In one of my classes a few weeks ago we did this creative exercise where we had everyone in the class write six words to speak out against racism in our country and they created this powerful poem.
Our differences come from our experiences.
It’s only a color; not who I am.
Why does color seem more important?
It’s just the color of my (one’s) skin.
Every race has its own beauty.
Why is privilege an exclusive club?
Why is privilege a monochromic club?
Tool used to marginalize differences.
I am a Jew, it’s true.
Some people are just more tan.
What’s wrong with being a color?”
Not all Irish people are redheads.
Italian? The hands gave it away.
Yes, I’m foreign, aren’t you too?
Sight is just black and white.
We all see the same colors.
I am a privileged white female.
Categorize people based on their color.
Judgement happens when skin is different.
Race is a preconceived notion, stupid.
Race matters more than it should.
I’m white, what gives me privilege.
Rich, privileged, spoiled rich girl privileged,
Rich & spoiled rich white girl.
Human race. It’s what we are.
Despite physical appearance, we are one.
Why identify me by my color?
Races don’t matter. It’s not NASCAR.
It’s not NASCAR, race doesn’t matter.
Race doesn’t define us, experiences do!
Curly, brunette hair, average girl, right?
Black is beautiful, we’re all beautiful.
Why can’t everyone be treated equal?
People should be ready for change.
I thought it would be fun to build on one of the Sharing Time exercises where I asked people to look at a picture of clouds and tell me what they saw. The other day I posted the image from above on my personal FB page and several of my friends used their creativity and imagination and helped write a story that began with Once upon a time. Here is the result of our collective imagination.
Once upon at time, I was lost in the woods...I came upon some beautiful flowers that God must have planted. The tulips were stunning and I was tempted to pick an armful of each color, but my inner child came out and I started spraying each and every one of them with my squirt gun because they looked thirsty. Then they perked right up !!
I took a whiff of the aroma all around and then decided to go get Cory Johnson to pick some for Sharon Jacobson, but she said If you pick them they will die. Leave them to just be beautiful just as they are and you can enjoy their beauty for days on end and the scent will make you feel peaceful and calm.
You look off into the distance and see dancing fairies with bubbles surrounding them that are floating down the stream, each with a fairy wand poised and ready to join their bumblebee friends as they buzz around the bubbles, landing ever so gently on them before taking off to create something so sweet and delicious.
Today take time to look at a picture and allow it to take you places. Create a story by yourself or with those you love. Or if you choose continue the story that my friends and I began. It is through our imagination that we each write our own never ending story.