A poem by Saaniah Hardy

I’m a black girl living in a changing world

A world that’s hating on me for my skin color.

A world that saying “Hello my name is-”

is a sentence I might not get to finish, because I put my hand out for you to shake it,

but you thought I had a weapon.

I’m a black girl living in a changing world

Where my brothers and sisters are getting killed for living their normal lives,

Where my life is on the line from laying in bed to going to the store.

Where a gunshot is never just one bullet.

Where I must beg for air, and even though you can hear me you won’t listen.

I’m a black girl living in a changing world

I am afraid, not just for my life, but my friend’s lives’.

I am afraid when we pass a police officer,

I am afraid not knowing what could happen when I leave my house.

I am afraid knowing having my hands up still could mean I could get shot

I’m a black girl living in a changing world

Justice is never served,

Justice isn’t a real thing when it comes to a black life being taken.

A police officer is walking free for killing someone,

A police officer is living a perfect life even though he destroyed a family,

A whole community is broken because of one police officer.

I’m a black girl living in a changing world

I see your blood the same as mine,

I see that we all need to fight for the right thing.

I see Justice for Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many more.

I see an endless list of names that keeps growing and growing all being black lives taken away,

I’m a black girl living in a changing world

Hoping for better days, days where race isn’t an issue,

Hoping that not all black lives are viewed as criminals for our skin colors

Hoping that everyone makes it home tonight, tomorrow, and the days after

I’m a black girl living in a changing world

I’m taking a stand for my life and others before they’re taken away to early

I was taught to fight for what I thought was right

My battle I’m picking right now is that my life

and other BLACK LIVES, MATTER!

I’m a black girl living in America

land for the great, if you aren’t black!

I’m a black girl living in America

a changing country.

But I’m not AFRAID

Echo Literary Magazine has migrated this year to the Oracle. Students may submit their creative writing, poetry, plays, videos, photos and art to us at nsecholitmag@gmail.com.