I Am More Than What They See Harrison Eyngorn

I Am More Than What They See

Let me say this again: I am more than what they see. White, Black, but what are we? These terms, these words: stretched and overused with no regulations. We all feel pain we might not see. We all hurt, just like you and me. There is always more to see. I am the Rainbow for Pride, the bearers of the Holocaust, the beaten for their origin. I am all these things deep inside which I try never to hide. I am more than the word upon my skin. My privilege, yes, is worn and used, but I am the survivors, the lost, and all the ones that bore the true cost. I am tired of being excused from the conversations of equity and that is that; your skin does not tell the full story. We are all our wounded animals just trying to fly. Why can't we see this? I ask you why? I am not trying to be rude; sorry if this offends: I just wish to say we are all people and friends. We all come from the same place, all brothers and sisters under the sky. But why?

Why are these derogatory words used, the ones stretched and used to cut and wound like knives. White, Black, and all in between— why have we become so mean? We say we can move forward, but where is forward, if that is today? We must move forward, so pave the way. We are the now, the past, and the future. We create the bed we wish to lie in, and the ground that we will die in. So why? Why do we create these sick words instead of seeing them as people, people with pain, hurt, and beauty? We can move forward, so let’s begin the journey.

Harrison Eyngorn, Grade 8 South View Middle School, Edina Teaching Artist: Frank Sentwali