A Blank Canvas

T he trees lining the sidewalk were filled with colorful leaves, half-covering the little signs of vintage shops. Fallen leaves, along with some trash, blanketed the road. The chatter of impatient people filled the once-quiet neighborhood, coming from a lengthy line of future artists stretching along the block. The air was chill, stinging the faces of those outdoors. A man and a woman were among the line, the only two patiently waiting. That is, until now.

“I’m done waiting,” the man said. He tightened his scarf around his neck, rubbing his hands together in an attempt to warm them up.

“You must. We must remain patient. Time will come,” the woman responded, looking straight ahead.

“You know I’m always patient. But, is that all we do in life—wait?”

“Of course not.”

“Then what are we doing?”

“We are remaining patient. We have the opportunity to attend a workshop with a very well-known artist.”

“Yet people are still unhappy.”

“Of course, and yet we have the opportunity to create a masterpiece. We have the opportunity to put our abilities to the test.”

“Yeah, but I’m not sure where I would even begin.”

“Don’t worry about it. You will know.”

“How?”

“When the time comes, inspiration will find you.”

“You are sounding very wise right now. But, currently, all I can think about is unhappiness. The people in this line have the opportunity of a lifetime, yet they are still unhappy with the wait.”

“I mean, we all struggle to find happiness.”

“I don’t.”

“Yes, you do.”

“No, I do not. I find happiness in people like you, Pearl.”

“You will never truly be happy on this planet.”

“That is not true.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Do you see that sign over there, Jett?”

“Yes, I see it.”

“What color is it?”

“It is white.”

“Exactly, white. Plain white like a blank canvas.”

“Yes, it is only one color, yet the shop brings in new customers daily.”

“Everyone is used to the color white. It is everywhere. It is the beginning that can easily go to waste.”

“How so?”

“You could keep a blank white canvas in front of you forever and never do anything with it.”

“Many things go unnoticed and end up wasted.”

“That is very true.”

“But, what do you mean everyone is used to the color white?”

“What’s your favorite color?”

“Black.”

“Why?”

“Because it matches with everything.”

“Exactly.”

“Exactly what?”

“You like to match.”

“Yeah, most people do.”

“Precisely my point; people like to match.”

“Okay, why do you think that is?”

“Do you see the trees lining the sidewalk?”

“Yes, Pearl. They are everywhere; how could you not?”

“Well, things you see all the time easily go unnoticed.”

“You’re right.”

“Of course I’m right. I’m always right.”

“Oh, don’t you go down that path again.”

“As I was saying, have you ever kept a favorite leaf of yours?”

“Yeah, of course. I did it all the time when I was a kid.”

“Why would you pick that certain leaf?”

“Because it was just prettier than the others.”

“Of course. All the leaves are different. They are all unique.”

“Yet people choose the ones they find prettier.”

“People admire the leaves that are your usual pretty color, like the bright red ones. The other leaves easily go unnoticed, for they are different. People do not like things that are different,” the woman laughed to herself.

“That’s for sure,” the man sighed.

The man and woman had finally reached the building. They entered, filled with the excitement of improving their artwork. They took their seats in front of the blank canvases. Their instructor, a well-known female artist, handed out paints of all colors. The man stared at the blank white canvas, squeezing out a little of each color onto his paint pallet.

“Paint what is in your heart,” the instructor encouraged.

“I don’t know where to begin,” the man groaned, glancing back and forth between all the colors.

“Your paintings reflect the person you are on the inside. Remember that.”

“Which color should I start with?” The man turned to his friend.

“I don’t know, whatever color you want,” the woman replied, turning back to her canvas. She did not know where to start either.

“Should I start with the primary colors?”

“Stop asking me. It is your painting, not mine.”

“Just answer me, should I?

“Just because all the other colors come from the primary ones doesn’t mean they are any less im-

“No.”

“Well, all colors stem from the primary colors in one way or another, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Even though they all came from the primary ones, do you think they are any less important?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Jett, listen to me. In a tree, all the leaves are attached to the branches which stem from the trunk. Correct?”

“Well, yeah, obviously.”

“Are the leaves any less important than the trunk?”

“Well, in the winter, tree trunks survive without leaves.”

“Yes, but there is a time limit on how long they can go without them.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and all leaves are unique. They’re all different colors aren’t they?”

“Yeah, yet people favor the more colorful ones.”

“Yes, but they are all the same.”

“Not color-wise.”

“No, but in the sense that they all end up on the ground, don’t they?”

“Yeah, they all fall at some point.”

“So, are the other colors any less important than the primary ones?”

“No, each color has a message, right?”

“Yes, but colors don’t matter. What’s behind them is more important.”

The instructor, having overheard their conversation, said, “Correct. When you paint, you are telling your own story. So, what kind of story are you trying to tell?”

The man glanced out the window, noticing the plain white sign in front of the little shop across the street. He picked up his paintbrush, dipping it in the black paint. He began to paint a stroke, but halfway down the canvas, he stopped.

“Why are you stopping?” The instructor asked.

“I-I don’t know.”

“What is stopping you?”

“Fear,” the man practically whispered.

“What are you afraid of?” His friend, the woman, asked.

“What aren’t people afraid of?”

“People fear many, many things.”

“I fear judgment.”

“No one here is going to judge you.”

“Yeah, no one here, but what about elsewhere?”

The instructor butted in, “Paint your story. Only think about what you will see, not others. So, what do you see?”

“I see… judgment. I think I understand now. People are afraid of what is different; that’s why they don’t like it.”

“So, what are you waiting for?” the instructor questioned.

“Everything. We must remain patient in this world.”

“The time will come,” the woman smiled. Again, he picked up his brush. He stroked it up and down, equally painting half of the white canvas black.

“This is only the beginning,” the man grinned. The woman looked at her friend’s canvas. She laughed to herself as she began to paint the same thing on hers.

“Yes, it is,” she said.

Author’s Note: This short story is modeled after Ernest Hemingway’s “tip of the iceberg” approach to storytelling.

Freedom for All?

by Reagan O'Neil

The United States Declaration of Independence states that this truth is, “self-evident, that all men are created equal.” But does this statement ring true when the nation initiates different races into the population? The United States has discriminated against new racial groups that immigrated into the country. For example, Congress passed the Asian Exclusion Act in 1882 to prevent Chinese immigration (Our Documents). Generations have come and gone, but racism is still an unnoticed issue. Racism remains to be a daily issue for people of color despite the progress Americans have made. Although this is a daunting and discouraging truth, racism is not inevitable, especially if people are willing to change. Fortunately, this change does not require the abridgment of rights in the First Amendment. With this being said, more action needs to be taken to end racism such as the use of racial slurs, the college admission process, and the use of stereotypes.

To begin, the use of racial slurs and derogatory language is a primary issue when it comes to racism. A United Kingdom think tank study found that there are 10,000 Twitter posts with racial slurs posted each day (NBC News). These statistics underestimate the true use of slurs because they do not account for the other internet platforms or the slurs used in speech. The Pew Research Center held a survey that revealed the deplorable truth that 38% of black people have been called an offensive name online (Pew Research). The use of racial slurs and derogatory language, especially on social media, is a constant battle for people of color.

Secondly, the college admission process is strenuous for all students, but the acceptance rates are different for each race. According to researchers at Princeton University, an Asian person must score 140 points more on the SAT to have the same chance of getting into a college as a white person of similar characteristics. Researchers also stated that if colleges abolished racial considerations such as affirmative action, Asians would benefit the most, with their acceptance rate rising by six points. When I learned this truth going into my freshman year of high school, it petrified me, making me wonder if one bad grade would lead to someone of a different race receiving my spot in my dream college. To specify the difference in acceptance rates, Harvard’s acceptance rate for Asians is 8.1% and 10.6% for Hispanics compared to the 11.1% for white students. Surprisingly, the acceptance rate for black students is 13.2%, the highest acceptance rate of all races (The Harvard Crimson). However, preferential treatment of any race is neither a favor for anyone, nor is it preparing them for the real world. So, what is the solution to this issue? The solution is to accept students solely on grades and other merits to make the application process fair for all applicants. The unjust discrimination of people of color in the college admission process forces students of color to overcompensate for the racism they tolerate. Lastly, people employ stereotypes to make assumptions about people. While there are both positive and negative stereotypes, all of them are hurtful because they discredit people who have worked tirelessly for their achievements.

For example, how many of you have received good grades and had people assume that you only earned them because of your appearance? This has happened to me at least 10 times in my life, even though I was adopted when I was 11 months old, and never received any Asian education. In a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, researchers asked 1,022 white adults who worked with children how many racial stereotypes they supported. In the results, the stereotypes against black adults were the most highly endorsed. These stereotypes included the assumption that black people were unintelligent, violence-prone, and had unhealthy habits. According to the same study, Hispanic young children had the most negative stereotypes out of all the races’ young children as they are put under the same stereotypes. The conclusion of the study found that teens and children who are black, Hispanic, or Native American are at much higher risk of negative stereotypes than any other race (NCBI). Ridding society of stereotypes would help to build better interracial friendships and relationships, which would benefit everyone. Stereotypes hurt the people who are being placed under the stereotype and the people who are stereotyping others because it promotes ignorance, which is the seed of racism.

In contrast, many argue that preventing racism will abridge the freedom of speech as stated in the First Amendment. They have the concern that abridging one right will cause the violation of other rights. However, it is the responsibility of all American residents and citizens to use the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press to educate others about how all races are equal. Preventing racism is not about telling people what they can and cannot say; it is about education about different races and cultures because most racism stems from ignorance. For example, people who live in an area with minimal diversity do not know how to act around those of different races. In support, a study that Princeton carried out stated that “a white employee’s concerns about not appearing prejudiced when col- laborating with a Hispanic co-worker may detract from the attention he devotes to their joint work… This increased effort and vigilance may [lead to] underperformance.” While there is no excuse for calling people names and saying derogatory comments, education of these people will discourage racism because the knowledge that those comments are not true will become more widespread. The current issue of racism is not insurmountable and does not require the abridgment of rights to have progress made.

The “land of opportunity” continues to struggle with the issue of racism in the use of racial slurs, the college admission process, and the use of stereotypes. People should not promote racism or any other form of discrimination with impunity. The recognition and intolerance to racism are essential to progressing to a better future. The start of the end of racism can begin as soon as people notice and no longer tolerate it.

Works Cited

“10,000 Racial Slurs Used on Twitter Each Day, Says Study.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 13 Feb. 2014, www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/10-000-racialslurs-used-twitter-each-day-says-study-n29876.

“Asian-American Harvard Applicants Saw Lowest Admit Rate of Any Racial Group From 1995 to 2013: News: The Harvard Crimson.” News | The Harvard Crimson, www. thecrimson.com/article/2018/10/19/acceptance-rates-byrace/.

Belasco, Andrew. “Is There a Bias Against Asian College Applicants?” College Transitions, 23 Mar. 2021, www.collegetransitions.com/blog/asian-bias-collegeadmission/#:~:text=Another study of Harvard's admissions,11.1% figure for white applicants.

“Chinese Exclusion Act (1882).” Our Documents - Chinese Exclusion Act (1882), www.ourdocuments.gov/doc. php?flash=false&doc=47.

Duggan, Maeve. “1 In 4 Black Americans Have Faced Online Harassment Because of Their Race, Ethnicity.”

Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 20 Aug. 2020, www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/07/25/1-in-4-blackamericans-have-faced-online-harassment-because-of-theirrace-or-ethnicity/.

Priest, Naomi, et al. “Stereotyping across Intersections of Race and Age: Racial Stereotyping among White Adults Working with Children.” PloS One, Public Library of Science, 12 Sept. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/

It watched her as she stepped back out into the unfamiliar hallway. Its gaze followed her with each gentle step she made over the worn carpet. It pierced the shadows, defeating any cloak of darkness she could have reached out to for protection.

She had always been taught not to be afraid of the dark, only what could be in it. And she fully trusted that belief, but this night was a bit different. She had found what was in the dark. Now, any shadows that reached out to her weren't nearly as frightening. Because she knew there was nothing in them.

Eyes

Aleah Ryan

The only thing that could hurt her was right there—watching her watch it.

The doors that lined the hallways locked her in place, all closed, cornering her to face the thing.

It was a simple horror. A canvas at the end of the hallways with eyes painted all over it, each looking down at a shattered little mirror that was seamlessly glued to the precise center of the woven monstrosity. The broken mirror reflected down the dark hallway, showing the girl as she quietly stood alone.

However, the girl didn’t dislike the painting because its images were unnerving. It wasn’t because of the strained eyes that were placed into a never-ending forced stare. It wasn’t the shade of red that dripped from some of the pupils. It wasn’t the fact that the mirror hadn’t always been cracked.

It was what she saw in the splintering images that the reflective metal showed her.

Her standing peacefully in the hallway in one.

Her eyes missing from her head in another.

Her absence in the last.

A cold crept around her shoulders, and she looked towards the ground. It was too dark to see her feet, yet the mirror continued shining through the end of the hallway. She could feel all the eyes boring into her image. Her broken little soul. They could see her. Even when she couldn't see herself.

When she finally dragged her gaze back to the painting, the eyes were closed. She took a few wary steps forward, reaching towards the only thing she could now see—the broken mirror. Step after step, she slowly drew closer until her fingers brushed the smooth, cold alloy. It sent a shiver down her arm.

Then they opened.

Starting slowly and one at a time, then quickly spreading towards the mirror, the eyes opened with a sickeningly wet crunch-like sound. They whipped their pupils about in the darkness before finally resting on the girl.

But this time there were more. So many more.

They spread off the canvas and into the darkness.

They surrounded her.

Yet her fingers remained on the mirror, the broken shards cutting into her soft skin. She watched as her blood slipped between the cracks and stained her many reflections.

For a moment, she didn’t move. She did nothing but burn under the seemingly infinite gaze of the innumerable eyes that coated everything she could see. Their psychedelic colors were inexplicably enticing.

If only her eyes could shine like them.

A hand that was smooth as ceramic reached out of the cold light of the mirror, contrasting the neon and bright colours that blinked and blinded her. It reached for her face. Carefully. Slowly. Gently.

Its beautiful fingers lingered over her eyes before reaching out as if to shake with her.

What a world this was. Bright. Colourful. Beautiful.

She was grateful for the kind opportunity to join it.

The pain was brief before she was able to experience the neon flash of this strange realm. And all she had to pay for a taste was her eyes.

The red liquid now dripped from her pupils. It stung.

It burned. And worst of all, it was dark. Her hand was still placed on the mirror, and she felt the porcelain figure reach out to her once again. She took it.

She needed more than a taste. She needed it all and she would sacrifice everything she had to get it.

A girl stood alone in the hallway, the light of early morning dawn filtering through the windows. Her skin was a pale porcelain hue that glittered and reflected the morning rays and her eyes shone with a dimmed psychedelic vibrance.

She looked at a painting. It was one with tons of crazed, bright eyes that looked down towards a cracked little mirror directly in the centre.

With a faint smile, she traced her fingers around an eye that seemed just a bit wider than all the others, watching the paint smudged on her fingers as she drew it to rest.

The newest edition to the brilliant artist’s collection.

It was bright

It was colourful.

It was wonderful.

“What a beautiful world those eyes must see.”

Pensive

Kingfisher

(Color Study)

This is a color study of a kingfisher photograph.

Mossy Rock

Sophia Collie

I must tell you

This green rock

Whose mossy surface

Between the damp

Grass and the sidewalk

(where people Are walking) sits still

Silently

Onto the ground with

Not one movement

That can be seen

And then

Rolling and bouncing

Flying out

An old shoe on

Its side

Out of control

It rolls

Till it can roll no longer

It stops

Tired and solid

Rock

Done its journey

Mossy all around

Author’s Note: This is a pastiche of William Carlos William’s “Young Sycamore,” written for an assignment in Mrs. Sica’s Creative Writing I.