will realise

It is hard

Hard to breathe

Under your sea

Of judgement

I can be broken too.

by Laura Jack, S3, St Columba’s High, Inverclyde

COMMENDED

Alien in the Corner

“Look mum, there’s an alien in the corner.”

What alien?

Have they started a space theme this year?

I didn’t see any bright metallic clothes in Cosmopolitan last week.

“Mum, you see it ...

... in the corner.”

“If you say so, dear.”

“Mum, it’s wearing a black bin bag on its head.”

Black bin bag, black bin bag, it’s a nikab, not a bin bag!

“Do you think it doesn’t want us to see it?”

It’s not that I don’t want you to see me,

I’ve got to cover up when I go out,

It’s part of my religion.

“Mum, it’s got blue eyes just like mine.”

Of course I’ve got blue eyes,

What colour did you expect them to be?

Lilac polka dots!

“Mum, it’s looking at pink sparkly T-shirts!”

Why can’t I?

Am I not allowed?

I’m just as into fashion as you.

“Mum, why is it looking at pink sparkly T-shirts?”

Do you think it’s going to a party?

Do aliens go to parties, Mum?”

I’m shopping for the Eid party tomorrow

To celebrate the end of Ramadan.

Anyway, I am NOT an alien

I’m just like you,

Human.

I’ll show you ...

“Hope you find something nice.”

“MUM, THE ALIEN CAN TALK!”

by Amy Henderson, Sl, Thurso High, Highland

COMMENDED

Are you a Racist?

Is there a racist in your school?

Or do you make it your first rule

To make sure your friends don’t judge by race

And are equal to those with a different face

Is there a racist in your class?

The one who’s horrible to you in maths?

Yes that one who called you names

And said it was all in the name of games

Is there a racist in your home?

The one who shouts abuse down the phone?

It happens when your friends come to stay

And all you wish is that they’d go away

Is this the day we take a stand?

And fight for the equal woman and man

No matter what colour,

No matter what race

After all it’s what’s underneath the face

That cries and feels all alone

Even though it is their home

And it’s the racist who should feel ashamed

Not the victim hurt and pained

ARE YOU A RACIST?

by Laura MacCallum, Lochaber High, Highland

Hatred under wraps 28-29