First Place Winner -  Elementary school

Stephanie Brown 

 Equality and Diversity

And what they are to me

They are my friend down the street’

The one with darker skin

They are the woman’s right to vote.

The race anyone can enter and win.

They are all the colors in the rainbow.

Not just one or two

They are why the world is the way it is

They are why you are you.

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First Place  - Middle School

Elise Grenier  

 

Our hands entwined in eternal friendship

One is exotic, Brazilian dark

and mine is white as snowfall

On the surface we are different

 Different countries

Languages

Cultures

Worlds

 Discrimination follows the one of darker skin

Racist comments, Rude names

I can go into a store without being stared at

I can live my life without a cloud of racism obscuring my confidence

 

But if you look closely you can see we are the same

We laugh from our throats

We think with our heads

We love from our hearts

 You look at my best friend and see Brazilian

I see a heart that holds me in it.

I see second chances

I see love and forgiveness

I see…

Just another person.

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First Place - High School

Sheneika Smith,

 Swampscott High -

 

The respect for diversity is increasing rapidly

Recently various backgrounds have join forces happily

Although we have diverged in the right direction

Walking the streets of Boston still require protection

Diversity is the understanding of others

Regardless of the race, creed, gender, sexuality, religion or color

Diversity needs to be taught at home and enforce in our schools

So the next generation won’t develop into fools

The past needs to be taught with accuracy and grace

So the heroes and victims of the past can claim their place

A place in our hearts from the present to the future

Eradication of hate needs to be humanities tutor

Future generations must claim love now

Love for the differences of humans, proper treatment of animals and

Respect for Mother Earth will conquer the negative somehow.