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About this book I decided to create this poetry book for my personal project because I have always been very passionate about social injustice around the world and I always spread awareness and talk about it to my friends and family. It upsets me to hear stories around the world about people being killed for asking for their rights because of who they are. We must stand by these people and ask for their rights which is why I decided to write this book and spread awareness to people further than my friends and family, to people who need to hear more about social injustice, to you. I wanted to do more than talk about social injustice which is why I published this book for people to read it. I want to motivate people to take action towards social injustice and be the change that our world needs. I hope whoever reads this book learns more about social injustice and I hope this book inspires people to be the change and treat others with kindness.
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Content Page
Malala
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Is this our Future?
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Sketch one
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Be the Change
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Is Being Black a Crime?
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Women are Always Portrayed as Weak
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I’ve Had Enough
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The Freedom to Believe
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Always Given Less
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Sketch two
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Killing the Innocent
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Sketch three
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Hate is a Disease
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Sketch four
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My Heart Aches Hope Still Shines Through
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I am a Woman
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195 Countries
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Moments Before Shutting Down
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A Peaceful World
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Sketch five
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Malala Her name is Malala, a young brave girl. It all started when she was eleven. All she wanted was to be a schoolgirl. She didn’t wait for anyone to step in.
She was shot in the head, along the way. She risked her life, for the rights of others. She gave speeches while girls practiced ballet. She fought, until the day she made wonders.
As she continued to fight her name grew. She began to be recognized worldwide. She was determined to break through. Over time her braveness was amplified.
In our eyes she fought for all of our rights. For our own rights we will all have to fight. 4
Is this our Future? Some of us don’t know what it feels like to be welcomed. Only a few of us feel safe outside our homes. Cops aren’t supposed to be killing the innocent. I am concerned about our future. Asking for my rights seems like a suicide mission. Locked up in jail, for something I didn’t do. I question their humanity every day. No, the world is not changing to the better. Just imagine a world where people are treated as one. Unity isn’t supposed to look like this. Social injustice is all around us. Time passes slow, as I question my value. I ran out of hope for redemption. Caring about others shouldn’t be this rare. Equality should be achieved, in order to achieve peace.
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Be the Change We all have to be the change this world needs. Social injustice is only growing. As it continues to grow, our world bleeds. As long as we are quiet it is ongoing.
White or black does it really matter? The same blood flows in both men and women. This is only a growing disaster! With this hate around fear is a given.
We all feel uneasiness, fear and joy. Don't we all feel vulnerable at times? People look for others they can destroy. These days, hate isn't present only sometimes.
We are all humans, we are all the same. For this, we are the only ones to blame. 7
Is Being Black a Crime? Relentless harassment and abuse. Abhorrence fills their hearts more every day. Color of our skin should not define us. Inhumane our society became. Systems built to destroy the citizens. Many years of torture and injustice.
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Women are Always Portrayed as Weak As I walk the streets alone, I watch my surroundings. My heart fills with fear, as I walk faster and faster. I jump at every sound I hear, I turn to look at every shadow I see. Everywhere I go “Look at her� is all I hear. I can feel them watching my every move. Day by day my fear grows larger, fear is my shadow it follows me wherever I go. Will women ever be able to not fear going out? Will women ever be seen as something other than an object? Women were never weak, until the society started filling us up with fear.
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I’ve Had Enough As the harsh words leave her mouth, my eyes fill with tears. I can feel the room getting tighter and warmer. I can feel my heart beating as fast as lightning. I stutter, with no words to say. As I am trying to accuse her of being racist, she shushed me and told me to leave. I don’t understand why people treat me like I am different. Is being black a crime? I’ve had enough with being treated like a threat. The world has to change. Social injustice has to end.
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The Freedom to Believe No, I am not a terrorist because I am a Muslim. You treat me like I am a bomb that’s about explode and be the reason of your death. I am not a threat to you or your country. Having my own beliefs does not make me different. My religion has nothing to do with you, because it’s not a threat to you. I have the right to have my own beliefs. When a hijabi woman wear a scarf she is a terrorist but when other women wear a scarf it’s considered a trend? How is praying in the church different to praying in the mosque. I should not be treated like an outsider because I am Muslim. I am not a terrorist. I am not a threat. My religion should be my choice.
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Always Given less I am always given the rotten apple. It is starting to make me believe that I am less valuable. I don’t get to sleep on a comfortable mattress. I don’t get to go to school. I don’t get to live in a healthy environment. My dad went to jail when I was 5. He stole medicine, for my sick mother. He was innocent, he had no money and no job. My mother has grown older and weaker. I am all alone, in a society that won’t accept me. Who’s going to hire me in a society that don’t accept the black? I am all alone, with no home and no hope.
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Killing the Innocent Tears of the innocent make up our oceans. Their screams fill up our streets. Their images are all over the media. Their names are said over and over again. Innocent men, women and children. We hear a new tragic story every day. Somehow people still find a way to forget and ignore. The blood of the innocent is on all of our hands. Ignorance won’t make it all go away. It won’t make concentration camps disappear. It won’t stop abuse and torture. It won’t stop innocent people from being killed for no reason.
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Hate is a Disease The world is getting smaller every day. Hate is spreading worldwide like a disease. People are normalizing hate today. Hate traveled in air and across our seas.
It is a monster that lives among us. It creeps into our hearts and it takes over. All it takes is to let it fuel you once You won’t control it even when sober.
It’s our demon at morning and at night. It over powers all other emotions. As long as it lasts, there is nothing bright. In the world, it will create explosions.
It is addictive just like any drug. The only antidote for it is love. 16
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My Heart Aches When did people become so heartless? We are all living in a world of darkness. Judgment became a part of our daily lives. As the poor starves the rich thrives. The people we thought would protect us, stood in front of us. We don’t know who we should trust. My heart aches. My heart aches for all people suffering around the world. Kids working at such a young age when they should be building their lives. Families living in a state of war. People Afraid of being killed. How many more cities are going to be rebuilt? How can you be so cruel? Colored kids not allowed to go to school. Who gave you the permission to take their lives away? The videos of innocent people killed are on replay.
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Didn’t you have enough? Did he really deserve the handcuff? Didn’t you have enough? Are you really just going to give up? These are humans just like you, being hurt. When will people be alert? We all bleed the same blood. Yet some people are being dragged to their death by their necks. When were the police this cruel? Why do some people see this a normal? Protecting us was their duty. In the eyes of the children they are spooky. Holding their weapons in front of people asking for their freedom. Innocent people are being beaten. Where is HUMANITY? This is insanity! For our freedom we shall insist. When I see people have stopped crying, I will then be quiet.
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Hope Still Shines Through
Under all that darkness, there is still hope. Through the dark clouds, the sun still shines. There is still hope for redemption. There is hope, that one day people will decide that it’s time to change. One day, we humans will decide it’s time to move to the better. There is hope that the world will come together as one. When that day comes, it won’t matter who’s black and who’s white. Men and women will be equal. No differentiation between the rich and the poor. We shall all decide that it’s time to move as one. We all should hold hands and stand by each other until this day arrives. As long as we stick together peace will be coming our way.
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I am a Woman To society, I am nothing. In my head I can be anything. To society, I am weak. Don’t I have the right to speak? My job is not to clean. I had to be a mother when I was seventeen. One day I realized, I won’t be able to accomplish any of my dreams. It’s time to let out all the screams. Being a woman does not make me any different. Being a woman does not make me irrelevant. All those years, I was watching my life collapse. Sitting on the couch scrolling through these apps. Not anymore, it’s time to speak up. I won’t sit around and wash another cup. A woman can be strong.
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You knew that all along. I will become a doctor. For my children I will still be their protector. Being a woman does not define me. It’s time we all feel free.
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195 Countries Arab, Mexican or French does it really matter? My country is my home and pride. My language and my traditions shouldn’t bother you. I should not be defined by the country I am from. You fired me from my job, just because I am Arab. Leaving me with no job and nowhere to go. How is this fair? Indians, Portuguese, Brazilians they are all humans. 195 countries around the world and you still differentiate! You should be proud of all the different traditions and cultures around you. We are all living on the same planet under the same sky breathing the same air. YOU don’t have a reason to hate on others. Stop making their country an excuse to hate on them.
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Moments before Shutting Down He puts his leg on my neck and pushes. I ask him "why?" and I get no reply. I begged him, but he ignored my wishes. I cry for help, as the others stand by
Fear runs through my blood, my body shakes. The film of memories begins to play. As I begin to round up my mistakes. Suddenly the sky starts to turn dark grey.
I begin to struggle to stay awake. As the crowd of people grows, I blackout. I can feel my body starting to ache. My soul leaves my body, others freak out.
I can feel every organ shutting down. As I take the last breath my heart slows down. 24
A Peaceful World A peaceful world is a billion steps far. It still walks further away day by day. A peaceful world, it is a shining star. If we move closer it will move our way.
A peaceful world is filled with hope and love. Living in peace is like dancing on clouds. A peaceful world means no more war and blood. The world will become filled with happy crowds.
The sound of happiness will be so loud. No tears of sadness only tears of joy. The air will be cotton candy flavored. A peaceful world means hate will be destroyed.
Imagine the comfort that comes with peace. It is better than vacation in Greece 25
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