To a New Dawn: Letters of Solidarity Anthology

ZOE CHINDA, 17 Dear Racism, I'm glad you’re scared. I'm glad that you’ve had a bad year.

We all have. People are dead because of you, but the name GEORGE FLOYD will forever be on our minds since you took him away from us.

I’m writing to you as a black woman in society, but all you see is a Negro wasting your time. I’m extremely tired and so are millions of black people – exhausted of you affecting their lives with your hate like the pathogen you are.

Just to be clear, I don’t hate you. I don’t spend my days fearing you, like you do us. I shall not stoop to your level, but I will tell you that I give you all my pity. The 1950s are gone. Slavery is behind us and the 21st century is here, and we don’t want you. We will not tolerate your vile actions of hatred any longer! Mark my words, we will stand strong and wipe you off the face of this earth so you can never hurt anyone again. I will not be a victim of your brutality.

I will rise above your wicked ways of corruption.

Eight minutes and forty-six seconds.

That’s how long you were on a black man’s neck.

And I just have to ask. Why? Why… WHY? How could you do that to a human being, just because of the colour of their skin? Why do we have to march during a pandemic to 22