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Posted inSchools

Young Voices of Evanston From Pope John XXIII School

by Submitted April 22nd, 2021April 22nd, 2021

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Pope John XXIII School added a new feature to its observance of Black History Month. Teacher Meaghan Heaton created a contest open to all middle school students (6th, 7th, and 8th grades), which is optional. She writes that she saw the contest as a way to further the school’s “ongoing effort toward racial equity and as a response to students’ clear desire for expression of their Black identity and/or their increased understanding of this identity within their community, especially in the midst of our national reckoning.”

She prompted students to write about local people (including themselves) whom they consider inspiring. Happy to be together after the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, faculty, staff, and parents joined in as judges, “We miss each other a lot,” Ms. Heaton says.

She does not underestimate the students who responded to the challenge. “These kids took big risks putting themselves out there for the whole community without being required to do so. I didn’t get a lot of work, but what I got gave me chills.”

The first installment of these awards featured the first-place winners. Here are the runners-up.

Bookends and Beginnings, Booked, Field Notes, and Pope John’s Parent Association donated prizes to the winners.

Some entries are followed by a comment by the writer in response to a question from Ms. Heaton at the awards ceremony on April 9.

 Lorraine Morton

By Grace Hansen

Award: Most Effective Figurative Language

When she spoke, people listened

As she talked, her words flew through people’s souls

For they knew who she was

And what she had done to improve Evanston

‘Cause when she spoke, people listened. 

She didn’t care what other people thought of her

Putting her down with their hateful ways

She knew what was right 

But she also knew that she couldn’t do it alone 

She once said,  

 “All the wonderful things that happen in Evanston happen by vote. 

We did it, not I did it”

But she helped guide us through

She was a boss 

She was a queen  

She was a machine, her engine being her mind 

She wasn’t perfect, but no one is 

Each and every day of her life 

She strived to be her best self

To climb every mountain 

To not give up because something is too difficult 

To not take risky short cuts but rather 

To go the long way to help other people 

For she is 

Lorraine Hairston Morton

First African-American Mayor 

of Evanston

Grace Hansen (Photo from Pope John XXIII School)

Grace Hansen: Responding to this question, “What did you learn that most surprised you as you wrote?” 

“What most surprised me about myself was that I’m actually pretty good at writing poetry. At first I had no idea where to start, but then at like 10:00, the poem started coming to me, so I quickly wrote it down.”

(Untitled)

 By Dami Balogun

Award: Best Celebration of Identity

I am Black

I live in a place called The United States of America

My parents came here from Nigeria

A lot of people have come here

Black, Brown, and White

So many different countries 

We’re all so different

I am happy for my culture

And where I come from

All the different traditions from so many different places around the world

So many different personalities 

Many times I feel

Do I really belong? 

Sometimes I ask myself

Would I want to change the color of my skin?

But as I have gotten older 

I have learned about many different cultures

I have learned French, Latin, and Spanish

So many different languages

With different ways of doing things

I have learned so much

I have also come to love where I come from

It may be different from where I have grown up

And it may be better or worse

But I love it anyway

I think everyone should love their culture, all the way

I may feel different from other people I have seen

 from all the places I have been

I didn’t like how I felt like I didn’t belong

Like at the Wilmette Public beach where, it looked, I was the only black person there

I am pretty sure there were other black people but I just didn’t see

Still I felt alone, isolated, solitary

I try not to make it a big deal

But before I was ashamed of what I was.

I didn’t like hair extensions or the braided hair, I didn’t want traditional dresses, I never wanted cultural food, or anything to do with it

I wanted to be normal as hard as I could

Little did I know there really wasn’t any normal there

That everyone is different and that there really is no normal

No culture that is seen as normal

I didn’t know that then

But my mom taught me how not to be ashamed

That everyone is different and that is all okay

I have learned from history that people have been treated differently for the color of their skin

But what could they do?

 It was the way they had always been

Everyone should be treated equal

American, African, Australian, Indian, Russian, Chinese, Filipino, Polish, Swedish, Peruvian, and so many more

There are so many different countries that people are from

I know there have been differences before

But God created us equal

So quit all your fighting so we can all live in peace

So with all these cultures that I know

I can’t forget my own

I don’t need to feel ashamed of who I am

Because God loves me the way I am

So without worry or self-doubt 

I can shout

I AM BLACK!!!!

Dami Balogun (Photo from Pope John XXIII School)

Dami Balogun: “I feel that writing in this contest helps my voice be heard about racial injustice and that I get a chance to help society by writing, which I already enjoy doing.”

Sojourner Tanner

Award: Most Effective Imagery

By Eve Coates

Your heart matches mine

Your mind goes to kindness and spirit and so does mine 

Your persistence matches mine 

Your skin color doesn’t match mine 

Your hair color doesn’t match mine

Your voice doesn’t match mine 

Your speed doesn’t match mine 

But why does that matter because we are both side characters in each other’s worlds

Just tiny dots on this planet 

Just miniscule specks in this universe 

Wishing for equality 

Wishing for Spirit 

In this polluted

Sad 

Depressing 

Amazing 

Beautiful 

World 

We are both wishing that even though we look different

Act and sound different 

We will be treated the same

You always found joy in the little things in life 

Like the time we went camping and we all had to sleep together in one tent  

We laughed above the stars

Your joy made me want to burst with happiness  

You made that happen  

You don’t match me 

But on the inside 

You do

Eve Coates (Photo from Pope John XXIII School)

Eve Coates: Responding to the question, “What did you learn that most surprised you as you wrote about your subject or yourself?”

“I think that I really find my voice  when I write. I’m a shy kid, but when I’m with my friends and when I write, I’m loud! This is especially true when I write about things I stand for like BLM, women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights. I was surprised by myself when I wrote about Sojourner Tanner. I had so much to say about this girl that I’ve known since I was seven. We clicked when we met.”

The Price of My Skin

By Jada McCannon

Award: Most Passionate

The price you have to pay for love, for hope, for Happiness is no amount compared to the price I,

We, they have to pay for acceptance. For equality ‘Black’ isn’t just a word

 It’s a family; a family that may have different Stories but the same, one goal. To not be stared at When we walk down the street

 To not be followed when we go into a store

To not be wrongly accused and put in jail

To not be told to go back to where we came from When we were brought here against our will

 To be able to just live our lives how we wish to

 To be able to be ourselves, whoever that may be

Though the road may be rough ahead, we can do it, together

Separation does nothing for us, or for the world

Jada McCannon (Photo from Pope John XXIII School)


Jada McCannon: Responding to the queston “How did it feel to write about a topic that is particularly poignant in light of the racial justice protests last summer and the ongoing Derek Chauvin trial concerning the killing of George Floyd?

“It is difficult to write about a topic that is so serious and popular, but I am happy I’m doing it. It really gives me a chance to express my feelings about something so important to me.”

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